The Ghanian-Ke-Bangar police station in Batala police district was targeted late last night when a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) was thrown into its compound. This incident marks the third occurrence of bomb-like objects being launched at border area police stations in the region within recent weeks, raising alarm over escalating threats to law enforcement.
Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), a militant group, has taken responsibility for the latest attack through a social media statement. The organization issued a warning to the Batala police, threatening to deploy hand grenades or IEDs at any police check-post established after 6 p.m. This declaration follows a series of similar attacks that have destabilized the border security landscape.
The targeted police station lies approximately 12 kilometers from Batala city. At the time of the attack, many senior officers were preoccupied with preparations for an upcoming visit by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, scheduled to take place in Qadian on Sunday. Officials have since clarified that the minister’s visit is unrelated to the IED incident.
DIG (Border) Satinder Singh announced that authorities are thoroughly examining the object to determine its exact nature, dismissing initial reports of a hand grenade being involved. “The truth will be known only after the forensic science laboratory (FSL) report comes in,” Singh stated.
Early this morning, ADGP Naunihal Singh and SSP Suhail Qasim Mir conducted a site visit to the affected police station around 10 a.m. SSP Mir emphasized that ADGP Singh’s inspection of border area police stations should not be connected to the recent IED attack. “His visit should not be linked to the IED incident,” Mir clarified.
Investigations have pointed to BKI sympathizers Gopi Nawashaharia and Harpreet Singh Happy Pashia as responsible for orchestrating the attack. Gopi Nawashaharia is implicated in the murder of former BKI militant Rattandeep Singh and is believed to be hiding in California after fleeing to the United States on a fake passport in May.
Harpreet Singh Happy Pashia, a US-based gangster-turned-terrorist, is actively recruiting vulnerable youth from the Ramdass (Amritsar) and Dera Baba Nanak (Gurdaspur) areas near the international border for involvement in criminal and terror activities. Pashia is wanted in over fifteen cases, including murder, attempted murder, and extortion, and has connections to multiple criminal networks in Punjab.
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, SSP Mir convened a midnight meeting with his team of senior officers. “There is nothing to panic. We are looking into the occurrence and will come out with details once the investigations are over,” he assured the public.
Security measures have been significantly heightened in neighboring districts of Gurdaspur and Pathankot. In Batala, additional check-posts have been established, and increased vehicle inspections are being conducted to prevent further incidents.
As investigations continue, local authorities remain vigilant in their efforts to safeguard the region and dismantle the operational capabilities of BKI. The community awaits further updates as police work tirelessly to restore peace and security in the border areas.
