The North News
Chandigarh, January 7
The Punjab Police have foiled a suspected targeted killing plot in Ludhiana, arresting two men alleged to be in contact with foreign-based handlers linked to a banned extremist group. The Director General of Police, Gaurav Yadav, said the arrests followed an intelligence-led operation carried out by the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) in SAS Nagar, in coordination with Counter Intelligence Ludhiana.
The two suspects, identified as Karanbir Singh and Avtar Singh, both residents of Ludhiana, were planning an attack on the directions of handlers based in the UK and Germany. Police said a 9mm pistol and five live cartridges were recovered during the operation. DGP Yadav said preliminary investigations suggested that the men were in contact with operatives associated with the Khalistan Commando Force and had carried out reconnaissance of government and other prominent offices in Ludhiana as part of the alleged conspiracy. One of the accused, Avtar Singh, has a previous criminal record, with multiple cases registered under arms and penal laws, police said.
The Assistant Inspector General of SSOC SAS Nagar, D Sudarvizhi, said the arrests were made after “credible inputs” indicated the suspects were preparing to carry out a targeted killing. She added that investigators were examining whether the men were tasked with gathering intelligence on additional individuals and spreading extremist material online. The Police said further investigations were under way to establish what they described as the “forward and backward linkages” of the case, including possible overseas networks. A case has been registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at the SSOC police station in SAS Nagar.
