NIA arrests 2 more in Nalagarh police station IED blast case, total 8 held
Synopsis
Eight people are now in NIA custody over the New Year's Day IED blast at Nalagarh Police Station in Himachal Pradesh — a striking reminder that the attack on a functioning police station was no isolated incident. The latest arrests of Harman Harry and Jashan Saini deepen a cross-state conspiracy that the NIA says is still being fully mapped.
Key Takeaways
The NIA arrested Harman Harry and Jashan Saini on 25 September 2026 in connection with the Nalagarh Police Station IED blast .
The explosion occurred on 1 January 2026 at approximately 9.40 am near the Investigating Officer's room at Police Station Nalagarh, Himachal Pradesh .
Total accused arrested in the case has risen to eight ; six others were previously arrested via Punjab Police FIRs.
The NIA re-registered the case on 8 May 2026 as RC-27/2026/NIA/DLI under BNS , Explosive Substances Act , and UAPA .
Investigations are continuing to identify additional suspects and establish the full extent of the conspiracy.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two more suspects in connection with the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast at Nalagarh Police Station in Himachal Pradesh, bringing the total number of accused arrested in the case to eight, according to an official statement issued on 25 September 2026. The explosion had rocked the police station premises on 1 January 2026.
Details of the Latest Arrests
The two newly arrested accused have been identified as Harman Harry and Jashan Saini. Their involvement in the conspiracy behind the blast came to light during the course of the NIA's ongoing investigation, the agency said. Both were arrested as investigators worked to uncover the wider network allegedly linked to the attack.
How the Blast Unfolded
The IED explosion occurred at approximately 9.40 am near the outer wall adjoining the room of the Investigating Officer within Police Station Nalagarh. The case was initially registered as FIR No. 02/2026 at Nalagarh Police Station. The NIA subsequently took over the probe, re-registering it on 8 May 2026 as RC-27/2026/NIA/DLI under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Explosive Substances Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The Six Previously Arrested Accused
Prior to these two arrests, the NIA had taken six other individuals into custody in the same case: Mahavir Kumar alias Kaka, Ajay Mehra, Manpreet Singh alias Mani, Arshdeep Singh Kandola alias Arsh Kandola, Karanpreet Singh, and Diljot Singh Saini. According to the NIA, these six were initially arrested by the Punjab Police in connection with FIR No. 02/2026 at Police Station SSOC, SAS Nagar (Mohali) and FIR No. 11/2026 at Police Station Garhshankar in Punjab, before being taken over by the NIA in connection with the Nalagarh blast.
What the Investigation Aims to Establish
The NIA has stated that investigations are continuing to determine the specific roles of each accused, establish links among the conspirators, identify other individuals who may be involved, and map the full extent of the criminal conspiracy behind the explosion. This is a significant counter-terror probe, given the attack's target — a functioning police station — and the invocation of UAPA, which is reserved for cases involving alleged unlawful or terrorist activity. Notably, the cross-border dimension has not been ruled out, with accused having prior Punjab Police connections suggesting a network that spans at least two states. The arrest of eight persons so far signals that investigators believe this was not the work of isolated individuals. Further arrests are possible as the agency follows fresh leads.
Point of View
Signalling operational intent and insider knowledge of the layout. Eight arrests spanning two states, with UAPA invoked, point to a structured network rather than a fringe conspiracy. What remains publicly unexplained is the motive: who was the intended target, and what investigation was the IO running? That gap is the most important thing the NIA has yet to disclose, and mainstream coverage has largely glossed over it. Until the motive is established on record, the full significance of this case cannot be assessed.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Harman Harry and Jashan Saini, the latest accused arrested by the NIA?
Harman Harry and Jashan Saini are the two most recently arrested accused in the Nalagarh police station IED blast case. Their involvement was identified during the NIA's ongoing investigation into the conspiracy behind the 1 January 2026 explosion.
What was the Nalagarh police station IED blast?
An IED exploded at approximately 9.40 am on 1 January 2026 near the outer wall adjoining the Investigating Officer's room inside Police Station Nalagarh in Himachal Pradesh. The case was later taken over by the NIA and re-registered under BNS, the Explosive Substances Act, and UAPA.
How many people have been arrested in the Nalagarh blast case so far?
Eight people in total have been arrested by the NIA as of 25 September 2026. The latest two are Harman Harry and Jashan Saini; the earlier six — Mahavir Kumar alias Kaka, Ajay Mehra, Manpreet Singh alias Mani, Arshdeep Singh Kandola, Karanpreet Singh, and Diljot Singh Saini — were initially detained by Punjab Police before being taken over by the NIA.
Why did the NIA take over the Nalagarh blast case?
The NIA took over the probe due to the serious nature of the offence — an IED attack on a police station — and the potential involvement of a wider criminal network. The agency re-registered the case on 8 May 2026 under UAPA and other stringent laws to enable a broader investigation.
Is the Nalagarh blast investigation still ongoing?
Yes, the NIA has confirmed that investigations are continuing to determine the specific roles of all accused, map links among conspirators, and identify any additional individuals involved in the attack. Further arrests remain possible.
