The Ludhiana Police, in a joint operation with Counter Intelligence (CI) Punjab, has busted a transnational terror-gangster nexus with the arrest of two operatives and recovery of three illegal pistols — two .30 bore and one .315 bore — along with 11 live cartridges from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Monday.
Those arrested have been identified as Anuraj alias Gaurav Masih and Ankush, both residents of Phillaur in Jalandhar. Ankush is a habitual offender and was earlier booked in an attempt to murder case registered at Goraya Police Station. Police also impounded a motorcycle (without registration number), which they were allegedly using for criminal activities.
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said preliminary investigation revealed that the accused were acting on directions of foreign-based handlers operating from Germany and Dubai, and had been assigned high-profile targeted shootings. Their timely arrest, he said, averted potentially serious criminal activities.
Further investigation is underway to establish forward and backward linkages of the network to identify other associates involved.
Sharing operational details, Ludhiana Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma said a joint team of CIA Staff and Counter Intelligence Ludhiana had set up a naka within the jurisdiction of Ladhowal Police Station.
Acting on intelligence inputs that two armed individuals were waiting near the Hardy’s World area to execute a sensational crime, police conducted a tactical raid and apprehended both suspects.
He said preliminary interrogation revealed that the accused were part of an organised transnational criminal syndicate operated by foreign-based handlers who supplied weapons and assigned high-value targets.
He further claimed that “Lakha”, the kingpin operating from abroad, ran the network, and with the arrest of these accused, five incidents of targeted shootings in Khanna, Moga, Kurukshetra, Tarn Taran and Faridkot were foiled.
