PATIALA – In a major counter-terrorism breakthrough, the Patiala Police on Tuesday announced the dismantling of a Pakistan-backed terror module following a botched sabotage attempt on the Shambhu-Ambala railway line. The operation led to the arrest of four radicalized operatives and the recovery of a significant cache of military-grade arms and explosives.
The breakthrough follows a late-night explosion on Monday on the dedicated freight corridor near Bathonia village. While initially suspected to be a low-intensity blast, forensic evidence revealed a more sinister “attempted detonation” that resulted in the death of one suspect on the spot.
The Mastermind and the Organization
During a press conference at the Police Lines, DIG Patiala Range Kuldeep Singh Chahal and SSP Varun Sharma identified the kingpin as Pradeep Singh Khalsa, a resident of Mansa. Khalsa reportedly spearheaded a radical organization named “Chalda Vahir Chakravarti, Attarie.”
According to investigators, Khalsa was in direct contact with Khalistani militant groups based in Malaysia and handlers from Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI. The module’s objective was to revive militancy in Punjab by orchestrating a series of blasts at critical infrastructure and public locations.
The Arrests and Deceased Suspect
The police arrested four “habitual offenders” near the Badi Nadi Bandh Road on Tuesday afternoon:
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Pradeep Singh Khalsa (Mansa) – The module’s mastermind.
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Kulwinder Singh Bagga (Mansa).
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Satnam Singh Satta (Tarn Taran).
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Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi (Tarn Taran).
The suspect killed in the Monday night blast has been identified as Jagroop Singh ‘Rupa’, a resident of Panjwar village in Tarn Taran. Police believe the IED detonated prematurely while Jagroop was attempting to plant it on the tracks.
Seizures and Technical Evidence
A search of the suspects and their hideouts yielded a heavy quantity of militant hardware:
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Arms: One hand grenade and two .30 bore pistols with live cartridges.
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Explosives: Specialized materials for manufacturing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
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Technology: Laptops and technical equipment used for encrypted communication with foreign handlers.
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Vehicles: Two motorcycles recovered from the blast site, which provided initial leads for the investigation.
Legal Proceedings
The Patiala Police have registered FIRs under several stringent laws, including:
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Section 111 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (Organized Crime).
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Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Sections 13, 16, 18, and 20.
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Explosive Substances Act and The Arms Act.
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Section 150 of the Railways Act.
SSP Varun Sharma stated that the timely arrest of these individuals has “successfully averted major incidents in Punjab that could have resulted in significant loss of life.” The accused will be produced in court to seek police remand for further interrogation regarding their foreign funding and potential sleeper cell links.
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