Chandigarh, March 31: The State Special Operation Cell, Punjab, today claimed to have busted a terrorist module comprising highly radicalised and motivated youths who were planning to target specific persons, including Hindu leaders and members of the Dera Sacha Sauda who are being allegedly held responsible for incidents of sacrilege and desecration in the state.
After radicalisation over social media platforms created by suspected foreign operatives based in Europe, these persons had organised several meetings and were planning to indulge in various violent actions to disturb peace and communal harmony in the state, the police said.
The arrested include Harvinder Singh of Rally village, Sector 12, Panchkula, Sultan Singh of Saidpura village near Kurukshetra, Karamjeet Singh of Raoke Kalan village near Moga, Lovepreet Singh of Baliyan near Sangrur and Gurpreet Singh, alias Preet, of Sector 20, Chandigarh.
Varinder Paul Singh, Additional Inspector General, State Special Operation Cell of Punjab Police, said the operation to nab these persons was carried out on the directions given by Director General of Police, Intelligence, VK Bhawra.
A case under Sections 17, 18 and 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act has been registered against the youths in Mohali.
The police said in collaboration with their handlers and associates based in India and abroad, these radicalised youth had already procured lethal weapons and were in the process of mobilising funds to acquire other terrorist-related hardware. They were also planning to arrange weapon training sessions in Jammu and Kashmir, the police claimed.
They were also in touch with militants, including Jagtar Singh Hawara of Babbar Khalsa, who is lodged in jail, and Ranjit Singh Pakhoke, an active member of the Khalistan Tiger Force, who is residing in Germany.
A .32-bore pistol along with a magazine and four live rounds and 15 letter pads of Babbar Khalsa International have been recovered from them.
“Further investigations are in progress to unravel the conspiracy and network of operatives based in India and abroad,” Paul said.
15 BKI letter pads recovered
- The youths were planning to indulge in violent activities to disturb peace in the state, the police have claimed.
- They were in touch with militants, including Jagtar Singh Hawara of Babbar Khalsa, who is lodged in jail, and Ranjit Singh Pakhoke, an active member of the Khalistan Tiger Force, who is residing in Germany.
- A .32-bore pistol along with a magazine and four live rounds and 15 letter pads of Babbar Khalsa International have been recovered from them.
