THREE KEY OPERATIVES ARRESTED, INVOLVED IN GRENADE ATTACK OUTSIDE CITY POLICE STATION, GURDASPUR ON 25 NOV.2025

  

  

  Face2News/New Delhi

A dedicated team of the Eastern Range, Special Cell, Delhi Police, led by Inspectors Rahul Kumar and Vineet Kumar Tewatia, closely monitored by ACP Kailash Singh Bisht, under the supervision of Amit Kaushik, DCP/Special Cell (ER), successfully dismantled a terror syndicate run by Pakistan-based gangster-turned-terrorist Shahzad Bhatti and his associates. Three members of the module have been arrested: Vikas Prajapati @ Betu, Hargunpreet Singh @ Gurkaranpreet Singh, and Asif @ Arish. A semi-automatic pistol and 10 live cartridges have been recovered so far. Their mobile phones also contained incriminating social media chats with Shahzad Bhatti and his abroad based module.

The arrested persons identified as Vikas Prajapati @ Betu (19 yrs) S/o Mool Chand R/o Datia, Madhya Pradesh, Hargunpreet Singh @ Gurkaranpreet (19 yrs) S/o Sardar Gurpej Singh R/o Firozpur, Punjab and Asif @ Arish (22 yrs) S/o Altaf Shah R/o Village Macchmaar, PS-Rehar, Bijnaur, UP

RECOVERY: 01 semi-automatic sophisticated pistol • 10 live cartridges, • Mobile phones with incriminating chats with Pakistan-based handlers & recee video of attack target.  

The Eastern Range of Special Cell had been conducting secret and continuous surveillance on Pakistan-based handler Shahzad Bhatti, involved in planning terror activities in India. During monitoring, the team found that Vikas Prajapati @ Betu, wanted in an arms-smuggling case, was in frequent contact with Bhatti through various social media platforms. His location was detected in Gurdaspur, Punjab, and then on his return route towards Delhi. Bhatti regularly instructed him to switch off his phone for safety. After a 48-hour continuous search, through source based intelligence the team successfully tracked and arrested Vikas @ Betu from Indergarh, Datia (Madhya Pradesh).
Modus Operandi
Pakistani handlers Shahzad Bhatti and his associates, targeted young Indians through social media. They lured them with money and selected recruits by scanning their social media profiles. They remotely controlled the entire operation—reconnaissance, cash payments, logistics, and target selection. Interrogation revealed that this was a structured foreign-controlled terror module using lure for money, remote instructions and disposable foot soldiers to carry out grenade attacks public places in India.
Profiles of Accused
1. Vikas Prajapati @ Betu
A resident of Datia, Madhya Pradesh, working as a labourer at the grain market in Indergarh. He was influenced by the social-media image of gangster-turned-terrorist Shahzad Bhatti. Vikas contacted Bhatti through Instagram. For quick money, Vikas got involved in illegal pistol trade and agreed to work for Bhatti. Bhatti sent him to Gurdaspur to receive a parcel. Through a video call, Bhatti guided him to open the parcel, which contained a grenade. Bhatti explained the activation method. Vikas received money and the grenade through a photo-based delivery confirmation. He conducted reconnaissance of the Gurdaspur City Police Station and Town Hall Police Station, Amritsar, and sent videos to Bhatti. Bhatti then tasked one Hargunpreet Singh and his associate to receive the grenade. Accordingly, Vikas handed the grenade to the duo and helped arrange a motorcycle for the operation.
2. Hargunpreet Singh @ Gurkaranpreet
A resident of Kohala, Firozpur (Punjab), educated up to Class 12. He came into contact with Bhatti through a friend. For quick money, he agreed to carry out attack at the Gurdaspur Police Station. He and his associates went to Gurdaspur, received arms and a grenade from Vikas, and followed Bhatti’s directions. On 25.11.2025, he threw the grenade outside the City Police Station, Gurdaspur, Punjab while Mohan drove the motorcycle.
3. Asif @ Arish
A resident of Macchmaar, Bijnaur (UP), educated up to Class 5. He came in contact with Bhatti about 2.5 months ago through Instagram. Bhatti instructed him to throw a grenade in Punjab and sent him photographs and a location map. He was also connected with Vikas through Bhatti. Shahzad Bhatti instructed him to wait for next instructions.
Legal Action
Appropriate legal action has been taken against all arrested accused. Search operations to locate the absconding persons are ongoing.

(PRAMOD SINGH KUSHWAH)
Additional Commissioner of Police,
Special Cell, Delhi