NIA takes over probe in killing of Shaurya Chakra awardee Balwinder Sandhu

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 27

The anti-terror probe agency NIA on Wednesday said it has taken over investigations in the killing of Shaurya Chakra awardee Comrade Balwinder Singh Sandhu in Punjab’s Taran Taran district on October 16, 2020.

According to NIA officials, Sandhu was shot dead by two unidentified men in the early hours of that day at the residence-cum-school run by him in Bhikiwind, District Tarn Taran, Punjab.

The assailants after committing the murder had immediately escaped on a motorcycle, they said.

A case was registered by Punjab Police under various sections of IPC and Arms Act on the statement given by wife of the deceased Jagdish Kaur, they said.

“During the peak of terrorism in Punjab, Comrade Balwinder Singh and his family had fearlessly fought terrorists. For this fearless fight, Government of India, awarded him “Shaurya Chakra” in 1993. Besides Balwinder Singh Sandhu and his wife Jagdish Kaur, his elder brother Ranjit Singh and his wife Balraj Kaur had also received the Shaurya Chakra,” a senior NIA official said.

During the initial investigation by Punjab Police, it was revealed that the killing was executed under a conspiracy hatched by Pakistan based Khalistani Terrorist Lakvir Singh Rode and his handlers in Pakistani intelligence agency, ISI, the officials said, adding that the killing was executed through Sukhmeet Pal Singh alias Sukh Bhikariwal, resident of Bhikariwal village, Kalanaur, Gurdaspur, a gangster-turned-terrorist.

“Considering the gravity of the offence and its inter-state and international ramifications, the Ministry of Home Affairs directed NIA to take up the investigation of the case. In compliance of these directions, NIA has re-registered the case and has taken up the investigation,” the NIA said in an official statement.