New Delhi, 10 April (H.S.):

In a decisive operation, Delhi Police Special Cell has dismantled an interstate syndicate implicated in terrorism, arms smuggling, and espionage, with direct linkages to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the proscribed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), averting a major terror conspiracy.

Eleven suspects were apprehended across two synchronized raids in Delhi and Punjab, comprising six from the initial sweep—three each from Punjab's Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, and Delhi's Rohini-Tatesar—and five more from Punjab districts including Kapurthala, Fazeeka, and Moga.

Key figures include Manpreet Singh (Tarn Taran), Anmol and Sahil (Ferozepur), Atul Rathi and Rohit (Delhi), Ajay (Delhi), Gurjeet Singh (Kapurthala), Rimpaldeep Singh, Salwinder Singh alias Kalu, Boota Singh (Fazeeka), and Harpreet Singh alias Happy (Moga).

Additional DCP Pramod Singh Kushwaha detailed at a press briefing how technical surveillance and intelligence inputs precipitated the busts. Seizures encompassed three foreign-made pistols, a country-made pistol, 24 live rounds, nine solar-powered CCTV cameras, nine SIM cards, 24 mobile phones, two cars, and two motorcycles—vehicles exploited for reconnaissance and arms transport.

Investigations unveiled a sophisticated surveillance apparatus: the nine cameras, covertly positioned near strategic military and security installations in Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Pathankot, Patiala, Moga, Ambala, Kathua, Bikaner, and Alwar, relayed live feeds via SIM-enabled apps to Pakistani handlers, compromising defense movements.

The network unraveled from Manpreet Singh's March 29 arrest in Tarn Taran, who confessed to ISI directives facilitating seven foreign pistols and 56 cartridges into India, alongside procuring fake IDs for SIMs feeding Pakistan intelligence. Encrypted apps facilitated communications, with recruits—lured by cash and incentives—tasked with spying, smuggling, and data exfiltration on army cantonments and BSF camps.

Funding stemmed from arms and narcotics trafficking, routed via UPI and proxies, with plots for grenade assaults on installations thwarted by timely intervention. Gurjeet Singh leveraged familial ties to handlers, Rimpaldeep bridged local operatives, and Happy orchestrated drugs, funds, and CCTV setups.

Police affirmed ongoing probes, anticipating further arrests as the syndicate's tendrils extend wider.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar