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Police Arrest 4 After Botched Blast on Punjab Freight Line

Police claims of foreign links shift the probe into a wider counter-terror case.

Overview

  • A late-night explosion Monday on the Rajpura–Shambhu freight track near Bathonia village killed Jagroop Singh, whom police say died when the device he was planting detonated.
  • Within about 12 hours, investigators arrested four suspects from Mansa and Tarn Taran and said they had broken up a pro‑Khalistan module tied to planned attacks on public infrastructure.
  • Police displayed a recovered hand grenade, two pistols with ammunition, laptops, and specialized communication gear they say was meant to coordinate further detonations.
  • Officials said forensic signs point to an IED built with RDX and confirmed the case has been referred to the National Investigation Agency for a deeper probe.
  • Punjab Police allege the group worked with handlers in Malaysia and Pakistan-based arms suppliers under a radical outfit, as rail service resumed after repairs in what is the second freight-corridor strike since January that has renewed calls for CCTV and drew opposition claims of an intelligence failure.