Police begin groundwork to extradite militant Pamma

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 20

The Mohali and Patiala police have started preparing the case file of Khalistani terrorist Paramjeet Singh, alias Pamma, that is to be passed on to Central agencies for his smooth extradition. He was arrested two days ago by the Portugal Police. Portugal’s Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) arrested Pamma after an Interpol red corner notice was issued, following a request from the Patiala police.

Khalistani terrorist Paramjeet Singh, alias Pamma, is allegedly a key conspirator of the 2010 twin bomb blasts in Patiala and Ambala and the mastermind of the 2009 killing of Rulda Singh, head of the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, a wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

“The Portuguese has a double deadline system, which includes an 18-day deadline followed by a second 22-day deadline. In total, there is a maximum deadline of 40 days, at the end of which the request must be formally presented,” said a senior police officer attached with the process of extradition of the arrested terrorist. “We do not want Pamma to get bail. We will present all case files and documents to extradite him as his arrest will be crucial to solve many cases,” he stated.

Based in the United Kingdom for the past two decades, Pamma was staying at a hotel in Portugal, when he was detained on Friday night. Pamma had taken political asylum in the UK.

The Central agencies confirmed Pamma’s detention in Portugal to Punjab Police, following which the crime wing of the state is dealing with the case and has intimated the Mohali police to complete the legal formalities that include the entire crime record of the arrested accused, available with the state police.

“We will pass his crime records to the Mohali police and the files will then be used by the Central agencies to press for the extradition of Pamma,” confirmed Patiala SSP Gurmeet Chauhan. “Pamma is needed in the Rulda Singh murder case as well and he will be questioned once he is back in India,” he said. Sources said the arrest of Pamma gave a great chance to the state police to crosscheck the claims of Jagtar Tara, who was extradited on January 17. Tara was also brought by the Patiala police in the Rulda Singh murder case and was questioned by the Punjab Police intelligence wing and Central intelligence agencies. “Their statements will help us track the entire series of events and the foreign funding they have received in Pakistan,” they said. RSS chief Rulda Singh was shot at on July 28, 2009, in Patiala and succumbed to his injuries on August 15, 2009, in Chandigarh.