Two arrested for terror links

Punjab Police on Wednesday nabbed two more persons with links to the terror module busted last month, tasked with targeting ‘anti-Panth’ leaders in the state.

Gurpreet Singh and Simranjit Singh were arrested from their native villages of Jiwanwal (Faridkot) and Kamalpur (Moga), respectively, by the counter intelligence wing, said a police spokesperson. He said two .32 bore pistols, four magazines and cartridges have been recovered from their possession.

Citing investigations, the spokesperson said Canada-based Gurjeet Cheema had allegedly given two pistols, along with ammunition, to Gurpreet Singh alias Peet during his visit to India earlier this year.

The latter had passed on one of the pistols to Simranjit Singh alias Nikka, for targeting of ‘antipanthic’ (anti-Sikh) people, based in Punjab, he said.

The arrests followed investigations into the case related to the busting of the alleged terrorist module on May 21, the spokesperson said.

“Peet has disclosed that his namesake, Gurpreet Singh, resident of district Moga, said to be based in Vancouver in Canada, had visited India between MarchApril 2016, and had indoctrinated and motivated him to work for the revival of terrorist activity in the state,” he added.

“Later, in 2017, Canada-based Gurpreet Singh arranged an operational meeting between Gurjeet Cheema, Gurpreet Singh alias Peet and Mann Singh at Mudki village (Moga district), where Gurjeet promised to arrange delivery of weapons for targeting of ‘anti-panthic’ people in the near future,” the spokesperson said.

Peet had also allegedly said Gurpreet Cheema and his associates based in Canada were regularly funding him and other members of the module to “promote terrorist activities”, the spokesperson said.