Chandigarh terror conspiracy: Three babbar khalsa operatives sent to 5-day police custody

The operation cell had sought seven days police remand, telling the court that the accused would have to be taken to Punjab to identify and trace the source of the explosives and to investigate their supply chain

A day after three alleged Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) operatives were caught with nearly 6 kg of gelatin-stick explosives, a local court on Monday sent them to five-day police custody after the Chandigarh Police sought their custodial interrogation to trace the source of the explosives recovered from them and uncover the wider terror conspiracy allegedly being operated through foreign-based handlers.

Following the input, the police launched searches and used human intelligence and technical inputs to track the suspects. (HT File)

The operation cell had sought seven days police remand, telling the court that the accused would have to be taken to Punjab to identify and trace the source of the explosives and to investigate their supply chain. The court granted five days custody.

The accused Lovepreet Singh, 19, of Sarhali, Tarn Taran; Jashanpreet Singh alias Jashandeep, 21, of Deobath, Tarn Taran; and Prabhpreet Singh alias Prabh, 19, of Tarsikka, Amritsar were arrested on Sunday by the operation cell in coordination with a central agency.

Police recovered around 6 kg of gelatin-stick explosives, a detonator, power source and remotely operated system, besides a pistol, one magazine and five live cartridges.

The case was registered on August 22 after the police received information that Lovepreet and Jashanpreet were allegedly in contact with persons involved in terrorist activities operating from abroad and were carrying a substantial quantity of explosives. They were suspected of planning to plant an improvised explosive device at Chandigarh’s Sector 42/43 area.

Following the input, the police launched searches and used human intelligence and technical inputs to track the suspects. The three men were arrested the next day.

According to investigators, the accused were allegedly functioning as ground level operatives of a BKI module and had been assigned specific roles by foreign-based handlers. Lovepreet allegedly acted as the link between the handlers and the other accused, while Jashanpreet allegedly assisted in handling and moving the material. Prabhpreet allegedly provided operational support and was in contact with a handler identified by police as Gurlal.

Police said Lovepreet, a painter, had established contact with alleged BKI handlers Ashu and Satta through social media and communication platforms. He allegedly received instructions regarding the planned attack and coordinated the movement of the explosives. He also has a previous case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, (NDPS Act) registered in Tarn Taran.

Jashanpreet, also a painter, allegedly came into contact with the handlers through Lovepreet. Police recovered the detonator, power source and remotely operated system from him.

Prabhpreet, who worked as a helper at an Indian Gas agency in Tarsikka, allegedly remained in contact with handler Gurlal. A pistol, magazine and five live cartridges were recovered from him.

The police have alleged that the module was being directed from abroad and that the accused had been tasked with identifying a suitable location and executing an IED attack in Chandigarh. The recovery, police said, helped avert a potential terror threat.

Further investigation is being conducted by the operation cell.