In a major breakthrough amid the ongoing drive against terrorism and organised crime launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Police, in close coordination with Central agencies, has successfully intercepted and arrested two gangster-turned-terrorists linked to the banned terrorist organisation Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) immediately after their arrival in Mumbai, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Monday.
Those arrested have been identified as Sajan Masih, a resident of Veroke in Gurdaspur district, and Sukhdev Kumar alias Munish Bedi, a resident of Lahori Gate in Amritsar. Both accused have a substantial criminal history, with multiple cases of murder, attempt to murder, offences under the Arms and Explosives Acts, and cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) registered against them at various police stations in Batala and Amritsar.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said both the arrested individuals were important nodes of Pakistan-based ISI-supported Harvinder Singh alias Rinda and USA-based detained BKI operative Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia. “They were operating from overseas locations, including Dubai and Armenia, while attempting to orchestrate criminal and terror activities in Punjab,” he said, terming the arrests a major success for the Punjab Police.
Pertinently, as part of these sustained efforts, the Punjab Police has issued Look Out Circulars (LOCs) and Red Corner Notices against several wanted criminals who had taken shelter in foreign countries, which helped in tracking both accused.
The DGP said that preliminary investigations have revealed that the accused were part of a BKI-linked network responsible for several grenade attacks on police stations in Amritsar and Batala, as well as the killings of Hardeep Singh of Jourrian Kalan and kiryana store owner Ravi Kumar of Dera Baba Nanak. Sajan Masih was also coordinating with another key associate, Shamsher Shera alias Honey, who is currently based in Armenia, he added.
Sharing operational details, AIG SSOC Amritsar Sukhminder Singh Mann said that acting on specific intelligence inputs developed in close coordination with central agencies, a joint team of the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) Amritsar and Counter Intelligence, Pathankot, was swiftly dispatched to Mumbai and took both criminals into custody as soon as they landed.
The AIG further said both the arrested persons were actively involved in providing logistical support, funding channels and strategic direction to their foot soldiers operating in Punjab.
Meanwhile, the accused have been arrested in connection with FIR No. 47 dated August 25, 2025, registered under Sections 25, 29 and 30 of the Arms Act and Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Police Station SSOC Amritsar.