**Title:** Punjab Police Links Grenade Attack to Gang and Khalistani Outfit
**Meta Description:** Punjab Police connect a grenade attack near BJP leader’s home to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and Khalistani group Babbar Khalsa International.
**URL Slug:** punjab-police-grenade-attack-bishnoi-khalistani-links
**Headline:** Punjab Police Establish Links Between Grenade Attack and Criminal Gangs
In a swift response to the grenade attack outside the residence of BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia, Punjab Police have identified connections between the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and the banned Khalistani organization Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla revealed that two individuals, Zeeshan Akhtar, a Jalandhar gangster with a criminal background, and Shahzad Bhatti, a Pakistani national previously linked to another grenade attack, are considered key conspirators in this incident.
Zeeshan, who was released from prison in June 2024, is also under investigation for his alleged role in the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique in Mumbai. Meanwhile, Bhatti has been active on social media, justifying violent acts and maintaining connections with international crime figures, including Lawrence Bishnoi. A recently surfaced TikTok video reportedly shows Bhatti, Zeeshan, and Harpreet Singh, also known as Happy Passia, engaged in conversation, which is now part of the ongoing investigation.
Intelligence reports suggest that individuals such as Harvinder Singh Sandhu, alias Rinda, believed to be operating from Pakistan, and Happy Passia, reportedly based in the United States, are involved in establishing and supporting terror modules. Authorities suspect that Zeeshan is currently in the UAE, while Bhatti holds a Moroccan passport.
The police have indicated that Bhatti’s social media activity includes justifications for attacks and connections with transnational crime figures. Intelligence sources suggest that the ISI is facilitating a convergence of ideological and criminal elements, uniting previously rival groups under a common anti-India agenda.
This regrouping appears to involve international players, with Rinda coordinating with Happy Passia to raise terror modules in Punjab. Intelligence officials now believe that groups like BKI and the Bishnoi gang, historically adversaries, have set aside their differences to collaborate under ISI influence. Zeeshan, a close associate of Bishnoi, is believed to be hiding in the UAE, while Bhatti is thought to be in possession of a Moroccan passport.
A recent TikTok video allegedly featuring the three individuals has heightened concerns within the intelligence community regarding a new hybrid threat posed by the merger of terrorist organizations and organized crime syndicates. The Bishnoi gang, which has attempted to project a nationalist image, has previously been linked to Bhatti. A video from June 2024 showed Lawrence Bishnoi speaking to Bhatti via video call from Sabarmati Central Prison, prompting a probe by the Gujarat government and raising alarms about ongoing coordination among these groups.
**FAQ:**
**Q: What are the implications of the links between the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and Khalistani groups?**
A: The connections suggest a troubling alliance that could enhance the operational capabilities of both groups, posing a significant security threat in the region.