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Assassinations of political and religious leaders in Punjab, India From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
During the years of 2016 and 2017, multiple attacks on political activists and mostly Hindu religious leaders in the northern Indian state of Punjab were perpetrated by individuals who were allegedly affiliated with the Sikh militant group Khalistan Liberation Force which is a designated terrorist group by India.[1] Those culpable for the attacks were also arrested. The Pakistani agency ISI was allegedly held responsible by India for financing and aiding the militant acts to foment religious disturbances in the state.
Targeted killings in Punjab | |
---|---|
Part of Terrorist incidents in Punjab | |
Location | Punjab, India |
Date | 18 January 2016 – 30 October 2017 |
Target | 2 RSS leaders 3 Shiv Sena leaders 1 Hindu Sangharsh Sena leader 1 Christian pastor 1 Namdhari leader 2 Dera Sacha Sauda members 1 Sri Hindu Takht leader |
Attack type | Assassination |
Deaths | 9 1 RSS leader 2 Shiv Sena leaders 1 Hindu Sangharsh Sena leader 1 Christian Pastor killed 2 Dera Sacha Sauda followers killed 1 Namdhari leader killed 1 Sri Hindu Takhr leader |
Perpetrators | Khalistan Liberation Force |
Defender | Punjab Police |
Some of the key accused in the attacks are:
Khalistan Liberation Force leader Harminder Singh Nihang alias Mintoo was named involved in the killings by the National Investigation Agency. He had been in jail since 2014 and later died in jail of a heart attack on April 18, 2018.[29][30]
Khalistan Liberation Force future leader Harmeet Singh alias Happy PhD was the mastermind behind the killings. He was wanted by Indian authorities and Interpol who issued a Red Corner notice against Harmeet. He was later murder in Pakistan in 2020.[31][32]
On 4 November 2017, Punjab Police arrested Jagtar Singh Johal alias Jaggi, from Rama Mandi town of Jalandhar and accused him of the attacks. Jaggi is a non-resident Indian residing in Dumbarton and allegedly ran a website named 'Never Forget 1984'. He is accused of radicalising people and providing weapons to carry out the attacks.[33]
On 12 November 2017, Hardeep Singh alias Harman alias Shera accused of being one of the shooter's in the assassinations was arrested by police after a massive manhunt.[34] He was accused of being involved in 6 killings and 2 attempted killings. In his first 2 attacks he missed his shot. After he trained and became "perfect" in shooting. After each kill he would flee the country.[35]
Ramandeep Singh alias Bagga alias Canadian was accused of being the second shooter in the killings.[36]
Gursharanbir Singh, a British national, described as the mastermind of the attacks has been declared a proclaimed offender.[37][38] He is one of the accused in the murder of Rulda Singh, president of the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, in 2009.[39] The Crown Prosecution Service in the UK has stated that the evidence presented by the Indian authorities is "not sufficient to make out a case to answer".[40]
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