2 Pak-backed terror modules busted, 4 held

Days after the hand grenade attack on the Gurdaspur (City) police station, DIG (Border Range) Sandeep Goel on Monday announced the busting of two Pakistan-backed terror modules, leading to the arrest of four persons, including those directly involved in the police station attack.

The police seized a hand grenade and two pistols from the accused. According to the DIG, the modules were being directed by Pakistan-based ISI-backed gangster-turned-terrorist Shehzad Bhatti. He, along with Indian gangster Jeshan Akhtar—wanted in the Baba Siddiqui murder case—and Amandeep Singh, alias Pannu, of Gurdaspur, had been conspiring to carry out grenade attacks on government and police establishments across Punjab and other parts of the country.

The DIG said Amandeep was responsible for recruiting vulnerable youth by promising monetary rewards and facilitating illegal settlement in the USA. He also supplied them with explosives for carrying out attacks.

Following the grenade attack at the Gurdaspur city police station on November 25, the police arrested Gurdit Singh of Gurdaspur and Pardeep of Hoshiarpur. Two more module members, Hargunpreet Singh of Zira and Vijay Prajapati of Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh), were arrested by the Delhi Police. Another accomplice has been identified, and teams have been dispatched to apprehend him. The arrested accused will be brought to Punjab on production warrants for further interrogation.

During the investigation, police also unearthed another terror module planning a similar strike.