2 ISI-backed terror modules busted in Amritsar; one planned attack on Jantar Mantar

Published 5 August 2026 · local

Punjab Police said on Wednesday that one of the two ISI-backed cross-border terror modules busted a day earlier had planned to attack Delhi's Jantar Mantar

Punjab Police said on Wednesday that one of the two ISI-backed cross-border terror modules busted a day earlier had planned to attack Delhi's Jantar Mantar during recent student protests. Police said some members of the module had travelled to the site with logistical support and materials to make petrol bombs, but the plan was not carried out. In the operation announced on Tuesday, police said they apprehended nine accused, including four juveniles, and recovered arms and ammunition. Preliminary investigation showed that foreign-based ISI handlers were trying to recruit local youths to carry out terror-related activities, conduct surveillance and disturb public peace. Read Full Story Amritsar Commissioner of Police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar told PTI over the phone that an ISI-backed handler had sent some members of the module to Jantar Mantar during the protest.

He said, "The support was arranged by an ISI-backed handler and some members of the terror module had travelled to Jantar Mantar during the protest dharna there. Through their handler, they were provided logistical support and materials for making petrol bombs, but they could not execute their plan and were apprehended recently when the terror modules were busted." Bhullar said one of the two modules had also been tasked by its ISI handlers with conducting reconnaissance of security establishments and uniformed personnel and filming videos to share with their handlers. He said the members were also asked to target police and other uniformed force personnel. He said it was concerning that even juveniles were being lured into anti-national activities.

According to Bhullar, money was being sent to members of the terror modules through hawala and other channels. The disclosure comes against the backdrop of a 36-day student protest at Jantar Mantar led by the Cockroach Janta Party over the NEET issue. The outfit had called off the protest soon after the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as the Union Education Minister. On Tuesday, Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav had described the case as a major breakthrough and said Amritsar Commissionerate Police had busted two ISI-backed cross-border terror modules and caught nine accused, including four juveniles. He said police had recovered three illegal pistols, four petrol bottle bombs and nine live cartridges. Yadav had said the accused were acting at the behest of foreign-based ISI handlers, who were trying to recruit local youth, conduct surveillance of security installations, procure illegal weapons and disturb public peace.