Thwarting a possible terrorist attack ahead of Republic Day, Punjab Police on Friday have seized RDX, a grenade launcher, two compatible grenades, nine electrical detonators and two sets of timer devices for IEDs from Gurdaspur. The police have also arrested one person.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Border Range Mohinish Chawla on Friday said that 40 mm Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) with two 40 mm compatible grenades, 3.79 Kg RDX, nine electrical detonators and two sets of timer devices for IEDs were seized from Gurdaspur.
As per the information, UBGL is a short-range grenade launching area weapon with an effective range of 150 meters and It could be detrimental to the VVIP security as well.
The recovery was made on the disclosure of Malkeet Singh, a resident of village Gazikot in Gurdaspur, who was arrested by the Gurdaspur Police on Thursday, based on secret information.
The police have also booked co-conspirators of Malkeet, identified as Sukhpreet Singh alias Sukh Ghuman, Tharanjot Singh alias Thanna and Sukhmeetpal Singh alias Sukh Bikhariwal; all residents of Gurdaspur, besides, Pakistan-based International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) chief Lakhbir Singh Rode and fugitive gangster Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dalla.
IG Mohinish Chawla said that investigations hitherto, in this case, has revealed that the arrested accused Malkeet was in direct contact with Sukh Ghuman, who had further conspired with ISYF chief Lakhbir Rode, an individual designated terrorist under UA (P) Act and fugitive gangster Arsh Dalla, native of Moga and now based in Canada. The consignment of explosives were sent by Lakhbir Rode from Pakistan, he added.
SSP Gurdaspur Nanak Singh said that the role of Malkeet Singh in retrieval and delivery of firearms/explosive consignments intended for recently busted ISYF terror module busted by SBS Nagar Police, was revealed during investigation therein.
He said that the FIR No. 11 dated January 20, 2022 under sections 17 and 18 of UA(P) Act, sections 4 and 5 of Explosive Substances Act, section 120B of IPC and sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of Arms Act has been registered at Dinanagar Police Station.
"Investigations are on to identify remaining members of the busted terrorist modules, recover the remaining terrorist hardware received by them and unravel the entire conspiracy, hatched by ISI of Pakistan and Lakhbir Rode," he added.
The role of Lakhbir Rode was also found in killing of Comrade Balwinder Singh at Bhikhiwind on October 16, 2020 besides in the recovery of tiffin IED, RDX, arms and ammunition from his relative Gurmukh Singh Rode from Jalandhar in August 2021.
Lakhbir Rode's role was also prominently figured in the recently busted terror module at SBS Nagar. Sukhmeetpal Singh alias Sukh Bhikhariwal, who is presently lodged in Tihar Jail, Delhi was also involved in the killing of Comrade Balwinder Singh and in case of a murderous attack on Honey Mahajan at Dhariwal on February 10, 2020.
He was deported from Dubai in December, 2020. Sukh Bhikhariwal provided foot soldiers, arms and ammunition, logistics, funds, etc for execution of these crimes.
It is pertinent to mention that during November-December 2021, the Gurdaspur Police had busted two terrorist modules controlled by ISI of Pakistan and arrested four members of the modules besides recovered around 1 kg RDX, six hand grenades, one tiffin box IED, three electrical detonators and two pistols.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Trouble In Punjab Kings? Report Claims Preity Zinta Taking Legal Route On Fellow Co-Owner Punjab Toll Plaza Blunder: Man Charged Rs 220 While Relaxing At Home Complete All Central Projects Without Delay: Punjab Governor Tells Officials Parents Gave Names Of Interns, Doctors To CBI In Kolkata Horror: Sources Who Is Jasveen Sangha, "Ketamine Queen" Charged With Matthew Perry's Death How Extreme Weather Is Leading To Rise In Child Marriages In Pakistan Delhi Experienced 15 Consecutive Days Of Rainfall, Says Weather Department Pilot Dies After Plane Crashes During Aerobatic Show In France "Vandals, Scandals Marring Civic Life In Bengal": Governor On Kolkata Rape Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.