Punjab Police has averted a major lone wolf attack in the State by arresting a highly educated, but radicalised Sikh youth, who was preparing to carry out blasts in the State, with the help of Pakistan's intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
The accused was identified as Inderjit Singh alias Rinku, resident of Faridabad in Haryana.
An engineering-graduate with an MBA degree, the accused was arrested on Wednesday from SAS Nagar (Mohali). The explosive material, including chemicals and advanced electronic remote controls, were also seized from him.
Spokesperson said that preliminary interrogation of the suspect revealed that he was acting at the behest of his ISI handlers who had tasked him to carry out blasts in Punjab with explosives made from locally available chemicals and devices, procured from online marketing websites.
The explosive material was found concealed in his vehicle, which the suspect had used for travelling from Faridabad to SAS Nagar.
Inderjit, currently working with a JCB Company at Faridabad, revealed that he was contacted by the ISI officers on Facebook about two years ago and since then, he had been interacting with them and learning to make explosives with DIY (Do It Yourself) kits.
Investigations indicated that Pakistani intelligence officers had “chosen” him because of his posts and profile on social media, and they went on to further radicalize him.
Spokesperson said that the Pak intelligence officers, who radicalized Inderjit, were also actively coordinating and networking the terror module that was busted by the Counter Intelligence Wing, Punjab Police on May 29, 2017.
The mastermind of that terror module, Harbarinder Singh, a resident of Mohali, was also in contact with Inderjit through Facebook.
After Harbarinder's arrest, Inderjit was operating as a lone wolf and procuring material from online marketing websites to make an IED. Spokesperson said that Inderjit was highly radicalized and motivated to carry out terrorist activities.
A case has been registered against him under Sections 17, 18 and 20 of the Prevention of Unlawful Activities Act and Sections 3, 4, 5 of the Explosive Substances Act at Police Station SSOC, Mohali. Further investigations are in progress to unravel the entire conspiracy, the spokesperson added.