2016–17 targeted killings in Punjab, India

During the years of 2016 and 2017, multiple attacks on political activists and mostly Hindu religious leaders in the northern Indian state of Punjab were perpetrated by individuals who were allegedly affiliated with the Sikh militant group Khalistan Liberation Force which is a designated terrorist group by India.[1] Those culpable for the attacks were also 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.

Targeted killings in Punjab
Part of Terrorist incidents in Punjab
LocationPunjab, India
Date18 January 2016 – 30 October 2017
Target2 RSS leaders
3 Shiv Sena leaders
1 Hindu Sangharsh Sena leader
1 Christian pastor
1 Namdhari leader
2 Dera Sacha Sauda members
1 Sri Hindu Takht leader
Attack type
Assassination
Deaths1 RSS leader
2 Shiv Sena leaders
1 Hindu Sangharsh Sena leader
1 Christian Pastor killed
2 Dera Sacha Sauda followers killed
1 Namdhari leader killed
1 Sri Hindu Takhr leader
PerpetratorsKhalistan Liberation Force
DefenderPunjab Police
Part of a series on
Violence against Hindus
in independent India
Issues
Incidents

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.[2][3][4]
  • 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.[5]
  • 3 February 2016 - Amit Arora, Shiv Sena leader, was attacked by two motorcycle-borne persons while he was sitting in his car in Ludhiana.[6]
  • April 3 2016 - Chand Kaur was shot dead by two unidentified men on motorcycles near Ludhiana. She was the wife of former Namdhari leader Satguru Jagjit Singh. (This was the only attack not done by KLF).[7][8]
  • 23 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.[9][10] Dashmesh Regiment claims responsibility for the killing.[11] According to the NIA the killing was done by the Khalistan Liberation Force like the other killings.[12]
  • 6 August 2016 - Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh state Vice President Brigadier (retd) Jagdish Gagneja was shot at by motorcycle-borne persons in Chandigarh. He was admitted to hospital and died on Sep 22.[13][14][15] Dashmesh Regiment, sent emails to media claiming responsibility for the killings.[16][11]
  • 14 January 2017 - Amit Sharma, religious preacher and president of Hindu Takht and political activist of Indian National Congress killed in Ludhiana city by two motorcycle-borne assassins.[17][18][19]
  • 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.[20][21] Satpal was also a Shiv Sena leader.[22]
  • 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.[23][24]
  • 17 October 2017 - RSS and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ravinder Gosai shot dead in Ludhiana by two motorcycle-borne assassins. He was the RSS regional leader of Ludhiana.[25][26]
  • 30 October 2017 - Vipan Sharma, leader of Hindu Sangharsh Sena, was shot dead in Amritsar city by two masked men.[27] One of the shooter, Saraj Singh Sandhu, was arrested by police on 6 March 2018. (This attack was not done by KLF).[28]

Accused

Some of the key accused in the attacks are:

Khalistan Liberation Force leader Harminder Singh Nihang alias Mintoo was named involved in the killings by the National Investigation Agency. He had been in jail since 2014 and later died in jail of a heart attack on April 18, 2018.[29][30]

Khalistan Liberation Force future leader Harmeet Singh alias Happy PhD was the mastermind behind the killings. He was wanted by Indian authorities and Interpol who issued a Red Corner notice against Harmeet. He was later murder in Pakistan in 2020.[31][32]

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 allegedly ran a website named 'Never Forget 1984'. He is accused of radicalising people and providing weapons to carry out the attacks.[33]

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.[34] He was accused of being involved in 6 killings and 2 attempted killings. In his first 2 attacks he missed his shot. After he trained and became "perfect" in shooting. After each kill he would flee the country.[35]

Ramandeep Singh alias Bagga alias Canadian was accused of being the second shooter in the killings.[36]

Gursharanbir Singh, a British national, described as the mastermind of the attacks has been declared a proclaimed offender.[37][38] He is one of the accused in the murder of Rulda Singh, president of the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, in 2009.[39] The Crown Prosecution Service in the UK has stated that the evidence presented by the Indian authorities is "not sufficient to make out a case to answer".[40]

See also

References
  1. "Govt bans Khalistan Liberation Force". The Economic Times. 27 December 2018. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  2. "Shots fired at RSS Shakha ground in Ludhiana, none hurt". Tribuneindia.com. 18 January 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  3. Press Trust Of India (16 May 2018). "Shots fired at RSS Shakha in Ludhiana; none hurt". News18. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  4. "Shots fired at RSS Shakha in Ludhiana; none hurt - The Economic Times". The Economic Times. Economictimes.indiatimes.com. 18 January 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  5. "Unidentified men fire shots at RSS shakha in Ludhiana | punjab | top". Hindustan Times. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  6. "NIA team recreates attack on Sena leader in city". Tribuneindia.com. 16 February 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  7. "Targeted killings in Punjab: Probe says Rs 40 lakh given to shooters through NRI route". Hindustan Times. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  8. "Khalistan Liberation Force suspected to be behind Amritsar attack". India Today. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  9. "Shiv Sena leader shot dead by two motorcycle-borne youth | Chandigarh News - Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 24 April 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  10. "Shiv Sena leader shot dead in Khanna | punjab | top". Hindustan Times. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  11. "Little-known Sikh group claims to have killed RSS leader Gagneja". hindustantimes.com. 29 September 2016.
  12. "Khalistan Liberation Force behind killings of 2 Shiv Sena leaders in Punjab". Hindustan Times. 20 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  13. "Punjab: Senior RSS leader Brig (retd) Jagdish Gagneja shot at, critical". Dnaindia.com. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  14. India PTI Sep 22, 2016 14:15:19 IST (22 September 2016). "RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja passes away, senior BJP members pay last respects". Firstpost. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  15. "Jagdish Gagneja: A low-profile, yet powerful RSS leader in Punjab | punjab | top". Hindustan Times. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  16. "Little-known Sikh outfit claims to have killed senior RSS leader Gagneja". Deccan Chronicle. 29 September 2016.
  17. "Hindu organisation leader shot dead in Ludhiana". The Indian Express. 15 January 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  18. "Hindu organisation leader shot dead in Ludhiana | Ludhiana News - Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 14 January 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  19. "NIA files chargesheet against three accused in Amit Sharma killing case". zeenews.india.com. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  20. "Video | 2 Dera Sacha Sauda followers shot dead in Khanna village, cops suspect Sikh radicals | punjab | top". Hindustan Times. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  21. "Dera followers' murder: After death of father, grandpa, this 8-year-old stares at uncertain future | punjab | ludhiana". Hindustan Times. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  22. "Khalistan Liberation Force behind killings of 2 Shiv Sena leaders in Punjab". Hindustan Times. 20 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  23. "Pastor shot dead outside Ludhiana church". Tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  24. "Ludhiana pastor killing: Punjab CM gives widow Rs 5 lakh, police job to son". The Indian Express. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  25. "RSS leader Ravinder Gosai shot dead in Ludhiana | punjab | top". Hindustan Times. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  26. "RSS Leader Shot Dead in Punjab While Returning From 'Shakha'". NDTV.com. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  27. "Punjab: Hindu outfit leader shot in Amritsar, fifth murder in 2 years | punjab | top". Hindustan Times. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  28. "Killer of Amritsar outfit leader in net". Tribuneindia.com. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  29. "Targeted killings in Punjab: Hardeep met Mintoo in Italy three years ago, refused to join KLF, says probe team". The Indian Express. 11 November 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  30. "Sikh separatist militant dies in jail, was blamed for attack on Ram Rahim". Hindustan Times. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  31. "Pro-Khalistan leader's murder in Pak: Harmeet Singh killed by lover's relatives". India Today. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  32. "Top Khalistani leader 'Happy PhD' killed near Lahore: Officials". Hindustan Times. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  33. "Targeted killings in Punjab: UK resident Johal was on police radar for a year | punjab | top". Hindustan Times. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  34. "Bushy brows, lion tattoo on chest did Shera in". Tribuneindia.com. 13 November 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  35. Service, Tribune News. "Shera involved in 7 killings: Cops". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  36. Service, Tribune News. "15 chargesheeted in Gosain murder case". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  37. Nanjappa, Vicky (10 December 2017). "How a British national is orchestrating the murder of Hindus in Punjab - Oneindia News". Oneindia.com. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  38. "NIA files chargesheet in pastor, RSS leader's killings". Tribuneindia.com. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  39. "ISI's dark secret REVEALED: 'Kill RSS leaders in Punjab to instigate Hindu-Sikh riots'". Timesnownews.com. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  40. Service, Tribune News. "UK court discharges 3 British-Sikhs arrested on suspicion of murder in India". Tribuneindia News Service.
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