Jagraon, June 17
In the biggest haul of explosives in Punjab in recent times, the Ludhiana rural police (Jagraon) this morning nabbed two alleged terrorists with 24.5 kg of explosives and 25 detonators, enough to trigger 25 major blasts in the state.
The explosives, packed in 195 gelatine sticks, reached here this time through inter-state smuggling, while earlier these used to be smuggled from across the border.
The explosives, as powerful as the RDX, had manufacturing stamp of a Nagpur-based factory. The detonators were brought from Andhra Pradesh.
The police said the exact chemical composition of the explosives would be known after chemical tests.
The arrested youths, Gurbhej Singh, alias Sonu, of Kathunangal in Amritsar and Manjit Singh, alias Mita, of Barde Ke village in Jagraon, both aged less than 25, were said to be unemployed. They have no criminal or terrorist background.
IG Sanjiv Kalra and DIG Ishwar Singh told reporters that SSP Jagraon Gurpreet Singh Bhullar and his team
intercepted the two youths during a nakabandi at Canal Bridge in Akhara village in the
wee hours today. The explosives were found in a blue suitcase they were carrying on their motor cycle PB-13Q-4804.
The cops were yet to ascertain which terrorist outfit supported
them.” Of late, strict cadres of terrorist organisations are diminishing. They are loosely organised and could be helped and aided by one or other organisation,” said SSP Gurpreet Singh Bhullar.
Preliminary questioning of the accused revealed that their main targets were Baba Piara Singh
Bhaniarewala, Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, chief Dera Sacha Sauda and crowded places, including vital installations.
The youths said they were working at the instance of one Gurmeet Singh, alais Bagga, who belonged to Jhajj village near Tanda in Hoshiarpur. He was now based in Hamburg, Germany. Intelligence agencies from across the border also helped them.
The recovered explosives had the mark- Super Power- 90 Solar Explosive Limited village Chak Doe Bazar Gaon in Nagpur district. The detonators were of village Peddakandukur, Vadagiri, Gutta Mandal, Nalsonda district (Andhra Pardesh). Investigation revealed that this gang has its sympathisers in different parts of the country and abroad.
The Jagraon police had a week ago arrested a woman of Fatehgarh Sahib for helping terrorist organisations. One group allegedly helped by her was caught smuggling arms in Jammu a few weeks ago. IG Sanjiv Kalra said the team, including Satnam Singh, PPS, DSP/Det, Ludhiana (rural), SI Pritam Singh SHO Jagraon and SI Tehal Singh, under the supervision of Pritam Singh, SP (detective), had done a commendable job in catching the miscreants.
