Pune Khalistan Case: NIA Arrest Absconding Khalistani Gurjeet Singh Nijjar
Pune, December 23, 2020: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) yesterday arrested absconding Khalistani terrorist Gurjeet Singh Nijjar, who was hiding in Cyprus (Europe), at New Delhi Airport.
The background of the case is that NIA had registered a case No. RC-01/2019/NIA/MUM dated 10.01.2019 against accused Harpal Singh under Section 3 and 25 of the Arms Act, 1959 read with sections 37 and 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951 and section 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
According to NIA, the investigation has revealed that the absconding accused Gurjeet Singh Nijjar was the main conspirator of this case. Accused Gurjeet Singh Nijjar, Harpal Singh and Moin Khan were active on Social Media platforms and hatched a criminal conspiracy to revive Sikh militancy for the ultimate aim of formation of a separate state of Khalistan.
“Investigation further revealed that as part of the conspiracy of separate ‘Khalistan State’ accused Gurjeet Singh Nijjar, accused Harpal Singh and accused Moin Khan used to post videos & images containing praises of militant Jagtar Singh Hawara (a convicted accused in the assassination of Beant Singh, Former Chief Minister of Punjab), images & videos of Operation Blue Star of 1984 and pro-Khalistani posts related to proscribed organisation Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) with sole intention to motivate like-minded Sikh youths and others to join the Khalistan “movement”.
The investigation has also revealed that Moin Khan was in Tihar Jail during 2013 to 2016 and during this period Moin Khan developed contact with Jagtar Singh Hawara, and shown his willingness to work for him and shared his contact number with him. Subsequently, as planned, accused Moin Khan sent a friend request to Facebook ID “Khalistani Jindabad Khalistan” from his Facebook account. By joining this Facebook account, Moin Khan came in contact with Harpal Singh and Gurjeet Singh Nijjar.
Accused Gurjeet Singh Nijjar motivated Moin Khan by discussing atrocities committed against the Muslims and Sikhs in India and convinced him to work for separate ‘Khalistan State’. In furtherance of conspiracy, accused Gurjeet Singh Nijjar directed Moin Khan to purchase a pistol and ammunition in 2018 and to carry out their nefarious designs.
On 23.05.2019, the NIA had filed the Charge Sheet in the NIA Special Court against wanted accused Gurjeet Singh Nijjar, accused Harpal Singh, Moin Khan and Sundar Lal Parashar. During investigation it was revealed that wanted accused Gurjeet Singh Nijjar, resident of village – Pandori Sukha Singh, Tehsil – Ajnala, District- Amritsar left India on 19.10.2017 for Cyprus.
Accordingly, a Look-Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him. On 22.12.2020, Wanted Accused Gurjeet Singh Nijjar was detained at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi and he was arrested by NIA at New Delhi. His transit custody shall be obtained and he shall be taken to Mumbai for further investigation”, NIA said.
