ISI-backed Khalistani terror module busted in Punjab; 4 arrested after Shambu rail blast
Synopsis
Punjab Police dismantled an ISI-backed pro-Khalistani terror module within 12 hours of a railway track blast near Shambu, arresting four suspects with cross-border links to Malaysia and Pakistan. Investigators say the group was planning further attacks on public infrastructure — making this a significant counterterror breakthrough in a state that has seen a troubling resurgence of targeted violence.
Key Takeaways
Punjab Police busted an ISI-backed pro-Khalistani terror module within 12 hours of a railway track blast near Shambu town .
Four accused arrested: Pardeep Singh Khalsa (Mansa), Kulwinder Singh alias Bagga (Mansa), Satnam Singh alias Satta (Tarn Taran), and Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi (Tarn Taran).
Recovered items include one hand grenade , two .30 bore pistols , ammunition, communication devices, and laptops.
Kingpin Pardeep Singh Khalsa allegedly had links to a Malaysia-based Khalistani terrorist and Pakistan-based arms suppliers .
FIR registered under BNS Section 111 , Explosive Act , Arms Act , and UAPA Sections 13, 16, 18, 20 at Patiala.
Accused were reportedly planning further attacks on public infrastructure , according to police.
Punjab Police on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, busted a Pakistan's ISI-backed pro-Khalistani terror module responsible for a low-intensity IED blast at a railway track near Shambu town in Punjab, arresting four highly radicalised habitual criminals within a record 12 hours of the incident. Heavy quantities of militant hardware were also recovered from their possession.
The Accused and Their Identities
Those arrested have been identified as Pardeep Singh Khalsa of Mansa, Kulwinder Singh alias Bagga of Bappiana village, Mansa, Satnam Singh alias Satta of Panjwarh, Tarn Taran, and Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi of Goindwal bypass, Tarn Taran. All four have multiple heinous crime cases registered against them.
According to police officials, Pardeep Singh Khalsa was the main kingpin of the module. He was reportedly in close contact with a Malaysia-based pro-Khalistani terrorist and Pakistan-based arms suppliers. Khalsa allegedly used to send radicalised youth to Malaysia for terror training and subsequently assigned them terror activities. He had also reportedly formed a radical organisation called
Point of View
But the deeper story is the persistence of the Malaysia-Pakistan recruitment corridor that Punjab's security apparatus has been tracking for years. What stands out is the alleged use of Malaysia as a training hub: it suggests ISI-linked networks have diversified their geography to avoid direct Pakistan-India scrutiny. The recovery of communication devices and laptops points to a more tech-enabled cell than traditional modules. The real question is how many similar cells remain active — and whether intelligence sharing between state and central agencies is finally keeping pace with the threat's evolution.
NationPress
2 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the Shambu railway track in Punjab?
A low-intensity IED blast was carried out at the main railway line near Shambu railway station in Punjab late at night. Punjab Police busted the terror module responsible for the blast within 12 hours, arresting four suspects.
Who are the four arrested in the Punjab terror module case?
The four arrested are Pardeep Singh Khalsa of Mansa, Kulwinder Singh alias Bagga of Bappiana village in Mansa, Satnam Singh alias Satta of Panjwarh in Tarn Taran, and Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi of Goindwal bypass in Tarn Taran. All have prior heinous crime cases registered against them.
What is the ISI-backed Khalistani terror module accused of?
The module is accused of carrying out a low-intensity IED blast at the Shambu railway track and planning further attacks on public infrastructure. The alleged kingpin, Pardeep Singh Khalsa, reportedly maintained links with a Malaysia-based Khalistani terrorist and Pakistan-based arms suppliers.
What weapons and materials were recovered from the accused?
Police recovered one hand grenade, two .30 bore pistols with ammunition, technically sophisticated communication devices, and laptops used to communicate with cross-border handlers.
Under which laws have the accused been charged?
An FIR has been registered under Section 111 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Explosive Act, Section 25 of the Arms Act, and Sections 13, 16, 18 and 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) at Patiala.
