Dera Sahib (Lahore), November 20
The whereabouts of India’s five “most wanted” Sikh militants are still shrouded in mystery, even as leaders of radical outfits, who thronged the gurdwaras in Pakistan from foreign countries claimed that they (the most wanted) are “in high spirits” wherever they are these days. However, they are tight-lipped about the destination of the “most wanted” persons.

It is pertinent to mention that names of Gajinder Singh, chairman, Dal Khalsa International (DKI), Parmjit Singh Panjwar, chief of the Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), Wadhawa Singh Babbar, Chief of the Babbar Khalsa International, Ranjit Singh Neeta, president Khalistan Zindabad Force, and Bhai Lakhvir Singh Rode, chief of the International Sikh Youth Federation, figured among 20 persons who were declared “most wanted” by India after the attack on Parliament on December 13 last year. Before the declaration by the India government, they used to mark their presence in Sikh shrines during the visit of jathas. However, none of the “most wanted” militant was spotted in any of the Sikh shrines here.

Pakistan had already aligned itself with the war against international terrorism, initiated by the USA after the September 11 attacks.

Mr Manmohan Singh, a UK-based Dal Khalsa leader while talking to TNS, feigned ignorance about the whereabouts of five Sikh militant leaders. He, however, claimed that they were not in Pakistan.

However, second rung leaders of the above outfits were present in Sikh shrines during the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev at Gurdwara Nankana Sahib. Radical Sikhs from foreign countries, especially from the United Kingdom and the USA delivered inflammatory speeches and reiterated their resolve to create a separate Sikh state while speaking from the stage at Nankana Sahib yesterday.

Some Sikh leaders from the USA, UK and Germany distributed literature, advocating the demand of a separate state for Sikhs.

They included Mr Gurmeet Singh Aulakh of the Khalistan Council (USA), Mr Manmohan Singh, leader of the Dal Khalsa (UK) and Mr Satnam Singh Babbar, leader of Babbar Khalsa International (Germany).