On June 7, a Special NIA Court in Mumbai sentenced two men – Harpal Singh and Gurjeet Singh Nijjar – were sentenced to five years imprisonment after pleading guilty to trying to revive the Khalistan movement. Notably, Gurjeet Singh was the main conspirator, the NIA said. The two men were convicted under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Maharashtra Police Act.
The convicted duo pled guilty before the Special Judge AM Patil, seeking a minimum sentence claiming that they are sole earning members of their families. The case against Singh and Nijjar was registered on December 2, 2018, by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad; however, it was later handed over to the NIA.
The NIA submitted that Singh and Nijjar, along with two other accused conspired to revive the Khalistani movement and Sikh militancy with an aim to create a separate Khalistan state. The accused shared videos and messages praising Khalistani extremists Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and Jagtar Singh Hawara, videos related to Operation Blue Star and banned terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International to lure Sikh youth into joining the Khalistani movement.
The trial against the two other accused – retired Delhi ACP Sundar Lal Parashar and Moin Khan – will continue. On June 7, the Special Public Prosecutor Sunil Gonsalves submitted draft charges to the court, which were then explained to the accused. The two accused – Harpal Singh and Gurjeet Singh Nijjar – were given time to consult their counsels, after which the two pled guilty hoping for a reduced sentence.
The court said, “After understanding contents of charge, voluntarily and willingly, the accused pleaded guilty to the charge. Both the accused are fully aware of consequences of advancing plead guilt.”
Khalistan Spreading Across India
On June 5, Pro-Khalistan posters of Khalistani extremist Jarnail Bhindranwale were placed on the walls of Gurudwara in East Delhi’s Geeta Colony’s 7 block.
This comes ahead of the 39th anniversary of Operation Blue Star. The poster outside the Gurudwara reads, “Never Forget 1984”. The poster has the picture of Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale, Bhai Amrik Singh and Gen. Shubeg Singh.
The poster is by Sukhvinder Singh Babbar, Member Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee, and Amarjeet Singh, Member of- Advisory Committee, Delhi Minority Commission.
Notably, Khalistan had become a thing of the past, but after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) took charge in both Delhi and Punjab. Khalistan supporters are trying to make inroads in both states, throwing the law and order situation out of control.
Earlier, in January 2023, Pro-Khalistan posters and spray paint graffiti surfaced in many West Delhi localities, sending the cops into a tizzy. The Special Cell of Delhi Police has filed an FIR and begun investigation. Delhi Police Special Cell had also arrested two men in the case and said the duo allegedly worked with a banned Khalistani organisation which was “plotting to carry out terror attacks in the city.”
Notably, the former AAP leader and poet Kumar Vishwas has accused AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal of wanting “to become the Prime Minister of Independent Khalistan.”
Earlier, on May 28, pro-Khalistan posters of Jarnail Bhindranwale were also placed outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The poster outside the Golden Temple reads, “Tributes to the martyrs of Sri Darbar Sahib of June 1984″. The operation was carried out by Bhartiya Fauz.”
June 1984 is known for Operation Blue Star, in which the Indian Armed Forces held an operation between 1 and 10 June 1984 to remove the Khalistani extremists Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his followers from the buildings of the Golden Temple. It was launched by the then-prime minister of India, Indira Gandhi.
The 1984 Operation Blue Star was the biggest internal security mission ever undertaken by the Indian Army. During Operation Blue Star, Bhindranwale and Khalistan supporters took over the Akal Takht complex in Amritsar’s Golden Temple.
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