Terrorist behind 2006 Jalandhar blasts held

Tribune News Service

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Jalandhar, March 28

The Counter-Intelligence Wing and Police Commissionerate, Jalandhar, today arrested a wanted extremist belonging to the Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) and Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF).

Harkamalpreet Singh Khakh, AIG, Counter-Intelligence, said the accused , Amrik Singh, was wanted in twin blasts case at the Jalandhar bus stand carried out by Satnam Singh, alias Satta Lasuri, on April 28, 2006, and May 24, 2006. Two cases were registered in this regard.

Khakh said Pakistan-based KZF commander Ranjeet Singh Neeta and US-based Balwinder Singh Posi had masterminded the blasts along with Amrik. Three persons were killed in the first blast, while the accused failed to execute the second blast properly.

The accused was reportedly involved in the extremist activities from 1992 to 1995. “Amrik had a close association with terrorists Gurdeep Singh, alias Deepa Heran Wala, of the KCF,” Khakh added.

In 1998, Amrik and his six associates killed Harwinder Singh Bhola of Jalandhar due to latter’s affair with the sister of his friend. In this case, they were sentenced to life imprisonment. Later, Amrik jumped parole and managed to fly to Uganda.

The AIG stated that in 2003, his Indian passport expired, but he managed to get a new passport.

He said Amrik had been in close association with Pakistan-based Ranjit Singh Neeta, US-based Paramjit Singh, alias Baba Gaddri, and Balwinder Singh Possi, who belongs to the KZF.

“In 2003, on the instructions of Balwinder Possi and Ranjeet Neeta, he called Satta Lasuri and Nirmal Singh on sponsorship and managed their stay in Uganda. Further, Amrik arranged a passport for Satta and sent him to Pakistan for getting training in making bombs. Amrik was declared PO in 2007,” he added

Khakh said in 2012, Amrik was arrested by the Uganda police for indulging in illegal human trafficking and was lodged in a jail for four years. Due to this case, the Indian Embassy in Uganda refused him visa three times. In January 2017, Amrik reached India via Nepal. He will be produced in a court.