Canada-based man linked to Khalistan terror outfit behind killing of Shaurya Chakra awardee in Punjab, NIA tells SC

Shaurya Chakra Awardee Comrade Balwinder Singh Sandhu was shot dead at his residence-cum-school in Bhikhiwind, District Tarn Taran, Punjab by two unidentified persons on October 16, 2020. The NIA revelation comes amid India-Canada tensions.

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency on Wendesday claimed before the Supreme Court that a Canada-based man linked to the terrorist organisation, Khalistan Liberation Force had hatched a conspiracy to murder the Shaurya Chakra awardee teacher Balwinder Singh Sandhu in Punjab in 2020.

The disclosure was made in an affidavit amid the ongoing tension between India and Canada over killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Shaurya Chakra Awardee Comrade Balwinder Singh Sandhu was shot dead at his residence-cum-school in Bhikhiwind, District Tarn Taran, Punjab by two unidentified persons on October 16, 2020.

"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 NIA said in an affidavit.

The NIA had re-registered the FIR in the case on January 26, 2021 on a notification by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

"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," it said.

The agency claimed Sandhu became one of the targets of the conspiracy as he had been awarded Shaurya Chakra on April 14, 1993, for his brave struggle against terrorist elements during the peak of terrorism in Punjab.

On the day of the incident, as per the plan, the petitioner/accused Harbhinder Singh dropped co-accused Inderjit Singh at Guru Harkishan Public School, Sur Singh on the bike, early in the morning.

Thereafter, another accused/main shooter, Gurjit Singh alias Bha came on his bike and took Inderjit Singh with him. Then Inderjit Singh started driving the bike and after reaching at the house-cum-school of Comrade Balwinder Singh, Gurjit Singh entered and opened fire. He fired several shots there. After that, Gurjit Singh and Inderjit Singh ran away from the spot.

The NIA affidavit was filed in response to a bail plea by accused Harbhinder Singh. The apex court had on Tuesday dismissed the plea.