2 operatives of BKI terror module held

Days after busting the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror module, the Counter Intelligence (CI) Jalandhar has arrested two more operatives of the same module and seized an 86P hand grenade from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Tuesday.

Those arrested have been identified as Vishavjit and Jackson, both residents of Shankar in Nakodar.

Sources said the Punjab Police arrested five operatives, including Ritik Naroliya and Sonu Kumar, alias Kali, and three juveniles of the BKI module, for their alleged involvement in the Nawanshahr grenade attack and seized the 86P hand grenade and one .30 bore pistol from them.

DGP Yadav said acting on forward and backward linkages, the CI Jalandhar seized the 86P hand grenade following the arrest of two BKI operatives Ritik Naroliya and a juvenile from Rajasthan a few days ago. The disclosures of the accused led to the arrest of their aides Vishavjit from Kolkata — while he was trying to flee to Malaysia. His accomplice Jackson was arrested from Nakodar, which led to the seizure of the hand grenade, he said. Yadav said all accused were acting on the directions of Canada-based BKI masterminds Zeeshan Akhtar and Ajay Gill.

AIG CI Navjot Singh Mahal said preliminary investigations revealed that accused Vishavjit and Jackson had retrieved two hand grenades from Beas through their associates in the last week of July this year. Of these, one grenade was exploded at a liquor shop in SBS Nagar 10 days ago by other members of this module, he said.

The AIG said further investigations were on in the case and more arrests were likely in the coming days.

A case has been registered under relevant Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) Amritsar police station, he added.