RANCHI: The midnight petrol bomb attack on the RSS office in Ranchi, which triggered a political row, was caught on CCTV, with visuals showing two youths approaching the office premises and hurling petrol bombs at around 12:38 am, news agency ANI reported.
The CCTV footage, now being examined by police, shows the sequence of the attack. The visuals have provided cops with clues about the suspects, police said. No damage was reported in the incident, but two bottles suspected to have been used in the attack were recovered from the spot and sent for forensic examination.
Deputy superintendent of police (City) KV Raman said police have obtained information about a few suspects after analysing the CCTV footage. A special team headed by the police commissioner has been formed to track them down.
Speaking to ANI, DSP Raman said, “Two bottles have been found. FSL is examining them. Cyber DSP and other police officials have been tasked in the case. A team headed by the police commissioner has been constituted. On the analysis of the CCTV footage, we have got information about a few suspects.”
Opposition leader Babulal Marandi alleged that the attack was part of a larger conspiracy to create unrest across Jharkhand and demanded immediate arrests along with a permanent police picket near the office. Speaking to ANI, Marandi said, “At around 12:36 am, two men threw petrol bombs at the RSS office. They came by car with motorbikes accompanying them. This is a serious matter because it was preparation for a bigger incident.”
He added, “In a way, it can be said that there was preparation to carry out a major incident across the state. And as soon as we got the information in the morning, we came and met the 'prant pracharak', got full information. Then from here, I spoke to the DGP, also spoke to the SP, and also spoke to the DC. So first, we have said that an arrest should be made in this matter, and then a police picket should also be set up.”
MoS Defence and BJP leader Sanjay Seth also condemned the attack and demanded immediate action, calling it a “big conspiracy”.
Seth said, “An attack on the Sangh office? The Sangh office is our mother.”
Describing the sequence of events, Seth said, “There was a taxi with a yellow number plate parked a little distance away from here, along with two motorcycles. They came on the motorcycles...they came, said something, then tied it, and then threw a bomb that exploded in the air. Then they came again and threw another one, but this time it did not explode on the ground. It broke apart. It was a petrol bomb.”
He added, “What was the purpose of throwing a petrol bomb? To spread fire, because it contains petrol, which is highly inflammable. Vehicles were parked there, and all our campaign workers and brothers were inside. What would have happened if the petrol had spread, exploded on the ground, and caused a fire? The entire area could have gone up in flames.”
Seth further said, “There is a huge conspiracy to create unrest in Ranchi, a very big conspiracy. By God’s grace, that conspiracy has failed. But we will not allow any conspiracy to succeed. We will not let Ranchi become disturbed, and we will not let Jharkhand be disturbed.”
