Terror module busted, two militants held in Punjab

Two members of an inter-state militant module were arrested on Tuesday in separate but coordinated intelligence-led operations conducted by district police of Nawanshehar, Ferozepur and Kapurthala.
For representational purpose. | File Photo
For representational purpose. | File Photo

CHANDIGARH: Punjab police have busted yet another terror module in the state and arrested two militants while also solving two cases in which a Dera Sacha Sauda follower and a controversial religious preacher in Rajasthan were killed in 2016.

Two members of an inter-state militant module were arrested on Tuesday in separate but coordinated intelligence-led operations conducted by district police of Nawanshehar, Ferozepur and Kapurthala.

While Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi was nabbed from Kohala village in Ferozepur, 25-year-old Avtar Singh alias Pamma, also a resident of Kohala, was apprehended from Bhanolanga village in Kapurthala.

Investigations revealed their involvement in the killing of Gurdev Singh (31 years) of Dera Sacha Sauda at a village in Faridkot on June 13, 2016. They were also involved in killing Baba Lakha Singh in Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan on November 23, 2016. Police recovered a 12 bore rifle and .32 bore revolver. Another suspect, identified as Ashok Kumar Vohra managed to flee.

Preliminary investigations revealed that various other targets were also on their radar and the suspects had planned to attack them in order to drive a communal wedge in Punjab.

Ferozepur police on Wednesday seized a white coloured Swift car used to kill Gurdev Singh and Baba Lakha Singh from Faridkot.

The vehicle is registered under an Amna Seth, a close associate of Gopi. Police also seized a Maruti Swift belonging to Gopi, which was used by him for criminal activities. Amna was found to have acquired two new licensed weapons on an Arms License issued to them in 2016.

It was also revealed that another associate Jaswant Singh Kala  was also a key member of the terror module and a manhunt had been launched for him, along with Ashok.

Two separate cases have been registered against the members of the militant module in Ferozepur and Kapurthala districts under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, Arms Act and relevant sections of the IPC.

It may be recalled that Baba Lakha Singh was a controversial self-styled godman, who had declared himself to be an embodiment of Guru Nanak Dev ji.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com