Chandigarh, July 16
The Chandigarh Police today claimed that the two “human bombs” arrested early this morning had plans to target, among others, Lt-Gen R.S. Dayal. The retired army commander was responsible for the execution of “Operation Bluestar” in 1984.
The cops claimed that the two alleged human bombs had even carried out a reconnaissance of Gen Dayal’s residence in Panchkula for the purpose of assassinating him, but could not succeed. The number of “human bombs” arrested by the Chandigarh and the Punjab Police has now increased to five.
Talking to the media after being paraded before it by the Chandigarh Police, the alleged human bombs said Babbar Khalsa International’s alleged chief Jagtar Singh Hawara had not only offered them money, but had promised to settle their families in the US and Canada.
Giving details of the arrest, senior officers said Kamaljit Singh of Ludhiana district and Paramjit Singh of Samrala were nabbed early this morning on the basis of secret information from near the Kisan Bhavan in Sector 35 here. The recovered arms and ammunition, included 450 gm of RDX, a bag containing “human bomb kits”, a foreign make pistol with a few magazines and a detonator.
A police spokesman said both suspects were allegedly acting on the instructions issued by Pakistan-based senior BKI leader Wadhawa Singh and his Germany-based son-in-law Satnam Singh.
However, an alleged accomplice, identified by the police as Gurvinder Singh alias Vicky of Morinda managed to slip. Elaborating upon his role, the officers said Hawara had contacted the two accused through Vicky.
They added that Paramjit and Kamaljit were assigned code names Sukha and Manna so as to conceal their real identities. During the planning stage, Hawara met them at several places, including gurdwaras Chahar Sahib and Reru Sahib. They were assured financial assistance and proper care of the family.
As Kamaljit was under debt of Rs 70,000, the accused agreed. Strong religious motivation was also used. The duo were told that they would be sacrificing their lives as a part of the struggle for “Khalistan” and against the atrocities committed by the security forces. After the completion of their indoctrination, “ardas” was offered at a gurdwara as a symbolic gesture of joining.
They added that preliminary investigation carried out by the Chandigarh Police revealed their involvement in a bid to assassinate Ashutosh Maharaj on January 9. The duo, along with Hawara and another accused, drove to the dera situated in Noor Mahal. A reconnaissance was also conducted, but the plan was given up as the stage was too high and the security too tight.
The duo also planned the kidnapping of a Ludhiana-based industrialist. A reconnaissance was conducted, but the plan could not be executed due to operational difficulties.
Describing the case against the two as foolproof, the officers said the disclosure made by the duo had been corroborated by Hawara. Regarding his interrogation, they said he revealed an ambitious game plan of assassinating both religious leaders Piara Singh Bhaniarawala and Ashutosh Maharaj on January 9.
For the purpose of hatching the conspiracy, two separate modules were used. One of them was used to plant RDX IED near the entrance of Bhaniarawala’s dera.
