Punjab Police arrest 2 militants to avert terror attack on I day, seize grenades and other weapons

Chandigarh, August 16 (HS): Days after Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh warned of escalated terror threat to the state from Pakistan-based forces, the Punjab Police on Sunday night arrested two militants, allegedly associated with a UK-based terrorist entity, to avert a possible terrorist attack on/around the Independence Day. The police also seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition, including 2 hand-grenades, 1 Pistol (9mm), alongwith live bullets and magazines from their possession.

The duo, operating on the directions of UK-based terrorist Gurpreet Singh Khalsa @Gurpreet, were nabbed from Amritsar, and had been tasked with retrieving a weapons consignment sent from across the border, according to DGP Dinkar Gupta. They consignment was most likely delivered in the border area around Attari-Jhabal Road some days ago, he said, adding that

Gurpreet Singh Khalsa @Gurpreet was also involved in the Shingar Bomb case Ludhiana.

Giving details, the DGP said that in view of the large number of intel inputs indicating plans by Pak ISI and terrorist elements based abroad, who are working in close collaboration with the ISI, to carry out an attack in India on or around Independence Day, Punjab Police had made extensive security arrangements at the borders. Special security checkpoints were set up and patrolling was intensified 24X7.

During checking at one such naka around midnight between August 15 & 16, two mobike riders were stopped by police personnel deployed at a check-point near Adda Khalsa by PS Gharinda, (Amritsar-Rural). The cops found the duo suspicious as they could neither explain their presence at the late hour nor produce any valid document pertaining to the ownership of vehicle. The body search of pillion rider Amritpal Singh s/o Karnail Singh led to the recovery of 1 Pistol (9 mm), 1 magazine and 7 live cartridges, said the DGP. The bike was being driven by Sammy s/o Ranjinder Singh of Sultanwind, Amritsar.

In total, 2 Hand-grenades, 2 Pistols (9 mm), 4 magazines and 20 bullets have been seized, the spokesperson said. An FIR has been registered at Police Station Gharinda, Amritsar, the spokesperson added.

It may be recalled that the Chief Minister had met union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi last week and sought 25 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) along with anti-drone gadgets for the Border Security Force (BSF) for protection from Pak-backed terror forces.