In a major breakthrough against cross-border terror networks amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, 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 Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Sunday.
The arrested accused has been identified as Satbir Singh, a resident of village Padiana in Adampur, Jalandhar. Apart from recovering explosives, police teams have also recovered his Black colour Platina motorcycle (PB-08-ET-6736), which he was riding.
DGP Gaurav 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,” he said.
Sharing operational details, he said that CI Jalandhar teams had received a reliable inputs that an operative of BKI module has retrieved consignment of explosives on the directions of his foreign based handlers. Acting swiftly, police teams from CI Jalandhar and Jalandhar Rural jointly laid a Naka at village Dhandaur and intercepted the motorcycle of suspect Satbir Singh, he said, while adding that during search a bag containing IED was recovered.
The DGP said that further investigations are underway to establish forward and backward linkages in this case to dismantle the complete terror network, including foreign handlers and local support networks, all involved in the conspiracy.
In this regard, a case FIR has been registered under sections 113(1) and 113(3) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), sections 4 and 5 of the Explosives Substance Act and section 25(1b)(a) of the Arms Act at Police Station Patara in Jalandhar Rural.