Babbar Khalsa operative linked to ISI arrested in UP

Punjab and UP police have arrested an active operative of Babbar Khalsa International and Pakistan's ISI, identified as Lajar Masih, a resident of Kurlian village in Amritsar, from Kaushambi in UP, said Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav on Thursday.

The development came around five months after the accused Lajar Masih escaped from judicial custody while he was undergoing treatment at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar on September 24, 2024. The DGP said the arrested accused was working under Germany-based BKI operative Swaran Singh, alias Jeevan Fauji, and was in direct contact with Pakistan's ISI.

According to the Punjab Police, Singh is a key associate of Pakistan-based BKI mastermind Harwinder Rinda and US-based BKI operative Happy Passian. Rinda has been designated as an individual terrorist under UAPA by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).


Yadav said a significant cache of arms and explosives, including three hand grenades, two gelatine rods, two detonators, a foreign-made Norinco and M-54 Tokarev (USSR) pistol along with 13 cartridges, have been recovered. The DGP said the accused was wanted in multiple criminal cases in Punjab.