DNA SPECIAL - Pro-Khalistan outfits, ISI hiring gangsters for Punjab terror: Intelligence Bureau

The Intelligence Bureau (IB) has sent a report to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) stating that local criminals in Punjab are being hired by Pro-Khalistan groups to carry out terror activities in Punjab and revive the militancy. The IB report also claims that the Pro-Khalistan groups are getting logistic and financial support from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

The agency has alleged that the local gangsters are in constant touch with Pro-Khalistan groups, which is spread across western countries.

The IB has stated that local police officers, district magistrates and senior IAS and IPS officers should be alerted about the covert activities of Pro-Khalistani groups. The agency has also asked the MHA to direct officers to make a list of local criminals and watch them. The report stated: "Intelligence input has revealed that Pro-Khalsa group from the UK has started a campaign through social media, urging people of Punjab to join the Khalistan struggle.

They are hiring the local gangsters to neutralise people and leaders opposing the Khalistan struggle."

These groups are allegedly sending money to the criminals via hawala to carry out terror activities. The report states that the education and job for the family members of local criminals in European countries are also being sponsored by the Pro-Khalistani group. The IB has learnt that around 100 people related to these local criminals moved out of India to European countries.

As per the report, the Pro-Khalistani group living in New York had organised a conference last month where various members from India, Pakistan, Germany, UK and USA participated. During the conference, letters of two Babbar Khalsa International (aka Babbar Khalsa, a banned terrorist organisation in India) terrorists was read out.

"Evidence gathered clearly states that the ISI is the key preceptor of extremism in Punjab. ISI is using foreign soil for its anti-India agenda. Extremism groups from the UK, USA, Canada and Germany are working in tandem with the ISI," the report said.

ALERT TO MHA FOLLOWS TERROR ACTS

Last week, NIA charge-sheeted 15 from KLF for RSS man Ravinder Gosain’s murder in Punjab

Officials said the killing was a trans-national conspiracy hatched by KLF’s senior leadership