New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has achieved a major breakthrough in the probe into the severe IED blast at the Nalagarh police station in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district, formally arresting three more key accused.
With these fresh arrests, the total number of individuals apprehended in connection with the blast case has risen to six. According to the NIA, the arrests mark a crucial step toward uncovering the broader interstate conspiracy and tracing the interconnected terror network behind the attack.
The three newly arrested individuals have been identified as Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Kandola, Karanpratap, and Diljot Saini. All three were already lodged in jail in connection with a separate criminal case registered at the Garhshankar police station in Punjab before their formal arrest in this case.
Providing details of the accused, the agency stated that Arshdeep Singh is a native of Mohalla Sirhindia in Rahon, Shahid Bhagat Singh (SBS) Nagar district, Punjab. The second accused, Karanpratap, resides in Mohalla Rota, Rahon, while Diljot Saini is a resident of Jhansi Park Colony on Nawanshahr Road, Rahon. The agency moved to arrest them after finding concrete evidence of their direct involvement in the blast.
The explosion occurred on January 1, 2026, at around 9:40 AM, triggering panic inside the Nalagarh police station premises. The IED was detonated extremely close to the outer wall of the police station, adjacent to the Investigation Officer’s (IO) room.
Following the blast, state security agencies and central investigation bodies were put on high alert to secure the perimeter and gather evidence.
The Himachal Pradesh Police initially registered FIR No. 02/2026 at the Nalagarh police station. However, given the nature of the materials used and the national security implications, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs transferred the case to the NIA.
The central agency re-registered the case on May 8, 2026, as RC-27/2026/NIA/DLI under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Explosive Substances Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Earlier, the NIA had arrested three other accused in the case: Mahavir Kumar alias Kaka, Ajay Mehra, and Manpreet Singh alias Mani. These three were initially apprehended by the Punjab Police in connection with FIR No. 02/2026 at the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) police station in Mohali, before the NIA formally took them into custody upon establishing their role in the Nalagarh blast conspiracy.
The NIA is currently investigating the specific individual roles, logistical and financial links of all six accused, as well as working to identify the handlers operating the module. The agency stated that ongoing interrogations and technical analyses aim to fully expose the terror network behind the attack.
