Chandigarh: The Chandigarh Police Operation Cell has successfully disrupted a significant targeted killing conspiracy in Punjab by apprehending a juvenile student. Investigations revealed that the minor, who recently completed his Grade 12 board examinations, was being manipulated by notorious gangsters currently operating from foreign soil. The planned assassination was intended to take place in Patti, located within the Tarn Taran district, but was thwarted following a precise operation on May 6 based on technical analysis and reliable intelligence.
The recruitment process highlights a disturbing trend of how criminal syndicates are preying on vulnerable youth through social media platforms. The minor originally came into contact with the gang via Instagram approximately two months ago after seeking assistance to settle a local dispute. The communication quickly shifted to Telegram to leverage its encrypted messaging features. During this period, the boy was influenced by overseas-based figures, specifically Prabh Dasuwal and Gurwinder Singh, also known as Afridi Tutawala, who exploited his desire for personal retribution.
Earlier this year, the juvenile had disappeared from his home, leading his family to file a missing person report while he stayed with gang associates Love Bhatti and Aman Sharma in Khemkaran. During that time, he was pressured to open fire at a medical clinic near the Amarkot bus stand but reportedly refused because he lacked experience with firearms. While his associates carried out the shooting, the minor eventually returned home after twenty days, remaining under the watchful eye of the gang’s foreign handlers until his recent arrest in Chandigarh.
Director General of Police Sagar Preet Hooda stated that the arrest exposes a shameless pattern of exploitation where foreign-based criminals radicalize teenagers to perform contract killings. He emphasized that the Chandigarh Police maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward organized crime and will not allow the city to serve as a recruitment hub for domestic or international syndicates. The DGP noted that timely intervention likely saved the boy’s life from being completely destroyed by the cycle of violence.
Given his status as a juvenile, the police have handed the teenager back to his parents. Authorities have advised the family to ensure he receives proper professional counselling and to maintain strict supervision over his activities to prevent further contact with criminal elements. This case serves as a stark warning to parents across the region to monitor the digital interactions of their children as gangs continue to cast wide nets across encrypted social media networks.
