Local court extends police remand of three BKI men

editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 8

A local court on Saturday extended the police remand by four days of the three Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) operatives, who have been arrested by the state special operation cell, a counter intelligence wing, recently.

They would be produced on June 12 for hearing. The police sought their remand by stating that they had more inputs and data which needed to be scrutinised and verified.

The accused, Jagdev Singh and Ravinderpal Singh, said to be members of Pakistan’s ISI-backed BKI, were arrested on May 31. The police had recovered pistols from their possession. They were allegedly assigned with the illegal task of disturbing the peaceful atmosphere in Amritsar during Operation Bluestar anniversary by targeting leaders of a particular community. They were also providing funds and weapons to sleeper cells on the directives of Kulwinderjit Singh, alias Khanpuriya, who is in Malaysia.

Their interrogation had led to the arrest of their associate Harcharan Singh from Delhi four days ago. Harcharan had provided weapons to them.

Recently, the Amritsar rural police had also seized two hand grenades while chasing two motorcyclists who had managed to escape. The police suspected that the duo were also associated with Khanpuriya and a manhunt was launched to identify and nab them.

Kulwinderjit Singh, the alleged mastermind, has been involved in many terrorism-related activities. He had shifted to Malaysia in January 2019 along with his family on a tourist visa and intentionally stayed back to plan and coordinate terror activities with his associates abroad and in India.