KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A SPECIAL court on Wednesday sentenced two men, arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for alleged links to a radical group attempting to revive Sikh militancy for a separate Khalistan, to five years in jail after they pleaded guilty.
Harpal Singh and Gurjeet Singh were convicted for criminal conspiracy and under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Harpal, who was arrested on December 2, 2018, and Gurjeet on December 22, 2020, had made separate pleas before the court stating that they want to “voluntarily and wilfully” plead guilty.
The court granted them time to consider their decision. The two told the court that they had decided to go ahead with their decision of pleading guilty after they were explained the consequences of their pleas. Following this, the court proceeded to frame the charges against them and they pleaded guilty.
In its charge sheet, the NIA had alleged Harpal was active on social media and sought the creation of a separate Khalistan and had links with a radical group called Babbar Khalsa International. Gurjeet was alleged to have motivated co-accused Moin Khan and directed him to purchase a pistol to carry out illegal activities.
Harpal and Gurjeet allegedly posted videos containing praises of militant Jagtar Singh Hawara–who was convicted for the assassination of former Punjab CM Beant Singh–as well as posts on Operation Blue Star, 1984.