Militants abroad keep terror pot boiling in Punjab

Punjab militants settled abroad, have been keeping the pot boiling in the state. According to the state police, almost entire radical activities in the state were being either funded or guided by militants living in safe havens aboard.

“More than Punjab, it is countries like the UK, Canada, Germany and the US, from where the radicals have been running their secessionist campaign and that has become a tall order for the state agencies to deal with”, said an additional director general.

After the Lt Gen (retd) Brar’s incident in London, Punjab has sought assistance of the Centre to put a check on the activities of militants abroad.

Besides the material support, the foreign-based militants have been running the Khalistan campaign through the internet as well.

As an instance, senior officials pointed out the Khalistan  propaganda unleashed by a television channel abroad and the social media connections that kept recording the movements of Lt Gen Brar in London.

Also, the collection of about $1.5 million in two days after a Sikh youth died in a clash in Gurdaspur recently during the protests held to demand clemency for BS Rajoana, facing gallows in the Beant Singh assassination case.

Senior officials said hardcore militants like Daljit Singh Bittu and Kulbir Singh Barapind who were arrested recently, had been under pressure from their mentors abroad to show results in Punjab. The Punjab police claims both Bittu and Barapind had been distributing money to militant families in Punjab.