Three suspected KZF (Khalistan Zindabad Force) terrorists allegedly involved in the grenade attack in Gurdaspur were killed in an encounter with police in Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh on early Monday. Punjab’s Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav termed it as a major breakthrough against a Pakistan-sponsored terror module.
The encounter took in the jurisdiction of Police Station Puranpur in Pilibhit between the joint police team of Uttar Pradesh and Punjab after three module members allegedly opened fire at the police party.
The development came in less than week after some unknown persons hurled a hand grenade at Bakshiwala Police Post under the jurisdiction of Kalanaur Police Station in Gurdaspur on December 18, 2024. Terrorist organisation KZF had used social media platform to claim the responsibility for this act of terror.
The three sustained serious injuries in the encounter and were immediately rushed to CHC Puranpur for treatment. They later succumbed to their injuries.
Injured operatives being given medical care
DGP Yadav identified three operatives as Varinder Singh alias Ravi of Agwan in Kalanaur, Gurwinder Singh of Bhaini Bania Mohalla in Kalanaur and Jashanpreet Singh alias Partap Singh of Shur Khurd in Kalanaur.
Police teams in UP have also recovered two AK-47 rifles and two 9MM Glock pistols from their possession, he added. He said that preliminary investigation revealed that this terror module is controlled by Pakistan-based Ranjeet Singh Nita, the chief of KZF, and operated by Greece-based Jaswinder Singh Mannu, a native of village Agwan village in Kalanaur.
Accused Varinder alias Ravi, who was leading the module, also belongs to Agwan village and he was being further controlled and masterminded by UK based Jagjeet Singh, reported to be working in the British Army and using assumed identity Fateh Singh Baghi, using which he also claimed the responsibility of the grenade attack, he added.
Terming this operation as a classic example of inter-state cooperation in which police forces of UP and Punjab worked together, the DGP said that the information, which was received by the Punjab Police, was immediately shared with the UP police and joint operation was launched against the perpetrators.
Sharing operation details, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Border Range Satinder Singh said that following reliable inputs about suspects fled to UP and taking shelter somewhere there at Pilibhit, Gurdaspur Police immediately informed the Pilibhit Police and also moved police teams from Gurdaspur to Pilibhit to launch a joint operation.
Police teams successfully traced the accused persons and when confronted they opened fire at the police teams, prompting police parties to retaliate, he said, while adding that during the exchange of fire trio accused persons had sustained bullet injuries and were immediately taken to CHC Puranpur for urgent medical treatment.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gurdaspur Harish Dayama said that investigations are going on to expose all connections and members of this terror module and more arrests and recoveries likely in coming days.
A case FIR no. 124 dated 19/12/2024 was registered under sections 109 and 324 (4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and section 4 (5) of the Explosive Act at Police Station Kalanaur. While, sections 13, 16, 17, 18-B, 20, 35 and 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act have been added in the FIR.
