Babbar Khalsa Terrorist Arrested In Joint Operation By UP STF And Punjab Police, Had Earlier Escaped Judicial Custody

In a major counter-terrorism breakthrough, security forces have arrested an active terrorist affiliated with Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and a Pakistan-based ISI module from Uttar Pradesh (UP), reported ANI.

The arrest was made in a joint operation by the UP Special Task Force (STF) and Punjab Police in the Kokhraj police station area of Kaushambi district during the early hours of Thursday (6 March).

Authorities have recovered a cache of illegal arms and explosives, including three active hand grenades, two active detonators, 13 cartridges, and a foreign-made pistol from the arrested terrorist’s possession.

The captured suspect has been identified as Lajar Masih, a resident of Kurlian village in Punjab’s Amritsar district.

According to intelligence reports, he was working under the direct command of Swarn Singh alias Jeevan Fauji, who heads the Germany-based BKI module, and maintained close contact with ISI operatives in Pakistan.

Officials revealed that Masih had previously escaped from judicial custody in Punjab on 29 September 2024, making his capture a significant success for law enforcement agencies.

Confirming the arrest, the UP STF stated, "An active terrorist of Babbar Khalsa International and ISI module, Lajar Masih, resident of Punjab's Amritsar was arrested in a joint operation of UP STF and Punjab Police, today early morning. As per available information, the arrested terrorist works for Swarn Singh alias Jeevan Fauji, the head of the Germany-based module of Babbar Khalsa International and is in direct touch with Pakistan-based ISI operatives. Illegal arms and explosives including three active hand grenades, two active detonators, 13 cartridges and one foreign-made pistol, recovered."

The arrest comes just days after the Punjab Police dismantled another BKI-backed terror module responsible for attacks in Batala City.

On 27 February, two operatives were taken into custody in connection with targeted assaults in Jaintipur and Raimal on 15 January and 17 February 2025.

Director General of Police, Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, highlighted the significance of this crackdown, stating on social media platform X, "In a major breakthrough, Punjab Police busts a terror module backed by Babbar Khalsa International (#BKI) - Inter-Services Intelligence (#ISI-#Pakistan) responsible for attacks in #Batala and solves the attack cases in Jaintipur & Raimal carried out on Jan 15, 2025 & Feb 17, 2025 respectively."

With Masih’s arrest and recent terror module busts, security forces continue to disrupt extremist operations attempting to destabilise the region.