NIA arrests absconding Khalistani terrorist Gurjeet Singh Nijjar

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, Dec 23

The anti-terror probe agency NIA on Wednesday said it had arrested absconding Khalistani terrorist Gurjeet Singh Nijjar, who was hiding in Cyprus (Europe), upon his arrival at IGI Airport here Tuesday night.

According to NIA official, Nijjar, a resident of Pandori Sukha Singh village in Ajnala tehsil of Amritsar district, was wanted in a case registered on January 10, 2019 against one accused Harpal Singh under various sections of the Arms Act, 1959; the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951; and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

Nijjar had left India on October 19, 2017 for Cyprus.

He is being produced in a special court here to obtain transit custody and shall be taken to Mumbai for further investigation, the officials said.

The officials said the investigation later revealed that the absconding accused Nijjar was the main conspirator in the case.

“Accused Nijjar, Harpal Singh and Moin Khan were active on social media platforms and hatched a criminal conspiracy to revive Sikh militancy for ultimate aim of formation of a separate state of Khalistan,” said a senior NIA official.

The probe further established that as part of the conspiracy for a separate “Khalistan State”, Nijjar, Harpal and Khan used to post videos and images praising militant Jagtar Singh Hawara – a convicted accused in assassination of Beant Singh, former Chief Minister of Punjab, images and videos of Operation Blue Star of 1984 and pro-Khalistani posts related to proscribed organisation Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) with the sole intention to motivate likeminded Sikh youths and others to join the Khalistan movement, said the officials.

Later it also came to light that Khan during his stints in Tihar Jail between 2013 and 2016 developed contact with Jagtar Singh Hawara, and showed his willingness to work for him and shared his contact number with him.

Subsequently, as planned, Khan sent friend request to Facebook ID ‘Khalistani Jindabad Khalistan’ from his Facebook account. By joining this Facebook account, Khan came in contact with Singh and Nijjar, the NIA officials said.

Nijjar motivated Khan by discussing about atrocities committed against the Muslims and Sikhs in India and convinced him to work for separate ‘Khalistan State’, the officials said, adding that in furtherance of conspiracy, Nijjar directed Khan to purchase a pistol and ammunition in 2018 and to carry out their nefarious designs.

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