Chandigarh/Ludhiana: In a major crackdown on the terror-gangster nexus in Punjab, the Ludhiana Commissionerate Police and Counter Intelligence Punjab have arrested two operatives allegedly linked to foreign-based handlers operating from Germany and Dubai, averting planned targeted shootings in the state.
The accused — Anuraj alias Gaurav Masih and Ankush, both residents of Phillaur in Jalandhar — were arrested with three illegal pistols, including two .30 bore weapons and one .315 bore pistol, along with 11 live cartridges. Police also impounded a Bajaj CT 100 motorcycle without a registration number that was allegedly being used for criminal activities.
According to Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav, preliminary investigations revealed that the duo was acting on the directions of overseas handlers based in Germany and Dubai, UAE, and had been assigned “high-profile targeted shootings”. He said the timely operation prevented potentially serious criminal incidents.
Police said accused Ankush is a habitual offender and had earlier been booked in an attempt to murder case registered at Goraya police station.
Sharing details of the operation, Ludhiana Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma said a joint team of CIA Staff and Counter Intelligence Ludhiana had set up a naka under the jurisdiction of Ladowal police station after receiving precise intelligence inputs about two armed suspects waiting near the Hardy’s World area to execute a sensational crime.
The police team carried out a tactical raid and arrested both suspects on the spot. During interrogation, the accused allegedly disclosed details about a transnational criminal syndicate run directly by foreign-based handlers.
“Overseas handlers utilised their network to supply high-grade weapons to the arrested operatives and had assigned them specific high-value targets,” the CP said.
A case has been registered under Section 25 of the Arms Act and Section 111 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Ladowal police station in Ludhiana. Further investigations are underway to trace the network’s forward and backward linkages and identify other associates involved.
