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PM raises concerns over Sikh radicals’ UK presence

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NEW DELHI: Radical outfits are not only holding ideological indoctrination sessions at some gurudwaras in UK for young members of the Sikh diaspora but also giving them live demonstrations on how to make improvised explosive device (IEDs) with commonly available chemicals, claim intelligence inputs shared with the government here.

The intelligence reports claim Avtar Singh Khanda, vice president of Shiromani Akali Dal (Mann) and a close aide of terrorist Jagtar Singh Hawara, and Babbar Khalsa International-UK's Paramjit Singh Pamma are planning to hold radicalisation training classes for the Sikh youth, during which they will also be trained to assemble IEDs with locally available chemicals. Such classes were earlier conducted at Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Spark Hill, Stratford, Birmingham (December 2014) and Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Glasgow (January 2015).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is believed to have raised the presence and anti-India activities of UK-based radical Sikh groups, apparently with the backing of Pakistan's ISI, with his British counterpart David Cameron on Thursday. Modi, who carried the dossier prepared for the bilateral talks, reportedly drew attention of the UK authorities to alleged fund-raising by radicals affiliated to banned outfits like BKI, International Sikh Youth Federation and Khalistan Zindabad Force during meetings of the Sikh diaspora. These funds are reportedly sent to intermediaries based in Punjab and Pakistan, say intelligence reports.

India is also concerned at the creation of Miri Piri Foundation on July 31 with creation of Khalistan as its goal. More recently on September 20, the annual convention of Sikh Federation-UK (SFUK) held at a gurdwara in Wolverhampton (West Midlands) declared the establishment of Khalistan as its primary mission. An amount of £97,750 was collected by SFUK in donations.

Modi reportedly shared India's concerns and objections to some pro-Khalistan TV channels operating in the UK. These include Sikh Channel and Sangat TV, both of which are allegedly controlled by Sikh radicals and known to indulge in anti-India tirade. The two channels had tried to incite young Sikhs by repeatedly covering an incident in Jammu dated June 4 that saw one Sikh youth killed in police firing.

Intelligence reports say the owner of Sikh Channel had given approximately £2,500 to the Pakistan-based chief of Dal Khalsa International.

Incidentally, BKI also runs an Internet radio called Babbar Khalsa Radio, which reportedly glorifies slain Khalistani militants.

Modi's ongoing visit to the UK is being opposed by local Sikh radical groups, which have discussed protests at 10 Downing Street, Parliament Square, Indian High Commission, Wembley Stadium, Cambridge/Oxford University, the hotel where the PM is staying as well as the local Hindu temple he plans to visit, besides the airport.

A UK-based NGO, Aawaz Network, has created a Twitter page and Google Plus page in the name of Dal Khalsa-UK to mobilise people for anti-Modi protests. The demonstrators are likely to protest outside Wembley Stadium on Friday.


PM raises concerns over Sikh radicals’ UK presence - The Times of India
 
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