Expressing serious concern over reports that the Khalistan terror camp in Canada is plotting attacks in Punjab, the All-India Anti-Terrorist Front (AIATF) on Monday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to take strict actions against the people plotting terrorist activities through Pakistan’s ISI funding.
AIATF chairman Maninderjeet Singh Bitta told that more attacks would take place in the region if the ruling dispensation at the Centre doesn’t do anything at the earliest.
“Narendra Modi’s government is very strong and their fight against terrorism is quite clear. But I would like to caution the government that they need to take this seriously. Hence, I directly ask the government to take strict actions against people, who are plotting terrorist activities against Punjab through Pakistan’s ISI funding,” Bitta said.
The AIATF chairman’s comment comes in wake of reports that pro-Khalistan terrorists are running a camp near Mission city in British Columbia to carry out strikes in Punjab.
Agencies have learnt that Hardeep Nijjar of Canada, who is heading the Khalistan Terror Force (KTF), has also recruited some Sikh youths in order to carry out the terrorist attacks.
The Union foreign ministry has submitted an intelligence report about the said activity by the Punjab government.
Referring to the Pathankot attack, the report stated that Nijjar was to put in place weapons from Pakistan for the attack, but failed to do so due to high security at the border in wake of the Pathankot attack.
Nijjar is a terrorist wanted in connection with the 2007 Shingaar cinema blast in Ludhiana in which six people were killed. He has been imparting arms training to the group in Canada after the former KTF chief Jagtar Tara was arrested in Thailand and deported to India last year.
After Mandeep Singh, a KTF member, was arrested two weeks ago, the Punjab intelligence agencies were alerted of Nijjar’s intention to organise terrorist attacks. He was here to conduct recce of cities such as Patiala and Ludhiana among others. It was feared that ISI of Pakistan had imparted arms training to both Nijjar and Mandeep.
