NIA Reveals Canada-Based Khalistan Operative’s Role in Shaurya Chakra Awardee’s Murder

Khalistan operative Punjab murder: On Wednesday, the National Investigation Agency told the Supreme Court that a Candian man who has a connection with the terrorist group Khalistan Liberation Force had planned to murder the Shaurya Chakra winner teacher Balwinder Singh Sandhu in Punjab in 2020.

Amid the ongoing tension between India and Canada over the death of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the NIA declared the statement in an affidavit.

On October 26, 2020, the Shaurya Chakra winner Balwinder Singh Sandhu was shot dead at his residence-cum-school in Bhikhiwind, District Tarn Taran, Punjab by two unknown persons.

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In an affidavit, the NIA said, "The arrested accused persons involved in the crime have revealed that they were instructed and tasked to commit the crime by accused Sukhmeet Pal Singh alias Sukh Bhikariwal, Sunny Toronto, a Khalistan Liberation Force operative, based in Canada and Lakhveer Singh alias Rode, who is a nephew of Jarnail Singh Bhindrawala and Chief of terrorist outfit, International Sikh Youth Federation and Khalistan Liberation Force."

The FIR was registered again by the NIA in the case on January 26, 2021, after the instruction from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

NIA added, "During investigations, it has emerged that the murder of Comrade Sandhu was conspired by Sunny Toronto, resident of Canada (operative of KLF) and Lakhveer Singh Rode (Self-styled chief of proscribed organisation 'KLF') in order to eliminate the anti-Khalistani entities in India. The leadership of the KLF believes that they can revive the moribund 'Khalistan' movement by targeting anti-Khalistani persons in India.”

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The agency said that Sandhu was targeted because he was awarded Shaurya Chakra on April 14, 1993, because of his bravery in fighting terrorism in Punjabi when the situation was worst.

On the day of the incident, the accused Harbhinder Singh dropped his co-accused, Inderjit Singh, and Sur Singh at Guru Harkishan Public School early morning. Then another accused Gurjit Singh alias Bha took Inderjit Singh on his bike.

As they reached the house-cum-school of Comrade Balwinder Singh, Inderjit Singh took the driving and Gurjit Singh fired several shots at Sandhu. After that, Gurjit Singh and Inderjit Singh ran away from the spot.

The NIA filed an affidavit in response to the accused, Harbhinder Singh's bail plea. However, on Tuesday, the apex court rejected the plea.

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