Three suspected Khalistan Zindabad Force operatives killed in Pilibhit encounter

Three suspected members of the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF), allegedly involved in a grenade attack in Punjab’s Gurdaspur, were killed in an early morning encounter with a joint team of Uttar Pradesh and Punjab police in Pilibhit on Monday.

The operation took place in the Puranpur area of Pilibhit district. The accused, identified as Gurvinder Singh (25), Virender Singh alias Ravi (23), and Jaspreet Singh alias Pratap Singh (18), were residents of Gurdaspur, Punjab.

Amitabh Yash, Director General (Law and Order) of the Uttar Pradesh Police, revealed that the trio was linked to a recent grenade attack on a police checkpoint in Gurdaspur. Acting on intelligence inputs, the police team intercepted the suspects, leading to a gunfight.

“All three suspects sustained serious injuries during the encounter and were rushed to the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Puranpur for medical attention. Unfortunately, they succumbed to their injuries,” Yash stated.

Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar confirmed the fatalities and described the operation as a significant blow to the terror network. “Two AK-47 rifles, two Glock pistols, and a large cache of ammunition were recovered from the operatives. This recovery indicates their capacity to inflict harm had they not been intercepted,” Kumar wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

The police believe the suspects were part of a larger terror module. Efforts are underway to identify and dismantle other elements of the network. Security has been heightened in both Uttar Pradesh and Punjab as investigations continue.