Gurdaspur, Dec 2: Gurdaspur police, working with Punjab’s counter-intelligence wing, have arrested four individuals involved in the grenade attack on Gurdaspur City Police Station last month. The operation recovered one Chinese-type P-86 hand grenade and multiple firearms, preventing another planned strike in the border district.
The arrested include Pradeep Kumar and Gurdit from Gurdaspur, and Naveen Chaudhary and Kush from Talwara, Hoshiarpur. Police seized a Zigana pistol, a .32 bore pistol, and live ammunition from the suspects.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Border Range, Sandeep Goel, revealed that the attack was orchestrated by Pakistan-based ISI-backed gangster Shahzad Bhatti and Zeeshan Akhtar, with assistance from US-based handler Amandeep Singh, alias Aman Pannu. “Aman Pannu recruited local operatives in Punjab to carry out terror operations under the guidance of Bhatti and Akhtar,” DIG Goel said.
Pradeep and Gurdit, who provided financial and logistical support to the attack module, led police to Naveen and Kush. The latter pair had received two hand grenades from Akhtar, one of which was used in the November 25 attack. DIG Goel confirmed the second grenade was recovered, preventing a fresh terror attempt.
SSP Gurdaspur, Aditya, said the final arrest followed a shootout near Jagatpur village. “The suspects fired at police at a checkpoint. Our teams returned fire in self-defence. Naveen and Kush were injured and are receiving medical care,” he said.
Two FIRs have been registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Arms Act, and Explosives Substances Act at Gurdaspur City and Purana Shalla Police Stations. The bomb disposal squad defused the recovered grenade, ensuring public safety.
