Top Khalistan leader held in UP

In a covert operation, the Punjab Police arrested Rattandeep Singh, the chief of Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan, on the outskirts of Gorakhpur in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

The operation was jointly conducted by the Punjab Police with a Central agency and the state special operations cell (SSOC) of the Punjab Police.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Rattandeep’s first target was a prominent Hindu leader. The police have already provided protection to the target.

“This fresh attempt by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to revive militancy in Punjab has come a year after three targeted plans had been pre-empted by the state police last year,” said Manmohan Singh, Assistant Inspector General (AIG), special operations cell.

A 19-member Punjab Police team, headed by Inspectors Harvinderpal Singh and Balbir Singh of the SSOC, Amritsar, had been camping in Gorakhpur since September 15 on the basis of a tip off.

At the time of arrest, Rattandeep was carrying a Pakistani Passport and a Pakistani identity card in the name of Hussain Sheikh Zahid.