Central intelligence agencies in India had issued a warning to all district officers in Punjab that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency could attempt to instigate unrest in the state. According to a letter accessed by NDTV, the intelligence input was issued a fortnight before the ongoing unrest began last Wednesday, over the desecration of Sikh holy book Guru Granth Sahib.

The letter warned of attempts by the ISI to send 15-20 militants from Pakistan, who would be trained in Sikh manners and customs, to "create trouble" in the state. On Tuesday, the Punjab Police had revealedthey were investigating a “foreign link” to the case, details of which would be provided in a couple of days.

Protests against the desecration of the book and the gunning down of two men by the police in ensuing clashes in Faridkot have spread across Punjab. The police on Monday arrested three people in connection with the desecration. On Tuesday, paramilitary forces were called in to ease the situation in Ludhiana, Amritsarand Jalandar. Clashes between protesters and the police have caused shutdowns and blockages in several parts of the state.