Attack on RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja: 3 Khalistan Liberation Force handlers quizzed

A case under various sections which relate to offences like being member of an unlawful association (section 10), dealing with funds of an unlawful association (section 11) and unlawful activities (section 13) of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967 (Amendment 2012) was registered on the night of August 6 against as many as seven persons, including Jassa, Deepa and Kuldeep.

The others who have been named in the FIR are Harjap Singh, orginally a resident of Bheelowal in Hoshiarpur district, currently living in United States and associated with US-based Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), a pro-Khalistani organisation, Avtar Singh, a resident of Chabbewal Shekhan, currently living in Italy, Bikramjit Singh, a resident of Enekot Kalan in Batala police district, and Balwinder Singh, a resident of Ramu Biara in Hoshiarpur district.

Incidentally, as per information with The Indian Express, the case against them was registered at Chabbewal police station (FIR number 93) within less than two hours after Gagneja was shot at in Jalandhar.

After the arrest of three of the accused next day, The Indian Express has learnt, some more sections with red ink pen were added in the FIR which included raising funds for terrorist act (section 17), being member of terrorist organisation (section 38) and supporting a terrorist organisation (section 39) of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act were added in the FIR.

The FIR registered at 9:53 pm after “reliable information” received by a police party at 9 pm said that Harjap Singh and Avtar Singh were “active members of banned (terrorist organisation) Khalistan Liberation Force”.

The FIR says the KLF activists were “misleading the innocent youth of Punjab” to “revive terrorism” in Punjab and were “encouraging” them by sending funds through Western Union and other sources from abroad to get the weapons in large quantities and were conspiring against India.

The FIR adds that the information was “true, accurate and reliable” and that youth can carry out a big strike.

Police are learnt to have recovered at least two pistols, T-shirts having prints relating to Sikh Referendum, a campaign being spearheaded by SFJ and some literature, which primarily relates to Sikh history.

Except for Harjap and Avtar, who were declared proclaimed offenders in cases of murder and terrorism, respectively, the other accused named in the case have no criminal record in the past.

The arrested three are in the age group of 20 to 22 years and are involved in small works to earn their livings. Jassa is teaching the art of ‘Gatka’ (Sikh martial Art) in local village Gurudwar at Handowal and had done 10+2. The other two are matriculate.

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Inspector General of Police Lok Nath Angra said “the three were having frequent contact with Japi and Avtar and both the NRIs were sending them money and weapons through different routes”.

“They were entrusted with the task to allure the local youth and exploit the religious sentiments of them to prepare more handlers like them,” said IG, adding that they were “planning to target prominent people of Punjab”.

Asked if police suspect they had any role in Gagneja attack, IG said that they were “being interrogated for that too because they were in touch with several radical thinking youth, who were susceptible to get allured”.

“So far nothing against them has been found that can suggest their hand in attack on RSS leader,” Investigating Officer in case against them Chabbewal Deputy Superintendent of Police Raminder Singh Kahlon told The Indian Express.

The accused are on remand with police till August 11.