The investigation into the Patiala freight corridor blast has led to the recovery of a large cache of explosives and weapons, with Punjab Police uncovering what it described as a “deep-rooted terror conspiracy”
linked to Pakistan’s ISI and pro-Khalistan elements.
Weapons, Explosives Recovered
In a joint operation, Patiala Police and the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) Amritsar raided a village in Tarn Taran and seized military-grade hardware, including a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), an improvised explosive device (IED) weighing 2.296 kg, detonators, and around 1.456 kg of RDX.
Police also recovered a hand grenade, three pistols, multiple magazines, 84 live cartridges, wireless communication sets and timer switches, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said.
Terror Links Across Countries
Investigators said the module behind the blast was backed by handlers based in Malaysia and had links to Pakistan’s ISI. The group was also reportedly in contact with a US-based individual, Surinder Singh Thikriwal, who has allegedly been associated with terror activities in the past.
Arrests, Key Accused Identified
The breakthrough came after the arrest of four members of a pro-Khalistan terror module, including Satnam alias Satta, whose brother Jagrup Singh was killed while attempting to plant the explosive on the railway track.
The other accused have been identified as Pardeep Singh Khalsa, Kulwinder Singh alias Bagga and Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi. Additional weapons and communication devices were recovered from their possession.
Probe Ongoing
Police said the operation exposed a wider network and that investigations are ongoing to trace the full extent of the conspiracy and identify other operatives involved.
The blast attempt had targeted a key railway freight corridor in Shambhu, raising concerns over infrastructure security.
