In a major breakthrough in the November 3 railway track explosion in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district, the Rajasthan Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), working alongside district and Punjab police, has arrested two prime suspects from Gurdaspur, Punjab.
Security agencies strongly suspect the attack was orchestrated on the instructions of a Pakistan-based handler linked to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
The arrested individuals have been identified as 23-year-old Devendra Singh and 21-year-old Mahakdeep Kaur, both residents of Gurdaspur. Following coordinated raids, police recovered two firearms, 46 live cartridges, and ₹46,000 in cash allegedly linked to the terror operation.
The Cross-Border Trail
Preliminary investigations indicate that the duo was acting under the direct instructions of a Pakistani agent identified as “Shah” (with probes also looking into another handler alias, “Chacha”). Officials revealed that Kaur was in direct contact with the cross-border handler, who allegedly lured her and transferred funds directly to finance the sabotage plot.
According to police sources, Singh and Kaur conducted multiple reconnaissance visits from Punjab to Sri Ganganagar prior to the incident to survey the area and plan the execution.
A Major Tragedy Averted
The explosion took place around 9:45 pm on November 3 along the Anupgarh-Suratgarh railway line near 50 GB village in the Ramsinghpur area. The blast shattered two concrete sleepers supporting the rail line and left a two-to-three-foot-deep crater. Investigators noted that the conspiracy appeared aimed at targeting a passenger train, but a major catastrophe was narrowly averted due to timing, as a train had already passed the stretch before the device detonated.
Wider Network Under Scanner
In addition to the two primary accused, police have detained several other individuals suspected of providing logistical support, transport, and accommodation to the perpetrators. Both Singh and Kaur have been brought to Rajasthan, where senior police and intelligence officials are conducting intensive interrogations to dismantle the wider sleeper network, trace the exact funding channels, and determine how the explosives were procured. Authorities expect further arrests as the probe progresses.
