Patiala, April 30
Punjab Police has busted a Pakistan-backed terror module and recovered a large cache of arms and explosives, including an RPG and RDX, in connection with an attempted IED blast on a railway track near Shambhu in Patiala district.
In a major counter-terror operation, Punjab Police, in coordination with the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) Amritsar, has recovered a significant cache of terror hardware from Tarn Taran district, foiling a larger conspiracy linked to a failed IED blast attempt on the Shambhu railway track.
Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said the recovery was made following disclosures by Satnam Singh alias Satta, brother of the deceased accused Jagroop Singh alias Joopa, who was killed when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded prematurely while being planted on the railway track late Monday night.
The seized consignment includes one rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), a 2.296 kg metallic IED (sticky bomb) with electric wiring and detonators, two packets of RDX weighing 1.456 kg, a P-86 hand grenade, and three pistols, including a 9mm Glock-18 CX (Austria), a PX5 Storm, and a .30 bore Star Mark, along with five magazines and 84 live cartridges. Communication devices such as Baofeng wireless sets, a headphone, and timer switches were also recovered.
Police had earlier arrested four operatives of the module within 12 hours of the incident. They have been identified as Pradeep Singh Khalsa, Kulwinder Singh alias Bagga, Satnam Singh alias Satta, and Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi. Initial recoveries from them included a hand grenade, pistols, and electronic communication equipment.
According to the DGP, investigations have revealed that the module was supported by a Malaysia-based network, with funds allegedly routed through a handler identified as Jujhar Singh. He was reportedly in touch with US-based Surinder Singh Thikriwal, a known operative linked to past terror modules, while Pakistan-based Ranjit Singh alias Neeta, a designated terrorist, was also connected to the network through covert channels.
Police are also probing possible links between this module and earlier incidents, including the January 23, 2026, IED blast on a railway track in Sirhind and the grenade attack on CIA Moga in November 2025.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Patiala Varun Sharma said the accused had concealed a large portion of the arms consignment in a cattle shed and a vehicle at village Panjwar Khurd in Tarn Taran. Acting on this input, joint teams conducted searches and recovered the cache.
An FIR has been registered at Police Station Kotwali, Patiala, under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Explosive Act, Arms Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Further investigations are underway to trace the full extent of the network.
