Date:21/11/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/11/21/stories/2005112110380100.htm

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Punjab police foil terror plan

Jagraon: The Punjab Police on Sunday claimed to have foiled a major plan by Pakistan-trained terrorists of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) to strike in crowded localities in the State and national capitals.

Announcing the arrest of three BKI terrorists here, SSP R.K. Jaiswal said they planned to detonate bombs in areas dominated by a particular community.

The three, who were arrested on Saturday on the outskirts of the town, were identified as Chamkaur Singh and Bhagwant Singh, both belonging to Payal, and Manpreet Singh, hailing from Dehlon.

The police seized 1.2 kg RDX, one pencil bomb, 28 detonators, a timer, 55 AK-47 cartridges, 56 Mauser cartridges and four .9 mm cartridges. The ammunition and RDX were smuggled from Pakistan through the Rajasthan border.

Mr. Jaiswal said the three had gone to Pakistan in May via Bangkok. In Pakistan, they met BKI chief Wadhwa Singh, who imparted training to them in assembling and detonating explosives and also gave them money.

They were in touch with the U.S.-based BKI militant, Harjit Singh Latara. "The nature of instructions they got from Latara are yet to be analysed," he added.

— UNI