NIA charge-sheets 8 KLF ultras

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 27

Anti-terror probe agency NIA today said it has filed a charge-sheet against eight terrorists belonging to the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) for their involvement in the killing of Balwinder Singh Sandhu, a Shaurya Chakra awardee, in Tarn Taran on October 16 last year.

Officials in the agency said the charge-sheet had been filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Arms Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the NIA Special Court at Mohali.

Aimed at striking terror in people’s minds

Balwinder Singh Sandhu was killed to strike terror in the minds of people, especially those opposed to the Khalistan ideology, says NIA charge-sheet

Drugs and weapons were smuggled from across IB through well-oiled ‘terror-narco-criminal nexus’ to generate funds for terror acts

Foreign-based KLF leadership recruited, financed and armed local gangster Sukh Bikhariwal to execute killings, it says

Those named in the charge-sheet include Sukhraj Singh, alias Sukha, of Gurdaspur; Ravinder Singh of Hussainpura, Ludhiana; Akashdeep Arora, alias Dhaliwal, of Salem Tabri, Ludhiana; Jagroop Singh of Basti Jodhewal, Ludhiana; Sukhdeep Singh, alias Bhura, of Kharal, Gurdaspur; Gurjit Singh, alias Bhaa, of Lakhanpal, Gurdaspur; Inderjit Singh of Rashiana, Tarn Taran; and Sukhmeet Pal Singh, alias Sukh, of Bhikhariwal, Gurdaspur.

According to officials, the investigations in the case suggested the killing was executed with the intent to strike terror in the minds of people, especially those opposed to the Khalistan ideology.

“The transnational conspiracy in the instant crime was hatched by Pakistan-based self-styled KLF chief Lakhvir Singh Rode and top foreign-based KLF terrorists, who provided arms and ammunitions and funds to the accused persons,” the NIA has alleged in the charge-sheet.

It further said it had also been unearthed that a well-oiled “terrorist-narcotics-criminal nexus” existed wherein narcotic drugs along with weapons were smuggled by Pakistan-based entities from across the International Border in Punjab for generation of funds for executing terrorist acts.

The NIA had earlier investigated eight similar incidents of targeted killings/attempted killings by the KLF between January 2016 and October 2017, wherein seven persons belonging to specific communities were killed, the agency said in the charge-sheet. “Investigation has established that foreign-based KLF leadership had recruited, financed and armed local gangster Sukh Bikhariwal and tasked him to execute the killings through his associates.

“After the reported killing of Harmeet Singh, alias Happy, alias PHD, Pak-based operational chief of the KLF in Pakistan in January 2020, Sukh was directed by Rode and other KLF operatives through encrypted communication platforms to kill Sandhu,” it said.

“The reconnaissance of the target was carried out by charge-sheeted accused Inderjeet Singh and sharp shooters Gurjit Singh and Sukhdeep Singh, who were recruited for killing Sandhu. The other accused are associates of Sukh Bikhariwal, who were instrumental in organising logistics and shelter to the shooters,” the NIA alleged.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.