Avtar Khanda held for attack on high commission in London dead

Khanda 38, had gone to the UK on student visa after getting admission in a private college.

Written by: Kamaldeep Singh Brar

4 min readAmritsarJun 15, 2023 10:50 AM IST

Pro-Khalistan activist Avtar Singh Khanda

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Avtar Khanda held for attack on high commission in London dead

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Booked by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for the attack on the Indian High Commission in London in March, Avtar Singh Khanda has passed away at a hospital in Birmingham, UK. He was arrested for pulling down the Indian flag at the embassy in London on March 19.

Khanda 38, had gone to the UK on student visa after getting admission in a private college.

Khanda, who was associated with Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), had assisted ‘Waris Punjab De’ head Amritpal Singh while he was on the run from the Punjab Police.

Khanda was admitted to the hospital on Monday. The exact cause of death is yet to be determined. Some reports suggest food poisoning as the cause, while others claim that he succumbed to blood cancer.

Avtar Singh Khanda, also known as Ranjodh Singh, had sought political asylum in the UK. His father, who was involved with Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), was killed by security forces in 1991.

Khanda’s name had been mentioned by the NIA for his alleged involvement in an attempt to vandalise the Indian High Commission in the capital city of England on March 19, a day after the crackdown on ‘Waris Punjab De’ (a pro-Khalistan outfit) began in Punjab.

Khanda was a well-known pro-Khalistan activist. His name had previously come up during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to England in 2015 for providing bomb-making training in an England gurdwara, an allegation he denied.

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It is believed that Khanda was in contact with Amritpal Singh during his time on the run from Punjab Police.
Earlier The Indian Express had reported that investigation agencies probing Amritpal Singh’s case had found that Khanda had been a “godfather” to the ‘Waris Punjab De’ leader.

Khanda, the agencies told The Indian Express, “groomed” Amritpal Singh before the latter reached Punjab. “Investigators said Khanda patronised and groomed Amritpal Singh before he reached India,” a source said.

The investigating agencies also analysed videos of Khanda in which he is emphasising that the “legacy that Deep Sidhu started has to be continued”.

Amritpal Singh is said to be the successor of Deep Sidhu as the leader of his outfit ‘Waris Punjab De’. The actor had died in a road accident in February 2022.

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The investigators also believed that Khanda and Amritpal Singh remained connected on social media platforms. However, it was not confirmed if both met each other in person.

Last month his mother Charanjit Kaur, a teacher, told the media that Khanda had gone to England on a study visa in 2011. Khanda had a diploma in computer science.

According to Charanjit Kaur, the 1988-born Khanda had completed three years of study in the UK, but he did not get the work permit. However, he later got a visa for two-and-a-half years. She said that before her marriage to Kulwant Singh in 1986, her husband was involved in a criminal case in which he was later acquitted. Charanjit Kaur alleged that Punjab Police had killed her husband in a fake encounter in March 1991. She also mentioned that she had not met Khanda since 2011. She had applied for a UK visa twice, but it was rejected due to her financial situation.

Sikh Council UK, Dal Khalsa, The Sikh Federation, and Khalsa Aid have demanded that the UK government must probe the death of Khanda.

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“This news of his untimely death comes as a tremendous shock and complete surprise to many, as he (Khanda) was in good shape during the ‘1984 remembrance rally’ at Trafalgar Square (London) on June 4. We join other Sikh organisations, including Khalsa Aid and the Sikh Federation, in emphasising the urgent need for a thorough police investigation into the circumstances surrounding Avtar Singh Khanda’s death,” a statement of Sikh Council UK read.

“It happened so suddenly, we are not able to believe it. We have requested the UK-based Sikh bodies to get to the truth by ensuring a probe by the British government into the death that happened in mysterious circumstances,” said Dal Khalsa leader Kanwar Pal Singh who met Khanda’s mother and sister at their Moga residence on Thursday.

Khalsa Aid International, a UK-based humanitarian aid agency, has also called for a full investigation and a coroner report into the death of Khanda.

“He was a healthy young man. His demise was sudden. We request an investigation into his death,” a statement of Khalsa Aid read.

Kamaldeep Singh Brar

Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More

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