In a major counter-terrorism success, the Amritsar Commissionerate of Punjab Police has thwarted a planned grenade attack on police establishments by arresting five individuals allegedly linked to a Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror module, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav announced on Wednesday.
According to ANI, the arrested suspects have been identified as Naresh Kumar alias Babbu, Abhinav Bhagat alias Abhi, Ajay Kumar alias Ajju, Sunny Kumar—all residents of Haripura in Amritsar—and a 17-year-old juvenile. Police recovered a hand grenade, a country-made .32 caliber pistol, and five live cartridges during the operation.
According to DGP Yadav, the terror module was remotely directed by gangster Jiwan Fauji, who is currently operating from abroad and is believed to have connections with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Fauji reportedly oversaw the group’s recruitment and radicalization activities in Punjab’s border areas.
Preliminary investigations suggest the accused were provided motorcycles and instructed to collect weapon consignments from the Ajnala sector. “The group was actively planning grenade attacks on police installations,” Yadav stated, adding that a comprehensive investigation is ongoing to uncover the module’s wider network and support system.
Authorities have intensified efforts to trace the module’s connections both within the country and abroad as part of an expanded security crackdown.
Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar provided further details, stating that during a follow-up recovery operation, one of the accused — Ajay Kumar — attempted to escape custody. In a bid to flee, he tried to snatch a police officer’s service weapon and opened fire on the team. Police responded with controlled force, injuring him in the leg. He is currently being treated at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital.
Commissioner Bhullar also revealed that the arrested group was involved in providing logistical support to gunmen who recently opened fire on a shopkeeper in Mahal village, Amritsar. The nexus is being investigated for broader connections to recent acts of violence in the region.
