Johal raised the funds for target killings, say police
CHANDIGARH: Amid outcry over arrest of UK national Jagtar SinghJ oh al in the case of targeted killings, Punjab Police claimed he was not only a key conspirator but also a fund-raiser.
“Johal not only personally knew hitmen Hardeep Singh Shera and Ramandeep Singh ‘Canadian’, who killed RSS and other right-wing leaders, but also provided them money for weapons. He was deeply involved and we have enough evidence to prove that. He has admitted this during his interrogation,” a senior probe official told HT.
As per sources, the last payment Johal made was of 4,000 pounds (~3.5 lakh ), which he gave to Jam mu resident Jimmy Singh, another UK resident accused in the case, who was arrested by Punjab Police on November 1 from Delhi airport, while he was coming back from UK after spending several years.
Jimmy, sources said, purchased weapons for Shera and Ramandeep. Sources also said that Johal has confessed that he had collected money through fund-raising for his magazine, based on 1984 anti-Sikh riots. “Johal, who used to work as an ideologue to radicalise Sikh youth on Facebook, was also in touch with Pakistan-based Khalistan Zindabad Force militant Harmeet alias Happy Phd. Even he arranged a person from a third country to train Ram an deep and Shera. Details are awaited on this,” the investigators told HT.
‘NO TORTURE’
Meanwhile, senior officials overseeing the probe refuted claims that Johal was tortured or given electric shocks during his interrogation. They said his medical examination is being done as sought by his counsel in the court. “The outcry is unfortunate. We are quite sure about Johal’s role in the case. Now, we have enough evidence to prove that,” said a DGP-rank official.
BRITISH GOVT ‘ROLE’
He added ,“We have enough leads with us that the British government was aware about such plots being run on their land and the mingling of ISI sleuths with the Sikh extremists in that country .”
He added, “When terror hits their country they do everything in the name of national security. Now, when we have arrested their national for spreading terror in our country, they are defending the accused.”
Referring to the 2009 killing of RSS leader Rulda Singh, the police officials claimed that it was also planned in UK but the country never co-operated with the Punjab Police.
Meanwhile, a Moga court on Wednesday extended police remand of Ramandeep till November 18 and K hali stan Liberation Force chief Harm in der Singh Mintoo till November 17.