AGTF arrests Harvinder Rinda’s key aide Khichan from Rajasthan

CHANDIGARH, January 12

The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) of the Punjab Police, in a joint operation with central agencies, arrested a key operative of Pak-based terrorist Harvinder Singh, alias Rinda, and US-based Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia, from Lohawat village in Phalodi district of Rajasthan, said Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav here on Friday.

Pistol seized

Police teams have also recovered one .30 calibre Chinese pistol along with eight cartridges from the possession of Kailash Khichan. His name figured in various terrorist modules busted by cops in the recent past. Gaurav Yadav, DGP

The accused, identified as Kailash Khichan, was wanted in an Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) case registered in Fazilka in September 2023. Apart from this, the accused has a criminal history with a number of criminal cases pertaining to extortion, the NDPS Act and the Arms Act being registered against him in Punjab and Rajasthan.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said following the name of accused Khichan figuring in various terrorist modules busted by the Punjab Police in recent past, teams of the AGTF, headed by ADGP Promod Ban under the supervision of AIG Sandeep Goel and led by DSP Bikramjit Singh Brar, managed to track the location of the accused in Rajasthan and arrested him from Lohawat in Phalodi with the help of central agencies.

“Police teams have also recovered one .30 calibre Chinese pistol along with eight cartridges from the possession of Khichan,” he said.

The DGP said preliminary investigations had revealed that the accused Khichan, on the directions of terrorist Rinda, was supplying weapons to associates of the Babbar Khalistan International (BKI) to carry out attacks in the state.

AIG Sandeep Goel said further investigations were on to establish backward and forward links in this case and more arrests were expected soon.