Punjab Police Links VHP Leader's Murder To Pakistan-Backed Terror Module Operating From Portugal, Arrests Two Accused

In less than three days after Vishwa Hindu Parishad's (VHP) Nangal president was shot dead in Ropar district, Punjab Police arrested two accused and linked them to a Pakistan-backed terror module.

Vikas Prabhakar aka Vikas Bagga was fatally shot in his confectionery shop on Saturday evening. The CCTV footage showed two persons wearing masks and helmets entering the shop and exiting after some time.

DGP Punjab Police said that two operatives of a "terror module backed by Pakistan-based terrorist masterminds" and linked to ISI were arrested in a joint operation of Rupnagar Police and SSOC Mohali on Tuesday (16 April).

The assailants have been identified as Mandeep Kumar aka Mangi and Surinder Kumar aka Rikka. They were arrested with two weapons of 32 bore Pistols, 16 live cartridges, one empty used cartridges and a TVS Jupiter scooty used in the crime.

"From the preliminary investigations, it has been revealed that this is a terror module, operated and funded by Foreign-based handlers operating from Portugal and other places," Punjab Police posted on X.

Calling the two accused "foot soldiers of these foreign-based entities who are the operatives of Pakistan-based terrorist masterminds," Punjab Police claimed that they were recruited through the lure of money.