4 militants held, arms
recovered
From
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service
GURDASPUR, Oct 20 —
An unusual case of "people smuggling" by Punjab
militants has come to light with the arrest of four
members of a newly formed "terrorist group"
including a would-be human bomb. The arrested include a
Hindu youth, Raj Kumar, a resident of Kacha Pakka Vera
(Noormehal) Mr P.C. Dogra, Director General Police, said
though Raj Kumar was not ideologically committed to the
'cause' he joined the militants rank as he wanted to go
west.
"Giving details, Mr
Dogra said during the investigation the arrested
militants revealed that they were unemployed and wanted
to go abroad to earn money. This was exploited by
Pakistan's ISI to rope them in for terrorism, inside and
outside Punjab. The miliants belonged to the
International Sikh Youth Federation.
Mr Dogra claimed their
arrest was a big achievement on the eve of the Adampur
byelection.
Giving details of the
newly created 'terrorist group', Mr Dogra said they were
planning to blow up Delhi's Indira Gandhi International
Airport with a consignment of weapons received from
Nepal.
The brain behind the gang
was Amarjit Singh alias Maula, a resident of Noormehal, a
bank employee. The two other persons arrested are Kulwant
Singh, a resident of Phillaur and Avtar Singh Tari, a
resident of Shahpur (Noormehal).
Two other militants,
Kuldip Singh and Amandeep Singh alias Deepa — both
residents of Noormehal are absconding. Avtar Singh had
volunteered to be a human bomb.
The DGP said, brain of
Amarjit Singh played a crucial role of reviving the
outfit at the motivation of associates Jaswinder Singh
alias Jassi, a resident of village Jandiala and Gurmukh
Singh, presently in the UK. Amarjit and his associates in
the UK were closely associated with Khalistan Commando
Force activists of the faction of Gurdeep Singh alias
Deepa (since killed).
Interrogation of the
arrested youth revealed that the consignment of arms for
them were arranged through the UK-based group in league
with ISI operatives at Sialkot.
Mr Dogra said on receiving
information that a group of youths moving in a white
Maruti van had gone towards Madhopur to lift a
consignment of arms, police parties were deputed to nab
the vehicle.
A police party led by Mr
Shiv Kumar SP Pathankot and Mr Gautam Cheema ASP
Pathankot signalled the van to stop. It did not.
Subsequently, an operation was mounted and raids
conducted leading to the arrest of the four accused.
During interrogation the
accused revealed where the consignment picked up by them
was dumped near Madhopur. This consignment was meant to
be used on Divali.
Jaswinder Singh alias
Jassi and Gurmukh Singh had also arranged far a bomb
specialist to assemble bombs to be planted at three or
four places by different members of the group
simultaneously. This terrorist module was in touch with
another terrorist module.
FATEHGARH SAHIB (FOC): The
alertness of the local police and the GRP has led to the
discovery of a live bomb on the 5209 UP Barauni Express
at Sirhind railway station on the eve of Divali.
Addressing a press
conference here today, Mr Paramraj Singh Dhaliwal, SSP
said special checking of buses, trains and of crowded
places was undertaken to prevent any untoward incident on
the eve of Divali. All the trains stopping at Sirhind
were stopped for 5 minutes more to check them. The local
police and GRP, while searching the train found an
unclaimed object. The search party immediately informed
DSP (A) GRP, who informed the control room. A bomb
disposal squad was called from Patiala which defused the
bomb. The GRP Sirhind has registered a case.
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