Cops foil terror, smuggling modules, three nabbed with arms, grenades

In two major intelligence-led operations, the Amritsar Rural Police, in coordination with central agencies, arrested three individuals allegedly linked to terror and cross-border smuggling networks, seizing grenades, pistols and live cartridges.

With their arrests, the police claimed to have foiled terror attempts to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in Punjab. Already, border districts have been put on high alert following several intelligence inputs that disruptive forces based in Pakistan may try to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere during the ongoing festive season.

Among those arrested included former paramilitary commando Dharminder Singh, alias Fauji. He was earlier arrested by the Batala police in 2018 allegedly on charges of sedition and under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act by a team of the Rangar Nangal police station in Batala. He came out of jail after the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted him bail in 2022.

Besides, the police in a joint operation with the Intelligence Bureau, arrested Mehakpreet Singh, a resident of Harpura village under the Ghuman police station. Dharminder Singh is also a resident of Harpura village.

“The team recovered two HG-86P grenades, one Glock-19 (9mm) pistol and 15 live cartridges,” said Maninder Singh, SSP, Amritsar (Rural), here. During questioning, the duo disclosed that they were acting on the directions of UK-based Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) leader Kulwant Singh, alias Kanta, he added.

In the second operation, the police arrested Ravinder Singh, alias Ravi, alias Batti of Talwandi Mohar Killa Patti in Tarn Taran and recovered two hand grenades along with an unregistered bike from him on Thursday.

The SSP said he was arrested from the Rajatal-Galluval road in the Gharinda area following a secret input.

A case has been registered under Sections 113 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Explosive Act, 1908. Officials confirmed that the accused has a criminal background, with cases of attempt to murder and under the Arms Act registered against him in Tarn Taran.

It is pertinent to mention here that two days ago, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav held a high-security meeting with senior police officials from the seven border districts of Punjab in Amritsar. During media interaction, he confirmed that there were intelligence inputs regarding anti-national forces backed by Pakistan’s ISI attempting to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in Punjab. All the districts in the border state, especially those along the International Border with Pakistan, have been put on high alert.