Have Punjab Police Uncovered an ISI-Linked Terror Module?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Punjab Police have successfully dismantled an ISI-backed terror module.
- Six individuals were arrested in connection to a grenade attack.
- The attack was intended to instill fear for extortion purposes.
- Foreign handlers are directing operations from abroad.
- Authorities utilized advanced intelligence to trace the suspects quickly.
Chandigarh, May 20 (NationPress) In a significant achievement, the Punjab Police have dismantled a terror module linked to the Pakistan’s ISI, specifically the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). This operation was led by foreign handlers Maninder Billa and Mannu Agwan, under the instructions of the terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda. Six members involved in a failed grenade attack outside a liquor store in Batala town have been arrested, as stated by Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Tuesday.
On May 17, a group of youth on motorcycles hurled a hand grenade at a liquor vend in the Focal Point area of Batala. Fortunately, the grenade did not explode due to a faulty assembly, averting potential harm.
The arrested individuals include Jatin Kumar (alias Rohan), Barinder Singh (alias Sajan), Abraham (alias Rohit), Sunil Kumar, Rahul Masih, and Sohit, all from Batala. A .30 bore pistol was also seized from them.
DGP Yadav mentioned that these suspects received direct orders from Maninder Billa in Portugal and Mannu Agwan, the BKI mastermind who has recently taken over operations following the arrest of Happy Passian in the US.
The preliminary investigation indicates that the module was instructed to throw a grenade at any liquor store to instill fear among contractors, aiming to create a favorable atmosphere for extortion.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Batala) Suhail Qasim Mir detailed that following the grenade attack attempt, various police teams were deployed to investigate using both technical and human intelligence.
In a remarkably short timeframe, police tracked down and apprehended the six suspects involved in the logistics, financing, and execution of the attack.
During the operation, Jatin Kumar, identified as the principal executor of the attack, suffered bullet wounds during an exchange of fire with police while he was being taken for weapon recovery.
In his attempt to flee, the accused fired upon the police team. Jatin has since been hospitalized for treatment.
The investigation revealed that the grenade was assembled based on instructions received through a video call from Maninder Billa and another unidentified individual, lacking any technical expertise, which resulted in the failure of the device.