New Delhi, March 17
Even as no terrorist-related incident was reported in 2005, inputs continue to be received about plans of the ISI and Pakistan-based Sikh militant leaders to create violence and revive militancy in Punjab, according to Union Home Ministry’s Annual Report 2005-06.
“The Central Government and the state government are keeping a close watch on the situation and remain committed to ensuring that militancy in Punjab is not revived by anti-national elements,” the report said.
The government is pursuing its efforts for the deportation of Pakistan-based pro-Khalistan militants to India, it added.
The pro-Khalistan outfits, namely, Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), Khalistan Commando Force (P) and Khalistan Zindabad Force, continue to be banned under the Prevention of Unlawful Activities Act, 1967 (as amended in the year 2004).
The BJI and ISYF have also been banned under the UK Anti-Terrorism Act, 2000. They have been included in the list of terrorist organisations by the European Union also.
In Punjab, during 2005, five terrorists belonging to the Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), Khalistan Commando Force (P) and International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) were arrested during this period.
Five kg of Cyclotrimethy-Lenetrinitramine (RDX) with detonators was also recovered from one of them. Jagtar Singh Hawara, a BKI activist, and his accomplices were apprehended by the Delhi Police in connection with the twin bomb blasts in two cinema halls that took place on May 22, 2005. His 69 associates were also arrested by the Punjab Police and 1,450 kg of RDX, two AK-47/56 rifles, five hand grenades, four pistols/revolvers, 14 detonators and 243 live cartridges of different bores were recovered from them.
