Pak gangster fuelling terror in Punjab: Intel

Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti, a long-time rival of category-A gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, has allegedly emerged as a key handler behind the weapons and explosive consignments being pushed into Punjab to fuel terrorist activities. Intelligence and security agencies say Bhatti, backed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has been instrumental in supplying explosives, including the hand grenade used in the Gurdaspur police station blast.

The Delhi Police recently arrested three men, allegedly linked to Bhatti’s ISI-sponsored module and involved in the Gurdaspur grenade attack. The Gurdaspur police have also apprehended several members of the same network, claiming to have foiled another planned strike on police establishments.

After months of relative calm, police and government facilities again appear to be targets, with Pakistan-sponsored “foot soldiers” reactivated. Last year saw repeated attacks on police stations and posts in Amritsar, Gurdaspur and other districts.

A senior police official said the ISI had been using Bhatti to orchestrate major strikes in Punjab. “He has been heavily involved in trafficking arms and ammunition across countries, including the US, Canada and now India,” the officer said.

DIG (Border Range) Sandeep Goel said investigations into the recently busted module revealed Bhatti’s tactics of recruiting vulnerable youth online by offering money and promises of settling them in the US.

“The Gurdaspur grenade attack was masterminded by Bhatti and his associate Zeeshan Akhtar—with support from their US-based handler Amandeep Singh, alias Aman Pannu,” Goel said. Pannu, originally from Gurdaspur, allegedly recruited foot soldiers to carry out strikes in Punjab.

The Punjab Police have arrested four accused in the Gurdaspur attack and seized a P-86 hand grenade, a Zigana pistol, a .32-bore pistol and live cartridges. Accused Pradeep Kumar of Hoshiarpur; Gurdit of Gurdaspur; and Naveen Chaudhary and Kush of Talwara were allegedly planning another grenade attack to spread terror in the state.