Police yet to ascertain Johal’s role: DGP (Intel)

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 8

DGP (Intelligence) Dinkar Gupta today said though the preliminary investigations had proved that NRI Jagtar Singh Johal was a main conspirator, the police were yet to ascertain the extent of his role for funding the terror network in the state.

“Though he had funded some people, we are yet to ascertain his role. We will be able to comment only after we are through with our investigations,” added DIG (Intelligence) Gupta.

Though intelligence and investigative agencies in India were trying everything to identify the accused who were behind the killings that were taking place in regular intervals in the state for the past one year, it somehow sounds strange that Johal, claimed to be the main conspirator in the terror module by the Punjab Police, arrived in India to get married on October 18.

Ludhiana-based RSS leader Ravinder Gosain was killed on October 17 and Johal got married on October 18.

Though the police are finding clues to ascertain whether Johal was aware of the money, which he was sending through hawala, was to be used for buying weapons for the killings or he was just made a scapegoat for using hawala money to park his business profits.

During the police investigation, it was revealed that Johal’s father runs a hotel business in England. Johal came in touch with some radical groups in the UK who got him introduced to Pakistan-based International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) chief Lakhbir Singh Rode, and Harmeet Singh, alias Happy, alias PHD.

In June this year, the Punjab Police had busted an ISI-funded terror module by arresting three men trained and tasked by the ISI to launch communal attacks in India. In a statement issued later, the police said the module had direct links with the ISI-backed banned terror outfit as well.

Though the Johal’s family is still residing in the UK, his grandmother Gejo was living at their ancestral home here. Gejo said her grandson Johal got married recently.

“My grandson is innocent. He has got nothing to do with the killings as claimed by the police,” said Gejo.

Meanwhile, the Jalandhar Police Commissionerate has started a thorough search to bust the more such terror modules being operated in the city.

Police Commissioner Praveen Sinha said officials had been directed to identify such module and bust them to avoid further mushrooming of terror networks in the city.