Batala (Punjab) [India], May 20 (ANI): In a significant counterterrorism operation, Punjab Police have dismantled a terror module of the banned outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), backed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Following an encounter, six operatives involved in a failed grenade attack on a liquor vend in Batala were arrested.
The operation was being directed by foreign-based handlers Maninder Billa, based in Portugal, and Mannu Agwan, who recently assumed operational control of BKI after the arrest of Happy Passian in the United States. Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav posted on X that the arrested individuals—Jatin Kumar alias Rohan, Barinder Singh alias Sajan, Rahul Masih, Abraham alias Rohit, Sohit, and Sunil Kumar—were receiving direct instructions from Billa and Agwan, under the command of BKI mastermind Harwinder Singh Rinda.
During the operation, Jatin Kumar was injured in an exchange of fire with police while being taken for recovery. He opened fire on the police team and sustained injuries in retaliatory action. He is currently admitted to Civil Hospital, Batala. Police recovered a 30-bore pistol from the module, according to the DGP.
A case has been registered at Police Station Civil Lines in Batala under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Meanwhile, on Friday, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted searches at 15 locations in Punjab in connection with a grenade attack on a police station in Gurdaspur district in December of last year. The raids were carried out in Gurdaspur, Batala, Amritsar, and Kapurthala districts and led to the seizure of several incriminating materials, including mobile phones, digital devices, and documents.
The targeted premises were linked to suspects associated with U.S.-based BKI operative and gangster Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passian, as well as his contacts Shamsher Singh Shera alias Honey and others based in various countries. Happy, a key aide of Pakistan-based BKI terrorist Harwinder Singh alias Rinda, is believed to have orchestrated multiple grenade attacks on police stations and posts in Punjab and Haryana in recent months.
NIA investigations into the grenade attack on Police Station Ghanie Ke Bangar in Gurdaspur district revealed that the accused arrested in the case had acted on the directions of Happy, with assistance from Shamsher and other foreign-based operatives. According to the agency, BKI operatives based abroad were engaged in a criminal conspiracy to recruit and train India-based associates and provide them with funding, weapons, and explosives to carry out terrorist activities on Indian soil.
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