7 Babbar Khalsa militants held in Ludhiana: Police
COPS SUSPECT THEIR ROLE IN KILLING OF RIGHTWING LEADERS JAGDISH GAGNEJA, AMIT SHARMA DURGA PRASAD GUPTA AND PASTOR SULTAN MASIH
LUDHIANA: Seven suspected Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) militants, including a minor, were arrested here on Friday. Three pistols and 33 bullets were recovered from them, police said.
The police said the accused were conspiring to kill people who write against Sikhism and Khalistan on the social media. The police also suspect their involvement in the killing of Hindu leaders, including RashtriyaSwa yams eva kS angh(R SS) leader Jagdish Gagneja, Sri Hindu Takht leader Amit S harm a, Shiv Se na Punjab leader Durga Prasad Gupta and pastor Sultan Masih.
Police said BKI commander S uri n der Singh Babb ar, who has allegedly been hiding in the UK, is funding and recruiting youths for operations in Punjab.
The accused are Kuldeep Singh, Jasvir Singh, Amanpreet Singh, Onkar Singh, Jugr aj Singh and Amritpal Singh.
They, along with the minor, were produced before a local court on Saturday, which sent them to seven-day police custody. The minor has been sent to a rehabilitation centre on judicial remand.
Police commissioner RN Dhoke said the seven were arrested following intelligence inputs. A case was registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Arms Act .“The accused have no criminal record. However, their involvement in the killings of Hindu leaders cannot be ruled out,” Dhoke said. Police suspect their involvement in five killings where the method to execute the crime was similar.
“Am a np re et Sing his a grant hi a tag urdwa ra and has been radical is ing people. Kul deep Sing his a transporter and J as vi rS ing his his driver. Onkar Singh, Jugraj Singh and Amritpal are school dropouts. Besides the minor, all others are between 18 and 22,” Dhoke said.
During interrogation, the accused admitted to meeting to create disturbance. They allegedly held three meetings in Ludhiana. They were in touch with Babbar on social media.