Chandigarh: In a major breakthrough against cross-border terror networks, Punjab Police’s Counter Intelligence (CI) Jalandhar, in a joint operation with Jalandhar Rural Police, has busted an ISI-sponsored Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror module being operated by foreign-based handlers with the arrest of its key operative from Jalandhar, said Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav here on Sunday.
The arrested accused has been identified as Satbir Singh, a resident of Padiana village in Adampur in Jalandhar district. Apart from recovering explosives, police teams have also recovered his motorcycle, which he was riding.
DGP Yadav said that the operation has led to the recovery of an improvised explosive device (IED) packed with 1.3 kg of high explosive, along with shrapnel and ball bearings, indicating preparations for a high-impact attack aimed at disturbing public peace.
“This swift and timely action has successfully averted a major terror threat and safeguarded innocent lives,” the DGP said in a statement.
Sharing operational details, he said that CI Jalandhar teams had received reliable inputs that an operative of the BKI module had retrieved a consignment of explosives on the directions of his foreign-based handlers. Acting swiftly, police teams from CI Jalandhar and Jalandhar Rural jointly laid a checkpoint at Dhandaur village and intercepted the motorcycle of suspect Satbir Singh, he said, adding that during the search, a bag containing an IED was recovered.
The DGP said that further investigations are underway to establish linkages in this case to dismantle the complete terror network, including foreign handlers and local support networks, all involved in the conspiracy.
A first information report (FIR) has been registered under Sections 113 (1) and 113 (3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Sections 4 and 5 of the Explosives Substances Act and Section 25 (1b) and (a) of the Arms Act at the police station in Patara in Jalandhar.
