Wanted Khalistani terrorist arrested in Amritsar

AMRITSAR - One of the most wanted terrorists in Punjab, Bakshish Singh alias Baba of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), has been arrested in this Punjab city, police sources said Sunday.

“Baba was arrested yesterday (Saturday) from Amritsar on the basis of a secret tip-off,” a Punjab police source told IANS.

According to the source, police are raiding various other places in Punjab to arrest other accomplices of Baba, who was believed to be planning major strikes in Punjab and Haryana in the coming months. “We will try to unearth his links and plans during interrogation,” the source said.

Baba was involved in more than 25 cases involving a bomb attack on the convoy of Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim at Karnal in Haryana in February 2008. The sect chief had escaped unhurt but nine people were injured.

Punjab police had announced a cash reward of Rs.500,000 on Baba’s head while Haryana police had announced a reward of Rs.100,000.

According to police sources, the Haryana police have also sent a special team to Amritsar to quiz Baba.

This year alone, police have arrested at least seven terrorists belonging to different banned groups. Besides, they have twice recovered explosives near Indian Air Force bases in Punjab.