Three Punjab men held in Chandigarh IED recovery case

Three suspects hailing from Punjab have been arrested in connection with the recovery of an improvised explosive device here, police said on Monday.

The IED concealed in a tiffin box inside a bag was recovered from a forest area behind the Inter-State Bus Terminus in Sector 43 here on Sunday.

The recovery comprised 5 kilograms of gelatin stick explosives, a detonator, power source, remotely operated system, a pistol, a magazine and five live cartridges, police said.

The Chandigarh Police action followed specific intelligence regarding the movement of suspected operatives associated with the proscribed outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), they said.

The arrested accused were Lovepreet Singh (19), a resident of Sarhali village in Tarn Taran; Jashanpreet Singh alias Jashandeep (21), a resident of Deobath village in Tarn Taran and Prabhpreet Singh alias Prabh (19), a resident of Tarsikka village in Amritsar.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused were allegedly in contact with Satnam alias Satta Naushera, a foreign-based handler of the BKI. Acting on Satnam's directions, they had planned to plant an IED in Chandigarh to create terror, police said.

Investigations are underway to establish the wider network, the source of the explosive material, and the role of other associates, police said.

Chandigarh Police has registered an FIR under relevant sections of the Explosive Substances Act, they said.