Punjab sees second wave of attacks on police: 5 incidents in 20 days

The incident came to light after a social media post claimed responsibility for the attack. The post, purportedly from Happy Pasia and Gopi Navanshahria, also threatened future attacks on police checkpoints after 6 pm. Police have not denied the claims and are investigating.

Arrests linked to earlier Ajnala attack

On Friday, the Punjab Police announced the arrest of two suspects in connection with an IED planted outside the Ajnala police station on November 23. The suspects, identified as Jashandeep Singh alias Danny from Jandiala Guru and a 17-year-old juvenile, allegedly confessed to the crime.

According to DGP Gaurav Yadav, the attack was orchestrated by Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) operatives working under Pakistan’s ISI. He stated that BKI’s US-based activist Harpreet Singh (Happy Pasia), Germany-based Jeevan Fauji, and Pakistan-based Harwinder Singh Rinda were the masterminds behind the plot.

Sharing operation details, AIG State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) Amritsar Sukhminder Singh Mann said that they have received a secret information that Harvinder Singh Rinda, Happy Passia and Gurdev Jaisal have mobilised their associates to carry out anti-national activities in Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Batala areas and also arranged huge consignment of weapons and explosives for them to execute the plans of targeting government establishments.

Earlier incidents

On December 4, a powerful blast was reported at the Majitha police station in Amritsar, shattering windows. While police initially termed it a tyre burst, subsequent social media posts claimed it was a grenade attack.

Other recent attacks include:

November 29: Explosion near a vacant police check post in Amritsar’s Gurbaksh Nagar.
December 2: Grenade attack at the Ansaro police post in Nawanshahr. The grenade did not detonate and was defused.

The phase between 2021 and 2022

This wave of attacks resembles a series of incidents targeting police establishments between 2021 and 2022. These included:

December 10, 2022: Rocket-propelled grenade attack on Sarhali police station in Tarn Taran.
May 9, 2022: Rocket attack on Punjab Police Intelligence Headquarters in Mohali.
November 2021: Grenade blasts at Nawanshahr CIA office and near the Triveni gate of the Pathankot Army cantonment.

Although these earlier attacks were of low intensity, police have blamed Pakistan’s ISI and Khalistani militants for orchestrating them. Many of the assailants, including gangsters and smugglers, have since been arrested.

Authorities are on high alert as the current phase of attacks appears more coordinated and poses a renewed threat to police infrastructure.