AMRITSAR, INDIA, Aug 21, Reuter: Indian Police said on Sunday a man killed in a clash a month ago had been identified as KLF Chief Avtar Singh Brahma.
Punjab Police Chief told reporters a Canadian Sikh arrested on Sunday morning had identified a picture of the dead man as Avtar Singh Brahma, Head of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF).
“With this killing, the top six people of the KLF have been killed,” said the Police Chief.
The KLF is one of the leading groups fighting in the Northern State of Punjab for an Independent Sikh Homeland they call Khalistan (Land of the pure). More than 1,700 people have been killed in the campaign this year. The Police Chief said the Punjab Police had heard Brahma was dead but were unable to confirm it because they have no picture of him.
Then, he said, Canadian Bhupinder Singh was arrested on suspicion of being a KLF Member, confirmed Brahma was dead and picked him out of photographs of unidentified militants.
The man identified as Brahma was claimed to be killed on July 21 in a clash with police in the Northwestern State of Rajasthan.
He said Brahma had crossed into Rajasthan from Pakistan earlier in July and had been in hiding there. Details of the clash in which the alleged militant was killed were not given.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 26, 1988
