Indian police, long recognized for their notorious methods of extracting confessions are laying claim to another ‘success.’ Manjit Singh alias Lal Singh, who was arrested for his alleged part in the crash of an Air India jet has supposedly revealed the names of people and organizations in foreign countries actively involved in the militant struggle in Punjab.
Given the record of the police including the hundreds of incidents of confession that are denied once the accused appears in court one must take the information with a grain of salt.
W.S.N. August 7 published an article that quoted a Canadian paper “The Province” on the arrest, “Indian police are turning the screws on Manjit Singh to discover more about the operations and alliance of the (ISYF) federation and other militant groups who operate out of Canada and Pakistan.” Later the paper quoted a ‘top Bombay Police man’ as saying “Singh’s confession is the result of virtually (days) of non stop questioning and it is continuing.”
On August 14 W.S.N. published the report that Manjit Singh chewed off his tongue to avoid questioning and that “Investigating agencies are eager to find links with Pakistan, the IS! (Pak intelligence agency) the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front and global arms dealers .”
From “The Times of India”
That same day, August 14, “The Times of India” reported, “The interrogation of militant Lal Singh alias Manjit Singh, arrested in Bombay last month, has considerably corroborated the role being played by several pro-Khalistan activists based in the US, UK, Canada, Hong Kong, Germany, apart from Pakistan.
The role ranges from collection of funds, their channelization through Pakistan, planning of wide range of militant actions, supply of weapons, and day-to-day communication/conferences between Pakistan, and the other foreign countries.
Not only confirmed was that most of these foreign based contacts were remitting large funds to the second panthic committee coordinators in Pakistan, but were also organizing anti-India demonstrations, protest marches and propaganda in the above-mentioned countries.
A piece of paper containing the contact names and telephone numbers of several foreign-based Sikh militants was reportedly recovered from him following his arrest on July 16. The most important contact was Satinderpal Singh Gill, a Canada-based key operative of the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), who also functioned as one of the main coordinators of the second panthic committee in Pakistan from 1986 to 1989, Before Lal Singh himself took over Gill had developed strong linkages with the Pakistani Jamaat-e-Islami (JEI).
In UK, Jaswant Singh, also an important member of the UK wing of the ISYF as well as a key coordinator of the second panthic committee, assisted India based militants by providing them with secure communications,
In Germany, Gurmit Singh, another member of the ISYF and an important contact of Daljit Singh Bitu was responsible for collecting funds in Europe and routing them to Pakistan. Another contact man Pal alias Sharma alias Dhariwal, a US citizen and an important linkman for the second panthic committee operative in India, Pakistan and the US engaged in routing messages. Some telephone numbers were also being used for communication between the Sikh militants, the Pakistani JEI and the Students for Islamic Movement in India (SIMI).
Other important contacts included US based Dr. Gurinder Singh Grewal, member of the World Sikh Organization (WSO).” Ended the Aug 14 article .
This is not ‘news’.
The people and organizations named are openly pro-Khalistan. ‘The attempt to tie respected organizations and individuals to arms smuggling smacks of Indian govt. interference and attempted influence against citizens in Pakistan, Canada and the U.S. It behooves the public to look at The facts, Who is responsible for The Golden Temple attack? Who has placed a half million song armed security force in the state of The Punjab? Who postponed and cancelled elections until in frustration the population boycotted the sham event this year? Why did thousands of local panches and sarpanches resign their offices in protest? Who is responsible for the water, power and wheat price disputes? These are not problems created by foreigners. How can ex-patriot Sikhs be blamed for supporting their families and friends left in Punjab?
Blaming foreigners, outsiders and even the militants for the problems in the Punjab ignores the real issues and the larger question of why these individuals would risk their fortunes, their reputations and even their lives for their belief in a sovereign Khalistan.
Further Finger Pointing finger “The Times of India”
Continuing to point fingers at foreign agitators “The Times of India’ on August 15 said, “Substantial evidence is now available that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has been striving to add a sinister dimension to Sikh terrorism by creating a nexus between the Sikh, Kashmiri, and Muslim fundamentalists with a long-term plan of destabilizing this country,
It has now been revealed that the conspiracy dates back to 1991 when the ISI reportedly put some senior Pakistan-based Sikh militants in touch with Qazi Hussain, Aneer of the Pakistani Jamaat-e Islami (JEI), and its publicity secretary Amir-ul-Azim, to evolve a common theory that the attainment of Khalistan would have to synchronize with the balkanization of India as Sikhs on their own would not be able to liberate themselves from the “oppressive Hindu regime.”
It is now confirmed that an interface of the leaders of Sikh militants, viz, Daljit Singh Bitu and Lal Singh, the Kashmiri militants and Afghan Mujahideen was arranged at the Pakistani JEI headquarters in Lahore where the able hostility towards India, had offered an all-out support to the cause of the Sikh and Kashmiri militants,
The conspiracy of the nexus was first confirmed with disclosures made by Major Sohai Ahmed and three subordinate officers of the Pakistani military intelligence who were intercepted by the BST on the Punjab border last March. They had disclosed that a Pakistani resident agent identified as Mohd Sharif alias Manzoor along with his collaborator, Sheikh Javed Yusuf alias Shaugat (originally from Srinagar) was operating an espionage-cum-terrorist network from Aligarh.
It was later confirmed that the October 1991 and met Lal Singh at Lahore. In November 1991, Mohd Sharif had returned to Aligarh along with Lal Singh to establish their base as directed by the ISI. Using safe accommodation at Aligarh, Mohd Sharif, Javed Youssef, Sajed (another Pakistani agent), ‘Videshi alias Nadeem, Deepak alias Salem’ and Lal Singh (last three KLF militants) confabulated frequently and remained in close contact with their associates in Pakistan, UK, USA and Canada.
In December last year, Amir-ul Azim (publicity secretary of the JEI) visited India and attended a conference of the Students for Islamic Movement in India (SIMI) after which he visited Aligarh reportedly to further advise the group. One Ghulam Mohd Bangroo, a Srinagar-based activist of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) visited Aligarh in January and March this year to tie up arrangements for the supply of weapons via the Valley. In a follow-up action the police had been able to seize an AK 56 rifle and 22 live cartridges from the possession of Javed Yousuf at Aligarh on April 17.
Further evidence of the nexus surfaced from the interrogation of Lal Singh. It is now learnt that between April and June this year, Lal Singh, in association with some senior KLF and SIMI activists, acquired two safe Ahmedabad city for under operations and smuggling weapons from Pakistan through the Jaisalmer border (Rajasthan) for onward trans-shipment to the various militant outfits affiliated to the second Panthic Committee in Punjab. ; The first safe accommodation was purchased in Usman Society, Sarkhej Road, in Ahmedabad city, under a Muslim cover of 1qbalSalim, while the second accommodation was hired in Ahmedabad under a Hindu cover of Manish Aggarwal. They had begun storing arms smuggled in with the help of ISI-sponsored Muslim smugglers.” Ended the Aug. 15 article.
Article extracted from this publication >> Aug 28, 1992
