HOSHIARPUR: In a major breakthrough against Pakistan's ISI-backed terror network ahead of the Republic Day, Hoshiarpur Police in joint operation with Counter Intelligence (CI), Jalandhar has busted a terror module of the banned outfit, Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) with the arrest of its four operatives and recovered RDX-based improvised explosive device— weighing nearly 2.5 kg— from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Friday.
Those arrested have been identified as Diljot Singh, Harman Singh alias Harry alias Harri, Ajay alias Mehra and Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Kandola, all residents of Rahon in SBS Nagar. Apart from recovering RDX-based IED, police teams have also recovered two pistols from their possession.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the module was being operated by USA-based BKI handlers. Preliminary investigations revealed that the recovered IED was intended for a targeted terror attack in view of the upcoming Republic Day celebrations, he said.
The DGP said that further investigation is underway to establish forward and backward linkages in this case.
Sharing operational details, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Hoshiarpur Sandeep Malik said that in an intel-based operation, teams from Hoshiarpur Police and CI Jalandhar has arrested four suspects and recovered RDX-based IED and two pistols from their possession.
The SSP said that probe has revealed that the foreign-based BKI handlers had established a module tasked with receiving weapons and managing logistics after the arms were smuggled through the border areas of Ferozepur and Amritsar Rural. Further investigation is ongoing, he added.