PUNJAB COPS MOUNT PRESSURE ON SUSPECTED SIKH MILITANTS IN MALAYSIA

By P. Vijian

NEW DELHI, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- Suspected Sikh militants, believed to be in
hiding in Malaysia, are allegedly involved in firearms smuggling and dispatching
militants to carry out violent attacks in Punjab.

This is based on incriminating evidence -- linking at least four militants
said to have set up base in Malaysia -- which is in possession of the Punjab
police.

Punjab director-general of police P. S. Gill has initiated moves through the
Indian Home Ministry to step up a probe into the alleged Khalistan Liberation
Front (KLF) terror operators suspected to be lodged in Malaysia.

"Punjab police have shared evidences with the Government of India on
whatever information we have, following various interrogations (of a suspected
Sikh militant) from Malaysia.

"We have compiled a dossier which will be sent to the home ministry...now,
it is up to the Government of India to take up the matter," a Chandigarh-based
senior intelligence officer familiar with the ongoing investigation, told
Bernama Wednesday.

The dossier, containing details of the four militants, their modus operandi
and funding mechanism -- will be submitted to the Delhi-based ministry later
today, requesting the Indian Government to pursue action through diplomatic
channels with the Malaysian police.

Compounding the sensitive exposure, just days ahead of the mega October
Commonwealth Games, India's Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Maken
warned parliament on Tuesday that several overseas-based Sikh militant outfits
were attempting to revive militancy in Punjab.

"Available reports suggest that Sikh militant groups, especially those based
abroad, are continuing their efforts to revive militancy in Punjab.

"A close watch is maintained on the activities of various groups known to
have been engaged in trying to foment terrorist activities in Punjab," he told
Indian legislators.

Indian intelligence agencies are now piecing inputs that could likely unfurl
an international terror network -- linking Sikh militants operating from
Germany, United Kingdom and Malaysia -- involved in plotting terror strikes in
India, ahead of the international games.

Patiala police in Punjab told Bernama last month that at least four KLF
members were suspected to be operating from Seremban, after one of the militants
was detained in the state, upon his return from Kuala Lumpur (last month).

Young suspected Sikh militants were alleged to be travelling to Malaysia to
touch base with one of their key leaders, named Harminder Singh @ Mintu, to
orchestrate terror activities on Indian soil.

The group was believed to be preying on illegal workers largely from Punjab,
torecruit them for their clandestine operations, according to police sources.

The once-lethal KLF had carried out a violent secessionist war in Punjab,
since the 1980s, to create a separate homeland for the majority Sikh community
in the state. Punjab police vanquished them in 1993.

But, the broken-up organisation later regrouped under several splinter
groups,like the Khalistan Zindabad Force and the Khalistan Commando Force (KCF)
-- overtly backed by some South Asia-based extremist movements to continue their
'Khalistan' (homeland) struggle -- despite eroding support in the state
itself.

The Indian Home Ministry has proscribed over 30 organisations as terror
outfits under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention Act, 1967), which includes the
Babbar Khlsa International, KCF and International Sikh Youth Federation -- all
emanating from Punjab.

In Punjab alone, there are about a dozen militant outfits.

At least, 1,300 people were reported killed in terror attacks across India
from January to August 2010, and half of the fatalities were civilians -- making
India a vulnerable state to homegrown and international terrorism.
-- BERNAMA


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