Punjab Police busts ISI-sponsored Babbar Khalsa International module, arrests operative

Punjab Police on Monday announced the busting of an Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-sponsored Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror module, with the arrest of a key operative and the recovery of a hand grenade. The joint operation, carried out by the Counter Intelligence unit of Jalandhar and the SBS Nagar Police, is said to have foiled a planned attack in the state.

Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav made the announcement on the microblogging platform X, stating that the arrested accused had allegedly procured an 86-P hand grenade from a Dead Letter Box (DLB) near Adampur in Jalandhar, acting on the instructions of foreign-based handlers. He described the action as a "major breakthrough against cross-border terror networks."

A Dead Letter Box is a covert technique widely used by intelligence agencies and terrorist organisations to pass on instructions, money, or weapons without any face-to-face interaction. It involves placing items at a hidden location for another person to collect, thus minimising the risk of detection. According to security experts, such methods have become increasingly common among terror modules operating in the region.

Following the arrest, a First Information Report has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Explosive Substances Act. The DGP said that further investigation is underway to expose the entire terror network, including foreign handlers, local support networks, and the forward and backward linkages involved.

Babbar Khalsa International is a proscribed terrorist organisation with a long history of militant activities in India. The group, which seeks to carve out a separate Sikh state of Khalistan, has been linked to several bombings and assassinations. The Indian government has repeatedly accused Pakistan's ISI of sponsoring such groups to destabilise Punjab, a charge that Pakistan has consistently denied.

The latest operation is a reminder of the persistent security threats facing Punjab, a border state that has witnessed militancy in the past. In recent years, there have been multiple instances of weapons and narcotics being smuggled into the state through various means, including drones and cross-border tunnels. The Punjab Police have been on high alert and have carried out several counter-terrorism operations in different districts.

This is not the first time that a DLB has been used in such operations. Investigators have earlier noted that foreign-based handlers often use these dead letter boxes to provide logistical support to their operatives on the ground. The recovery of a live grenade indicates that an attack may have been imminent, and the quick action by the police is believed to have averted a major incident.

The identity of the arrested operative has not yet been revealed, and no information has been provided about the intended target. Police authorities have urged the public to cooperate with security forces and report any suspicious activity. With the investigation still in its early stages, more details are expected to emerge in the coming days.