Nabha jailbreak escapee Harminder Singh Mintoo cleared in Halwara explosives case

It was on January 24, 2010, that the Ludhiana police claimed to have recovered an abandoned Maruti car outside the Halwara air force station.

Halwara explosives case, Nabha jailbreak, Harminder Singh Mintoo, Improvised Explosives Device, Khalistan Liberation Force chief, indian express news

Khalistani militant Harminder Singh Mintoo (File Photo)

HARMINDER SINGH Mintoo, one of the six prisoners who escaped during the Nabha jailbreak and was recaptured from Delhi, has been acquitted in the Halwara Air Force station explosives case by a Ludhiana court on Thursday. The court of additional sessions judge Amarinder Singh Shergill acquitted Mintoo, Khalistan Liberation Force chief, citing lack of evidence as four others booked in the case – Bakshish Singh, Pargat Singh, Jasbir Singh and Harjant Singh – were also acquitted in May 2013. It was on January 24, 2010, that the Ludhiana police claimed to have recovered an abandoned Maruti car outside the Halwara air force station.

An Improvised Explosives Device (IED) was allegedly fitted in the vehicle by Mintoo and his accomplices. On January 25, 2010, FIR was registered against five persons, including Mintoo, under sections 4, 5 of the Explosive Substance Act, Section 120-B (conspiracy) of IPC and 15, 16 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention (UAP) Act at Sudhar police station by Ludhiana rural police. Mintoo was arrested from IGI Airport of Delhi in 2014 while returning from Thailand where he was allegedly running an entire network of KLF. Speaking to The Indian Express, Mintoo’s advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur said, “Bakshish Singh, one of the four persons booked in the case, had claimed in his statement that Mintoo helped them plant the explosives.

However, there was no evidence and Bakshish Singh himself was acquitted in 2013. The prosecution failed to prove his hand in the conspiracy.” Meanwhile, Mintoo, currently lodged in Patiala Central Jail, was not present in court on Thursday. His advocate claimed he was suffering from heart disease and high blood pressure. “He has been admitted to hospital inside Patiala jail. So, police informed the court that he is unwell and cannot attend hearing personally. He had undergone a heart bypass surgery few years back and now he is patient of high blood pressure. So, verdict was pronounced without his physical appearance,” said Manjhpur.

On April 21, Punjab and Haryana High Court granted bail to Mintoo in another case of alleged recovery of AK-47 weapon from him which was registered in 2009 at Bhogpur police station of Jalandhar under Arms Act and UAP Act. Mintoo, a native of Dalli village in Jalandhar, is currently booked in at least 12 such cases of alleged terrorist activities. After the Nabha jailbreak in November 2016, he was re-arrested from Nizamuddin railway station in Delhi as he was planning to flee to Germany via Goa.

He had chopped off his long beard to conceal identity. His family now lives in Goa. Police also claimed his links with Islamic terrorist groups in Pakistan from where he received training and visited frequently to meet jihadi terrorists. He also travelled to Europe using fake Malaysian passport to collect funds for KLF and radicalise Sikh youths.

Divya Goyal

Divya Goyal is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Ludhiana (Punjab). She is widely recognized for her human-interest storytelling and in-depth investigative reporting on social and political issues in the region. Professional Profile Experience: With over 13 years in journalism, she joined The Indian Express in 2012. She previously worked with Hindustan Times. Education: A gold medalist in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi. Core Beats: She covers a diverse range of subjects, including gender issues, education, the Sikh diaspora, heritage, and the legacy of the Partition. She has also reported on minority communities in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Awards and Recognition Divya has earned significant acclaim for her sensitivity toward gender and social disparities: Laadli Media Award (2020): For her investigative report "Punjab: The Invisible Drug Addicts," which exposed the gender disparity in treating women addicts. Laadli Media Award (2023): For a ground report on the struggles of two girls who had to ride a boat to reach their school in a border village of Punjab. Signature Style Divya is known for "humanizing the news." Rather than just reporting on policy, she often focuses on the individuals affected by it—such as students dealing with exam stress, farmers struggling with diversification, or families impacted by crime. Her work often bridges the gap between West (Pakistan) and East (India) Punjab, exploring shared heritage and common struggles. X (Twitter): @DivyaGoyal_ ... Read More

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