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Chandigarh terror bid foiled, trio arrested with IED near ISBT-43: Cops
his comes just months after a crude hand grenade was hurled outside the Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party’s state headquarters in Sector 37, the city has also been in the thick of heightened gang violence
Foiling a major terror plot, Chandigarh police caught three persons with a suspected improvised explosive device (IED), explosive materials and a firearm near inter-state bus terminus in Sector 43, Chandigarh, on Sunday evening.
This comes just months after a crude hand grenade was hurled outside the Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party’s state headquarters in Sector 37. The city has also been in the thick of heightened gang-linked violence, including daylight shootings, and extortion plots and even murders. Most of the gangs believed to be active in the city and neighbouring areas have been found to have cross-border links.
According to the police, two of the accused are from Tarn Taran while one is from Amritsar. They were caught during a check in the area, police said. The recoveries included gelatin sticks, detonators, wires, a power source and other electronic components, used in preparing an explosive device. A pistol and five cartridges were also seized.
Following the recovery, an FIR was registered at Sector 36 police station under relevant provisions of the Explosives Act and Arms Act.
“In a major operation, the police recovered suspicious items from behind the Sector-43 bus stand in Chandigarh. Chandigarh Police have arrested three individuals in connection with the case…Security arrangements at the site have been tightened, and investigative agencies are examining the recovered items,” said the UT police in a statement.
According to information, the initial probe revealed that the trio had links with Pakistan-based Khalistani terrorist Satnam Satta alias Nau Shera. Police suspect the three men had been collecting explosives and other material as part of a larger terror conspiracy. It is not yet clear whether the suspects were preparing to execute an attack in Punjab, Chandigarh or some other place.
Investigators are questioning the accused to establish how the explosives were procured, where it was being taken and whether more people were involved.
Police said the recovery was being treated seriously but appealed to residents not to panic. They also asked residents to report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station or police control room.
