From cop to terrorist, Gagandeep Gaggi transformed in a decade

Nitin Jain

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 28

From serving in the Punjab Police, bootlegging, drug trafficking and property grabbing to narco-terrorism, the main suspect in the Ludhiana district courts complex, Gagandeep Singh alias Gaggi, transformed from a policeman to a terrorist in almost a decade, investigations have revealed.

The 29-year-old lone deceased in the December 23 high-intensity explosion that left him dead and six others injured, causing terror in the poll-bound state, had links with the hardcore A+ category listed militants and separatists based in Pakistan and Germany while the role of several local handlers and pro-Khalistan sympathisers was also under scanner, senior officers monitoring the probe told The Tribune here on Tuesday.

“He was in touch with members of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) based abroad, who were hell bent to disturb peace and amity in Punjab and again raise the bogey of a separate state ahead of the Assembly elections due in early next year,” the investigators said.

The multi-pronged investigations handled separately by state and Central agencies have also come across certain leads that suggest the active involvement of pro-Khalistan sympathisers, anti-nationalists and drug mafia behind the terror strike.

“These local handlers identified so far were either lodged in jails or were out on bail or parole,” the officers shared.

The probe has also brought to fore that Gaggi came in touch with such elements during his two-year stay in Ludhiana jail from August 16, 2019, to September 8, 2021, after which he was bailed out in a drug recovery case.

The investigators said following the identification of the blast deceased, details of his shady past were also traced that hinted at his involvement in illegal acts even during the service.

“His brother and other close contacts were also actively involved in wrongs committed by Gaggi during his transformation from a policeman to a militant,” they said.

The investigation agencies were also tracking the deceased dismissed cop’s relationship with several women, some of whom were still in the police service.

“His stay at a Khanna hotel with a woman acquaintance before he carried out the explosion, has further strengthened the suspicion of active involvement of more local persons, especially women, in the terror strike,” the senior officers revealed.

Though the Punjab Police acted tough by dismissing him from the service following his arrest in a drug recovery case registered under Sections 21 and 29 of the NDPS Act at the STF police station in Mohali, on August 11, 2019, he was reportedly in touch with his former colleagues in the Police Department even during his two-year stay in jail and after walking out of prison in early September this year.

“What prompted men and women in uniform to remain in touch with such a bad element was also being investigated and his visits and calls to those in service were being traced to decipher the motive and interest behind such meetings and talks,” the investigators disclosed.

Major strike mistimed

Investigations into the “high-intensity” explosive used in the improvised explosive device (IED) that went off in a public toilet on the second floor of the district courts complex have revealed that it was a major terror strike capable of causing massive damage to people’s lives and property. But since it was “mistimed” or “went off accidentally before being planted”, it helped minimise the destruction and, in turn, took the life of the carrier only.

“The recovery of aluminium particles and plastic shrapnel from the body of the deceased clearly showed the strength of the explosive material,” said the officers, adding that had the explosion taken place at a crowded place, it could have caused an unimaginable devastation.

Was in touch with ISI, BKI

Gagandeep Singh was in touch with members of the ISI, Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), based abroad, who were hell bent to disturb peace in Punjab and again raise the bogey of a separate state ahead of the Assembly elections due in early next year,” investigators said.

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