Latest news with #Akashdeep
Hans India
4 days ago
- Hans India
Babbar Khalsa International operative arrested for Punjab grenade attack
The Special Cell of the Delhi Police has arrested a 22-year-old man linked to the banned terror group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and wanted in connection with a grenade attack in Punjab. The accused was identified as Karanbir alias Karan, said Amit Kaushik, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Special Cell/New Delhi Range. Karanbir was arrested in connection with the grenade attack at Police Station Quila Lal Singh, in Punjab's Gurdaspur district in April, the police said in a statement on Sunday. The accused was arrested in Gurdaspur, Punjab, under the Arms Act on Saturday. Confessing to his involvement in the grenade attack, Karanbir said that he was in contact with a person from Punjab, but based abroad and handling operations for BKI. The accused also shared that he facilitated the stay of two persons at his home before the attack, who had executed the task of launching the grenade at Police Station Qila Lal Singh. The accused revealed that his handler used to instruct him through social media applications to commit criminal and terror activities. Karanbir revealed that he also visited a West Asian country in 2024. Karanbir told the police that he received money from his handler for executing the said grenade attack. Karanbir's brother, Gursewak, who was also involved in the attack, has already been arrested in the case. Karanbir was arrested based on the leads provided by Akashdeep alias Bazz of Amritsar, an accused in a case registered under the Arms Act. Akashdeep, who was arrested in Indore on Tuesday, was also found involved in the grenade attack case at the Police Station Quila Lal Singh. Notably, soon after the attack, a social media post by Happy Passia, Mannu Agwan and Gopi Nawanshahria, affiliated with BKI, claimed responsibility for the attack and also extended a threat to Delhi. The National Investigation Agency is probing the case. Further investigation is underway.
News18
4 days ago
- News18
Babbar Khalsa associate held in Delhi for April grenade attack in Punjab
Last Updated: New Delhi, Jul 27 (PTI) The Delhi Police has arrested a 22-year-old man allegedly associated with the banned terrorist organisation Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and involved in a grenade attack on a police station in Punjab earlier this year, an officer said on Sunday. Karanbir alias Karan, a native of Chananke village in Amritsar, was apprehended on July 26 from Gurdaspur under the Arms Act registered at the Special Cell Police Station, he said. Police said Karanbir is also a key accused in the April 7 grenade attack at Quila Lal Singh Police Station in Punjab's Batala. 'The incident is currently under investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA)," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Amit Kaushik said. The officer said that the investigation initially began after the arrest of another accused, Akashdeep alias Bazz, from Indore on July 22. 'During his interrogation, Akashdeep revealed his involvement in the grenade attack and named others linked to BKI. A post claiming responsibility for the attack had surfaced on social media, allegedly shared by BKI operatives Happy Passia, Mannu Agwan and Gopi Nawanshahria," said the DCP. Karandeep was arrested at the instance of Akashdeep. He said he also travelled to a West Asian country last year and received money for the April attack, police said. Karanbir said he had sheltered two men at his house in the days leading up to the attack. 'His brother Gursewak, also involved in the conspiracy, has already been arrested by investigating agencies," said the officer. PTI BM VN VN view comments First Published: July 27, 2025, 16:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Delhi Police Arrests Khalistani Militant Connected To Punjab Police Station Grenade Attack
The Special Cell of Delhi Police has successfully apprehended a suspected Khalistani militant with established connections to the Babbar Khalsa International terror organization. The arrested individual, identified as Karanvir, was actively sought by law enforcement authorities for his alleged involvement in the grenade attack targeting the Qila Lal Singh Police Station located in Batala, Punjab, which occurred on April 7. The arrest follows the recent detention of Karanvir's associate, Akashdeep, who was also linked to the same terror group and was captured in Delhi just days earlier while allegedly engaged in weapons distribution activities within the national capital. During intensive interrogation sessions, investigators discovered that Akashdeep had provided crucial assistance to the attackers who executed the grenade assault near the Punjab police facility. The investigation revealed that the Batala police station attack was part of a broader pattern of retaliatory violence orchestrated by militant groups. One day following the grenade incident, the Babbar Khalsa International organization publicly claimed responsibility for the attack through social media channels, explicitly stating that the assault was conducted as retaliation for a December 2024 encounter that took place in Pilibhit. The Pilibhit encounter, which served as the catalyst for the subsequent attacks, involved a coordinated operation between Uttar Pradesh and Punjab Police forces that resulted in the elimination of three individuals allegedly connected to another grenade attack on the Bakshiwala police station in Gurdaspur. This earlier incident had also raised significant security concerns in the region. Intelligence sources indicate that the three individuals killed during the Pilibhit operation were believed to be active operatives of the Khalistan Zindabad Force, another militant organization suspected of orchestrating multiple attacks against law enforcement facilities. The same group is also under investigation for a separate grenade attack on a police outpost in Punjab that occurred in November 2024. The arrests highlight the ongoing security challenges posed by Khalistani militant groups operating across state boundaries and their apparent strategy of targeting law enforcement infrastructure in retaliation for counter-terrorism operations. The coordination between various police forces and intelligence agencies has proven crucial in tracking down these suspects who frequently move between different states to avoid detection. The Special Cell's operation demonstrates the effectiveness of inter-state cooperation in combating terrorism, particularly in cases where militant networks span multiple jurisdictions. The successful arrests of both Karanvir and Akashdeep represent significant progress in dismantling the operational capabilities of these terror groups and preventing future attacks against security installations. Law enforcement agencies continue to investigate the broader network of associates and supporters who may have facilitated these attacks, while also working to prevent any potential retaliatory actions that might be planned in response to these arrests. The case underscores the persistent threat posed by extremist groups and the ongoing need for vigilant security measures to protect public safety and law enforcement personnel.
India Today
4 days ago
- India Today
Khalistani terrorist, linked to Punjab police station attack, arrested in Delhi
A Khalistani terrorist linked to the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror group has been arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police. The accused, identified as Karanvir, was wanted in connection with the grenade attack on Qila Lal Singh Police Station in Batala, Punjab, on April said Karanvir's associate, Akashdeep - also linked to BKI - was arrested in Delhi just a few days ago while he was allegedly supplying weapons in the national capital. During questioning, Akashdeep was found to have assisted the attackers, who hurled a grenade near the police day after the Batala blast, BKI had claimed responsibility in a social media post, stating the attack was carried out in retaliation for the December 2024 Pilibhit encounter. In that incident, a joint team of the Uttar Pradesh and Punjab Police killed three individuals allegedly linked to another grenade attack on the Bakshiwala police station in Gurdaspur. Those killed in the Pilibhit encounter were believed to be operatives of the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF), also suspected to be behind a separate grenade attack on a police outpost in Punjab in November 2024.- EndsTrending Reel
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
2 months since his death, Agniveer's ashes yet to be immersed; kin await ‘martyr' status amid Punjab govt silence
Over two months after the cremation of Agniveer Akashdeep Singh, 20, who died of a bullet injury while on duty in Jammu on May 15, his family has refused to immerse his ashes in protest against the 'government's indifference'. The grieving family in Kothe Chahal village in Faridkot's Kotkapura says they are still waiting for Akashdeep to be officially recognised as a martyr, and for the compensation routinely granted to the families of soldiers who die in the line of duty. On Friday, Akashdeep's parents, accompanied by members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Sidhupur), held a protest march through the streets of Faridkot that culminated in a sit-in demonstration inside the district administrative complex. They also submitted a memorandum to Punamdeep Kaur, Deputy Commissioner (DC). Addressing the protesters, BKU (Sidhupur) president and convenor of Samyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political), Jagjit Singh Dallewal said, 'I am shocked by the Punjab Government's apathetic response. It has been 70 days since this son of the soil was cremated, and his ashes are yet to be immersed. We sleep in peace because the Army guards our borders. And when one of them dies in uniform, does he not deserve dignity in death?' He added, 'Neither the Centre nor the State has spoken. It is unbelievable — how can we be so stone-hearted? People had protested against this Agnipath scheme right in the beginning and see the condition of the families of these soldiers.' Akashdeep reportedly died of a self-inflicted bullet wound to the head. His body was brought back in an ambulance and cremated on May 16. Though local MLA and Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan visited the family multiple times, the state government has made no announcement regarding compensation or his martyr status. The silence has only deepened the family's pain. On Friday, Akashdeep's father, Balwinder Singh — a long-time AAP supporter — sat under the scorching sun wearing a black turban. His mother Karamjit Kaur, draped in a white dupatta, remained silent, her eyes questioning the system. 'What was my fault in sending my young son to the armed forces?' she had asked earlier. Flex sheets at the protest site read: 'Akashdeep Amar Rahe (Long live Akashdeep)', 'Akashdeep nu shaheed da darza deo (Declare him a martyr)', and 'Akashdeep nu insaaf deo (Justice to Akashdeep)'. The family handed over the memorandum to the DC along with Dallewal, but chose not to speak at the protest. Earlier, in a conversation with The Indian Express, Balwinder had said, 'We are upset with the Punjab government's approach. No announcement has been made. Speaker Sandhwan came to our house and attended the cremation, but there has been no word from the Chief Minister (Bhagwant Mann).' The family was particularly hurt that even the DC did not visit their home — only a tahsildar was present during the cremation. 'My son died while on duty,' Kaur had said. 'People who die after drinking spurious liquor get Rs 10 lakh compensation and government jobs for their families. But my brave son, who left his BCom studies to serve the nation, has not even been acknowledged.' Kaur added that the family will not immerse Akashdeep's ashes until he is honoured as a martyr. 'What is the purpose of the Agniveer scheme if those who die in service are not even recognised?' The case has drawn comparisons to the first death of an Agniveer in India – Amritpal Singh, 19, who died by suicide in October 2023 in Punjab's Mansa. That incident had snowballed into a major political issue, following which chief minister Mann personally visited the family, announced a compensation of Rs 1 crore and a government job. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal had then declared that the Punjab government stood with its soldiers even when the Centre failed. 'The contrast in treatment is shocking,' said Harvipan Singh, block president of BKU (Sidhupur). 'Why this silence in Akashdeep's case?' Asked about the status of the family's demands, the DC said, 'We are forwarding the memorandum to the Chief Minister's Office. So far, we haven't received any feedback.' Meanwhile, Akashdeep's ashes remain as a symbol of the family's pain and a government that appears to look the other way.
