Babbar Khalsa terror plot foiled: Punjab cops seize IED in Tarn Taran; Rinda-Landa link exposed
NEW DELHI: The Punjab's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) on Thursday averted a major terror attack planned by Pakistan-based Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) operatives Harwinder Rinda and Lakhbir Landa.
In a post on X, DGP Gaurav Yadav said that acting on precise intelligence, AGTF teams, along with Tarn Taran Police, launched a swift operation that led to the seizure of the IED before it could reach Rinda's associates in Punjab and wreak havoc.
The bomb was discovered in Tarn Taran district, a region known for terror infiltration threats.
Yadav said that the IED was safely moved and neutralised by a bomb disposal squad in a controlled explosion.
Officials said the IED was powerful enough to cause mass casualties, had it not been intercepted in time.
A case has been filed under the Explosives Act at Sirhali Police Station.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Encrypted messaging apps aid in the sale of narcotics, says ADGP A. Amalraj
The proliferation of encrypted messaging applications and social media groups has made tracking drug sales and transactions more complex, according to A. Amalraj, Additional Director-General of Police, Enforcement Bureau-CID. Drug-law enforcement agencies tightened vigil on habitual offenders and known drug syndicates, but those who smuggle narcotic substances through land and sea borders are transacting on social media platforms. 'Social media platforms are now being used to sell narcotics disguised as candies or chocolates — a trend that has prompted swift police crackdowns. Nightlife venues, hostels, and college campuses remain the prime targets for drug-peddlers,' Dr Amalraj said. Based on a robust strategy encompassing prevention, detection, enforcement, inter-agency coordination, destruction of contraband, financial investigations, and youth awareness programmes, Tamil Nadu's response stood out as a model for other States, he said. The State police had intensified operations under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, targeting hotspots of drug activity and adopting advanced surveillance methods. The illicit drugs were mostly trafficked from other States. Between 2021 and 2025, the Tamil Nadu Police had seized over 107 tonnes of Ganja, 3.2 lakh tablets of pharmaceutical drugs, and 1,223 kg of other narcotic substances. Ganja-infused chocolates Dr. Amalraj said the seizure of 5,250 ganja-infused chocolates in July, 'which were meant to be sold discreetly to college students', was one example of the evolving tactics of drug syndicates and the proactive response of law-enforcement agencies. Underscoring the need for community participation in eradicating the menace of drugs, he said an appeal had been made to the people to report suspected drug activities on designated helplines (10581), WhatsApp (9498410581), and email (spnibcid@ Dr. Amalraj said Tamil Nadu's proximity to States where the drugs originated and its extensive coastline made it a strategic location for drug-traffickers. To control the trafficking of drugs into the State, regular coordination was established with the Anti-Narcotic Task Forces of the neighbouring States. These partnerships facilitated enhanced surveillance, intelligence-sharing, and joint raids, particularly in border areas and on drug-smuggling routes. He said the drugs were not just a social problem but an illegal business often tied to elaborate financial networks. In this backdrop, the State had aggressively pursued financial investigations to dismantle the economic infrastructure supporting narcotics trade. Between 2021 and 2025, law-enforcement agencies froze 8,949 bank accounts and 45 properties valued at more than ₹21 crore. Recognising that prevention was more sustainable than cure, the State launched awareness campaigns targeting schools and colleges. The 'Enakku Vendam, Nammaku Vendam' initiative reached over 74 lakh students who pledged to stay away from narcotics. The Chief Minister administered an anti-drug pledge every year to students on August 11. Dr. Amalraj said the State had turned its educational institutions into frontline battlegrounds against substance abuse. Anti-drug clubs now functioned at almost all colleges, coordinated by district-level monitoring teams that reported to the Collector and the Superintendent of Police. Volunteers were trained in identifying early signs of drug usage and counselling. New threat While traditional narcotics like ganja and heroin continued to pose challenges, Tamil Nadu was facing a new threat — the misuse of pharmaceutical drugs. Between 2023 and 2025, seizure of pharmaceutical drugs rose sharply from 39,910 to over 1.42 lakh tablets. These included prescription drugs, such as painkillers, anti-anxiety medications, anti-depressants, and stimulants, often diverted from legal channels or procured from online platforms. This alarming trend prompted increased regulation of pharmacies and monitoring of e-commerce platforms. Investigators cracked down on the prescription drug trafficking networks. Reports suggested that illegal distribution networks spanned States like Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. Dealers employed various methods, including the crushing of tablets for injection, combining drugs with nitrous oxide, and selling them in the form of a candy, the ADGP said. He said the State's anti-drug strategy went beyond punitive action. The State had inaugurated 25 de-addiction centres at government hospitals to offer free treatment, counselling, and vocational training. In parallel, Kalangarai Centres offered integrated support for addicts seeking reintegration into society. This was a positive step to wean off those caught in the web.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
3 ‘kidnapped' students of Shimla boarding school traced within 24 hours
Shimla: The police on Sunday cracked the case of three missing 11-year-old students of class VI from a prominent boarding school in Shimla within 24 hours. They traced and recovered the students safely from a house in Kokunala village in Kotkhai tehsil. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The children were found safe at a house in Kokunala village after they went missing on Saturday afternoon during their weekly outing. The breakthrough came after a tip-off about a suspicious vehicle led police to Kokunala village. Sumit Sood, a local resident, was taken into custody. He is also a native of Kokunala village. The vehicle and suspect were traced following a six-hour operation led by additional superintendent of police Navdeep Singh, with support from multiple police units. Investigations are ongoing, including scrutiny of CCTV footage, phone records, and calls made from a virtual number registered in California. An FIR was registered at New Shimla Police Station under Section 137(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for kidnapping of minors. According to the school principal's complaint, the students had left the campus at around 12 pm on Saturday with an out pass to visit Mall Road, Shimla, but failed to return by the 5 pm deadline. The parents of the missing children, who are from politically influential families, received calls from the California-based virtual number on Saturday evening. The caller claimed the children were in the custody of dangerous individuals, though no ransom was demanded. The families rushed to Shimla and remained in close coordination with the police throughout the search. Shimla SP Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi formed multiple teams to track the children, with officers closely examining CCTV footage from various locations to trace their movements.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Six red sanders smugglers nabbed in Kadapa district
Police apprehended six red sanders smugglers involved in several cases in Kadapa district and recovered logs weighing nearly a tonne from them on Sunday. The arrested were identified as Iragamreddy Naga Dastagiri Reddy (35), Mudireddy Rammohan Reddy (47), U. Krishnaiah (53), Kayala Srinivasulu (44), Bandreddi Obul Reddy (54) and Sanivarapu Balagangi Reddy (44), all hailing from various places in Kadapa district. The six were arrested near Chinnavaradayapalle forest on Proddatur-Annavaram road during a regular checking on Saturday. The smugglers, travelling in an SUV and a sedan car, tried to zoom past the check post when the alert police apprehended them. The police suspect the involvement of more smugglers, especially powerful people, behind the arrested six. Kadapa Superintendent of Police (SP) E.G. Ashok Kumar while addressing the media said that Dastagiri Reddy was a notorious criminal wanted in 86 red sanders smuggling and 34 theft cases. 'There are three P.D. Act cases pending against him and his wife Lalu Bi, a co-accused who is currently in jail. His relatives Lalu Basha, Fakruddin and Zakir are also facing hundreds of cases,' he said. According to the SP, Dastagiri is directly linked to Salim, a Delhi-based kingpin, who used to send hawala money through Hyderabad-based Vikram Singh Solanki, who had also been arrested recently. Apart from the 1,087 kg of seized red sanders logs, the cops also seized two cars and a motorcycle.
