CHANDIGARH: In yet another major breakthrough in the ongoing Nanded murder case, Punjab Police’s State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), SAS Nagar has arrested three more operatives of Pakistan based Babbar Khalsa International ( BKI) terrorist Harvinder Singh alias Rinda backed by Pakistan’s ISI, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Saturday.
Those arrested have been identified as Jagjit Singh alias Jaggi and Shubham Khelbude, both residents of Nanded in Maharashtra and Gurdeep Singh alias Deepa, a resident of Raipur in Ropar. Police teams have also recovered two weapons including one 12 bore pump-action gun with 15 cartridges and one .32 bore pistol with eight cartridges.
This development follows the earlier arrests of Jagdish Singh alias Jagga, Shubhdeep Singh alias Shubh, and Sachindeep Singh alias Sachin in connection with the Nanded murder case. With these latest arrests, the total number of individuals apprehended in the case has risen to six in this case.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said preliminary investigation has revealed that arrested accused Jagjit alias Jaggi played a critical role in facilitating logistics, safe houses, and coordination for the shooters involved in the Nanded murder case, masterminded by Rinda from across the border. Investigations have also uncovered the role of jailed gangster Dilpreet alias Baba, an old associate of Rinda, who arranged safe shelters in Punjab for the accused, he said.
He said that the arrested operative Jagjeet alias Jaggi is wanted in cases related to murder, attempt to murder, threat and intimidating for extortion, while Shubham is wanted in threat and extortion related cases in Nanded, Maharashtra and came to Punjab evading their arrest. Accused Jaggi and Shubam were actively involved in coordinating various illegal activities, including the procurement of weapons, collection of extortion money, logistics support, and shelter for their other operatives in Nanded all on directions of Harvinder alias Rinda, he said.
The DGP said that the third arrested individual Gurdeep alias Deepa was arrested for providing shelter and logistical support to the fugitives Jaggi and Shubam. Accused Gurdeep Deepa also played a crucial role in enabling the escape and continued activities of the accused, he added.
Sharing more details, AIG SSOC SAS Nagar Dr Simrat Kaur said following a reliable input, team of SSOC SAS Nagar launched an intelligence-led operation and arrested Shubham Khelbude along with Gurdeep alias Deepa from Sri Anandpur Sahib where he was taking shelter at a sand crusher owned by the latter. Further swift action on the leads obtained from the interrogation of arrested accused paved way for the arrest of third accused Jagjeet alias Jaggi from district Tarn tarn late night on the same day, she added.
She said that during the operation the police recovered a .32-bore pistol from Shubham and a Pump Action Gun from Gurdeep, which were intended for use in furthering illegal operations in Punjab and other regions.
The AIG said that further investigations are on and more arrests are expected in coming days.
In this regard, a case FIR no 1 dated 21.02.2025 has already been registered under section 25(1) B of the Arms act and sections 249 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Police Station SSOC, SAS Nagar.