Delhi Police Busts Pakistan-Backed Terror Module Linked to Gurdaspur Grenade Attack; 3 Arrested
New Delhi – The Delhi Police Special Cell has successfully dismantled a Pakistan-backed terror module with international and interstate connections, leading to the arrest of three key operatives involved in a recent grenade attack in Gurdaspur, Punjab. The operation, executed on November 30, 2025, exposed a network allegedly operated by gangster-turned-terrorist Shahzad Bhatti, who is based in Pakistan.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Vikas Prajapati alias Betu, 19, from Madhya Pradesh; Hargunpreet Singh alias Gurkaranpreet Singh, 19, from Punjab; and Asif alias Arish, 22, from Uttar Pradesh. Authorities seized a semi-automatic pistol, 10 live cartridges, and mobile phones containing incriminating evidence, including chats with Pakistan-based handlers and reconnaissance videos related to the attack.
According to police reports, the Special Cell had been monitoring Bhatti's activities, discovering his coordination of terror activities in India through social media platforms. Investigations revealed that Vikas Prajapati was in frequent contact with Bhatti. Prajapati's location was traced to Gurdaspur, where he allegedly collected a parcel containing a grenade. He then conducted reconnaissance of the Gurdaspur City Police Station before handing the grenade to Hargunpreet Singh. On November 25, Hargunpreet Singh allegedly threw the grenade outside the Gurdaspur police station.
The Additional Commissioner of Police (Special Cell), Pramod Singh Kushwah, stated that Bhatti has been coordinating operations from Pakistan using encrypted platforms and social media channels. The investigation revealed that Bhatti and his associates recruited vulnerable youths by offering them quick money. They assessed potential recruits through their social media profiles. The foreign-based handlers reportedly controlled the entire operation remotely, managing reconnaissance, logistics, cash payments, and the final execution of the attack.
Police investigations revealed the modus operandi of the terror module. Pakistani handlers like Shahzad Bhatti targeted young Indians through social media, luring them with money and selecting recruits based on their social media profiles. They remotely controlled the entire operation, including reconnaissance, cash payments, logistics, and target selection. Interrogation revealed this was a structured, foreign-controlled terror module that used financial incentives, remote instructions, and disposable operatives to carry out grenade attacks in public places in India.
Vikas Prajapati contacted Bhatti on Instagram and traveled to Gurdaspur to collect the grenade. Bhatti guided him via video call on how to open the parcel containing the grenade and explained its activation method. Prajapati received money through a photo-based delivery confirmation. He conducted reconnaissance of the Gurdaspur City Police Station and Town Hall Police Station in Amritsar, sending videos to Bhatti. Bhatti then tasked Hargunpreet Singh and an associate to receive the grenade, and Prajapati helped arrange a motorcycle for the operation.
Hargunpreet Singh came into contact with Bhatti through a friend and agreed to carry out the attack for quick money. Asif came in contact with Bhatti about 2.5 months ago through Instagram.
