The Punjab police on Tuesday claimed to have arrested two alleged terrorists belonging to a terror module set up by a Europe-based radical militant group to target leaders and members of socio-religious organizations in the State.
A spokesman of the Punjab Police said Palwinder Singh alias Ghodu and Sandeep Kumar alias Kaalu alias Shinda, both of Batala district were apprehended by the Counter Intelligence Unit of Punjab Police. The spokesperson said investigations so far had revealed that the duo had been tasked with creating political instability by fanning communal passions in the State.
A huge cache of arms and ammunition was also recovered from their possession, according to an official spokesperson. The seizure included one 9 mm pistol, along with 2 magazines and 13 live rounds, two 32 bore pistols, along with 4 magazines and 33 live rounds and one 12 bore countrymade gun.
The module was controlled by Shaminder Singh alias Sherry, currently operating from Germany and believed to be in touch with other militant leaders based in Belgium, such as Jagdish Singh Bhoora, originally from village Mohi, district ludhiana.These militants, based in different countries of Europe, are also wanted in various criminal cases in several police stations of Punjab on charges of promoting terrorist activities in the State.
The police have also arrested Sherry’s mother Jaswinder Kaur who was found in possession of two of the seized weapons. The weapons were to be delivered on Sherry’s directions at an opportune time. Jaswinder has told police that Sherry had visited Punjab on several occasions, the last being in January 2017.
Investigations have revealed that Sandeep Kumar had earlier served a sentence in Gurdaspur Jail during 2008-2009, when he had come in contact with Sherry and other criminals/gangsters. Both Ghodu and Kaalu were being aided and abetted by Sherry from Germany.