Three Khalistan-linked Suspects Gunned Down in UP: Unraveling the Gurdaspur Attack Connection

Punjab police chief reports that Gurvinder Singh, Virender Singh, and Jaspreet Singh were allegedly operating under the guidance of Ranjit Singh, a designated terrorist based in Pakistan.

In a significant development in the ongoing fight against terrorism, especially concerning the Khalistan movement, a coordinated operation led by law enforcement agencies from Punjab and Uttar Pradesh resulted in the demise of three individuals associated with the banned Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF). This operation took place in the early morning hours of Monday in the Pilibhit district of Uttar Pradesh, where the suspects were allegedly linked to a grenade attack in Gurdaspur.

The deceased operatives have been identified as Gurvinder Singh, aged 25, Virender Singh, who was also known as Ravi, aged 23, and Jaspreet Singh, referred to as Pratap Singh, aged 18. The three men were injured during a confrontation with the police forces from both regions and ultimately succumbed to their injuries shortly thereafter.

Gaurav Yadav, the Director General of Police (DGP) for Punjab, announced the successful operation via a video message, highlighting the critical blow dealt to forces allegedly sponsored by Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI. During this encounter, law enforcement officials recovered an assortment of weapons, including two AK-47 rifles and Glock pistols.

DGP Yadav further confirmed that all three suspects hailed from the vicinity of the Kalanor police station in Gurdaspur. He stated that these individuals were directly implicated in a grenade assault against the Bakshiwala police post in Gurdaspur.

The grenade explosion, classified as a low-intensity blast, occurred the previous Wednesday night in an area governed by the Kalanor police. The suspects were reportedly acting under the directives of Ranjit Singh, known as Neeta, a designated terrorist based in Pakistan. Neeta has been under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in India since July 2020, facing charges of orchestrating terrorist activities from abroad, particularly through associates located in Greece and the UK.

In his statement, DGP Yadav revealed that preliminary investigations indicated that Ravi was the leader of this terrorist module, and he originated from Agwan, a village associated with his aide, Jaswinder Singh Mannu.

According to Avinash Pandey, the Superintendent of Police (SP) for Pilibhit, the operation was initiated following intelligence received from the Gurdaspur police regarding the possible location of the suspects. The information suggested that these Khalistani terrorists, who were responsible for the grenade attack, might be hiding within the Puranpur region.

The SP recounted that following the alert from Punjab officials, a rigorous search operation commenced, leading to the establishment of barricades across the district to intercept the suspects. Not long after, a police team stationed at Khamaria point received tips about three individuals on a motorcycle. A combined unit from Pilibhit and Punjab swiftly pursued the suspects.

During the chase, the suspects retaliated by firing at the police, prompting law enforcement officers to return fire. The ensuing exchange resulted in injuries to the suspects, who were subsequently rushed to a medical facility for treatment.

In light of the confrontation, two constables from Pilibhit police sustained injuries but were confirmed to be in stable condition. This operation marks an important step in the persistent efforts to combat and neutralize terrorist activities connected to the Khalistani movement and its operatives in the region.