London, October 8
Charges have been framed against two persons for stabbing Lt Gen Kuldeep Singh Brar during a visit to London. Brar, 78, was attacked in Old Quebec Street, near Oxford Street, last week.

Counter-terrorism officers investigating the attack arrested 12 persons following searches at addresses in London and the Midlands. Two men have been charged with wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm on the retired officer. Barjinder Singh Sangha, 33, of Wolverhampton, and Mandeep Singh Sandhu, 34 of Great Barr, Birmingham, are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court. Sangha is also charged with common assault on Brar's wife Meena. Brar suffered a wound on his neck and cheek but his wife was not injured in the attack.

Brar, who had led 'Operation Blue Star' in 1984 to flush out pro-Khalistan militants from the Golden Temple, was on a private visit here when he was attacked by four men, suspected to be Khalistan sympathisers, while he was returning to his hotel with his wife. The 10 other people held as part of the investigation had been bailed earlier. — Agencies