Khalistan Commando Force (KCF)
was formed with the support of Panthic Committee and Damdami Taksal in August
1986 under the leadership of Manbir Singh Chaheru. Between 1983-86 it conducted
a number of targeted attacks, weapons snatching and bank robberies. KCF had a
three-layered hierarchical structure with members of Panthic committee forming
the first tier and second levels of leadership. The third layer of KCF
primarily consisted of cadres from All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF).
KCF suffered severe setback in
May 1988 during Operation Black Thunder, after the killing of its leader ‘general’
Labh Singh. After his death in 1988, Kanwaljit Singh Sultanwind became the groups
leade, unitl his death in 1989.
In the aftermath KCF fractured
into four factions which were led by Wassan Singh Zaffarwal, Paramjit Singh
Panjwar, Gurjant Singh Rajasthani and Rachpal Singh Fauzi. Presently the only
surviving and active faction of KCF is the faction led by Paramjit Singh
Panjwar, an ex- smuggler. Currently KCF is identified as KCF-Panjwar. At
present the capability of the group is limited and overseas support base is
considerably narrow.
The objective of one of the
most violent terrorist group KCF was to consolidate all the secessionist
Khalistani militant groups and to attain its goal of forming a ‘Sikh homeland’.
KCF reportedly has presence in
Canada, UK and Pakistan. It also receives patronage from sympathisers in
western Europe and US. KCF leader
Paramjith Singh Panwar is a based in Pakistan. During the active phase of
Khalistani terrorism, KCF was active in Punjab, Ganga-Nagar (Rajasthan), Delhi,
Chandigarh, Haryana and parts of Uttar Pradesh. Although KCF activity in Punjab
were reported in Gurudaspur, Kapurthala, Amritsar and other Districts, Mand
area (riverine area of Ferozepur, Amritsar, Kapurthala and Jalandhar Districts)
was the hub of its activity.
Patrons of KCF, who are based
in West Europe and USA and still pursuing the secessionist aims is a source of
funding for the group. KCF reportedly receives donations from Sikh Cultural
Society Gurdwara, Richomond Hill, New York. KCF had managed to collect USD
100,000 from Gurudwaras of USA and Canada to fund the assassination of Dera
Sach Sauda leader Guru Ram Rahim. Bank robberies was also a chief source of
revenue for the militants. In September and October 1986, KCF looted INR 1.8
Million from RBI Talwara and Punjab National Bank in Ludhiana.
Panjwar, currently based in
Pakistan and an ex- smuggler is currently active in narco-smuggling. He is a major
link between Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and smugglers. Drug smuggling
is another source of income for KCF. It has been reported that Panjwar has been
in touch with atleast six smuggling groups involved in drug and FICN smuggling.
Pakistan Army in July 2003 had raised a unit ’11 Sikh’, which recruited and
trained Punjabi speaking Muslim youths. While training was given in
Muzaffarabad in PoK, Paramjit Panjwar was reported to have regularly visited
the training centre.
KCF is also working with
groups such as Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF)
and International Sikh Youth Front (ISYF). It also has linkages with other
Islamist groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
It has been estimated that there are 53 foreign based KCF militants. Top
leaders of KCF such as Jagjit Singh alias Billa alias Saini is based
in US. According to a 1995 report, KCF had a cadre strength of 65. Current
cadre strength is unknown.
KCF was armed by Pakistan with
sophisticated weaponry including mortars, AK 47 rifles, grenades and stenguns.
KCF was primarily targeted anti-Khalistani Sikhs, Hindus and troopers of
Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). KCF had a centralized leadership
structure, with militants assigned with designation of ‘lieutenant general’ was
assigned charge of a specific area of operation. He had an ‘area commander’
under him, who would take charge of operations when ‘lieutenant general’ was
neutralized.
The money from bank robberies
was used to purchase weaponry such as AK-47 rifles. Wassan Singh was the lead
man for purchasing weapons for the group.
KCF was founded by Manbir
Singh Chaheru, alias ‘general’ Hari Singh who was the first ‘chief’ of
KCF. Tarsem Singh Kohar was the ‘deputy chief’. Manbir Singh Chaheru was
arrested in August 1986 and Sukhdev Singh alias Sukha Sipahi took over
as the ‘chief’, who was also neutralised. Other to leaders such as Balbir Singh
Fauji, Harjinder Singh Jinda, Satnam Singh Bawa and Harjinder Singh Kali were
later arrested. Currently, top leaders of KCF, Jagjit Singh alias Billa alias
Saini is based in US.
Date: 23-Mar-1991
Casualties: 11 Killed
Details: KCF triggered twin explosions in which 11 people are killed and 65 wounded in Punjab
Date: 22-Mar-1991
Casualties: 27 civilians killed
Details: 27 civilians were massacred by KCF militants numbering 13 to 14 at Sialba Majri in Ropar in Mohali, Punjab.
Date: 09-Nov-1989
Casualties: 19 students killed
Details: 19 students were shot dead by KCF militants at Thapar Engineering college in Patiala, Punjab.