Rinda, ISI’S ‘go-to man’ to spread terror in Punjab, dies in Lahore hospital

WANTED KHALISTANI TERRORIST

CHANDIGARH: Gangsterturned-terrorist Harvinder Singh Sandhu, alias Rinda, who has been named in at least 10 terror-related cases in Punjab, has died in a hospital in Pakistan’s Lahore, senior state police and intelligence officials said on Saturday.

A member of the pro-khalistan Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror group, Rinda, 36, played a key role in helping Pakistan’s intelligence agency Inter-services Intelligence (ISI) smuggle drugs and weapons into Punjab from across the border, a senior Punjab Police officer said. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for any information about him.

“Though the exact reason behind his death is not known yet, the information we are getting from the central agencies is that Rinda, a heroin addict, was undergoing treatment for drug-overdose at a hospital,”

According to security agencies, pro-khalistan terrorist Rinda had been mobilising desitute youth to unleash terror activities in Punjab. He had direct involvement in at least 10 terror cases in the state

Mohali RPG attack: Rinda was the mastermind of May 9 RPG attack on Punjab Police’s intelligence headquarters in Mohali. On directions of Babbar Khalsa International, Rinda assigned the job to Canada-based gangster Lakhbir Singh Landa, who provided RPG, AK-47 and logistic support to carry out the attack

Ludhiana court blast: Rinda also plotted Dec 23, 2021 Ludhiana court blast. He helped the main accused source explosives through his contacts

IED smuggling: Rinda trained youths to carry three IEDS, each weighting 2.5kg, from Ferozepur to Adilabad in Telangana for terror activites. The accused were in direct contact with Rinda.

the top state police official said on condition of anonymity, terming Rinda’s death as a “huge relief” for Punjab.

A senior intelligence official

Grenade blast at Nawanshahr CIA police station: Backed by the ISI, Rinda planned the Nov 7, 2021, grenade attack on Nawanshahr CIA police station. Provided ~4 lakh and a hand grenade to the accused. In March 2022, Rinda motivated some youths to hurl a grenade at a police station in Rupnagar district

said ISI’S hand in Rinda’s death could not be ruled out.

“He died on Friday. ISI could also be behind his death as in