Nanded Murder Case: Punjab Police Arrest Another BKI Operative At IGI Airport

Chandigarh: Punjab police on Saturday claimed to have arrested another operative, identified as Sachindeep Singh alias Sachin of Amritsar’s Ajnala area, of the banned terrorist outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), for his involvement in Nanded murder case.

Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, Gaurav Yadav said that the arrest has been made by a team of state police at IGI Airport, New Delhi.

The development came in less than two weeks after Punjab police arrested two operatives - Jagdish Singh alias Jagga and his accomplice Shubhdeep Singh alias Shubh - of the BKI module in connection with the Nanded murder case and recovered two .32 bore pistols along with five cartridges from their possession.

DGP Yadav said that preliminary investigation has revealed that accused Sachindeep played a crucial role in BKI’s terror network, providing safe shelters, logistical support, and financial assistance to operatives working under the command of Pak-based terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda and USA-based BKI operative Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passian. Further investigation is on and more arrests are likely in this case, he added.

Police said that upon learning that his name had surfaced during the investigation, accused Sachindeep fled to Thailand in an attempt to escape capture. However, Punjab police issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against him, which led to his detention at Delhi international airport upon his return to India.

It may be recalled that the Nanded incident, which occurred near Gurdwara Gate No 6 outside a Sikh colony on February 10, this year, targeted Gurmeet Singh, a local resident out on parole. Gurmeet, previously accused in the 2016 murder of Rinda’s brother, sustained injuries but survived.

However, his accomplice, Ravindra Rathod, succumbed to critical injuries after the attack. After carrying out the attack, accused Jagga returned to Punjab, where Shubhdeep facilitated his hideout and provided financial support.