Did Punjab Police Capture Two Terror Operatives Linked to Himachal Blast?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Chandigarh, Jan 29 (NationPress) - In a significant advancement in the investigation of the Nalagarh police station explosion in Himachal Pradesh, the Punjab Police have apprehended two operatives associated with a narco-terror module that has connections to the ISI-backed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror network, as reported by Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Thursday.
The operation was executed in collaboration with the Himachal Pradesh Police and various central agencies. The arrested individuals have been identified as Shamsher Singh, also known as Sheru or Kamal, and Pardeep Singh, known as Deepu, both hailing from Rahon in Nawanshahr. Law enforcement teams also seized an improvised explosive device (IED) from their possession.
DGP Yadav disclosed that the detained operatives were following instructions from Shushant Chopra, a close ally of Gurpreet, referred to as Gopi Nawanshahria, and the BKI mastermind Harwinder Rinda. Initial investigations indicate that on December 31, 2025, the accused, along with two accomplices, transported an IED from Punjab to Himachal Pradesh, which was subsequently utilized in the Nalagarh explosion on January 1, 2026.
Ongoing investigations aim to establish comprehensive linkages in this case, according to Yadav.
Detailing the operation, Senior Superintendent of Police (Nawanshahr) Tushar Gupta stated that during the investigation of an FIR registered under the NDPS Act at the Rahon police station, the accused's involvement under the directives of Shushant Chopra was confirmed.
SSP Gupta further mentioned that based on disclosures and subsequent actions, an IED was recovered from the location indicated by the accused, further substantiating their role in the terror plot. Police teams have also pinpointed two accomplices of the arrested individuals, with raids currently underway to apprehend them.
A separate FIR was filed on January 29 under Section 25 of the Arms Act, Sections 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act, and various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) along with Section 113 (1) and 113 (3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in Rahon.