The Punjab Police, in joint operation with Central Agencies, have busted yet another terror module being operated by a US-based wanted gangster Harpreet alias Happy with the arrest of five operatives.

Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav said here on Monday that the police came to know about the terror module after the recovery of two foreign-made 9mm pistols along with ammunition from the possession of the arrested accused.

Gangster Harpreet Happy is in touch with two wanted terrorists, Pak-based Harwinder alias Rinda and US-based Goldy Brar, the DGP said.

Those arrested have been identified as Gurinder Singh of Lakhuwal in Amritsar, Gurpinder Singh alias Lahoria of Ajnala in Amritsar, Lovepreet Singh of Ajnala in Amritsar, Narinder Singh of Sundal Riali in Gurdaspur and Sukhmanpreet Singh alias Jeevan of Ajnala in Amritsar.

Yadav said following the inputs that gangster Harpreet Happy on the directions of terrorists Harwinder Rinda and Goldy Brar planning to target prominent political and socio-religious leaders in the state through his newly formed gang of criminal-minded people to disturb the peace and harmony, counter intelligence in coordination with Central agencies carried out a special operation.

Assistant inspector general, State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) Amritsar Sukhminder Singh Mann said on the basis of the reliable inputs that the operative of gangster Happy, who is in possession of weapons, is expected to hold a meeting in Amritsar, a special team of SSOC Amritsar immediately rushed to the area and cordoned it off in a planned manner resulting in the arrest of five operatives of this module after recovering weapons from their possession.

Mann said the arrested accused persons were hatching a conspiracy to carry out target assassinations in the state. He said the arrested persons has recently received a drone-delivered weapon consignment through the Indo-Pak border arranged by Happy with the help of Harwinder Rinda.

The accused persons have also been receiving financial aid sent by Harpreet Happy through various channels, he said, while adding that it has also come to light that they have conducted a recce of Punjab-based targets defined by Happy.

Further investigations are being carried out to unearth the entire terror network and to trace the channels via which Harpreet Happy arranged weapons consignment as well as financial aid for his associates, Mann added.