How Did Punjab Police Thwart a Terror Plot by Seizing a Pak-Origin IED?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Punjab Police's AGTF plays a crucial role in national security.
- Effective coordination with local police led to the successful recovery of the IED.
- Legal actions initiated to hold accountable those involved in the terror plot.
- Ongoing investigations seek to uncover and apprehend additional suspects.
- Public safety is prioritized through proactive measures against terrorism.
Chandigarh, Aug 7 (NationPress) In a significant setback to the ISI-supported cross-border terror factions, the Punjab Police's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) successfully thwarted a considerable terror scheme executed by Pakistan-affiliated Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) operatives Harwinder Rinda and Lakhbir Landa.
On Thursday, Gaurav Yadav, the Director General of Police (DGP), disclosed that AGTF teams had received reliable human intelligence regarding a shipment containing an improvised explosive device (IED) that had been smuggled in from Pakistan.
In a prompt response, the AGTF, in close collaboration with the Tarn Taran Police, initiated a search operation in the district and successfully retrieved an IED from the Naushera Pannuan area in Tarn Taran, preemptively preventing it from reaching Rinda and Landa's local contacts for potential malicious activities.
The DGP confirmed that the IED was promptly secured and transported to a secure site, where the explosive ordnance disposal team effectively neutralized it through a controlled detonation.
The swift and coordinated efforts of Punjab Police personnel averted a potential disaster, ensuring the safety of the public.
Additional Director General of Police (AGTF) Promod Ban elaborated that initial investigations indicated that the retrieved IED was funneled into Punjab by terrorist modules backed by Pakistani agencies, with the intent to disrupt public order and endanger innocent lives in the border region.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (AGTF) Gurmeet Singh Chauhan stated that a legal case has been filed under sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act and section 111 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita at the police station in Sirhali, Tarn Taran.
Ongoing investigations aim to identify and arrest the associates of Rinda and Landa. In a related incident, the Amritsar Commissionerate Police detained four individuals involved in cross-border arms trafficking, recovering seven advanced pistols from their possession.
The confiscated firearms included two 9MM PX5s, two 9MM Glocks, and three .30 caliber pistols.