4 gangsters with Khalistan links arrested

KARNAL: Four Punjab-based gangsters having links with a Khalistani terrorist were arrested and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), arms and ammunition were recovered from their vehicle at a toll plaza in Haryana’s Karnal on Thursday, police said.

The four gangsters were reportedly on their way to Telangana to deliver the explosives and arms when they were arrested, police added.

Acting on inputs from the Intelligence Bureau and the Punjab Police, the Haryana Police intercepted the vehicle of the accused at Bastara toll plaza, along the Ambala-Delhi National Highway, at 5 am on Thursday, Panipat superintendent of police (SP) Ganga Ram Punia said.

A pistol, 30 cartridges, three IEDs weighing 2.5kg each and ₹1.3 lakh cash were recovered from the vehicle that bore a Delhi registration plate, he said.

The accused were identified as Gurpreet Singh, his brother Amandeep Singh, Parminder Singh, all residents of Vinjoke in Zira of Ferozepur, and Bhupinder Singh of Ludhiana district. All of them are in their late 30s.

Gurpreet led the gang and was in touch with Pakistan-based gangster-turned-Khalistani terrorist Harvinder Singh, alias Rinda, who provided them the explosives through a drone in Ferozepur recently, Punia said.

“During interrogation, the accused admitted they had got the explosives and arms from Pakistan with the help of a drone and said they were taking the consignment to a destination at Adilabad in Telangana,” he said.

The accused said it was the third consignment that they were delivering at the behest of the Khalistani terrorist.

They had earlier delivered a consignment at Maharashtra’s Nanded, the SP added.

Haryana director general of police (DGP) PK Agrawal said police are yet to ascertain if the consignment was being delivered to Adilabad in Telangana.