Chandigarh, Aug 19 — Punjab Police’s Counter Intelligence unit has averted a major terror plot with the recovery of 86 P hand grenades and the arrest of multiple suspects linked to Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said the entire module was working on the instructions of Canada-based BKI operatives Zeeshan Akhtar and Ajay Gill. “The recovery of grenades and the arrests have prevented a major incident in the state,” Yadav noted.
The breakthrough came after the earlier arrest of Ritik Narolia and a minor from Rajasthan. Interrogation of the two led police to other members of the network. Acting on those leads, officers arrested Vishwajit in Kolkata as he was attempting to escape to Malaysia, while another accused, Jackson, was held in Nakodar.
“Based on their disclosures, the grenades were recovered and a serious attempt to spread terror was foiled in time,” police said.
Investigators revealed that in late July, Vishwajit and Jackson obtained two grenades from Beas with the help of associates. One of those grenades was used about 10 days ago in an attack on a liquor shop in SBS Nagar, indicating the network had already begun carrying out strikes in Punjab.
An FIR has been registered with the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) in Amritsar, and police are continuing efforts to identify and apprehend other members of the module.
