Punjab police's investigations into terror module lead to British soldier     

Punjab Police's investigations into the terror module controlled by Pak-based Ranjeet Singh Nita, the chief of Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF), has led to a British Sikh soldier suspected to be behind the recent grenade attacks on police stations in the state.

Advertisement

In a series of terror attacks in Punjab involving hand grenades and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in October and November, two respective attacks were carried out at the houses of leaders of Hindu groups of Ludhiana using petrol bombs, a top Punjab police officer said on Tuesday.

Later in December, a hand grenade was hurled at Asron police post under Kathgarh police station in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district.

The responsibility of these attacks was claimed by Nita and Fateh Singh Baaghi of the self-proclaimed 'Surveillance and Reconnaissance Unit' under KZF on social media posts.

Investigations into these KZF modules have led the Punjab Police to a Sikh soldier of the British Army, Jagjeet Singh (37), originally from Mianpur village in Tarn Taran.

Jagjeet is suspected to be using the pseudonym Fateh Singh Baaghi to conceal his real identity.

Jagjeet had moved to the UK in 2010 on a student visa. After completing his studies, he is said to have joined the British Army as a soldier in 2013, the police officer said.

Several of Jagjeet's relatives, including grandfather, father and brother, have served in the Indian Army.

After moving to the UK, radical-minded Jagjeet developed links with banned terrorist groups such as Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and KZF, he said.

Jagjeet formed a radical group named Akaljot Khalistan Force (AKF) and made efforts to revive terrorist activities in Punjab by recruiting new members in his group.

In 2011, it was learnt that Jagjeet and his associates were planning to target heads of religious sects to vitiate communal harmony in the state by recruiting youth from Punjab in lieu of money and promises of migration abroad, he said.

A case was registered under Unlawful Activities (Prevention), Act (1967), at Maqsudan police station in Jalandhar and he was declared a proclaimed offender in the case.

In November 2021, two hand grenades and two pistols were recovered from an arrested accused Ranjit Singh of Sohal village in Tarn Taran. A case under Arms Act and Explosive Substances (Amendment) Act, 2001 was registered at police station State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) in Amritsar.

Jagjeet's name had surfaced in this case too. He is well-connected with Nita and UK-based Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Paramjit Singh Pamma, the officer said.

It is yet to be ascertained from British authorities whether he is still in service or not, he said.