In a significant breakthrough, police have arrested two operatives linked to the banned terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) in connection with a murder that rocked Nanded nearly two weeks ago. The arrests were executed by the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) of Mohali following critical intelligence inputs.
Authorities detained Tarn Taran resident Jagdish Singh, also known as “Jagga,” and his associate Shubhdeep Singh, or “Shubh.” Both men were found in possession of .32 bore pistols and a total of five cartridges. The operation unfolded after investigations revealed that the pair were instrumental in carrying out a targeted killing in Nanded on February 10.
The attack, which took place outside a Sikh colony, was aimed at Gurmeet Singh—a parolee previously implicated in the 2016 murder of Rinda’s brother. Although Gurmeet sustained serious injuries during the assault, he managed to survive the incident. Tragically, his accomplice, Ravindra Rathod, succumbed to injuries inflicted during the attack.
Investigators have established that after the Nanded incident, Jagga returned to Punjab where Shubhdeep not only arranged safe hideouts but also provided essential financial support. Both suspects have been directly linked to the Pakistan-based BKI terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda and a USA-based handler known as Happy Passia.
During the course of interrogation, Jagga admitted to committing the murder and severely injuring another individual in Nanded at the behest of Harwinder Rinda. He further disclosed that both he and Shubhdeep were under orders from their foreign-based commanders to conduct targeted killings across Maharashtra as part of an expansive terror operation.
Shubhdeep Singh was apprehended on Friday in the Kharar region at Sunny Enclave, where police recovered one pistol and two cartridges. Acting on the subsequent leads, the SSOC team successfully located and detained Jagdish Singh from Phase 1 in Mohali. From him, authorities recovered one pistol along with three cartridges.
A case has been registered, and further investigations are underway to uncover additional links to the larger terror network. The police continue to monitor potential threats, stressing that the arrest marks only one step in dismantling the broader terror apparatus orchestrated by BKI operatives.
