In a major counter-terrorism breakthrough, Punjab Police have successfully dismantled a Pakistan-backed terror module of the banned outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), preventing what could have been a deadly grenade attack in the border district of Batala. The Batala Police arrested six operatives of the module in a swift and intelligence-led operation.
The state Director-General of Police (DGP), Gaurav Yadav, said that the module was being remotely operated by Portugal-based Maninder Billa and BKI mastermind Mannu Agwan, with inputs and inspiration from notorious terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda. The accused were allegedly instructed to carry out an attack to spread fear among liquor contractors, with the larger objective of creating an environment conducive for extortion and terror activities.
The attempted attack took place on May 17, 2025, when unidentified bike-borne assailants lobbed a hand grenade outside a liquor vend in Batala’s Focal Point area. Fortunately, the grenade failed to detonate due to a faulty assembly, averting any casualties or damage.
The arrested operatives have been identified as Jatin Kumar alias Rohan, Barinder Singh alias Sajan, Abraham alias Rohit, Sunil Kumar, Rahul Masih, and Sohit — all residents of Batala. One .30 bore pistol was recovered during the crackdown.
Batala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Suhail Qasim Mir confirmed that intensive investigation, combining technical surveillance and human intelligence, helped trace and apprehend the accused within days of the incident. He revealed that the key accused, Jatin Kumar, suffered bullet injuries during an exchange of fire when he attempted to flee while being taken for the recovery of a weapon. The accused opened fire on the police team and was injured in retaliatory fire. He is currently undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital.
Preliminary probe has revealed that the grenade was assembled under remote guidance via a video call from Portugal-based handlers. The operatives, lacking any technical training, botched the assembly, causing the grenade to malfunction.
The police have registered an FIR, dated May 17, 2025, under various sections of the Explosive Substances Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Sections invoked include 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 18-B, and 20 of UAPA, highlighting the gravity of the terror plot.
This successful operation underscored Punjab Police’s commitment to combating cross-border terrorism and neutralizing threats linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Further investigations are underway to uncover the full network and trace financial and logistical linkages.
