Punjab police foils major ISI-backed terror plot

In a major blow to Pakistan’s ISI-backed cross-border terror networks amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police’s Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) Punjab successfully foiled a major terror plot orchestrated by Pak-based Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Harwinder Rinda and terrorist Lakhbir Landa.

Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav said that teams of the AGTF had received credible human intelligence about the consignment containing an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) pushed from Pakistan. Acting swiftly, AGTF, in close coordination with Tarn Taran Police, launched a combing operation in the district and recovered an IED from the area of Naushera Pannuan in Tarn Taran before it could reach Rinda and Landa's local associates for potential use in subversive activities, he said.

The DGP further stated that the IED was immediately secured and safely transported to a designated location, where it was successfully neutralised in a controlled detonation by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team. The prompt and coordinated action of Punjab Police personnel averted a major tragedy and ensured public safety, he added.

Sharing more details, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) AGTF Promod Ban said that the preliminary investigations have revealed that the recovered IED was pushed into Punjab by the Pakistani agencies backed terrorist modules with intentions to disrupt public peace and target innocent lives in the border state.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) AGTF Gurmeet Singh Chauhan said that a case FIR no. 106 has been registered under sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act and section 111 of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita at Police Station Sirhali in Tarn Taran. Further investigation is ongoing to uncover and apprehend the associates of Rinda and Landa, he said.