NIA arrests 3 more in Nalagarh police station IED blast, total reaches 6
Synopsis
Six people are now in NIA custody over the IED explosion at Nalagarh police station on 1 January — a blast that targeted the investigating officer's room inside the premises. The three newest arrests, all from Rahon in Punjab's SBS Nagar district, point to a cross-state network that the NIA says is still being unravelled.
Key Takeaways
The NIA arrested three more accused on 31 August in the Nalagarh police station IED blast case, raising total arrests to six .
The blast occurred on 1 January 2026 at approximately 9:40 am , near the investigating officer's room inside the police station.
Newly arrested accused: Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Kandola , Karanpartap , and Diljot Saini — all from Rahon, SBS Nagar, Punjab .
The NIA re-registered the case on 8 May 2026 under the BNS , Explosive Substances Act , and UAPA .
Earlier arrests included Mahavir Kumar alias Kaka , Ajay Mehra , and Manpreet Singh alias Mani , first detained by Punjab Police's SSOC, Mohali .
The NIA says further investigation is underway to identify additional suspects and map the full conspiracy network.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested three more individuals in connection with the IED explosion at Police Station Nalagarh in Himachal Pradesh, bringing the total number of arrests in the case to six. The latest detentions, announced on 31 August, mark a significant expansion of the probe into what investigators describe as a larger conspiracy behind the 1 January attack.
What Happened at Nalagarh
The improvised explosive device went off at approximately 9:40 am near the outer wall adjoining the investigating officer's room inside the Nalagarh police station premises. The incident was initially registered as FIR No. 02/2026 at Police Station Nalagarh. The NIA subsequently took over the investigation, re-registering the case on 8 May 2026 under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Explosive Substances Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The Three Newly Arrested Accused
The NIA has identified the three latest accused as Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Kandola, a resident of Rahon in Punjab's SBS Nagar district; Karanpartap, also from Rahon; and Diljot Saini, a resident of Jhansi Park Colony on Nawanshehar Road, Rahon. All three were already in custody in connection with FIR No. 11/2026 registered at Police Station Garhshankar in Punjab before being formally arrested by the NIA in the Nalagarh case.
Earlier Arrests in the Case
The NIA had previously arrested Mahavir Kumar alias Kaka, Ajay Mehra, and Manpreet Singh alias Mani in the Nalagarh case. These three had first been detained by the Punjab Police under FIR No. 02/2026 of the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), Mohali, before the NIA took over their custody. This brings the cumulative arrest count across both phases to six.
Scope of the Ongoing Investigation
The agency is currently examining the precise roles of all six accused, their links with each other, and their alleged connections to a wider criminal network. According to the NIA, the investigation is focused on uncovering the full extent of the conspiracy behind the attack. Further arrests are possible as investigators work to identify additional individuals who may have been involved in planning or executing the blast. This case is part of a broader pattern of targeted attacks on law enforcement infrastructure in the region that security agencies have been tracking closely.
Point of View
Specifically near the investigating officer's room, signals a deliberate attempt to intimidate law enforcement. The cross-state trail from Himachal Pradesh to Punjab's SBS Nagar district suggests an organised network rather than isolated actors. The NIA's invocation of UAPA points to a terrorism angle that has not yet been publicly elaborated. With six arrests and the probe still open, the agency's ability to establish command-and-control links — not just foot soldiers — will determine whether this case results in convictions or stalls at the periphery of the network.
NationPress
31 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
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 initially registered as FIR No. 02/2026 and was later taken over by the NIA.
Who are the three accused arrested by the NIA in the latest round?
The three newly arrested accused are Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Kandola, Karanpartap, and Diljot Saini — all residents of Rahon in Punjab's SBS Nagar district. They were already in custody in a separate Punjab case before the NIA arrested them in the Nalagarh matter.
How many people have been arrested in the Nalagarh blast case so far?
A total of six people have been arrested in the case. The earlier three — Mahavir Kumar alias Kaka, Ajay Mehra, and Manpreet Singh alias Mani — were first detained by the Punjab Police's SSOC, Mohali, before the NIA took over their custody.
Under which laws has the NIA registered the Nalagarh blast case?
The NIA re-registered the case on 8 May 2026 under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Explosive Substances Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
What is the NIA investigating in the Nalagarh case?
The NIA is probing the larger conspiracy behind the attack, including the precise roles of all six accused, their links with each other, and their alleged connections to a wider criminal network. The agency has said further arrests are possible as the investigation continues.
