BKI terror module busted in Punjab; operative held with hand grenade
Synopsis
Punjab Police have simultaneously dismantled an ISI-backed BKI terror module — seizing a live hand grenade — and a cross-border heroin network yielding over 30 kg of narcotics. The twin operations expose a convergence of militancy and drug trafficking that security agencies warn is a deliberate, Pakistan-directed strategy to destabilise Punjab.
Key Takeaways
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav announced the busting of an ISI-sponsored BKI terror module on Monday, 10 August .
A key operative was arrested with an 86-P hand grenade , allegedly procured from Adampur, Jalandhar district .
The joint operation was conducted by Counter Intelligence Jalandhar and SBS Nagar Police ; an FIR filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Explosive Substances Act .
In a separate operation, Counter Intelligence Ferozepur and BSF arrested two individuals — Sukhwinder Singh and Manpreet Singh — recovering 30.200 kg of heroin near Satirwala village, Fazilka .
An FIR under Sections 21-C, 25, and 29 of the NDPS Act has been registered in Fazilka; further arrests are expected.
Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav on Monday announced the busting of an ISI-sponsored Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror module, with the arrest of a key operative who was found in possession of an 86-P hand grenade. The joint operation marks a significant strike against cross-border terror networks operating in the state.
How the Operation Unfolded
The breakthrough was achieved through a coordinated effort by Counter Intelligence Jalandhar and the SBS Nagar Police. The arrested operative was found carrying the hand grenade, which preliminary investigation suggests was procured from Adampur in Jalandhar district, allegedly on the directions of foreign-based handlers.
An FIR has been registered at Police Station Sadar in Nawanshahr town, SBS Nagar, under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Explosive Substances Act. Authorities say further investigation is underway to map the complete terror network, including foreign handlers, local support systems, and forward and backward linkages.
Second Strike: Cross-Border Narcotics Module Dismantled
In a separate but related development, Counter Intelligence Ferozepur, in a joint operation with the Border Security Force (BSF), busted a major cross-border narcotics smuggling module. Two individuals — identified as Sukhwinder Singh and Manpreet Singh — were arrested and 30.200 kg of heroin was recovered from their possession.
Acting on a specific tip-off, police and BSF Fazilka conducted a special joint operation near Satirwala village in Fazilka, where the two suspects were apprehended while travelling on a motorcycle. The vehicle used for smuggling was also impounded.
Assistant Inspector General (Ferozepur) Gursewak Singh said more arrests and recoveries are likely as the investigation progresses. An FIR under Sections 21-C, 25, and 29 of the NDPS Act has been registered at Police Station State Special Operation Cell in Fazilka.
The Broader Context
This comes amid sustained efforts by Punjab Police to dismantle ISI-backed terror and drug networks operating through cross-border channels. The BKI, a Khalistani militant outfit, has long been flagged by Indian security agencies as a proxy used by Pakistani intelligence to destabilise Punjab. The simultaneous busting of both a terror module and a narcotics network underscores the convergence of drug trafficking and militancy financing — a pattern that security analysts have repeatedly flagged as a structural threat to the state's stability.
What Comes Next
Investigators are now working to identify and neutralise the foreign-based handlers believed to be directing operations from abroad. Authorities have indicated that the network's local support infrastructure is also under scrutiny, and further arrests are expected in both cases.
Point of View
The network's local support infrastructure — not just its foreign handlers — remains the unresolved threat.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BKI terror module busted in Punjab?
The Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror module is an ISI-sponsored militant network busted by Counter Intelligence Jalandhar and SBS Nagar Police on 10 August. A key operative was arrested in possession of an 86-P hand grenade, allegedly procured on the directions of foreign-based handlers.
Where was the hand grenade recovered and who was arrested?
The hand grenade was recovered from a key BKI operative arrested during the joint operation. Preliminary investigation indicates the grenade was procured from Adampur in Jalandhar district; an FIR has been filed at Police Station Sadar in Nawanshahr, SBS Nagar.
What is the connection between the BKI and Pakistan's ISI?
Indian security agencies have long identified the Babbar Khalsa International as a Khalistani militant outfit used by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to conduct destabilisation operations in Punjab. The arrested operative was allegedly directed by foreign-based handlers, according to police.
What was recovered in the Fazilka narcotics operation?
Counter Intelligence Ferozepur and BSF jointly recovered 30.200 kg of heroin from two arrested individuals — Sukhwinder Singh and Manpreet Singh — near Satirwala village in Fazilka. Their motorcycle, used for smuggling, was also seized.
What legal action has been taken in both cases?
In the BKI case, an FIR has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Explosive Substances Act at Police Station Sadar, Nawanshahr. In the narcotics case, an FIR under Sections 21-C, 25, and 29 of the NDPS Act has been filed at Police Station State Special Operation Cell, Fazilka.
