Amidst escalating tensions between India, Canada, and the US over the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar and the attempted murder of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, both prominent pro-Khalistan figures, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has revealed a chilling connection to another targeted killing.
In a recent affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, the NIA stated that operatives of the banned Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) based in the US and Canada masterminded the murder of Balwinder Singh Sandhu, a Shaurya Chakra awardee teacher, in Punjab's Tarn Taran in 2020.
The NIA's investigation, which began in 2021, has identified Canada-based KLF operative Sunny Toronto and Pakistan-sheltered terrorist Lakhbir Singh Rode, nephew of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, as the key conspirators behind Sandhu's assassination. Both individuals have been charged in the NIA chargesheet and are currently absconding.
According to the NIA, Toronto and Rode, the self-proclaimed chief of KLF, sought to reignite the Khalistan movement by eliminating individuals and organizations opposed to their separatist ideology. They believed that targeting specific communities and those who opposed Bhindranwale's ideology would polarize society in Punjab and fuel their cause.
Balwinder Singh Sandhu, a recipient of the Shaurya Chakra for his bravery in combating terrorism in Punjab during the 1990s, became a target due to his strong stance against extremism. The NIA detailed how Toronto and Rode recruited radicalized youth in Punjab to carry out the assassination.
The NIA affidavit also names two other absconding accused: Gurjot Kaur, a US-based KLF operative, and Gaganpreet Singh Kaila, a KLF member residing in Surrey, British Columbia. This revelation underscores the international network of Khalistani extremists and their ongoing efforts to destabilize India.
On Tuesday, a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and Arvind Kumar rejected the bail pleas of two co-accused in the case, Navpreet Singh and Harbinder Singh, after hearing arguments from additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati on behalf of the NIA.
This development comes at a time when international attention is focused on the killing of Nijjar and the attempted murder of Pannun. While those cases have garnered significant media coverage, the 2020 murder of Balwinder Singh Sandhu, a decorated teacher and symbol of resilience against terrorism, has largely remained out of the public eye. The NIA's recent revelations bring to light the ongoing threat posed by Khalistani extremism and the need for continued vigilance.
