News Analysis India

Tag: Babbar Khalsa International

  • Five held for blast at Punjab Police intel office, lens on ISI-Babbar Khalsa nexus  

    By Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH:  Five people were arrested in connection with the RPG attack at its intelligence headquarters in Mohali, the Punjab Police said on Friday, adding that the act was carried out by a nexus of militant outfit Babbar Khalsa International, Pakistan spy agency ISI and gangsters.

    At a press conference, Director General of Police V K Bhawra said a sixth accused is in police custody in a separate case.  

    “In addition, two people — Mohd Nasim Alam and Mohd Sharaf Raj  — have been brought for questioning from Noida. They originally hail from Bihar. We have not arrested them yet and they are being questioned.” 

    The five arrested people were identified as Jagdeep Singh Kang, Baljit Kaur alias Sukhi, Baljinder Singh alias Rambo, Kanwarjit Singh alias Kanwar Bath and Anant Deep Singh alias Sonu. Bhawra said the role of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and gangsters at the behest of the ISI has come to the fore.  

    “The key conspirator who organised all logistics is Tarn Taran resident Lakhbir Singh, alias Landa, who used to be a gangster and had shifted to Canada in 2017,” the DGP said.  “He is a close associate of gangster-turned-terrorist Harvinder Singh Rinda, who operates from Pakistan.” 

    Landa provided the RPG, AK-47 and the local network of criminals for logistic support to carry out the attack, the Punjab Police chief said, adding that the three suspects who carried out the attack were still on the run.

    Tarn Taran resident Nishan Singh, an accused in the case, is already under the custody of the Faridkot police in some other case, the DGP said. “He will be arrested in this case too.’’ 

  • Anti-Gangster Task Force of Punjab police arrest most wanted ‘terrorist’

    Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH: A most wanted ‘terrorist’ evading arrest for the last twelve years was on Sunday arrested by the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) of the Punjab Police from Lali village in Dera Bassi of Punjab.

    An active member of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), Charanjit Patialavi, has been using different identities and hideouts. Lately, he identified himself as Granthi and was living in a Gurudwara at Kharagpur in West Bengal. He had come to Punjab a few days ago.

    Deputy Inspector General of Police (AGTF) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the accused Charanjit Patialavi, was declared proclaimed offender in a case registered against him on July 23, 2010, under various sections of the Explosive Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act at Police Station Machhiwara. However, Patialavi’s other associate Gurmail Singh Boba of Butta Singh Wala village was arrested in this case with detonators and RDX. He later died.

    “Patialavi, disguising himself as a Granthi was presently staying in Gurudwara at Kharagpur in West Bengal and was not using any communication device,” said Bhullar, adding that different identification cards on West Bengal address have been recovered from his possession.

    Further investigation is in process, it may lead to more arrests and important disclosures, Bhullar said

    Bhullar said that following reliable information, the AGTF teams led by AIG AGTF Gurmeet Singh Chauhan and DSP AGTF Bikramjit Singh Brar have arrested Patialavi from near Gurudwara at village Lali in Dera Bassi.

    An officer on condition of anonymity said that Patialavi had come to Dera Bassi in Punjab a few days ago as he had some personal work mostly likely his daughter was to get married at his village Butta Singh Wala which is near Banur in Patiala. Before shifting to Kharagpur in West Bengal he was working as a granthi and staying in different gurdwaras in other places of Bengal and prior to that he was in Jharkhand.

    Charanjit alias Patialavi was an active member of the BKI terrorist module which was busted by the Punjab Police in 2010 for its involvement in the Shingar Cinema Ludhiana bomb blasts in 2007 and other blasts at Kali Mata Mandir, Patiala and Ambala in 2010. All the other associates of Patialavi were arrested in 2010 by the Punjab Police.