Did Police Successfully Foil a Terror Plot Backed by ISI in Punjab?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Chandigarh, Feb 10 (NationPress) An operation driven by intelligence has successfully disrupted a terror plan backed by Pakistan's ISI, leading to the apprehension of one suspect and the recovery of an RDX-based improvised explosive device (IED), as confirmed by Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Tuesday.
The suspect has been identified as Rahul Kumar, also known as Gaju, who resides on Chamrang Road in Amritsar. Currently, he is employed as an assistant in a local salon. DGP Yadav indicated that initial investigations suggest the suspect maintained contact with a handler located abroad, operating under the guidance of individuals based in Pakistan.
Further inquiries revealed that Rahul collected the IED from a specified site on the outskirts of Amritsar, following the directions of his foreign handler. The device was cleverly concealed within a PVC pipe casing to avoid detection, according to the DGP.
Ongoing investigations are delving deeper into the intended use or final destination of the IED. Providing operational insights, Assistant Inspector General (Amritsar) Sukhminder Singh Mann reported that based on credible intelligence regarding the consignment containing an IED smuggled from Pakistan, police units initiated an operation and subsequently arrested Rahul while seizing the explosive device.
Mann noted that the suspect established contact with his international handler during a trip to Punjab in 2022, with their communication continuing via encrypted mobile applications. Initially, the handler provided Rahul with small financial support to cover his expenses before assigning him this task.
A case has been registered under Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Explosive Substance Act, Section 25 of the Arms Act, and Sections 111 and 61 (2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in Amritsar.