Punjab Woman, Associate Held for Alleged Pakistan-Linked Railway Blast in Rajasthan

Mangalore Today News Network

Gurdaspur, Nov 15, 2026: A woman from Punjab’s Gurdaspur district and her associate have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a railway track blast in Rajasthan on November 3, with police suspecting links to a Pakistan-based criminal network.

The accused, Mahakdeep Kaur, a Class 12 graduate from Dostpur village, allegedly acted on the instructions of a Pakistan-based handler identified as ’Shah’. She is suspected of recruiting Devinder Singh of Chaur Kalan village to assist in carrying out the operation. Police believe the duo was promised Rs 1 lakh for the assignment.

According to investigators, Mahakdeep was allegedly introduced to the cross-border network through family and matrimonial connections. Her former husband, Karan Deep Singh, and cousin were reportedly in contact with Pakistan-based smugglers. Her former husband was arrested in a drug-related case involving the alleged recovery of narcotics and weapons, while her brother is also lodged in jail in a separate drug case.

Investigators are examining the duo’s three visits to Rajasthan before the blast. During their first visit on October 3-4, they allegedly received explosives from the handler near Sriganganagar and planted a device that failed to detonate. Their subsequent movements during a visit on October 12 are also being investigated.

During their third visit after October 30, the duo allegedly planted an improvised explosive device (IED) on a railway track. The device exploded on November 3.

Police are also investigating their alleged communication with the Pakistan-based handler, the source of the explosives and possible links to illegal arms and narcotics trafficking.

According to Devinder’s family, he had become acquainted with Mahakdeep around three months before the arrests. His mother and aunt alleged that she drew him into the relationship by promising marriage and subsequently involved him in criminal activities. They also claimed that he had left home shortly before the blast, saying he was travelling to Delhi.

Mahakdeep’s mother, Sarabjit Kaur, told reporters that her daughter had become increasingly distant from the family and had left home two days before the blast, saying she was visiting a friend. She reportedly returned four to five days after the explosion.

Rajasthan Additional Director General of Police (ATS) Dinesh MN said the Rajasthan ATS had coordinated with Punjab Police after developing leads about the suspects. A joint operation involving Rajasthan ATS and Punjab Police led to their detention in the Kalanaur area of Gurdaspur district. Two pistols were also reportedly recovered from them.

Investigators are now working to establish the precise roles of the accused, verify the alleged financial inducement and identify other members of the cross-border network.

Security agencies are also examining whether Pakistan-based handlers are increasingly targeting women through personal relationships and financial incentives to recruit them for criminal activities. A similar pattern was reportedly noticed in the arrest of a woman named Babita in Gangapur City by the Rajasthan ATS.