Punjab Police bust ISI-backed terror module, three arrested

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab police on Sunday claimed to have busted a terror module by arresting three men, who allegedly had been trained and tasked by Pakistan’s ISI to carry out attacks in the country.

In a statement released here, the police claimed that the three accused, Gurdial Singh, Jagroop Singh and Satwinder Singh, were directly linked with the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), an ISI-backed outfit.

They had been instructed by Pakistan-based ISYF chief Lakhbir Rode to carry out attacks on certain individuals, said the police in the statement. According to the cops, Gurdial, the chief operative of the group, was also in touch with J&K based militant outfits. The police also said that during investigation, Jagroop had revealed that he had been imparted training by the ISI to sabotage rail tracks.

Investigations have revealed that a part of the consignment of arms and ammunition seized on May 21 by the BSF near the international border in Amritsar was supplied by the ISYF, the police said. Two alleged terrorists, Maan Singh and Sher Singh, had been arrested by the BSF last month, when they attempted to pick up the consignment.

The police said that Gurdial had been introduced to Rode, who they claimed was staying “in an ISI provided safe house in the Lahore cantonment,” by Germany-based Balvir Singh.

Gurdial had met Rode several times during his visits to Pakistan, as part of religious jathas (groups), in the last six to seven years, the police said. Gurdial allegedly arranged a visa for Jagroop, who travelled to Lahore with a ‘jatha’. According to the police, during interrogation, the duo revealed that during his stay in Lahore (November 12-21, 2016), Jagroop had also met Rode through Balvir Singh.

THE THREE HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED BY PAKISTANBASED ISYF CHIEF LAKHBIR RODE TO CARRY OUT ATTACKS ON CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS, SAID THE POLICE