In a successful intelligence-led operation, the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) in Amritsar has prevented a terrorist scheme supported by Pakistan’s ISI. The Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav announced the arrest of an individual and the seizure of an RDX-based improvised explosive device (IED). The arrested individual, identified as Rahul Kumar or Gaju, resides on Chamrang Road in Amritsar and works as an assistant in a local salon.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the accused had connections with a foreign-based handler who was acting under the directives of handlers in Pakistan. It was revealed that Rahul retrieved the IED from a specified location outside the city as per his foreign-based handler’s instructions. The device, concealed in a PVC pipe casing, was likely hidden to avoid detection. Further inquiries are underway to determine the intended destination or disposal of the IED.
Assistant Inspector General (Amritsar) Sukhminder Singh Mann shared operational details, stating that the police acted on credible intelligence regarding the IED consignment originating from Pakistan. Following the recovery of the IED from the suspect, Rahul, he was apprehended. Investigations unveiled that the accused established contact with his foreign-based handler during a visit to Punjab in 2022, maintaining communication through encrypted mobile applications.
The foreign-based handler reportedly groomed Rahul by initially providing financial support for his expenses before entrusting him with the current task. The case has been registered under relevant sections of the Explosive Substance Act, Arms Act, and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in Amritsar. The investigation is ongoing to uncover more details about the thwarted terror plot.
