For first time, NIA books suspected Punjab militants

In view of subversive activities of  overseas Punjab radicals, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has booked the UK-based Dalbir Bains and Joga Singh of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for sending funds to Punjab.

This is for the first time that the NIA has taken cognizance of disruptive activities of Punjab militants settled abroad. With the pro-Khalistan activities of both the hardcore radicals being under NIA investigation, a new dimension has been added to the state police’s war against foreign-based militants.

The Punjab police, in its report pointed out that militant activities in the state were being fuelled by militants settled  abroad. This was testified recently with the arrest of PS Azad, a UK-based NRI in Jalandhar from whose bank accounts the police seized more than Rs one crore.

Among the dozen names forwarded to the NIA for action are that of Ranjit Singh Rana who is attached to a TV channel which has been dishing out anti-India propaganda and  Manjit Singh Bagga who runs a newspaper in the UK.

The foreign-based militants have been collecting huge money in the name of Khalistan and pumping it in Punjab for subversive activities, said an additional DGP.