Khalistan Tiger Force
Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) is a militant outfit of the Khalistan movement. In February 2023, it was designated as a terrorist organization by the Indian government.[1]
In May 2023, India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested two wanted persons at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, who allegedly were close aides of KTF's Arshdeep Singh, an “individual designated terrorist” based in Canada.[2] In June 2023, NIA arrested Gagandeep Singh who allegedly is a close-aide of KTF operatives.[3] Gagandeep Singh was also arrested previously in July 2021.[4]
In June 2023, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the alleged chief of Khalistan Tiger Force, was shot dead outside a Sikh Temple by unidentified assailants in Surrey, Canada.[5][6] In September 2023, the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said they had "credible allegations" linking the murder to India. Further, Canada expelled a top Indian diplomat, who was allegedly an Indian Intelligence agent and possibly linked to the murder. In retaliation, India expelled a senior Canadian diplomat.[7]
Origin and leaders[edit]
Khalistan Tiger Force was formed by Jagtar Singh Tara, a former Babbar Khalsa International, another military organisation.[8] KTF is allegedly backed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence.[9] Tara is currently serving a life sentence in India for his involvement in the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh in 1995. Tara had escaped from jail in 2004, but was rearrested in Thailand in 2015 and brought to India.[10]
Hardeep Singh Nijjar[edit]
According to the Indian government, Hardeep Singh Nijjar was the leader of Khalistan Tiger Force, and he was actively involved in the training and financing of militants for the organization.[5] Nijjar allegedly visited Pakistan in 2013-14 to meet with Jagtar Singh Tara.[10] Nijjar was also friendly with Dal Khalsa leader Gajinder Singh, one of the five hijackers of an Indian Airlines Flight 423 in 1981, who is allegedly in Pakistan.[10] Nijjar's name was also on the list of wanted people that former Punjab Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh handed over to Prime Minister Trudeau during the latter’s visit to India in 2018.[11] Nijjar, 45, was shot dead outside a Sikh temple on 18 June in Surrey, a Vancouver suburb with a large Sikh population, three years after India had designated him as a terrorist.[12]
Activities[edit]
In November 2011, KTF claimed ownership of abandoned explosives recovered from a car outside Ambala railway station, purported for an attempt to assassinate an Indian politician in retribution for his involvement in the 1984 Sikh massacre.[13]
On 12 April 2023, four Indian Army soldiers were killed in Bathinda; KTF claimed responsibility, although the police denied their involvement.[14]
Ban[edit]
In February 2023, the Indian Government banned KTF on the grounds of it being a militant outfit that aims at reviving terrorism in Punjab and challenges the territorial integrity, unity, national security and sovereignty of India and promotes various acts of terrorism, including targeted killings in Punjab.[15]
References[edit]
- ^ "Designation of Organisations/individuals as 'Terrorist Organization'/ 'Terrorist' under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA)". pib.gov.in. 17 February 2023.
- ^ "NIA arrests two close aides of Khalistan Tiger Force's 'designated terrorist' Arshdeep Singh Dhalla". The Hindu. 19 May 2023.
- ^ "NIA Arrests Close Aide Of Khalistan Tiger Force's 'Designated Terrorist' Arsh Dhalla". ABP Live. 8 June 2023.
- ^ "NIA arrests arms trafficker from Meerut in Khalistani terrorists extortion case". Hindustan Times. 6 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Nijjar shot dead in Canada". Economic Times. 19 June 2023.
- ^ "Wanted Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar gunned down in Canadian city Surrey". The Hindu. 19 June 2023.
- ^ "Why expulsion of Indian diplomat from Canada is departure from norm". Hindustan Times. September 19, 2023.
- ^ "Structure for terror outfit Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF)". Khalistan Extremism Monitor. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
- ^ "Punjab police busts two ISI-backed terror modules operating from Canada". The Indian Express. 2022-10-04. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
- ^ a b c "Who was Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Khalistani separatist that Canada's PM Trudeau says India may have got killed". The Indian Express. 2023-09-19. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
- ^ "Amarinder's 'terror' list to Trudeau: Details of 5 most wanted operatives". The Times of India. 2018-02-24. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
- ^ "What's behind India-Canada tensions over killing of Sikh separatist leader?". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
- ^ "Our men left 5kg Rdx at Ambala: Khalistan Tiger Force". The Times of India. 2011-11-01. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
- ^ "Pro-Khalistan outfits' Bathinda attack claims 'diversionary', say cops". The Times of India. 2023-04-16. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
- ^ "Designation of Organisations/individuals as 'Terrorist Organization'/ 'Terrorist' under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA)". www.pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
