Police arrest terror gang planning major attack before posing for odd arrest snap

Moments after police arrest four suspected terrorists, they made the very bold decision to pose with them in what looks like a Sunday league football team getting ready for kick-off

Four suspected terrorists linked to a Pakistan-backed terror module have been arrested for allegedly plotting a major attack in the national capital – before posing for a photo with cops like a football team.

The Delhi Police Special Cell apprehended the four men, all originally from Punjab, after intelligence inputs revealed they were acting on the instructions of Pakistan-based Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) handler Shahzad Bhatti.

The suspects have been identified as Shubdeep Singh, 23, and Gurjant Singh, 22, both from Tarn Taran; Sajan Singh, 28, from Amritsar; and Gaganpreet, 24, from Fatehgarh Sahib. Three of the men were apprehended during raids in Punjab, while Gaganpreet was arrested in Delhi.

But the arrest picture leaves a lot to be desired, as it shows a line-up of cops with the four blokes kneeling in front of them – not handcuffed, and wearing face masks – looking like they’re about to go and play football in a Sunday league game.

Indian media seems to have no issue with the widely publicised photo, despite the criminals looks very pleased and comfortable with the situation.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Praveen Kumar Tripathi, the operation was launched after intelligence suggested that Bhatti and his network were orchestrating a conspiracy in the Delhi-NCR region and had recruited young men from Punjab to carry it out. The suspects were reportedly using foreign mobile numbers provided by their handlers to evade detection.

Investigators revealed that Gaganpreet had already conducted reconnaissance of religious sites and police establishments in Delhi and was tasked with executing a firing attack.

The first breakthrough in the investigation came with the arrest of Shubdeep Singh on Majitha Road in Amritsar. During questioning, he reportedly confessed to being in contact with operatives from the Shahzad Bhatti network and admitted to receiving weapons and narcotics deliveries via drones. His interrogation subsequently led to the capture of Gurjant Singh and Sajan Singh.

During the coordinated raids, police recovered significant evidence, including two foreign-made firearms – a semi-automatic Zigana pistol and a .30-bore pistol – along with nine live cartridges and five mobile phones. A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act as authorities continue their investigation into the cross-border terror and arms network.