The Ludhiana Commissionerate Police said on Thursday that it has busted a “Pakistan-based ISI backed grenade attack module with the arrest of 10 key operatives” and identification of their “foreign-based handlers believed to be in Malaysia.”
The handlers were allegedly assigned to carry out a grenade attack in a populated area to create unrest in Punjab, Punjab Police DGP Gaurav Yadav said in a media statement.
Yadav said that preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused were in contact with Pak-based handlers through three operatives based in Malaysia to coordinate the pickup and delivery of a hand grenade.
Ludhiana City Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma, while addressing a press conference in the city, said that Red Corner Notices (RCNs) were being issued against “three foreign-based masterminds” believed to be in Malaysia, and having alleged links with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).” They have been identified as: Ajay alias Ajay Malaysia, native of Rajasthan, Jass Behbal, and Pawandeep, also a native of Rajasthan. Initially, the Ludhiana Police arrested three men, identified as Kuldeep Singh, Shekhar Singh, and Ajay Singh alias Ajay, all residents of Muktsar Sahib in Punjab, and a probe was launched.
It all started on October 27 Kuldeep was arrested with a “live Chinese Hand Grenade”, a black kit, and a set of gloves. An FIR was registered at Basti Jodhewal police station under Sections 3,4, and 5 of the Explosives Act and Section 113 (Terrorist act) of the BNS. Later, the police also added the relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) to the FIR. After Kuldeep, his two accomplices — Shekhar and Ajay — were also arrested.
As probe widened, three other accused – Amrik Singh, Parminder alias Chiri, and Vijay — were brought on production warrant from different jails and nominated as accused after questioning. Four others — Sukhjit Singh alias Sukh Bra of Faridkot, Sukhwinder Singh of Faridkot, Karanveer Singh alias Vicky of Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, and Sajan Kumar alias Sanju of Muktsar — were arrested for their roles as couriers and facilitators, said the police. Sharma said that further probe identified Malaysia-based masterminds Ajay, Jass Behbal, and Pawandeep, who were known to reside together abroad and were in contact with local facilitators Amrik Singh and Parminder alias Chiri, both of whom were previously involved in drug smuggling operations, he said.
The officer said that during the investigation, Vijay, brother of Ajay, who was lodged in Ganganagar Jail in connection with a commercial quantity NDPS Act case, was also arrested on a production warrant for his role as a facilitator in this case.
The probe further uncovered the local network involving accused persons Sukhjit Singh, Sukhwinder Singh, Karanveer Singh and Sajan alias Sanu in facilitating the delivery of the hand grenade in Punjab, he added.
