From Murder to Terror: Punjab Probe Busts JeM Module

Mohali, September 3, 2025 — A routine murder investigation took a turn when Punjab Police, while probing the abduction and killing of cab driver Anil Kumar, uncovered a terror module linked to Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). The breakthrough came swiftly: authorities arrested three suspects from Jammu and Kashmir, Sahil Bashir, Aijaz Ahmad alias Wasim, and Munish Singh alias Ansh, who had abducted and fatally shot Kumar after commandeering his vehicle in Kharar. Police recovered the stolen cab and the weapon used in the crime.

Hunting the Trail

The cab driver’s body and vehicle were found near Mohali Airport. Investigators registered a case and combed through CCTV footage, travel records, and phone logs. They traced a pattern of communication and logistical support that led them to the trio, whom authorities allege to be overground JeM operatives from Jammu and Kashmir. Authorities had already listed Sahil Bashir under UAPA and Arms Act charges, and they connected the dots through his brother’s past ties to JeM.

JeM’s Legacy and Regional Operations

Jaish-e-Mohammad has maintained a notorious presence across South Asia for more than two decades. The group first gained global attention in 2001 when its militants attacked the Indian Parliament, and has orchestrated several terror attacks in India, including the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2016 Pathankot and Uri strikes, and the 2019 Pulwama massacre. It maintains deep links with terror networks like Al-Qaeda and Lashkar-e-Taiba and remains highly active in J&K. The group is globally proscribed under UN and Indian law.

Security analysts often describe JeM as a shape-shifting organization. It adapts its methods depending on the region, whether through direct attacks, targeted assassinations, or the use of local recruits to keep suspicion low. Punjab has figured prominently in its operations, partly because of its proximity to Pakistan and the ease of moving across rural belts without raising immediate red flags. Police sources say the group often relies on smaller clusters rather than large armies of men, which makes detection harder.

In recent years, JeM has moved beyond conventional militant strategies and dabbled in hybrid forms of crime. These include using illegal trade routes to smuggle narcotics, exploiting local disputes to recruit vulnerable individuals, and laundering money through seemingly legitimate businesses. Investigators working on the Mohali case believe this evolution explains why a straightforward murder probe suddenly opened the door to a wider terror investigation.

The Road Ahead: Punjab on High Alert

Punjab Police, backed by central intelligence agencies, has already begun tightening its surveillance grid. Officials confirmed that security forces have reinforced checkpoints across border districts, and special monitoring cells are now tracking money transfers and communication signals linked to suspected operatives. The National Investigation Agency plans to join the probe to ensure investigators do not stop at the state level but dismantle support systems beyond Punjab.

Investigators are also working closely with cyber experts to analyze encrypted chats and digital footprints recovered from seized devices. The focus is on preventing JeM from further embedding itself in local communities under the guise of petty crime or small businesses.

Read more: Illegal Gambling Den Raided in Pune’s Charholi: ₹1.7 Lakh in Cash Seized