Shimla, August 14: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested three suspects in connection with the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast that occurred near the Nalagarh police station in Solan district, Himachal Pradesh, on January 1.
According to the NIA, the explosion took place near the outer wall of the investigation officer’s room within the police station premises.
The blast was so powerful that it shattered windows of nearby buildings, including those of an army canteen located 40 meters away. The sound of the explosion was heard as far as 400-500 meters from the site. Initially, an FIR was registered at the Nalagarh police station following the incident.
Subsequently, the NIA took over the investigation and re-registered the case on May 8, 2026, under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Explosive Substances Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
During the investigation, the involvement of three suspects—Mahavir Kumar alias Kaka, Ajay Mehra, and Manpreet Singh alias Mani—came to light. The NIA arrested all three as part of its efforts to uncover the larger conspiracy behind the terrorist attack.
The agency stated that these are the first three arrests made since it took over the case. The suspects were presented before a special NIA court in Shimla, which remanded Mahavir Kumar and Ajay Mehra to eight days of police custody, while Manpreet Singh was sent to judicial custody.
The NIA continues to investigate to identify and apprehend other individuals involved in the conspiracy and to uncover the broader network behind the attack.
Officials have indicated that efforts are ongoing to understand the full scope of the conspiracy and to ascertain the roles of other suspects involved in planning and executing the IED blast.
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