In a meticulously coordinated joint operation, the Uttar Pradesh Police and Punjab Police apprehended an active operative of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and Pakistan’s ISI, identified as Lajar Masih, a resident of Village Kurlian in Amritsar. The arrest took place in the Kokhraj police station area of Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav announced on Thursday.
This breakthrough comes nearly five months after Lajar Masih escaped from judicial custody while receiving treatment at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar on the night of September 24, 2024.
DGP Gaurav Yadav revealed that the accused was operating under Germany-based BKI operative Swaran Singh, alias Jiwan Fauji, and maintained direct contact with Pakistan’s ISI. Swaran Singh is a close associate of Pakistan-based BKI mastermind Harwinder Rinda and USA-based BKI operative Happy Passian.
During the operation, authorities recovered a substantial cache of arms and explosives from Lajar Masih, including three hand grenades, two gelatine rods, two detonators, and a foreign-made 7.62MM Norinco M-54 Tokarev (USSR) pistol along with 13 cartridges.
Lajar Masih was wanted in multiple criminal cases across Punjab, including a case under the Explosives Act at Police Station Kambo in Amritsar Rural, where he assisted Jiwan Fauji in transporting explosives, weapons, and drugs. Additionally, he was implicated in a case at Police Station Jhander in Amritsar for providing weapons and logistical support for targeted killings in Kalanaur and Dera Baba Nanak, acting on orders from his handler, Jiwan Fauji.
DGP Yadav confirmed that further investigations into the matter are currently underway.