Three men, who were arrested for allegedly looting two police rifles, were associated with the Khalistan Liberation Front and were planning to target former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, police said.

ADG Parshant Kumar told reporters in Shamli district on Monday that during interrogation the accused revealed they had looted the rifles as they were planning to target Badal.

Two of their two gang members were absconding, he said.

Kumar said Punjab Police and Uttar Pradesh Police were alerted after the association of the accused with the Khalistan Liberation Front came to light.

Further investigation was handed over to the ATS, the ADG said.

Armed men had looted two rifles from policemen at the Kamalpur police check post in Shamli district on October 2. Two policemen were injured in the attack.

Later, the three accused were arrested and the rifles were recovered from a gurdwara.

Uttar Pradesh Police announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for the police team which arrested the accused, Amrat Singh, Gurjan and Karan Singh, following an encounter on Sunday night.