News Brief
56 Pro-Khalistan Entities Based Outside India, Including 12 In Canada, Behind At Least 15 Targeted Killings In Punjab
Nayan Dwivedi
Oct 11, 2023, 06:08 PM | Updated 06:07 PM IST
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The Punjab Police revealed at an NIA conference that 56 pro-Khalistan entities (PKEs) are operating in various countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Pakistan, and more.
As reported by Indian Express, these entities have been linked to 15 targeted killings in Punjab over the past six years, including grenade attacks, RPG attacks, and IED blasts.
Among these PKEs, 13 are in the US, 12 in Canada, seven in Germany, six in the UK, six in Pakistan, and two in other countries.
The police highlighted the strong connections between these entities and gangsters in India and abroad.
For instance, Pakistan-based gangster-terrorist Harvinder Singh Sandhu (Rinda) has ties with imprisoned gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar.
The Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed in Canada, had links with the Davinder Bambiha gang and Canada-based terrorist Arshdeep Dalla, who, in turn, was connected to Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu and Pakistan-based Khalistan separatist Lakhbir Singh Rode.
The Punjab Police have taken significant actions against these groups, filing 130 FIRs under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and arresting 580 individuals.
They have also arrested 4,597 gangsters and neutralised 22 in encounters. Notably, the arrested gangsters come from various states.
Furthermore, 11 pro-Khalistan activists have been deported, red-corner notices issued against 13 individuals, and properties of four persons forfeited under UAPA. The police are processing red-corner notices for 40 more people.
The insights shared at the conference highlight the global reach of these extremist groups and the ongoing challenges they pose.
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Nayan Dwivedi is Staff Writer at Swarajya.
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