Joint operation foils planned strike; probe to trace handlers and local network
Jalandhar — In a major security operation, Counterintelligence Jalandhar, working jointly with SBS Nagar Police, has arrested a key operative of an ISI‑sponsored Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror module and recovered an 86‑P hand grenade, senior police officials said on Monday.
The recovery of the live explosive was instrumental in thwarting a planned attack, according to DGP Gaurav Yadav, who posted details of the breakthrough on social media. The arrested accused allegedly procured the grenade from a Dead Letter Box (DLB) near Adampur in Jalandhar on the directions of foreign‑based handlers, preliminary investigation has found.
"In a major breakthrough against cross‑border terror networks, Counterintelligence Jalandhar, in a joint operation with SBS Nagar Police, busts an ISI‑sponsored BKI terror module..." — DGP Gaurav Yadav
The police have registered an FIR at Sadar Nawanshahr police station in SBS Nagar under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Explosive Substances Act. Investigators are conducting a detailed probe to identify the foreign handlers allegedly directing the module, its local support system and both forward and backward linkages.
- Agencies involved: Counterintelligence Jalandhar and SBS Nagar Police.
- Recovered item: 86‑P hand grenade.
- Location linked to logistics: DLB near Adampur, Jalandhar.
- Legal action: FIR registered at Sadar Nawanshahr police station under BNS and Explosive Substances Act.
Dead Letter Boxes are covert drop points used to exchange instructions, money, weapons or other material without direct meetings, a police official explained in the briefing shared by the DGP. Such tactics allow transnational handlers and local operatives to communicate while limiting exposure and detection.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Explosive recovered | 86‑P hand grenade |
| Arresting agencies | Counterintelligence Jalandhar & SBS Nagar Police |
| FIR registered at | Sadar Nawanshahr police station, SBS Nagar |
| Charges | Sections under BNS & Explosive Substances Act |
The police statement said the operation forms part of continued efforts by Punjab Police to dismantle cross‑border terror networks and their alleged links with organised crime. Investigators will examine the accused's movements, communications and any material recovered to establish the chain connecting local operatives with foreign controllers.
For Jalandhar and neighbouring districts, the seizure underscores vulnerabilities posed by small but dangerous cells that can leverage both local logistics and overseas direction. Security officials in the region said they will increase patrolling and surveillance in sensitive pockets while expanding inquiries to other possible DLB locations and handlers.
Local residents in the Adampur area had not been named or described in official releases, and police have not disclosed the identity of the arrested person pending further legal processes. The probe will also explore whether the module enjoyed logistical or material support within Punjab.
Counterintelligence units have in recent years focused on intercepting covert channels and sleeper networks that use courier points and informal drop boxes to move weapons and messages. This arrest and explosive recovery will now be used to seek leads on the network’s supply lines and command structure, the DGP said.
Officials declined to provide a timeline for the investigation, saying that revealing operational details could jeopardise ongoing efforts to identify and arrest other members. Meanwhile, citizens were urged to report suspicious activities to local police stations as enquiries proceed.
The case is likely to attract close attention from state and central security agencies given the alleged cross‑border linkages and the nature of the recovered explosive.
