Punjab militants are no more dependent on RDX, mostly smuggled in from Pakistan, but have shifted to home-made gelatin sticks, proven to be as much or even more effective by naxalites.
But continue to be supported by Germany-based mentors
CHANDIGARH: Punjab militants are no more dependent on RDX, mostly smuggled in from Pakistan, but have shifted to home-made gelatin sticks, proven to be as much or even more effective by naxalites.
This became clear after the arrest of two ultras in Ludhiana on Tuesday. The explosives consignment recovered from them contained 195 gelatin sticks manufactured by a private firm in Nagpur, Maharashtra, and 25 detonators made in Golconda, Andhra Pradesh.
It also became clear after the arrests of Manjit and Gurbhej Singh that Punjab militants continue to be powered by Germany, as the two revealed they were guided and motivated by Gurmeet Singh based in the European nation, Ludhiana DIG Ishwar Singh said.
The gelatin sticks recovered from the militants could cause over two dozen blasts, the DIG said, adding that this was a clear indication that the militants were no more dependent on Pakistani RDX as was the case for the last 15 years.
The militants arrested in connection with the Shringar Cinema blast were also found to be actively in touch with the hardliners in Germany.
Intelligence agencies had earlier disclosed that the Babbar Khalsa militant outfit was part of a terrorist network sponsored by Germany-based terror groups as well as Pakistan’s external intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), trying to revive terrorism in Punjab.
The outfit is believed to be active in the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Belgium, Norway, Switzerland and Pakistan.
According to reports, a joint committee was lately formed in Germany to coordinate terror activities abroad.
Meanwhile, Ludhiana Police are yet to ascertain to which terrorist outfit the militants arrested on Tuesday belong.
“Of late, radical cadres of terror outfits are diminishing. They are loosely organised and are helped by one or the other organisation,” IG Sanjeev Kalra said.
He said the preliminary questioning of the accused had revealed that their main targets were Baba Piara Singh Bhaniarewala, Dera Sacha Sauda’s controversial chief Baba Ram Rahim Singh and crowded places, including vital installations.
The youth said they were working at the instance of Gurmeet Singh alias Bagga, who belonged to Jhajj village near Tanda in Hoshiarpur but is now based in Hamburg, Germany.
Intelligence agencies from across the border also helped them, they said.
The recovered explosives had the mark, Super Power-90 Solar Explosive Limited village Chak Doe BazarGaon in Nagpur district. The detonators were from villages Peddakandukur, Vadagiri and Gutta Mandal in Nalsonda district (Andhra Pardesh).
Investigations revealed the gang has sympathisers in different parts of the country and abroad.
b_ajay@dnaindia.net
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}