Two Sikh terror suspects nabbed in Germany

BERLIN - Two Indians alleged to belong to Sikh terrorist organisation Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) have been arrested, German federal prosecutors said in Karlsruhe Thursday.

The men, named only as 35-year-old Sukhpreet S and 41-year-old Jagtar S M, both Indian nationals, were detained Tuesday and remanded in custody the next day by a judge.

They are under investigation for membership in a foreign terrorist organization and for breaches of weapons laws, the prosecutors said.

The KZF is a violent group which seeks to create an independent state out of areas of India where the Sikh religion is in the majority. “Khalistan” is the name it gives to the state it proposes to set up.

The prosecutors said KZF actively tried to smuggle explosives, small arms and forged cash into the Indian state of Punjab, with Europe-based members acquiring these resources and fund-raising for the group.

In addition, KZF had attempted to topple moderate Sikh leaders at temples in Europe to expand their control over Sikhs abroad.

The men were detained near Frankfurt and near the western city of Dusseldorf.

Sukhpreet allegedly bought a semi-automatic weapon for the KZF last year and Jagtar allegedly obtained another this year. He had paid 350 euros for it along with a supply of ammunition, a statement said.