Three suspects involved in attacks on police shot dead in encounter in UP

In an encounter with police in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, three terrorists who were suspected of throwing a grenade at a police post in Gurdaspur, Punjab, were shot dead, according to sources.

Last night, a combined force of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh police engaged the three offenders in gunfire.

The criminals fired at the police when they attempted to arrest them.

The accused were identified as Gurvinder Singh (25), Virender Singh, alias Ravi (23), and Jaspreet Singh, alias Pratap Singh (18), all residents of Gurdaspur, police said.

Two AK-series rifles and as many Glock pistols were discovered from them.

According to Punjab Police, the three are members of a Khalistan Zindabad Force unit financed by Pakistan.

"This terror module is involved in grenade attacks at police establishments in border areas of Punjab,” Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said in a post on X.

“The encounter has taken place in the jurisdiction of PS Puranpur, Pilibhit, between the joint police teams of Pilibhit & Punjab, and the three module members are involved in the grenade attack on a police post in Gurdaspur. Investigations are in progress to unveil the entire terror module," he added.

According to Uttar Pradesh DGP Prashant Kumar, it's a "daredevil" work that exemplifies the cooperation between Punjab and Uttar Pradesh police.

Within a week, three Punjab police stations were targeted, and security agencies believe Khalistani militants were involved.

The Islamabad police station in Amritsar was bombed on Dec 17, while the Bangar police post in Gurdaspur was targeted on Dec 20.

Additionally, there was a bomb outside the Bakshiwal police post in Gurdaspur. These blasts did not damage anyone.

According to an unverified social media post, the explosions were claimed by the terrorist group Khalistan Zindabad Force.

Sources claim that the terrorists came to Pilibhit, which is roughly 750 kilometers from Gurdaspur, in order to establish a hiding place in the region, which is home to a sizable Sikh population.

However, Uttar Pradesh police claim they have the full support of the community.