ROSHAN KUMAR/BINOD PRASAD
Ranchi/Lohardaga
Teams of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday carried out coordinated raids at six locations in Jharkhand’s Lohardaga district as part of its ongoing investigation into the petrol bomb attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) provincial office in Ranchi last month.
The searches, which began around 4 a.m., were conducted with the assistance of the local police amid tight security.
The operation targeted the hideouts and residences of suspects believed to have links with the June 16 petrol bomb attack on the RSS office in Ranchi’s Nivaranpur area. Investigators carried out extensive searches, examining documents, electronic devices, mobile phones and other materials that could provide crucial evidence related to the case.
Sources said the raids focused on uncovering the wider conspiracy, identifying members of the network involved and tracing possible inter-state links.
Among the premises searched were the residences of Aman Ansari and Saif Ansari, both of whom are already in judicial custody in connection with the case. During one of the searches, the NIA team reportedly faced difficulty entering a house after the occupants failed to open the main door.
Investigators subsequently used a crane provided by the electricity department to reach the upper floor and gain access to the building before continuing the search.
The multi-hour operation was conducted under heavy security, with personnel from the local police and central security forces deployed across the area. The sudden presence of a large contingent of security personnel in the early hours drew the attention of local residents, with crowds gathering at several locations as the searches continued.
Although the NIA has not issued an official statement on Thursday’s raids, sources indicated that digital devices, documents and other materials recovered during the searches have been seized for forensic and technical examination. The agency is expected to release further details after completing its analysis.
The latest searches are part of the NIA’s expanding investigation into the petrol bomb attack on the RSS provincial office on the night of June 16, 2026. The agency, which took over the probe owing to its suspected terror-related dimensions, is investigating the larger conspiracy behind the attack, the roles of the accused and possible links extending beyond Jharkhand.
The raids are also seen as a continuation of the NIA’s earlier search operations in Lohardaga conducted on June 19. Last week, the agency further intensified the investigation by carrying out coordinated searches at 20 locations across multiple states to gather evidence against individuals suspected of being linked to the conspiracy.
Jharkhand Police had earlier arrested three persons in connection with the alleged petrol bomb attack on the RSS office. The NIA has since stepped up its investigation, conducting searches and making arrests in an effort to dismantle the network behind the attack. Further investigation into the case is underway.
