Lakhbir Singh Rode, Khalistani Terrorist And Nephew Of Bhindranwale, Dies In Pakistan: Report

Khalistani separatist leader Lakhbir Singh Rode was involved in a tiffin bomb blast in Punjab that took place in September 2021.

Khalistani terrorist and self-styled head of the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) and nephew of slain Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Lakhbir Singh died of a heart attack in Pakistan, said media reports. The 72-year-old terrorist was listed as an ‘individual terrorist’ under the UA(P)A and had fled to Pakistan. He was an accused in the 1985 bombing of the Air India jet Kanishka, and died late on December 1, a Times of India report said.

According to the report, Lakhbir Singh’s brother and former Akal Takht Jathedar Jasbir Singh Rode confirmed his death in Pakistan, adding that his brother had already been cremated on Monday. Jasbir Singh told TOI that he received the news of his brother's death from the latter's Canada-based son.

"We have been informed by the son of my brother Lakhbir Singh Rode that he died of heart attack in Pakistan and has been cremated there. He was highly diabetic. His two sons, a daughter and wife live in Canada," Jasbir Singh told The Indian Express.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) earlier this year confiscated a piece of land belonging to Lakhbir Singh at village Kothe Gurupura village in Moga. NIA's notice said that one-fourth share in the land measuring 43 kanal 3 marlas belonged to Lakhbir Singh was being confiscated following an NIA court order, The IE reported

This was in connection with a tiffin bomb blast that occurred on September 15, 2021, around 7:57 pm, near Punjab National Bank, Jalalabad town in Fazilka district of Punjab. The NIA probed the incident which revealed that Lakhbir Singh was the mastermind of the whole conspiracy and planned with his Pakistan-based ‘masters’. 

 

What Is International Sikh Youth Federation?

According to a report in Hindustan Times, ISYF was founded in 1984 and remains active in Canada and the UK. A Union government’s dossier on Lakhbir Singh states that ISYF opened its chapters at various places in United Kingdom, Germany, Canada and the United States of America.

"Lakhbir Singh is allegedly engaged in sending weapons and explosives consignments from across the border to India to carry out terrorist activities in Punjab and to target various Very Very Important Persons (VVIPs) and political leaders," it added, as quoted by the Indian Express.