Nine Khalistani operatives have been designated as terrorists under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) by the Union government on Wednesday.
The anti-terror law was amended last year to include the provision of designating individuals as terrorists.
The nine designated Khalistani terrorists include Pakistan-based chiefs of the banned organisations, Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) chief Wadhawa Singh Babbar; International Sikh Youth Federation chief Lakhbir Singh, Khalistan Zindabad Force chief Ranjeet Singh and Khalistan Commando Force chief Paramjit Singh.
The others are Bhupinder Singh Bhinda, the Germany-based key member of Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF); Gurmeet Singh Bagga, based in Germany and a key member of KZF; Gurpatwant Singh Pannun , based in US and a key member of the unlawful association, “Sikh for Justice”; Hardeep Singh Nijjar, chief of Khalistan Tiger Force, based in Canada, and Paramjit Singh, the UK based leader of BKI.
In its order, the Union Home ministry said, “These individuals are involved in various acts of terrorism from across the border and from foreign soil. They have been relentless in their nefarious efforts of destabilizing the country, by trying to revive militancy in Punjab through their anti national activities and through their support to and involvement in the Khalistan Movement.”
The move to declare the nine Khalistani operatives as terrorists has come months after the Union government declared 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed, Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi, Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar and underworld don Dawood Ibrahim as terrorists under the amended law.
With the fresh additions, eight of the 13 designated terrorists are found to be taking shelter in Pakistan.
Intelligence officials said Khalistanis are a potent force in Canada, US, UK and Germany. Most of the Khalistani terrroists are foreign passport holders or have sought political asylum, an official said.
Germany has many top Khalistani leaders or their families. Gurmeet Singh Bagga has been active in sending arms, fake Indian currency and drugs into Punjab through his associates in Pakistan. “Bagga is able to operate without hindrance in Germany,” said the official. However, many Bagga-linked modules have been busted in recent times. Meanwhile, intelligence reports revealed there are other Khalistani leaders like Gajinder Singh and organisations like Dal Khalsa who are also taking shelter in Germany and linked to operatives in Pakistan.
BKI chief Wadhawa Singh’s family is learnt to be living in Germany while he operates from Pakistani soil. Intelligence reports said the UK-, Germany-, Canada-based Khalistani leaders have been inciting violence or involved in facilitating terror activities in India in association with ISI but without any action being taken against them by the respective governments.
