Time Line-2018

India 04-May-2018

The NIA filed chargesheet in the Special NIA court in Mohali, Chandigarh against 15 people in connection with the killing of RSS leader Ravinder Gosain on October 17, 2017, in Ludhiana District of Punjab. The investigation revealed that killing of Ravinder Gosain was a part of transnational conspiracy executed by the senior leadership of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF). The objective of the conspiracy is to destabilise the law and order and revival of terrorism in Punjab. As part of the conspiracy, a large sum of funds was supplied through Italy, Australia and the UK to the perpetrators of the killings or attempted killings, by Hardeep Singh and Ramandeep Singh. These funds were used by the duo to purchase weapons for executing the killings and other logistics.

India 06-May-2018

The founding member of new Sikh youth group—Sikh Liberation Front (SLF), Moninder Singh has claimed that in “Khalsa tradition”, use of force is permissible and justified as the last resort in the situation. The group—SLF comprises of Sikh youth from the groups based in Canada, the US and the UK. However, the Khalistan movement does not necessarily to be associated with violence every time. Self-resistance, resistance against the State, and Self defence—these modes sometimes require people to resist in many different ways which also includes armed struggle, said Moninder Singh. Reacting to Moninder Singh’s statement, an unnamed senior Indian government official has said that such blatant exhortation to violence aimed at India cannot be tolerated.

India 07-May-2018

The NIA has registered a FIR against Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a resident in Canada and Khalistani militant, for allegedly planning terrorist attacks in Punjab. Against Nijjar, a case was registered under Sections 120-B, 124-A, and 153-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Sections 10, 16 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A], and Section 25 of the Arms Act after the recommendations from the UMHA. According to the FIR, Nijjar and other members of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) planned to promote disharmony among different groups on the basis of religion and to revive terrorism in Punjab. The FIR also linked Nijjar’s associates with the conspiracy to target the members of RSS.

India 10-May-2018

The Punjab Police arrested Sandeep Singh and Amar Singh, an alleged Khalistani radicals supported by an Australia-based Khalistani outfit—International Sikh Federation (ISF), from Kotkapura of Faridkot District and recovered two .30 bore pistols, and 40 live ammunitions from their possession. The Police had received a call that a motorbike has collided with a SUV on the NH between Faridkot and Kotkapura. When the Police approached the location, the duo were trying to escape from the location on their motorbike. However, the Police team managed to arrest them, said Faridkot SSP Nanak Singh. During the interrogation, they claimed to be in contact with Gurjant Singh—resident in Australia and ‘Head’ of ISF who indulged them into radicalisation over the Facebook. The members of the terror module that was busted by Punjab Police on May 29, 2017, had come together to form a sub-group called Khalistan Zindabad (KZ). This outfit is linked to the website of Gurjant’s ISF.

India 14-May-2018

The Intelligence Bureau (IB) has submitted a report to the UMHA which states that pro-Khalistan groups are hiring local criminals to conduct terrorist activities and revive militancy in Punjab. The Police officers, District Magistrates (DMs), senior IAS and IPS officers shall be alerted about the ‘covert’ activities, suggests the report. The IB report also suggested the State government to make a list and keep an eye on the local criminals. The Intelligence inputs have revealed that a pro-Khalistan group based in the UK has started a campaign through social media urging the people of Punjab to join the Khalistan struggle.

India 14-May-2018

The NIA filed chargesheet in the murder cases of Amit Sharma and Pastor Sultan Masih in the Special NIA court in Mohali, Chandigarh. The NIA has chargesheeted 11 people including British-citizen Jagtar Singh Johal under Sections 302, 34, 379, 416, and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Sections 16, 17, 18, 18-A, 18-B, 20, 21, and 23 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A], and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act. Along with Jagtar Singh Johal, 10 people who have been named in the Chargesheet include, Hardeep Singh Shera, Ramandeep Singh Bagga, Pahar Singh, Dharminder Singh Gugni, Anil Kala, Parvez, Malook, Amaninder Singh, Ravipal Singh, and Manpreet Singh. The NIA claimed that four other people, Harmeet Singh alias PhD, Gursharanbir Singh, Gurjinder Singh Shastri, and Gurjant Singh be declared proclaimed offenders in the case.

India 19-May-2018

The NIA filed Chargesheet against 15 people, including British citizen Jagtar Singh Johal, in connection to the targeted killings in Punjab. Along with JagtarSingh Johal, the Chargesheet was filed against— Hardeep Singh Shera, Ramandeep Singh Canadian, Dharminder Singh Guggni, Anil Kumar aka Kala, Amaninder Singh aka Mindu, Manpreet Singh aka Mani, Ravipal Singh aka Bhunda, Pahad Singh, Parvez aka Farru, Malook Tomar, Harmeet Singh aka Happy aka PhD aka Doctor (suspected to be in Pakistan), Gurjinder Singh aka Shastri (suspected to be in Italy), Gursharanbir Singh akaGurusharan Singh Wahiwala aka Pehalwan (suspected to be in the UK), and Gurjant Singh Dhillon (suspected to be in Australia).The Investigation has revealed that the killings of Satpal Sharma and his son—Ramesh Sharma of Dera Sacha Sauda, and Durga Gupta—Punjab wing leader of Shiv Sena, were part of transnational conspiracy executed by senior leadership of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF). The people who were targeted belong to specific community or organisation. It is clear that the objective behind these killings is to destabilise the law and order situation and revival of terrorism in Punjab, claimed the NIA. The Chargesheet was filed under Sections 302, 34, 379, 416, and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Sections 16, 17, 18, 18-A, 18-B, 20, 21 and 23 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A] and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act.

India 23-May-2018

The Chargesheet filed by the NIA against 15 people in the case of targeted killing of RSS leader Ravinder Gosain in Punjab, has revealed the modus operandi including recruitment, training and funding of the killings. It revealed that how accused Hardeep Singh aka Shera and Ramandeep Singh aka Canadian were radicalised into executing the killing.

India 30-May-2018

In the case of anti-National activities, the main accused of assassination of Punjab’s former Chief Minister Beant Singh, Jagtar Singh Tara was produced in the court of Additional Session Judge Kanwaljeet Singh Bajwa but due to non-appearance of the statements of witnesses in the court, the hearing in the case was adjourned till June 14. On the next hearing, Jagtar Singh Tara would be attending the court proceedings via video conferencing facility.