Mohali: In a major security breakthrough, Punjab Police have foiled a cross-border terror conspiracy by arresting two individuals allegedly linked to a foreign-based operative and recovering a fully assembled RDX-based Improvised Explosive Device (IED) weighing around 2.5 kilograms from their possession in Mohali. Officials said the device was ready for immediate use, and timely action prevented a potentially large-scale attack.
Intelligence Interceptions and Target Suspect Profiles
According to Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, the arrested accused have been identified as Mani Singh, 32, a resident of Gujjarpura in Amritsar, and Abhishek Kumar, 28, from Gillwali Gate in Amritsar. The duo was intercepted following intelligence inputs indicating movement of explosive material intended for a planned attack on critical infrastructure in SAS Nagar district.
Police said the operation was conducted by the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), SAS Nagar, after receiving specific intelligence regarding a terror module attempting to carry out a strike in the region. Acting swiftly on the inputs, security teams launched a targeted operation in Mohali, which led to the arrest of the suspects near a park opposite YPS Chowk.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused had travelled from Amritsar to Mohali by bus while carrying the explosive device. Officials believe the consignment was intended for use in a coordinated attack, though the exact target is still under investigation. Authorities suspect that public infrastructure and crowded locations were under consideration by the terror network.
Ordnance Neutralization and Statutory FIR Bookings
Following the recovery, a bomb disposal squad was immediately called in to secure the area. The team successfully neutralised and dismantled the IED using standard safety protocols, preventing any accidental detonation or harm to civilians. Police confirmed that the device was fully assembled, highlighting the seriousness and immediacy of the threat.
An FIR has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Explosive Substances Act at Police Station SSOC, SAS Nagar. Investigators have now intensified efforts to trace the wider network behind the operation, including handlers, financial backers, and cross-border linkages.
Senior police officials stated that early findings suggest involvement of a foreign-based operative who coordinated logistics and provided instructions to the arrested individuals. The communication channels and digital footprint of the accused are currently under forensic examination to identify additional members of the module.
Reconnaissance Audits and Infrastructure Security
Authorities are also probing whether the accused had carried out reconnaissance of potential targets in the region before their arrest. Officials believe that the module may have been part of a larger coordinated plan aimed at disrupting public safety and infrastructure security in Punjab.
DGP Gaurav Yadav, in an official statement, said the swift action by security forces averted a “potentially catastrophic threat” and reaffirmed the commitment of Punjab Police to neutralise terror networks at an early stage. He added that investigations are ongoing to dismantle the entire ecosystem supporting such activities.
Security agencies have stepped up vigilance across sensitive locations in the state, particularly transport hubs, government installations, and public gathering points. Intelligence inputs are being shared across agencies to ensure coordinated monitoring of suspected individuals linked to extremist networks.
Operational Readiness and Handler Communications
Experts note that recovery of a fully assembled explosive device indicates a high level of operational readiness, suggesting that the module was in its final stage of execution. Such incidents underscore the continuing challenge of cross-border radicalisation and the use of local operatives for executing terror plans.
The arrested individuals are currently being interrogated to extract details about funding sources, recruitment methods, and communication with handlers. Investigators are also examining whether additional consignments or operatives are active in other parts of the region.
The case remains under active investigation, with officials indicating that further arrests and recoveries are likely as the probe expands. Security agencies are working to reconstruct the entire network to prevent any future attempts of similar nature.
