Three operatives of BKI-backed terror module arrested

The counter-intelligence wing of the Jalandhar police on Friday claimed to have averted a major targeted killing in Punjab with the arrest of three alleged operatives of a Babbar Khalsa International (BKI)-backed terror module.

Those arrested have been identified as Jagroop Singh, a resident of Naushehra Kalan in Amritsar; Sukhjit Singh, a resident of Mirzapur village in Kapurthala; and Navpreet Singh alias Nav, a resident of Fatehabad village in Tarn Taran. The police also recovered four pistols, including two countrymade weapons, along with four magazines and 22 cartridges from them.

Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav said preliminary investigation revealed that the module was being handled by US-based gangster Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi Nawashehria, who is a close aide of Pakistan-based terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda.

He said the probe revealed that Gopi Nawashehria, with the help of his Greece-based associate Laadi Bakapuria, was motivating youth to carry out anti-national activities in the state.

Navjot Singh Mahal, AIG (counter-intelligence), said Jagroop and Sukhjit were apprehended with weapons while they were waiting for their other associate in a car near an underbridge at Surya Enclave in Jalandhar.

Following information provided by Jagroop, the police arrested Navpreet later.

The AIG said Jagroop was a habitual offender and earlier, he had been sentenced to three years in prison in a murder case in Amritsar.