Gurdaspur (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Police have thwarted an alleged plot to spark violence in the state with the arrest of two men reportedly working under the influence of foreign-based handlers tied to the banned Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) organisation.
The accused, identified as Lovedeep Singh, alias Love, and Tek Chand, known as Tinku, were detained in Gurdaspur following a swift intelligence-led operation. Officials said both were receiving directions from overseas operatives Gurdev Jassal and Gurlal alias Gullu, who are suspected of coordinating extremist activities from abroad.
Early investigations indicate that the two men had been assigned to carry out targeted attacks against rival gang members as part of a broader plan to sow fear and instability in Punjab. Police have seized three .32 calibre pistols and several live cartridges from their possession.
A senior police officer described the arrests as “a significant blow to the gangster–terror network” attempting to regroup in the region. “Our teams have acted decisively to neutralise a potential threat. Preliminary findings suggest clear links between these operatives and radicalised elements overseas,” the official said.
The operation is part of an intensified state-wide crackdown aimed at dismantling the growing alliance between local gang networks and foreign-based terror outfits. Investigators are now analysing electronic evidence and communication records to uncover the full scope of the group’s activities and financial support.
Police sources said more arrests are likely as teams work to trace both “forward and backward linkages” — from local contacts to handlers abroad. “We’re committed to exposing every element of this conspiracy,” another officer added.
In an official statement, the Punjab Police reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining peace in the state. “We remain resolute in our mission to eliminate the gangster–terror ecosystem and safeguard the people of Punjab,” the statement read.
Authorities have also heightened security in sensitive districts, with additional checkpoints and increased surveillance around border areas. Further details are expected once interrogation and forensic analysis conclude.
