In a major crackdown, the Punjab Police have busted an ISI-backed Khalistan terror module linked to the banned Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) in Batala, arresting six operatives following a brief encounter. The group was allegedly involved in a failed grenade attack on a local liquor vend in Batala.
The module was being operated under the command of foreign-based handlers — Maninder Billa (based in Portugal) and Mannu Agwan, who recently assumed operational charge of BKI after the arrest of Happy Passian in the United States.
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav posted on X on Tuesday that the arrested individuals, identified as Jatin Kumar alias Rohan, Barinder Singh alias Sajan, Rahul Masih, Abraham alias Rohit, Sohit, and Sunil Kumar, were receiving direct instructions from Billa and Agwan, under the command of BKI mastermind Harwinder Singh Rinda.
One of the accused, Jatin Kumar alias Rohan, sustained injuries in an exchange of fire with the police during a recovery operation. He reportedly opened fire on the police team and was injured in the retaliatory action. He is currently being treated at Civil Hospital, Batala.
The other arrested operatives have been identified as Barinder Singh alias Sajan, Rahul Masih, Abraham alias Rohit, Sohit, and Sunil Kumar. The police recovered a 30-bore pistol from the group.
A case has been registered at PS Civil Lines, Batala, under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Meanwhile, in a related development, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday conducted search operations at 15 locations across Gurdaspur, Batala, Amritsar, and Kapurthala, as part of its investigation into the December 2023 grenade attack on a police station in Gurdaspur.
The raids led to the seizure of digital devices, mobile phones, and incriminating documents. The focus of the investigation is on operatives associated with US-based BKI member Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passian, his close aide Shamsher Singh Shera alias Honey, and several foreign-based collaborators.
Happy, a key associate of Harwinder Singh Rinda, is believed to have orchestrated multiple grenade attacks on police stations and posts across Punjab and Haryana. NIA’s probe has revealed that these attacks were part of a wider transnational conspiracy to recruit and arm India-based operatives with funds, weapons, and explosives, under the BKI’s broader agenda.
NIA investigations in the case relating to the hand grenade attack on Police Station Ghanie Ke Bangar in district Gurdaspur had revealed that the arrested accused, who had committed the crime, was acting on the directions of Happy, along with Shamsher and other aides.
As per NIA investigations, BKI's operatives, based in various countries, were engaged in a criminal conspiracy to recruit and train India-based associates, provide funds, weapons and explosives to the field operatives of the terror outfit
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