Punjab is experiencing a surge in the influx of arms and ammunition, with a focus from the ISI in recent months. These weapons are primarily intended for extortion purposes, indicating the involvement of a gangster network raising funds for the ISI to support terror activities in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. Concurrently, the Khalistan network is striving to revive its movement in Punjab amidst these developments.
Intelligence reports suggest that the ISI aims to revitalize the movement but is encountering recruitment challenges. To address this, the ISI is targeting drug-addicted youth, enticing them with money to join the movement. Consequently, the gangster network has been tasked with extorting funds to support these activities.
Authorities anticipate the extortion operations to extend beyond Punjab, targeting affluent individuals in Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi. The racket, potentially involving crores of Rupees, aims to channel funds into Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. Additionally, the gangster network has been instructed to identify and recruit youth to bolster the Khalistan movement.
Recent seizures of arms by the Punjab Police indicate a persistent effort by the ISI to smuggle foreign-made weapons like Ak-47s, Berettas, and Glocks into Punjab. Notably, the emphasis on arms and ammunition over drugs underscores the ISI’s directive for the gangster network to prioritize extortion activities.
In a recent incident on January 27-28, security agencies thwarted an ISI attempt to smuggle a significant arms consignment across the Indo-Pakistan border in Fazlika. The ISI’s utilization of drones for such operations has been notable, along with the use of riverine routes to transport arms into Punjab. The ISI’s strategic focus on reviving terrorism in Punjab and establishing local modules in Jammu and Kashmir underscores its urgency to raise funds through arms smuggling.
Apart from extortion schemes, the gangster network is expected to target the illicit arms market, catering to the demand for weapons like Glocks and Berettas. With radicalization efforts for the Khalistan movement facing setbacks, the ISI is resorting to buying out vulnerable youth, particularly those addicted to drugs, by offering substantial sums of money to enlist them. This approach aligns with a subtle resurgence of the Khalistan issue in Punjab.
Notably, recent incidents such as the discovery of a Khalistan flag at the Golden Temple indicate preliminary attempts to test public sentiment. By engaging in such symbolic acts, these elements aim to sway public opinion in their favor, signaling a potential shift in the narrative.
