2016–17 Targeted killings in Punjab, India

During the year 2016–17, multiple attacks on political activists, religious leaders and extremists in the northern Indian state of Punjab were reportedly perpetrated by individuals who were allegedly affiliated with a banned political-militant group Khalistan Liberation Force. Those supposedly culpable for the attacks were arrested. The Pakistani agency ISI was allegedly held responsible by India for financing and aiding the militant acts to foment religious disturbances in the state.

Attacks
  • 18 January 2016 - Two motorcycle-borne persons wearing monkey caps fired gun shots at new Kidwai Nagar Park in Ludhiana city. The place was to host a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh shakha (assembly) later in the day. No one was injured in the firing as the venue was vacant at the time of attack.[1][2][3]
  • 18 January 2016 - Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Naresh Kumar shot at and injured by masked motorcycle-borne men at Kidwai Nagar's Shaheedi Park in Ludhiana city.[4]
  • 3 February 2016 - Amit Arora, Shiv Sena leader, was attacked by two motorcycle-borne persons while he was sitting in his car in Ludhiana.[5]
  • 16 February 2016 - Shiv Sena leader Deepak Jalandhari shot at and injured by motorcycle-borne attackers in Jalandhar city.[6]
  • 24 April 2016 - Durga Prasad Gupta shot dead by two motorcycle-borne assassins in Khanna city. He was the President of Mazdoor Sena, labour wing of Shiv Sena Punjab.[7][8] Dashmesh Regiment claims responsibility for the killing.[9]
  • 6 August 2016 - RSS leader Brigadier (retd) Jagdish Gagneja was shot at by motorcycle-borne persons in Chandigarh. He was admitted to hospital and died on Sep 22.[10][11][12] Dashmesh Regiment, sent emails to media claiming responsibility for the killings.[13][9]
  • 14 January 2017 - Amit Sharma, religious preacher at Hindu Takht and political activist of Indian National Congress killed in Ludhiana city by two motorcycle-borne assassins.[14][15]
  • 25 February 2017 - Dera Sacha Sauda followers Satpal Kumar and his son Ramesh Kumar killed at a naam charcha ghar (prayer hall) in Jagera village near Malaudh by two shooters on a motorcycle.[16][17]
  • 15 July 2017 - Sultan Masih, a pastor at Temple of God church, in Ludhiana city was shot dead by motorcycle-borne assassins who fired multiple shots killing him on the spot.[18][19]
  • 17 October 2017 - RSS and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ravinder Gosai shot dead in Ludhiana by two motorcycle-borne assassins.[20]
  • 30 October 2017 - Vipan Sharma, leader of Hindu Sangharsh Sena, was shot dead in Amritsar city by two masked men.[21] One of the shooter, Saraj Singh Sandhu, was arrested by police on 6 March 2018.[22]

Investigations

On 4 November 2017, Punjab Police arrested Jagtar Singh Johal alias Jaggi, from Rama Mandi town of Jalandhar and accused him of the attacks. Jaggi is a non-resident Indian residing in Dumbarton and ran a website named ‘Never Forget 1984’. He is accused of radicalising people and providing weapons to carry out the attacks..[23]

On 12 November 2017, Hardeep Singh alias Harman alias Shera accused of being one of the shooter's in the assassinations was arrested by police after a massive manhunt.[24]

Gursharanbir Singh, a British national, described as the mastermind of the attacks has been declared a proclaimed offender.[25][26] He is one of the accused in the murder of Rulda Singh, president of the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, in 2009.[27]

In lieu of the activities by SFJ, a red corner notice was also issued by INTERPOL in October 2019,[28] against Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, and other Khalistani terrorists.[29]

References
  1. "Shots fired at RSS Shakha ground in Ludhiana, none hurt". Tribuneindia.com. 2016-01-18. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  2. Press Trust Of India (2018-05-16). "Shots fired at RSS Shakha in Ludhiana; none hurt". News18. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  3. "Shots fired at RSS Shakha in Ludhiana; none hurt - The Economic Times". Economictimes.indiatimes.com. 2016-01-18. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  4. "Unidentified men fire shots at RSS shakha in Ludhiana | punjab | top". Hindustan Times. 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  5. "NIA team recreates attack on Sena leader in city". Tribuneindia.com. 2018-02-16. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  6. "Third Shiv Sena leader shot at in Jalandhar | Chandigarh News - Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 2016-02-17. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  7. "Shiv Sena leader shot dead by two motorcycle-borne youth | Chandigarh News - Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 2016-04-24. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  8. "Shiv Sena leader shot dead in Khanna | punjab | top". Hindustan Times. 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  9. "Little-known Sikh group claims to have killed RSS leader Gagneja". hindustantimes.com. September 29, 2016.
  10. "Punjab: Senior RSS leader Brig (retd) Jagdish Gagneja shot at, critical". Dnaindia.com. 2016-08-06. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  11. India PTI Sep 22, 2016 14:15:19 IST (2016-09-22). "RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja passes away, senior BJP members pay last respects". Firstpost. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  12. "Jagdish Gagneja: A low-profile, yet powerful RSS leader in Punjab | punjab | top". Hindustan Times. 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  13. "Little-known Sikh outfit claims to have killed senior RSS leader Gagneja". Deccan Chronicle. September 29, 2016.
  14. "Hindu organisation leader shot dead in Ludhiana". The Indian Express. 2017-01-15. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  15. "Hindu organisation leader shot dead in Ludhiana | Ludhiana News - Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 2017-01-14. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  16. "Video | 2 Dera Sacha Sauda followers shot dead in Khanna village, cops suspect Sikh radicals | punjab | top". Hindustan Times. 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  17. "Dera followers' murder: After death of father, grandpa, this 8-year-old stares at uncertain future | punjab | ludhiana". Hindustan Times. 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  18. "Pastor shot dead outside Ludhiana church". Tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  19. "Ludhiana pastor killing: Punjab CM gives widow Rs 5 lakh, police job to son". The Indian Express. 2017-07-16. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  20. "RSS leader Ravinder Gosai shot dead in Ludhiana | punjab | top". Hindustan Times. 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  21. "Punjab: Hindu outfit leader shot in Amritsar, fifth murder in 2 years | punjab | top". Hindustan Times. 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  22. "Killer of Amritsar outfit leader in net". Tribuneindia.com. 2018-03-07. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  23. "Targeted killings in Punjab: UK resident Johal was on police radar for a year | punjab | top". Hindustan Times. 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  24. "Bushy brows, lion tattoo on chest did Shera in". Tribuneindia.com. 2017-11-13. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  25. Nanjappa, Vicky (2017-12-10). "How a British national is orchestrating the murder of Hindus in Punjab - Oneindia News". Oneindia.com. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  26. "NIA files chargesheet in pastor, RSS leader's killings". Tribuneindia.com. 2018-05-15. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  27. "ISI's dark secret REVEALED: 'Kill RSS leaders in Punjab to instigate Hindu-Sikh riots'". Timesnownews.com. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  28. "India for Interpol notice against 3 Khalistan ultras". Tribuneindia. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  29. "India Today". www.zengatv.com. Retrieved 2019-11-28.
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