A major terror plot was foiled as 4 ISI Khalistani terrorists were arrested in Haryana’s Karnal. The arrested terrorists have confessed to working for Pakistan-based gangster-turned-BKI operative Harvinder Singh ‘Rinda’. Rinda was running the Ferozepur-based terror cum weapons explosives smuggling module.
All four arrested terrorists belong to Punjab. They were taken into custody at around 4 this morning. The Karnal police have recovered a huge cache of explosives including three IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) and .30 caliber pistols from the four.
Haryana’s Home Minister Anil Vij told reporters that “four terrorists were going in the Innova vehicle. We arrested them on the basis of inputs and arms and ammunition has been recovered. Further probe is on”.
A joint interstate operation by the Telangana, Punjab, and Haryana police along with the Intelligence Bureau led to the arrests. Local kingpin Gurpreet Singh aka Gurtez aka Arman is among the terrorists who have been arrested.
“In an intelligence-led operation, Punjab Police and Haryana Police arrested four persons today at Karnal with the recovery of 3 IEDs weighing 2.5 Kg each and one pistol. Further investigation is on,” the Punjab Police said in a tweet.
According to reports, the terrorists were traveling from Punjab’s Ferozepur to Maharashtra’s Nanded Sahib and Telangana when they were caught at Karnal’s Bastara toll plaza. The Toyota Innova in which the four were traveling was seized by the police. Sacks filled with arms and ammunition were recovered from the vehicle.
“They were allegedly in touch with a Pakistan-based man, who is involved in terror activities and who used to send locations through an app to them to deliver explosives and weapons, Superintendent of Police, Karnal, Ganga Ram Punia told reporters in Karnal”, noted Business Standard.
Gurpreet is reported to have confessed during interrogation that obtained the consignment from Pakistan using drones on Rinda’s orders. The police confirmed that the terrorists were distributing arms and ammunition for ISI agent Rinda.
A Zee News report said that bullets and gunpowder containers were recovered from the vehicle the terror suspects were traveling in. Police say the substance recovered in the container could be RDX. After their arrest, a bomb disposal squad was called to investigate and check the contents of the package.
Police suspect that the terrorists were preparing for a large-scale terror attack. The city of Karnal was put on high alert after the arrests. Senior police and administrative officials arrived at the site to take stock of the situation. The terrorists were taken to the Madhuban police station after they were remanded to 10 days of police custody till May 15 by the Karnal court.
Police said that further investigations are ongoing. Haryana Police has constituted a Special Investigation Team for the investigations. A case has been registered under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and under the sections of the Arms Act and the Explosive Substance Act.
It is pertinent to note that central agencies had warned of a tie-up between pro-Khalistani elements (PKEs) and Pakistan’s ISI. The agencies had even listed out their anti-Bharat plans. As per intelligence inputs, PKEs are using their cadres to bring terror weapons and explosives from Jammu and Punjab via the Bharat-Pakistan border.
Furthermore, ISI is believed to be targeting political leaders in several states across Bharat including Punjab. It has reportedly enlisted PKEs to execute its terror plans. ISI is also aiding PKEs to carry out attacks and disturb the law and order across Bharat using gangsters and criminals.
(Featured Image Source: The Financial Express)
