DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

The Punjab Police on Sunday said they have arrested three operatives of the terrorist outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) for their alleged involvement in two grenade attacks on two police posts in Punjab's Patiala and Haryana. Two hand grenades and two pistols were recovered from their possession, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said.

He said the BKI module was being operated by foreign-based handlers Maninder Billa and Manu Agwan.

Those arrested have been identified as Sandeep Singh alias Deepu, a resident of Badshahpur in Patiala, Harpreet Singh alias Jagga, a resident of Harchandpura in Patiala, Harmanpreet Singh alias Preet, a resident of Gurdialpura in Patiala.

The development came after grenade attacks were reported at Police Post Badshahpur in Patiala on April 1, 2025, and Police Post Ajimgarh in Haryana on April 6, 2025. Following the incidents, operatives of BKI -- ?Happy Passia, Manu Agwan, and Gopi Nawasherian -- had used social media platforms to claim responsibility for these terror acts.

"By successfully busting this module, the Punjab Police has solved both incidents of grenade attacks on police establishments in the state," said the DGP, while adding that both the handlers were working on the directions of terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda.

Yadav said the module had received logistical and financial support. Preliminary investigation has also suggested that the module was actively planning further attacks on police establishments in Punjab, he said, while adding that further investigation is on to trace forward and backward linkages in this case.

Sharing more details, Assistant Inspector General, Counter Intelligence, Simrat Kaur during the interrogation, arrested accused persons have confessed that attacks at both the police establishments were masterminded by their associate identified as Gurpreet Singh alias Babbu, who is lodged in Patiala jail and now is in the police custody.

She said that probe has found that mastermind Gurpreet Singh alias Babbu had promised Sandeep Singh alias Deepu Rs 3-4 lakh for participating in the Badshahpur attack, while, Harmanpreet Singh alias Preet was paid Rs 10,000 for accompanying in the Ajimgarh attack.

(editor@dailyworld.in)