ATS nabs arms supplier of Babbar Khalsa group

Anti-terrorist squad (ATS) arrested one Satnam Singh, an alleged arms supplier of Sikh extremist group, Babbar Khalsa, from Lakhimpur Kheri on Monday. His arrest was made possible after revelation made by a dreaded Babbar Khalsa terrorist, Jaswant Singh Kala from Unnao and his close associate, Balwant Singh from Lucknow in August.

Anti-terrorist squad (ATS) arrested one Satnam Singh, an alleged supplier of firearms to Sikh extremist group, Babbar Khalsa, from Lakhimpur Kheri town on Monday night.

His arrest was made possible after revelation made by a dreaded Babbar Khalsa terrorist, Jaswant Singh Kala held in Unnao and his close associate, Balwant Singh arrested from Lucknow in August.

UP ATS inspector general (IG) of police, Asim Arun said Balwant Singh, who was staying in Lucknow with changed identity for past several years and working as granthi in a gurudwara, had allegedly received the firearms from Satnam Singh and supplied it to Kala.

He said Kala later used the same weapons in multiple crimes like murder and attempt to murder in Punjab.

Arun said Satnam Singh supplied nearly 11 firearms to Balwant Singh for use of Babbar Khalsa group.

He said Satnam was on Punjab police radar, who tipped off UP ATS about his location that subsequently led to his arrest. He said the accused has been handed over to the Punjab police for further legal proceedings.

Earlier, Kala was arrested from an Unnao farm house, barely 50 kilometres from the state capital, on August 16. He was wanted in multiple cases of Delhi, Rajasthan and Punjab and was hiding in the farm house for past few weeks after allegedly killing a supporter of anti-Babbar Khalsa group in Punjab around two months ago.

Kala was arrested on the revelations made by his accomplice Balwant Singh, who was arrested from a Gurudwara on Nadan Mahal road on August 15. Kala has been one of the most active members of Babbar Khalsa who support pro-Khalistan groups.