Punjab Police solve RPG attack in Tarn Taran, nab perpetrators

As part of the ongoing drive against anti-social elements launched on the directions of Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann, Punjab Police has solved the Tarn Taran Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) attack case in less than a week with the busting of a foreign-controlled terrorist module leading to arrest of six persons, including the two juveniles in conflict with law, who carried out the terror attack at Police Station Sarhali building in Tarn Taran at about 11.18pm on December 9.

Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav, while addressing a press conference at Punjab Police Headquarters here on Friday, said that the terror attack was masterminded by the foreign-based wanted terrorists Lakhbir Singh alias Landa Harike, Satbir Singh alias Satta and Gurdev alias Jaisel, with the help of Ajmeet Singh, currently lodged at Goindwal Sahib Jail.  

Apart from the arrest of two juveniles in conflict with law, the remaining four module members arrested have been identified as Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi Numberdar (18) of Naushera Pannua; Gurlal Singh alias Gahla (19) of Chohla Sahib; Surlalpal Singh alias Gurlal alias Lali (21) of village Thathiya Mahanta; and Jobanpreet Singh alias Joban (18) of Naushra Pannua. Pertinently, Gopi Numberdar, who was on bail as he was arrested as a juvenile, turned 18-years-old a day after his release on November 22, 2022, and immediately got in touch with the foreign-based handlers. 

The foreign-based handlers used cut-outs and Dead Letter Box (DLB) techniques for retrieval of consignment and establishing contact so that the module members were assigned tasks directly by the handlers and were aware of only their roles. Even the identities of sub-modules remained hidden from other
sub-modules.

The Police teams have also recovered three pistols— two .32 bore and one .30 bore along with ammunition, one hand grenade P-86 and one motorcycle used in crime from the possession of the arrested persons.

Notably, the Soviet-era made a single-use 70mm calibre RPG-26 weapon, which was used to carry out the attack, had already been recovered on December 10. The RPG-26 weapon, which was used by Mujahdeen in Afghanistan, was sourced from across the border.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the Taran Taran Police, in coordination with the Counter Intelligence Wing of Punjab Police have conducted meticulous investigations based on technical and intelligence inputs.