Two ISI-backed cross-border terror modules busted, 4 minors among 9 held: Punjab Police

The Punjab Police on Tuesday said it has busted two ISI-backed cross-border terror modules and apprehended nine accused, including four juveniles, with arms and ammunition.

It said preliminary investigation found that foreign-based ISI handlers of the accused were trying to recruit local youth for carrying out terror-related activities and disturbing public peace.

"In a major breakthrough, Amritsar Commissionerate Police busts two ISI-backed cross-border terror modules, apprehends nine accused, including four juveniles, and recovers 3 illegal pistols, 4 petrol bottle bombs, and 9 live cartridges," Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said in a post on X.

He said preliminary investigation revealed that the accused were acting at the behest of foreign-based ISI handlers, who were attempting to recruit local youth to carry out terror-related activities, conduct surveillance of security installations, procure illegal weapons and disturb public peace.

The investigation also uncovered the installation of surveillance cameras near Railway tracks, with footage allegedly shared with foreign handlers, the DGP said.

FIRs have been registered at Mohkampura, airport and C-Division, Amritsar, police stations.

Four juveniles are among those arrested in Amritsar

Among those arrested are Vansh Kumar (19) and Anmol Singh alias Sahil (20) of Patti in Tarn Taran; Harman Singh alias Hammu (24), Sukhdev Singh (30) and Sukhman Singh (19) of Amritsar. The remaining four accused are juveniles, police said.

Apart from recovering pistols and petrol bottle bombs, police teams have also impounded one stolen motorcycle, which was being used by the accused for carrying out criminal activities, a Punjab Police statement said.

Further investigation is underway to identify the remaining members of the ISI-backed network, establish its forward and backward linkages, trace the financial trail, and uncover any involvement in other terror-related activities, DGP Yadav said.

Sharing operational details, Commissioner of Police (CP), Amritsar, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that acting on reliable intelligence, police teams intercepted Vansh Kumar along with his juvenile associate and recovered one illegal .32 bore country-made pistol, along with three live cartridges, from their possession.

Acting on the disclosure statements of the arrested accused, police teams also arrested Anmol Singh, who allegedly supplied the recovered weapon to the accused, he said.

Financial trail, surveillance footage under probe

Bhullar said that further investigation has revealed that the financial transactions relating to the installation of surveillance cameras near Railway tracks were made through Paytm by Sukhdev Singh, who is lodged in Central Jail, Amritsar, at the instance of his fellow inmate Harman Singh alias Hammu. They were brought on production warrant and formally arrested in the present case.

Anmol, along with his associates and the CCTV cameras installed along the railway tracks, have been formally handed over to the Government Railway Police for further investigation and necessary legal action, he added.

Police said Sukhdev and Harman are also involved in an Arms Act case registered at Rajasansi police station. Four Glock pistols were recovered from their possession.

Commissioner Bhullar said that in another operation conducted based on specific inputs, police teams apprehended two juveniles after recovering one .32 bore country-made pistol, two petrol bottle bombs and one lighter from their possession.

During sustained interrogation, the arrested accused disclosed that they, along with two of their associates, Sukhman Singh and another juvenile, had made several attempts to execute the conspiracy, he said.

Both associates have also been arrested. Two petrol bombs and one .30 bore pistol were recovered from their possession, the officer said.