Punjab Police Thwarts Terror Plot with Swift Arrests in Bathinda
In a significant intelligence-led operation, the Counter Intelligence (CI) wing of Bathinda police successfully averted a potential terror threat on Wednesday. The police arrested two individuals and recovered two hand grenades from their possession, marking a critical victory in maintaining public safety in the border state of Punjab.
Details of the Arrested Accused
The arrested persons have been identified as Buta Singh, also known as Gurpreet Singh or Gopu, a resident of Gillwali in Ferozepur, and Harmander Singh, alias Nikka, from Mothawali in Moga. According to police reports, these individuals were linked to a terror module that had retrieved the hand grenades as part of an illegal supply chain.
Police Investigation and Statements
Gaurav Yadav, the Director General of Police (DGP) for Punjab, stated that preliminary investigations indicate the recovered grenades were connected to cross-border elements. "The grenades were intended to disrupt peace and public safety in Punjab," Yadav emphasized. He added that further investigation is ongoing to establish forward and backward linkages and identify other associates involved in this module.
Avneet Kaur Sidhu, Assistant Inspector General of Police for CI Bathinda, provided details on the operation. She explained that police teams acted on reliable intelligence about the two operatives. "Acting swiftly, CI Bathinda launched an intelligence-led operation and apprehended both suspects from the Moga-Ferozepur road, recovering two hand grenades," Sidhu said. She highlighted that this swift action neutralized a potential threat and prevented an untoward incident.
Legal Actions and Ongoing Efforts
In response to the arrests, an FIR has been registered under Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Explosives Act at the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) police station in Fazilka. The police are continuing their efforts to dismantle the terror network and ensure comprehensive security measures are in place across the region.
