Bathinda, 27 June (H.S.): Police have arrested the third accused in connection with the petrol bomb attack on a homoeopathic clinic located near the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) office in Bathinda.

The accused has been identified as Sandeep Singh. He was arrested from the ring road while allegedly attempting to escape. His arrest came two days after two other accused were nabbed in a joint operation carried out by Bathinda Police and the Counter Intelligence wing.

According to police officials, preliminary investigation suggests that Sandeep Singh had allegedly established contact with a foreign-based criminal network. However, officials said his possible links with Pakistan-based terrorist Shahzad Bhatti are still under verification.

The attack had triggered serious concern after the clinic owner’s wife, Dr Rajni Jindal, claimed that she received a WhatsApp call and messages soon after the incident from a person who introduced himself as Bhatti. Police said further investigation is underway to trace the wider network behind the attack and to verify the role of all accused involved in the case.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH