Three pro-Khalistani terrorists gunned down, were linked to grenade attack on police station

In a coordinated operation between Uttar Pradesh and Punjab Police, three alleged Khalistani terrorists were killed in an encounter on December 23 in Pilibhit district, Uttar Pradesh. The suspects, identified as Gurvinder Singh (25), Virender Singh alias Ravi (23), and Jaspreet Singh alias Pratap Singh (18), were residents of Gurdaspur, Punjab. The encounter took place in the Puranpur area, after the Punjab Police informed the Uttar Pradesh Police about the presence of these terrorists, who were believed to be involved in the grenade attack on a police post in Gurdaspur on December 18.

The joint police operation began when the Punjab Police shared intelligence regarding the suspects’ hideout in Pilibhit. A police picket team at Khamaria point reported spotting three men on a motorcycle, suspected to be the terrorists. Upon being confronted, the suspects opened fire on the police team, triggering a gunfight. The joint police team retaliated, and during the exchange of fire, all three suspects sustained injuries. They were immediately taken to the Community Health Centre in Puranpur but were declared dead by doctors.

From the scene, police recovered a significant arsenal, including two AK-47 assault rifles, two Glock pistols, and a large quantity of ammunition. The weapons were believed to have been used in the Gurdaspur grenade attack, as well as other potential attacks carried out by the group. The suspects were members of the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF), a Pakistan-based terrorist outfit responsible for several violent incidents in Punjab and other regions. This group has been implicated in multiple grenade and bomb attacks targeting police posts and establishments in border areas of Punjab.

The terrorists were reportedly part of a larger module operating under the KZF, which has been actively recruiting and training operatives for attacks on Indian security forces. The group is suspected to have received logistical support and training from external sources, primarily based in Pakistan. In addition to their role in the Gurdaspur attack, the suspects were under investigation for their involvement in other terror-related activities in Punjab, particularly in areas along the India-Pakistan border.

Following the encounter, the Uttar Pradesh Police, along with their counterparts from Punjab, have launched an in-depth investigation to uncover the full extent of the KZF’s operations and to identify any local accomplices who may have helped the terrorists in seeking shelter in Pilibhit. The police are also examining further intelligence to track down other members of the network and prevent any future terrorist activities by the group.