Punjab Newsline | Ludhiana
In a significant breakthrough, the Ludhiana Commissionerate Police, in a joint operation with Counter Intelligence Punjab, has foiled planned targeted shootings and dismantled a transnational terror-gangster nexus by arresting two operatives and recovering illegal weapons from their possession. The arrested accused have been identified as Anuraj alias Gaurav Masih and Ankush, both residents of Phillaur in Jalandhar district. Police teams recovered three pistols—two .30 bore and one .315 bore—along with 11 live cartridges. The motorcycle being used by the accused, a Bajaj CT 100 without a registration number, has also been impounded.
According to Gaurav Yadav, Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, preliminary investigations have revealed that the accused were acting under the instructions of foreign-based handlers operating from Germany and Dubai. These handlers had allegedly assigned them high-profile targets for execution. The DGP stated that the timely arrest of the accused has prevented potentially serious criminal activities and ensured public safety. He further added that investigations are ongoing to trace both forward and backward linkages of the network and identify other associates connected to the syndicate.
Providing operational details, Swapan Sharma, Commissioner of Police (CP) Ludhiana, said that acting on specific intelligence inputs, a joint team of CIA Staff and Counter Intelligence established a naka within the jurisdiction of Police Station Ladowal. The police received credible information that two armed individuals were waiting near the Hardy’s World area to carry out a major crime. Acting swiftly, the police team launched a tactical raid and apprehended both suspects before they could execute their plan.
During preliminary interrogation, the accused reportedly confessed to being part of an organized transnational criminal network directly controlled by overseas handlers. These handlers were not only issuing instructions but also facilitating the supply of sophisticated weapons through their network. The police believe that the module was being actively used to execute targeted attacks in the region.
A case FIR No. 91 dated May 17, 2026, has been registered under Section 25 of the Arms Act and Section 111 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Police Station Ladowal. Further investigation is underway, and police officials have indicated that more arrests and revelations are expected as the probe progresses.
