On Operation Blue star anniv, Punjab prisons on high alert as MHA warns of jailbreak plot

Security has been tightened in four jails across Punjab after police received intelligence tip-off about possible jail-break attempts by Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) operative and terrorist Harvinder Singh Rinda to release a few notorious gangsters and militants.

A letter sent by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to the Punjab Police, reportedly says that BKI has hatched a plan to target the Bathinda jail, the Ferozepur jail, Amritsar jail or Ludhiana jail.

Punjab has been witness to a series of violent incidents and security breach including murders of kabbadi player Sandeep Singh and singer-rapper Sidhu Moosewala and the RPG attack on police intelligence headquarters in Mohali. These incidents were allegedly planned and carried out by gangsters abroad with the help of local aid.

“According to a reliable input, Pakistan-based operative Harvinder Singh alias Rinda has conceived a jail break plan in Punjab in coming days to ensure release of some prominent gangsters and militants,” joint director of SIB (Ministry of Home Affairs) said in a letter to the Punjab Police DGP, a copy of which Indian Express has accessed.

The letter said that Rinda, may take the help of some “jihadi elements” in executing his plan.

A wanted terrorist-gangster, Rinda is said to be a close associate of BKI chief Wadhawa Singh and Lakhvir Singh, the key conspirator of RPG attack on Punjab Police’s intelligence headquarters, who is hiding in Canada. Police said Rinda, 35, has been sheltered by the ISI in Pakistan.

The intelligence warning comes on the anniversary of Operation Blue Star (carried out in June 1984 by the Indira Gandhi government to eliminate terrorists from the Golden Temple complex).

On Saturday, Chief Minister Bhagwat Mann held a review meeting to take stock of the law and order situation in the state. He said police have been put on high alert to maintain peace and stability in the state.

Mann also held a closed-door meet with Akal Takht Jathedar Gyani Harpreet Singh on Sunday. On Monday, a large number of Sikh devotees are expected to visit the Akal Takht.

Singh last month was censured by the government for advising Sikhs to keep licensed weapons.