UP-Punjab Police joint op busts pro-Khalistan terror module; 3 killed in encounter

In a major breakthrough, a joint operation conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Police and Punjab Police has resulted in the dismantling of a Pakistan-sponsored Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) terror module. The encounter, which took place in the Puranpur area of Pilibhit district, neutralized three suspects who fired at the police party during the operation.

The three suspects, identified as Gurvinder Singh, Virendra Singh alias Ravi, and Jaspreet Singh alias Pratap Singh, are believed to have carried out a grenade attack on a police station in Gurdaspur, Punjab.

Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav described the operation as a "major breakthrough" in a post on X. He stated, "In a major breakthrough against a #Pak-sponsored Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) terror module, a joint operation of UP Police and Punjab Police has led to an encounter with three module members who fired at the police party."

The DGP confirmed that the group was involved in several grenade attacks on police establishments in Punjab's border areas. Three police stations in Punjab were targeted in a span of just one week in suspected attacks linked to Khalistani terrorists. The incidents began with an attack on the Bangar police post in Gurdaspur on Friday, followed by a blast at the Islamabad police station in Amritsar on Tuesday. Another explosion occurred outside the Bakshiwal police post, also in Gurdaspur. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in any of these incidents.

Monday's encounter, which unfolded in the jurisdiction of Puranpur Police Station, saw the joint teams recover two AK rifles and two Glock pistols believed to have been used in the attacks. The injured terror module members were transported to the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Puranpur for urgent medical care. They later succumbed to injuries.

Investigations into the terror module's activities are ongoing, with authorities working to dismantle the group and trace its network.

Gangster Module Busted in Pathankot

In a separate operation, Punjab Police's Counter Intelligence (CI) team arrested two gangsters in Pathankot on Sunday, recovering four magazines and 14 cartridges. The suspects, Sunil Kumar alias Ashu from Rauwal, Batala, and Dilpreet Singh alias Dil from Raimal, Batala, are believed to be part of a major criminal network.

Sunil Kumar, who has a prior case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, was released on bail from Gurdaspur Jail in February 2024. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects had received a consignment of weapons from the Ajnala area of Amritsar on instructions from their handlers. They were tasked with delivering the weapons to an unidentified party.

AIG CI Pathankot, Sukhminder Singh Mann, stated that intelligence inputs indicated the suspects’ involvement in arms smuggling. Acting on this information, the CI team laid a trap, recovering the arms and ammunition from the suspects.

Efforts are ongoing to trace previous consignments handled by the accused. An FIR (No. 71, dated 21.12.2024) has been registered under Section 25 of the Arms Act and Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), Amritsar.

The arrested suspects will be produced in court to obtain police remand. Authorities continue to investigate the source of the weapons and identify other individuals linked to the network.