Has Punjab Police Successfully Dismantled a Terror Module?

Chandigarh, July 20 (NationPress) In a significant achievement, the Punjab Police have dismantled a Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror group, overseen by foreign operatives Maninder Billa and Manu Agwan. This operation led to the apprehension of three individuals implicated in grenade assaults on police posts located in Badshahpur, Patiala, and Ajimgarh in Haryana, according to Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Sunday.

The joint operation was carried out by the Counter-Intelligence (CI) unit in Patiala and the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) from SAS Nagar. The suspects have been identified as Sandeep Singh, known as Deepu, who resides in Badshahpur, Harpreet Singh, also known as Jagga, from Harchandpura, and Harmanpreet Singh, referred to as Preet, hailing from Gurdialpura in Patiala.

Authorities recovered two hand grenades and two pistols of .30 and .32 caliber from the arrested individuals.

This operation follows grenade attacks that occurred at the Police Post Badshahpur in Patiala on April 1 and at the Police Post Ajimgarh in Haryana on April 6. Subsequent to these incidents, BKI members including Happy Passia, Manu Agwan, and Gopi Nawasherian utilized social media to claim responsibility for these acts of terror.

“By effectively dismantling this module, the Punjab Police have addressed both grenade attack incidents targeting police facilities in the state,” stated DGP Yadav, noting that the handlers were operating under the guidance of terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda.

According to DGP Yadav, the module received both logistical and financial assistance. Initial investigations suggest that the group was actively plotting more attacks on police installations in Punjab, with further inquiries underway to trace connections in this case.

Providing additional insights, AIG (Patiala) Simrat Kaur indicated that during questioning, the arrested individuals revealed that the attacks on both police facilities were orchestrated by an associate identified as Gurpreet Singh, known as Babbu, currently imprisoned in Patiala and under police surveillance.

She revealed that the investigation has uncovered that mastermind Gurpreet Singh, alias Babbu, had pledged Rs 3-4 lakh to Sandeep Singh for his participation in the Badshahpur attack, while Harmanpreet Singh was compensated Rs 10,000 for his involvement in the Ajimgarh attack.

The AIG confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, with more arrests and recoveries anticipated in the near future. A case, FIR No. 11 dated July 19, has been lodged under sections 25 (1) (B) and 61 (2) of the Arms Act at Police Station SSOC SAS Nagar, with additional charges under sections 4, 5, and 6 of the Explosive Substances Act added later.