Khalistani Ultras Looking To Spread Terror Ahead Of Punjab Election 2022: Report

There are around 13 militant organisations mostly in Europe, which are working towards a referendum and their agenda of a separate Khalistan state, using social media to spread propaganda.

Police inspect the site of an explosion at the District Court complex, in Ludhiana. (File Photo)

New Delhi: After the arrest of top Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) operative Jaswinder Singh Multani in Germany, in the Ludhiana blast case many things are coming to light. It is being learnt that several pro-Khalistan militant outfits, especially, in the UK, Canada and Pakistan, were allegedly involved in carrying out the December 23 blast, reported News18.

According to Indian intelligence agencies, they are now spreading terror ahead of the Punjab assembly elections. 

In the past year, the government has banned 40 websites and blocked various mobile applications promoting Khalistani terror. There are around 13 militant organisations mostly in Europe, which are working towards a referendum and their agenda of a separate Khalistan state. Social media is one of the main tools to spread propaganda and radicalise youths, reported News18. 

According to an Indian Express report, a dongle was retrieved from the blast site by the Punjab Police and National Investigation Agency (NIA). It was now revealed that the dongle was connected to the mobile phone and through that, thirteen international phone calls were made, mainly to Pakistan, Dubai and Malaysia. Further, the report stated that Multani had a huge role to play in the blast, it was reportedly on his pretext that the explosives were given to Gagandeep for the blast. Indian Express sources have also revealed that he was planning on sending explosives to Pakistan to carry out terrorist activities in Punjab.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) have been keeping a tab on their activities and working with ministries to extradite them, said News18.

Some other pro-Khalistan militants spreading terror in India include:

• Wadhawa Singh: Babbar Khalsa International’s chief Wadhawa Singh has been involved in various anti-national activities for the past few decades, he reportedly used Punjab’s local gangsters to carry out the Ludhiana court blast. He was also part of the group that blew up an Air India flight that killed more than 300 in 1985. Besides, he was involved in the 2004 Burail jailbreak in Chandigarh in which terrorists dug a tunnel, reported Newws18. He currently lives in Pakistan, he has been designated as a terrorist by India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). A red corner notice has been issued against him.

• Hardeep Singh Nijjar: Canada-based chief of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) which is one of the main pro-Khalistan outfits. He has been operating from Surrey, Canada and the UK. The Chandigarh court held Jagtar Singh Tara guilty of assassinating former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh. He too has been designated as a terrorist under UAPA Act and a red corner notice has been issued against him. There have been incriminating statements, posts, photos and videos posted by Nijjar on social media to spread hate.

• Paramjit Singh Pamma: An alleged Khalistani terrorist, who was caught by the Portugal government based on an Interpol notice against him that was released by the government after almost his two-month-long detention. The Portugal government turned down India’s request for extradition as Pamma was involved in several blasts, including the one that took place in Patiala in 2007. He is currently working with the pro-Khalistani brigade and head of terrorist organisation SFJ, Gurpatwant Singh Pannu and is involved in fundraising. He shuttles between the UK and Canada and is also a designated terrorist under UAPA. A red corner notice is also slapped against him.