The police have foiled a terror plot in Chandigarh and apprehended three persons who are reportedly linked with the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), a pro-Khalistani terror outfit sponsored by Pakistan's notorious spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), said officials on Sunday.
The police have also recovered a suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) that was found concealed inside a tiffin box bag and firearms from the three men, who were held behind the Inter-State Bus Terminus in Sector 43 of the union territory (UT).
According to the police, the three men are reportedly from Punjab and were identified as Lovepreet Singh (19 years old), Jashanpreet Singh alias Jashandeep (21 years old), and Prabhpreet Singh alias Prabh (19 years old) after intelligence inputs suggested the movement of suspected BKI operatives.
'Plant IED and terrorise people'
They were allegedly acting on the behest of one, named Satnam alias Satta Naushera, who is a suspect foreign-based NKI handler. They wanted to plant an IED in Chandigarh and terrorise the people, but their plans were thwarted by the security agencies, the police said.
"During the operation, approximately 5 kg of gelatin stick explosives, one detonator, power source, and remotely operated system, one pistol, one magazine, and five live cartridges were recovered," the Chandigarh Police said in a statement.
Security heightened, probe on
The Chandigarh Police has heightened security around important sites and key places, particularly at crucial transit points. It, though, has assured the public that there is no need to panic. The police have also said that further details will be revealed following a thorough investigation, adding that a first information report (FIR) has already been registered.
"Further investigation is underway to establish the wider network, the source of the explosive material, and the role of other associates," the police's statement read.
This is second time in around a month that a BKI module has been busted in Chandigarh. Around July 26, the police busted a similar module, arresting a person and recovering an IED packed with 1.3 kg of high explosive, along with shrapnel and ball bearings.
The arrested accused was identified as Satbir Singh, a resident of village Padiana in Adampur, Jalandhar, against whom the police later registered an FIR under the relevant sections of the BNS, the Explosive Substances Act, and the Arms Act.
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