Police on Sunday apprehended three people, believed to have links with the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), with a suspected improvised explosive device (IED), explosive materials and a firearm near the inter-state bus terminus in Chandigarh’s Sector 43.
According to the police, the material was found concealed inside a tiffin box bag, alongside a firearm, according to people aware of the matter.
The men nabbed on Sunday have been identified as Lovepreet Singh, 19, of Tarn Taran’s Sarhali village, Jashanpreet Singh, 21, of Tarn Taran’s Deobath village, and Prabhpreet Singh alias Prabh, 19, of Amritsar’s Tarsikka village, police said.
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The recoveries included 5 kg of gelatin stick explosives, a detonator, a power source and remotely operated system – all used in preparing explosive devices – besides a pistol, a magazine and five live cartridges, police said.
Following the recovery, an FIR was registered at Sector 36 police station under relevant provisions of the Explosives Act and Arms Act. “The police recovered suspicious items from behind the Sector-43 bus stand in Chandigarh. Chandigarh Police have arrested three individuals in connection with the case,” said the UT police in a statement.
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Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused had allegedly come in contact with Satnam alias Satta Naushera, a foreign-based handler associated with BKI. They were allegedly acting on his directions and had planned to plant an IED in Chandigarh with the intention of creating terror. Investigators are questioning the accused to establish how the explosives were procured, where it was being taken and whether more people were involved.
