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New brand of Sikh militancy: Suave, tech-savvy pro-Khalistan youth radicalised on social media

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Many youngsters in the state are being influenced by Khalistani groups active abroad and recruited to kill specific targets, including RSS members and Dera followers

A new brand of Sikh militancy has surfaced in Punjab — educated, suave, clean shaven and mostly millennial young men and women from families with no links to the pro-Khalistan movement, according to police.

Radicalised through social media by Khalistani groups active abroad, these young Sikhs are recruited to kill specific targets set by their handlers, said police after busting several modules behind “targeted killings” in Punjab last year.

“It’s a new way of spreading terrorism. Pro-Khalistani forces are radicalising people using cyber space… That’s why we handed the probe into all such cases to the National Investigation Agency (NIA),” state director general of police Suresh Arora said. “You never know how many such modules they have prepared for anti-national activities.”

The alarm rang after
police arrested five men who are said to be part of a module that had shot dead Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) members in Ludhiana, Dera Sacha Sauda followers and a Christian pastor between October 31 and November 7, 2017.

These new-age militants have no trace of any Khalistani activity in at least three generations of their families. None of them is from households that suffered the worst during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. They also have no links to “victims” of Punjab’s violent insurgency in the 1980s and early 1990s.

These militants weren’t even born when the riots happened after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984. About 3,000 people were killed in the violence, mostly in New Delhi.

In one module busted this August, police found an 18-year-old Ludhiana girl allegedly brainwashed through Facebook by fundamentalists in Canada and incited to kill Hindu leaders.

Of the 45 suspects arrested so far from different modules, at least 20 are below 35. They are tech and social media savvy. The men have short hair and are clean shaven, though keeping a beard and growing long hair are among the basic tenets of Sikhism.


Read more | Pakistan supporting Sikh militants, say fresh intelligence inputs

Heavy police crackdown in the 1990s may have wiped out an armed campaign in Punjab by several Sikh groups for an independent country, Khalistan. But the Khalistani ideology has continued to fester among several fundamentalist Sikhs settled abroad.

These people have
limited appeal and support in Punjab, but intelligence agencies periodically warn of attempts to revive militancy in the state.

Among the five suspects arrested on November 4, 2017, was Jagtar Singh aka Jaggi Johal, from the United Kingdom. He told police the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), a militant group with Harminder Singh Mintoo and Harmeet Singh ‘PhD’ as its top leaders, is doing the bidding of Pakistani spy agency Inter-Services
Intelligence (ISI) to recruit young Sikhs for anti-India activities. Police said the “targeted killing” approach was conceived in 2014 by the ISI. The four other arrested men — Jammu resident Jimmy Singh, Ramandeep, Hardeep Shera and Dharmendra Gugni — corroborated Jagtar’s statement.

The 50-year-old Mintoo was arrested in November 2014 at the New Delhi airport after he was deported from Thailand. But Harmeet with the help of Babbar Khalsa International member Gursharan Bir Singh, who is also from the UK , continued recruiting youngsters to murder select targets. “PhD introduced me to Gursharan who ran a website called neverforget1984.com. I translated Punjabi material about Khalistan into English for the website. At his behest, I was given the responsibility of contacting young people for the cause,” Jagtar said in a statement to the police.

According to the police, Jagtar is from a family of restaurateurs and was in India for his wedding when he was arrested in Jalandhar on November 4. He and his gang were busted after police caught Laddi, a cousin of Jimmy, for arms trading. The cousin named Jimmy and the police then traced all others in the network, one by one, according to a police officer.

Jimmy met Jagtar in Glasgow, where the Jammu resident was working as a restaurant chef after his student visa expired. They became friends and Jagtar pressed him in 2015 to buy weapons from Jammu for “one of his friends in India who is a competitive shooter”, police said.

Jimmy contacted Laddi, who apparently knew arms smugglers. Jagtar transferred £4,000 through Western Union to Laddi, a few days before he was arrested with a pistol procured illegally.

Punjab Police then issued a “red corner notice” against Jimmy who was caught when he returned to India. Jimmy’s association with the module is through Jagtar while two other members — Shera and Ramandeep — were influenced directly by Gursharan. A police officer said Shera, a resident of Majri Kishnewali in Fatehgarh Sahib district, met KLF chief Mintoo during a holiday in Italy in 2013.

“Shera knew nothing about Khalistan before that … After Mintoo’s arrest, Gursharan interacted with Shera via Skype and trained him too.” Shera is an ambidextrous sharpshooter who killed “targets” assigned to him by the KLF chief and would flee to Italy after every hit, according to the police.

Read more | War heroes to share space with Sikh militants at Golden Temple museum

When he was arrested at a gym in Sirhind, his family wasn’t aware he was back in India. Police said his accomplice was Ramandeep, a Moga resident, who would drive a motorcycle, and Shera, riding pillion, would shoot pistols with both hands.

Ramandeep, known among his friends as Canadian, was allegedly motivated by a KLF faction active in Canada. Gursharan brought the duo together in December 2015.

According to investigators, the initial targets for these shooters were RSS members in Ludhiana, including retired Brigadier Jagdish Gagneja, the organisation’s Punjab unit vice president.

“Gagneja’s killing was meticulously planned. Shera and Ramandeep visited the RSS leader’s house 13 times,” a DGP-rank officer said.

Another target was the Dera Sacha Sauda, whose controversial chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh triggered outrage in 2007 when he appeared before a congregation attired as the 10th Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh.

The militants killed a father and his son, both Dera followers, in Khanna.

Pastor Sultan Masih in Salem Tabri of Ludhiana was shot dead following the handlers’ weird, hate-filled message to kill “a man in white clothes with a cross around his neck”.


http://www.hindustantimes.com/opini...rs-its-head/story-JH3XbAGk6sSxlYrVEDyISK.html
 
THE INFAMOUS FIVE
the_infamous_five_1.jpg

JAGTAR SINGH aka JAGGI JOHAL
The 30-year-old hails from a family of Glasgow-based restaurateurs, with their roots in Jalandhar. Police say he used to work for a Khalistani website, run the Sikh Soorme magazine, and was part of a group that made a film on militants Jinda-Sukha, who killed former army chief General AS Vaidya

the_infamous_five_2.jpg

JIMMY SINGH
The Jammu resident, 31, who was overstaying his student visa in Glasgow, helped militants illegally buy guns, say police

the_infamous_five_3.jpg

RAMANDEEP
The 29-year-old hails from Ludhiana in Punjab. Radicalised by fundamentalists settled in Canada, he used to operate with Shera, taking the shooter on his bike on missions assigned by their handler

the_infamous_five_4.jpg

HARDEEP SHERA
This 21-year-old resident of Fatehgarh Sahib went to Italy when he was 18 and met KLF chief Mintoo at his uncle’s home, according to police. Shera was allegedly radicalised and trained by Gursharan, a Babbar Khalsa leader. Police say he can shoot with both hands simultaneously

the_infamous_five_5.jpg

DHARMINDRA GUGNI
A Ludhiana gangster, Gugni is 32 and currently lodged in Nabha jail. Police say he was befriended by arrested KLF chief Mintoo in prison. He is accused of providing weapons to the militants.
 
When fascism is being imposed by the majority on a minority, reactions take place. These people are faces of reactions to hindutva politics.

Khalistan might be closer to reality than many think.

Blaming Pakistan is stupid, Pakistan has not even highlighted their struggle properly.
 
Sikhs are a useless people. No real fight in them. If they were smart they would be free as 10 percent of the army is Sikh and Jinnah offered them freedom but they chose India so I hope they continue to suffer although I would back them against India
 

Khalistan Why Not ? | Sikhs have every right to demand separate Sikh state under UN charter - Dr.IK Cheema (Member - United Nations Advisory Committee) addressing at TV84 Fund Raising Gala

A new brand of Sikh militancy has surfaced in Punjab — educated, suave, clean shaven and mostly millennial young men and women from families with no links to the pro-Khalistan movement, according to police.


Radicalised through social media by Khalistani groups active abroad,
said police after busting several modules behind “targeted killings” in Punjab last year.
It’s a new way of spreading terrorism. Pro-Khalistani forces are radicalising people using cyber space… That’s why we handed the probe into all such cases to the National Investigation Agency (NIA),” state director general of police Suresh Arora said. “You never know how many such modules they have prepared for anti-national activities.”

theres more than one way to skin a cat
 
Pakistan's Khalistan agenda behind killing of 6 Hindu leaders in Punjab, says NIA

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) says a common link has been found to all six killings of Hindu leaders in Punjab.

The anti-terror probe agency has revealed that these killings were part of a larger conspiracy hatched by Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI, to foment communal trouble in Punjab and in turn revive Khalistani movement in the state.

NIA Director General (DG) YC Modi told India Today, "Scientifically the agency has been able to prove that weapons seized from various raids have a common link and the link to Pakistan has been firmly established."

Sources say that besides the different weapons used in the six murders, mobile phone records have revealed a well oiled conspiracy to kill Hindu leaders of RSS, BJP.

Further the arrest and later interrogation of two sharp shooters Ramandeep Singh and Hardeep Shera also has given the agency an insight into the alleged Pakistani plot to prevent inroads of BJP and RSS in Punjab.


It had been found that funds had been routed in for this operation from Italy, Pakistan, Canada and the UK. This was revealed during interrogation of the various suspects.

Further investigations have revealed that funds for these incidents were routed from Pakistan to some operatives in these countries through the hawala channels.

Sources said MoS Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju reportedly brought up the matter of Sikh militancy and funds from fundamentalist with his counterpart on his recent trip to United Kingdom.

The security agencies are expected to take up the matter in Italy, UK, UAE and France in connection with investigations into the killings and attacks on Hindu leaders in Punjab in the last few months.

India Today has learnt that DG YC Modi made at least two visits to Punjab to personally monitor the case.

Sources said that the "Punjab police has already shared details of the investigation done by the state police so far." The NIA team investigating the case has been camping in Mohali and is said to have made steady progress in the case.

Following an Intelligence Bureau report, the National Investigation Agency began investigations on ISI links with the killings of Hindu leaders.

A spate of murders of Hindu leaders had taken place in Punjab. Senior RSS leader Brig Jagdish Gagneja (retd), Punjab Shiv Sena labour leader Durga Prasad Gupta, Hindu leader Amit Sharma, Dera Sacha Sauda followers Satpal Kumar and son Ramesh Kumar, Christian leader Pastor Sultan Masih and Ludhiana-based RSS leader Ravinder Gosain were targeted by this module, investigations have also found.

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/sto...evive-khalistani-militancy-1144891-2018-01-15
 
Have Hindutva forces in India reignited the Khalistan movement overseas?
There are reports that Sikh and Kashmiri militants living in Europe have revived their ties.

But recent developments show the separatists are once again pushing the agenda for self-determination. Sikhs, like other minority groups in India, are getting increasingly apprehensive of the growing power of Hindu nationalist forces in the country. This has given new hope to the demand for Khalistan. Internet radio stations and social media outlets catering to the Sikh diaspora are openly claiming the resurgence of the Khalistan movement.

With Narendra Modi becoming Prime Minister, the diaspora comprising Hindus has become more vocal about its backing for a Hindutva ideology. In the West, Hindu revivalism among the diaspora has been gathering strength since the Ayodhya movement, but has now assumed a powerful political shape. This has made Indian from other communities living abroad insecure. By backing Hindu revivalism among those living abroad, Modi seems to have instigated the Sikh diaspora to mobilise again to promote a separate Sikh identity and demand a separate homeland.

In the 2017 election in Punjab, a large number of Sikhs settled abroad came back to India to campaign for their favourite candidates, particularly of parties opposing BJP and its coalition partner Akali Dal. Diaspora usually enjoys a superior social status in Punjab.

Due to its access to wealth and information, NRI Sikhs started hoping to influence not only the voting behaviour of members from their community in Punjab, but also to recreate the support for secessionist movement. Through personal connections, travel and the use of information technology, the Sikh diaspora hope to reshape the political identity of Sikhs and mobilise them again to support their struggle for a separate statehood.

The Sikh diaspora has not only become a major actor in its homeland politics, it is also playing an active role in the politics of many host countries. Growing numbers and economic success has helped hardliner Sikhs to join active politics in many Western countries. In the UK election in June 2017, Sikh diaspora worked overtime to get a turban wearing MP elected to the British Parliament for the first time. Four Sikhs are now in Canada's cabinet and according to the chief minister of Punjab, Amrinder Singh, they are all Khalistan sympathisers. A Sikh legislator in the Ontario has successfully managed to get the support of the House to recognise 1984 anti-Sikh riots following the assassination of Indira Gandhi as genocide. A turban wearing Sikh, Jagmit Singh, is now the leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada and a potential prime ministerial candidate in his country. Sikhs in Canada accuse RSS of doing all it can to sabotage Jagmit Singh's election as party leader.

There has been an increased lobbying by the Sikh diaspora in the US Congress to declare the 1984 anti-Sikh riot as "genocide". There is a growing campaign by Sikh organisations existing abroad to amend Article 25(2) (b) of the Indian Constitution, which declares Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists as part of Hinduism. There are reports that Sikh and Kashmiri militants living in Europe have revived their ties.

The idea for an independent Sikh state is being reignited not from the people or political parties of Punjab, but by Sikh expatriates. The politics of "one nation, one religion, and one leader" by Hindutva nationalistic forces have provided the Sikh diaspora an opportunity to once again mobilise support at home for the cause of Khalistan. India needs to do something before it gets too late.

https://www.dailyo.in/voices/sikh-d...4-anti-sikh-riots-genocide/story/1/21732.html
 
Sikhs Don’t Want Marriage Registration Under Hindu Marriage Act

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government of Aam Aadmi Party has assured the Sikh community that it would notify rules enabling the community to register their marriages under the Anand Marriage Act in place of the Hindu Marriage Act. The government made the assurance on the floor of the Delhi Assembly on Wednesday.

The Sikh community has been making the demand for long, saying that their religion is separate from Hinduism and so they should not be forced to register their marriages under the Hindu Marriage Act.


The issue was raised in the House by Manjinder Singh Sirsa who comes from the Sikh community. He reportedly expressed concern over how Sikhs were still registering their marriages under the Hindu Marriage. He demanded that the House must resolve to ensure that they got their due as a minority. He urged members to adopt a resolution for a separate Sikh identity, for which “a minor constitutional amendment” is required.

Interestingly, Sirsa is MLA from the BJP – the party which has been batting for a Uniform Civil Code for long. Sirsa went ahead to say that Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs must not be “equated” with Hindus “as these are separate religions”.

http://caravandaily.com/portal/sikhs-dont-want-marriage-registration-under-hindu-marriage-act/
 
ਕੀ ਭਾਰਤ ਵਿਚਲੀਆਂ ਹਿੰਦੂਤਵ ਸ਼ਕਤੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਬਾਹਰਲੇ ਮੁਲਕਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਖਾਲਿਸਤਾਨ ਦੀ ਲਹਿਰ ਨੂੰ ਮੁੜ ਸੁਰਜੀਤ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ ?? - ਇੱਕ ਸਵੀਡਿਸ਼ ਅਖਬਾਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਛਪਿਆ ਲੇਖ
 
Tussi saale sirf power de pukkhe ho!!!!
Te baaki rahi khalistan di, aake dikh jutyaa naal dhun de na public ne...
 

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