Punjab Police Invoke UAPA in Moga Migrant Worker Shooting Case
In a significant development, Punjab Police announced on Tuesday that they have invoked provisions of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the February 10 firing incident targeting migrant workers in Moga. This decision follows the recovery of two China-made hand grenades, with authorities alleging the attack was specifically designed to spread terror among the laborer community in the state.
Recovery of Chinese-Made Explosives
Faridkot Range Inspector General Nilambari Jagadale, during a detailed media briefing accompanied by Moga SSP Ajay Gandhi and SP (Investigation) Bal Krishan Singla, revealed that the third accused, Shahbir Singh, was brought on a production warrant from Yamunanagar police in Haryana to Moga on Monday. Following intensive questioning, police seized two hand grenades.
The IG confirmed that the explosives were identified as China-made P86 high explosive-fragmentation (HE-Frag) hand grenades. Consequently, sections of the Explosive Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act have been formally added to the FIR originally registered on February 10.
IG Jagadale emphasized that the investigation has uncovered that the alleged aim of the shooters was to deliberately create a climate of fear and terror among migrant workers residing and working in Punjab. This critical finding directly led to the invocation of the UAPA provisions, which are typically reserved for cases involving terrorism and unlawful activities.
Expanding Network of Arrests
The case has seen a widening net of arrests. Earlier, two other primary accused individuals—Jobanpreet Singh and Akashdeep Singh—were apprehended after an encounter near Ghal Kalan village on February 15. Both sustained injuries during the exchange of fire with police personnel.
In a move highlighting the alleged support network, police have also arrested five family members of these three main accused. They are charged with providing shelter and logistical support to the perpetrators. Those arrested include Jobanpreet's brother Harmanjot Singh and mother Inderjit Kaur, Shahbir's father Harjit Singh, and Akashdeep's mother Parveen Kaur and sister Sandeep Kaur. Authorities stated these family members were aware of the criminal activities but failed to inform the police.
Furthermore, two additional individuals were arrested from Jammu and Kashmir for their alleged role in supplying weapons used in the attack. Three more accused—identified as Lakhwinder Singh, Sukhveer Singh, and Shubhneet Singh—have been taken into custody for their suspected involvement in the conspiracy behind the shooting.
Details of the February 10 Attack
The incident, which has now taken a more serious turn with UAPA charges, occurred on February 10 when bike-borne assailants opened fire on a group of approximately ten migrant workers. Two mill workers from Uttar Pradesh, Ashok Kumar and Subodh, were injured in the attack. In a disturbing twist, the assailants filmed the entire shooting incident.
The video was later uploaded to the social media platform Instagram, amplifying the terror impact and showcasing the brazen nature of the crime. This act of recording and disseminating the violence further supported the police's assessment of an intent to spread terror.
Ongoing Investigations and Linkages
IG Jagadale provided additional context, noting that Shahbir Singh had previously been arrested in an extortion case in Yamunanagar. Haryana police informed their Moga counterparts after learning he was wanted in connection with the firing case.
Based on disclosures made during interrogation, police successfully recovered the two hand grenades from Bhangali Naraingarh village in Ferozepur district. Officials suspect these grenades were illegally smuggled into India from across the international border, raising concerns about cross-border weapon trafficking.
The senior police officials, including the IG and SSP, confirmed that investigations are actively probing both backward and forward linkages. The focus is on tracing the precise source of the grenades and other weapons used, as well as establishing how the local shooters came into contact with the two accused individuals arrested from Jammu and Kashmir. This comprehensive probe aims to dismantle the entire network behind the attack on migrant workers.
