Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Monday announced that all eight bomb blast incidents targeting police installations in the state have been successfully solved. The state police chief claimed that a total 14 individuals, all linked to the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF), have been arrested in this connection. These terrorist groups, with handlers based in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Pakistan, were responsible for a series of deadly blasts that shook Punjab in recent weeks.
 
DGP Yadav, addressing the media in a video message, revealed that these terrorist groups, through five distinct modules, orchestrated the blasts using grenades and RDX. “Three of these modules are associated with the BKI, while two are linked to the KZF,” he said.
 
The police investigation has led to the arrest of key operatives and the seizure of crucial materials, including two AK-47 rifles, five grenades, two Glock pistols, and 1.04 kg heroin, he informed.
 
The bomb blasts, which occurred between late November and December 2024, targeted various police installations, including police chowkis and check posts, in a bid to disturb the peace and stability of the region. The explosions, which involved sophisticated weaponry, have been traced back to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, further complicating the security scenario in the state.
 
The use of Austrian-made Arges grenades, notorious for their involvement in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts and the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, was particularly alarming. These grenades, now believed to be sourced from Pakistan’s old army stock, have once again surfaced in Punjab, underscoring the persistent threat posed by cross-border terrorism.
 
The blast incidents began on November 23 with an improvised explosive device (IED) weighing about 1.5 kg planted at the Ajnala police station. Subsequent explosions followed at various locations, including Gurbaksh Nagar in Amritsar (November 29), Ansaro police post in Nawanshahr (December 2), and Majitha police station in Amritsar (December 4). On December 18, grenade blast took place at Bakshiwala police check post in Kalanaur, Gurdaspur; and at Wadala Bangar police check post in Kalanaur, Gurdaspur on December 20.
 
While some attacks failed to cause significant damage, others, such as the explosion near the Islamabad police station in Amritsar on December 17, caused widespread panic, shaking nearby homes. The police also foiled several attacks, such as the grenade attack at Ghania Ke Bangar police station in Batala, which did not detonate.
 
The targeted police installations were predominantly located in vulnerable areas, with six active police chowkis and two abandoned police posts. These installations, which often served as barricades on roads, were increasingly seen as prime targets for the terrorists, who aimed to disrupt the functioning of law enforcement agencies.
 
DGP Yadav stressed that these attacks were part of a larger conspiracy orchestrated by Pakistan-based terrorist organizations BKI, led by Harvinder Rinda, and KZF, headed by Ranjit Singh Neeta. These groups are believed to have exploited local Punjab gangsters and drug smugglers, using them to recruit and manipulate young individuals into carrying out these violent strikes.
 
The role of foreign-based operatives, including Happy Passian, Happy Jat, Gopi Ghanshampuria, Jeewan Fauji, and Gurdev Jassal, was also highlighted, pointing to the transnational nature of the terror networks operating in Punjab.
 
DGP Yadav appealed to the public to remain vigilant against such conspiracies, urging the citizens to report any suspicious activities to the authorities.