NIA team to visit UK to probe Babbar Khalsa

The primary purpose of the visit will be to collect evidence and examine suspects alleged to be helping BKI from the UK. While sending the MLAT,the agency supplied a list of suspected operatives of BKI and Khalistan Zindabad Force that it suspects are there.

According to the NIA,the BKI received more than Rs 100 crore in the past four years to fund its cadres. The agency told the Home Ministry that a field visit was required to tie up loose ends in the investigation. The probe also revealed that Sikh militants are trying to establish bases at various locations. According to investigations,more than two dozen websites and nearly 50 groups on social networking sites are being used to recruit people to revive the movement for an independent Sikh state.

Sources said several UK-based NGOs have allegedly been collecting funds in the name of helping widows of those killed during Operation Bluestar and victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Investigation revealed that this money,transferred via hawala,banks or human couriers,is used to fund terror activities.

The probe also revealed that a joint committee is in place to coordinate the activities of major terrorist organisations in which Gurdial Singh Lalli of the ISYF,Resham Singh of the BKI and Harmeet Singh of the Komagata Maru Dal of Khalistan are prominent leaders.

The ISI is also reportedly keen on forging coordination between Khalistani terrorists,terrorists operating in J&K and some fundamentalist groups. Jagtar Singh Tara,who famously escaped from Burail Jail in 2004,is favoured by the ISI to revive the Khalistan movement, explained an NIA

official.