New Delhi: Government has approached some Western European nations for deportation of associates of banned Babbar Khalsa International terror outfit operating against India from their soil.
The names of the associates, who have been accused of allegedly conspiring to wage war against India, surfaced during the interrogation of six BKI terrorists arrested by Punjab Police in the last three weeks, official sources said.
The six -- Pyara Singh, Gurbag Singh alias Beja, Daljit, Dharinder Singh, Purushotam and Tarvinder -- were arrested from various parts of Punjab and the national capital and booked under various sections of Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The six, according to the sources, were planning to carry out of attacks in Punjab and neighbouring Himachal Pradesh in an attempt to revive militancy in Punjab and had claimed
during interrogation that they had been instructed to do so by their mentors across the border.
The arrested persons told the investigators about the presence and role of their associates in the West who had been visiting Pakistan through Middle East countries following pressure from ISI for reviving militancy in Punjab. Government has approached some Western European nations for deportation of such associates.
The BKI associates, some of whom have been named in various terrorism-related cases in India, were plainly told by their masters in Pakistan to perform or perish following which the massive plan to carry out attacks in the state were chalked out, the sources said.
They said small time smugglers had been roped by the BKI people for bringing in arms and explosives from Pakistan. As much as 3.5 kilograms of explosives, five hand grenades, one
pistol, one lakh fake Indian currency notes and Rs one lakh in cash were recovered at the instance of the arrested men.
They told the investigators that the arms consignment was brought in through Indo-Pak border in Punjab leaving authorities surprised as to how the explosives could be smuggled through the heavily fenced frontier.
Minister of State for Home Ajay Maken had recently informed in Lok Sabha "available reports suggest that militant groups, especially those based abroad, continue to persist with their efforts to revive militancy in Punjab."
The Minister said pro-Khalistan terrorist outfits -- BKI, International Sikh Youth Federation, Khalistan Commando Force and Khalistan Zindabad Force -- continue to be banned under
the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2004.
"A close watch is maintained on the activities of various groups known to have been engaged in trying to foment terrorist activities in Punjab," he had said.
The minister had said the government had adopted an integrated approach to counter the militants under which sustained vigilance was being maintained along the borders and intelligence wings were being strengthened.
PTI
