The crime scenario in Punjab is rapidly evolving, with terror groups and criminal networks constantly adopting new strategies to disrupt law and order. These groups are aiming for a separate Khalistan nation and are resorting to low-intensity explosions to maintain unrest. Exploiting the state’s significant drug issue, these gangster-terror networks are targeting the youth for recruitment.
A concerning trend has emerged where these syndicates are specifically focusing on recruiting juveniles into their networks. Recent reports indicate that even students in their 12th grade have been recruited for carrying out attacks. Intelligence agencies highlight that these criminal and terror groups are exploiting legal loopholes to target juveniles, with recruiters actively seeking out young individuals.
Juveniles, defined as individuals under 18 years old, are being increasingly targeted by Khalistan terror networks, mirroring tactics used by the Mumbai underworld in the past. These young recruits benefit from legal protections and often go unnoticed by law enforcement agencies. School and college-going youths are preferred for recruitment due to their low suspicion levels and lack of understanding of the consequences of their actions.
In a recent incident on May 6 in Chandigarh, a class 12 student was apprehended while en route to Tarn Taran to commit a murder, under the influence of foreign-based gangsters. The juvenile was groomed by gangsters through social media to carry out the planned attack. This case exemplifies the use of young individuals for surprise attacks, as they are less likely to raise suspicion.
Authorities emphasize a growing trend of recruiting juveniles for grenade attacks, a new strategy employed by ISI-backed Khalistani elements. These recruits are instructed to carry grenades in school bags and target specific locations, ensuring a high success rate due to minimal scrutiny. The ISI is intensifying efforts to instigate terror attacks in Punjab, aiming to establish a separate Khalistan nation, officials reveal.
