Rulda murder: Police expect speedy extradition of 3 from UK

Chandigarh, December 25

The Punjab Police are upbeat at the arrest of three alleged pro-Khalistan elements in the United Kingdom following India’s extradition request in the 2009 Rashtriya Sikh Sangat chief Rulda Singh’s murder case.

The three, all UK nationals, were identified as Gursharanbir Singh Wahiwal, Amritbir Singh Wahiwal and Pyara Singh. They are accused in the murder case in which the police had moved for their extradition in August 2019.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), probing a series of targeted killings in Punjab in 2016-17, had also submitted a chargesheet against Gursharanbir.

“As per our investigation, Gursharanbir is one of the most active supporters, funders and planners of violence in the Khalistan movement. He had come to India to carry out Rulda’s murder and later trained in Dubai the accused in the targeted killings case, especially of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Punjab vice-president Brig Jagdish Gagneja,” said a senior police officer.

While Rulda was murdered in 2009, the extradition case was moved in 2019 after strong evidence was found against the accused, said the officer.

Gursharanbir and Amritbir are known as Wahiwal brothers in the terror network and are said to be the top functionaries of the Khalistan movement.

Police officials said they were in league with slain terrorist Harminder Mintoo and Harmeet Singh, alias Happy, who ran a terror network from Pakistan and was killed last year. They are also related to Jaggi Johal, another UK citizen, currently under arrest in Punjab for his alleged role in the targeted killings. — TNS