Punjab Police foil terror plot, arrest three linked to ISI-backed module

Punjab Police on Monday said it foiled Pakistan’s ISI-backed module that was allegedly planning grenade attacks on police establishments in Punjab and other states.

Three persons were arrested in connection with the case, and police recovered two hand grenades and a Glock pistol from them.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the Inter Services Intelligence-backed module was involved in systematic targeting of police establishments across multiple states, which has now been successfully averted.

Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said the grenades bore markings of POF (Pakistan Ordnance Factory), indicating cross-border linkages, reported PTI.

Those arrested have been identified as Sarabjit Singh, a resident of Ammishah village in Tarn Taran, Bikramjit Singh, a resident of Nangal Pannuwan village in Amritsar, and Amandeep Singh, a resident of Indra Colony in Amritsar.

Sharing operational details, assistant inspector general, State Special Operations Cell, Amritsar, Sukhminder Singh Mann said that in an intelligence-led operation, police teams from SSOC arrested Sarabjit Singh and Amandeep Singh and recovered hand grenades and a pistol from their possession.

During the investigation, police found that Bikramjit Singh, the key operative and primary contact of Pakistan Intelligence Operatives (PIOs) in the group, was operating from Deesa in Gujarat.

The information was immediately shared with ATS Gujarat, and with their active cooperation, SSOC arrested Bikramjit Singh, Mann said. He said the investigation also revealed that all the accused were in touch with PIOs through social media platforms.

Probe also revealed that, acting on directions from ISI handlers, the group was planning to carry out grenade attacks on various police establishments in Punjab and other states, he added.

Efforts are ongoing to identify, track and apprehend other members of the module, police said.

An FIR has been registered under the Explosive Substances (Amendment) Act, the Arms Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Police Station State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) in Amritsar.