Babbar Khalsa

Infobox militant organization
name = Babbar Khalsa
leader = Wadhawa Singh Babbar
foundation = 1979
area = Pakistan and India
ideology = Khalistan
allies =
enemies = India
status = Babbar Khalsa is listed as a terrorist organization by the United Kingdom, [ [http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/security/terrorism-and-the-law/terrorism-act/proscribed-groups?version=1 Home Office - Proscribed terrorist groups in the UK] ] the EU, [ [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2005/l_144/l_14420050608en00540058.pdf EU list of terrorist groups] ] Canada, [ [http://www.psepc.gc.ca/prg/ns/le/cle-en.asp#bkbki13 Canadian listing of terrorist groups] ] India, and the United States.

Babbar Khalsa ( _pa. ਬੱਬਰ ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ, IPA2|bəbːəɾ kʰɑlsɑ) is a among group of Sikh Jathebandis calling for the formation of an independent Sikh state. The envisioned state, called Khalistan (meaning "Land of the Pure") by its proponents, would comprise Indian territory in the Punjab, and Punjabi-speaking areas of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. Like other organisations, Babbar Khalsa was most active in the late 1970s and 1980s; the end of militancy in 1993 led to a dramatic fall in violence, although infrequent acts of violence are still attributed to it. It was, and continues to be, sponsored largely by expatriate Sikhs, particularly in the United Kingdom and Canada.

Babbar Khalsa is listed as a terrorist organisation by the United Kingdom, [ [http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/security/terrorism-and-the-law/terrorism-act/proscribed-groups?version=1 Home Office - Proscribed terrorist groups in the UK] ] the EU, [ [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2005/l_144/l_14420050608en00540058.pdf EU list of terrorist groups] ] Canada, [ [http://www.psepc.gc.ca/prg/ns/le/cle-en.asp#bkbki13 Canadian listing of terrorist groups] ] India, and the United States. The United States has designated the Babbar Khalsa responsible for the bombing of Air India Flight 182; [ [http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/20123.pdf US designation of Babbar Khalsa responsibility for Flight 182] ] . Babbar Khalsa militant Inderjit Singh Reyat, was convicted in the Air India bombing [ [http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=9bfcf081-3b29-45ea-8bb3-ad82c051bcbb Air India bombmaker sent to holding centre ] ]

Origins of the Babbar Khalsa

The Babbar Khalsa "name" traces its origin to the Babbar Akali Movement of 1920, which agitated against British colonial rule in India. The conception of Babbar Khalsa in its modern day form is widely believed to have been brought about as a result of the Nirankari-Akhand Kirtani Jatha clash on Vaisakhi in 1978, where thirteen Sikhs were innocently killed. [ [http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/publication/nightsoffalsehood/falsehood4.htm Punjab: The Knights of Falsehoodndash Psalms of Terror] ] . The founders of the organisation were Sukhdev Singh Babbar, Mehal Singh Babbar and Amarjit Kaur (wife of Fauja Singh, the leader of the procession of Sikhs killed in the unexpected assault by Nirankaris). The initial aim of this panthic organisation was to avenge the death of Sikhs. On 24 April 1980, Gurbachan Singh, the "Baba" (head) of the Nirankaris, was killed; responsibility for this killing was claimed by Babbar Khalsa.

Talwinder Singh Parmar was put in charge of the international wing of the Babbar Khalsa in 1981, with Sukhdev Singh Babbar remaining the overall chief or "Jathedar". Wadhawa Singh Babbar and Mehal Singh Babbar were assigned as vice-Jathedars.

Decline

The crackdown on Sikh militant organisations by the Indian Government in the early 1990s, followed by the criminal and government infiltration of the Khalistan movement and the various militant organisations respectively, greatly weakened the Babbar Khalsa, ultimately leading to the death of Sukhdev Singh Babbar (9 August 1992) and Talwinder Singh Parmar (15 October 1992). Parmar's death remained controversial, and today he is accepted to have been shot dead by Indian police during custody; the Tehelka investigation found that Indian security forces had killed him after interrogation and were ordered to destroy his confession statements as well as destroy evidence of an Indian agent's involvement in the bombing of Air India Flight 182 [ [http://www.tehelka.com/story_main33.asp?filename=Ne040807operation_silence.asp Tehelka:: Free. Fair. Fearless ] ] , Canada's CBC network also reported that Parmar had been in police custody for some time prior to his death [ [http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/airindia/key_characters.html#parmar CBC News In Depth: Air India - Bombing of Air India Flight 182 ] ] .

The death of Sukhdev Singh Babbar, described by India Today as “the most prominent leader since 1978” who had “an aura of invincibility”, severely weakened Babbar Khalsa.

Contrary to belief in certain quarters, Sukhdev Singh Babbar and the late Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale collobarated with each other during the Indian Army's operation to flush Sikh militants that had taken over the Golden Temple complex. Fact|date=September 2007

Recent events

Despite setbacks incurred in the early Nineties, Babbar Khalsa is still active under ground, although not to the extent it once was. The organisation at present is predominantly active in the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Belgium, Norway, Switzerland and Pakistan. Current leadership resides with Wadhawa Singh Babbar, with Mehal Singh Babbar as deputy Jathedar.

On 31 August 1995, Dilawar Singh Babbar assassinated Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh in a suicide bomb attack at the civil secretariat in Chandigarh. [ [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040123/asp/nation/story_2817255.asp The Telegraph, Calcutta, India, "Beant trial trio in tunnel getaway"] 22 January 2004] Dilawar claimed allegiance to the Babbar Khalsa and four other members of the Babbar Khalsa were named responsible for the killing.

On 31 May 2005 two alleged members of the Babbar Khalsa, Balvinder Singh Babbar and Jaganath Yadav were arrested and charged with the bombings of cinemas showing Jo Bole So Nihal in New Delhi on 22 May 2005. On 1 June 2005 the Delhi Police seized arms and ammunition from the house of Jaspal Singh Babbar. The seized items included 1 kg of RDX, a timer, detonator, a .303 rifle, 20 rounds of ammunitions, the uniform of a head constable of the Punjab Police along with several fake driving licences. [ [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050601/main4.htm The Tribune, India, "2 Babbars held for Delhi cinema blasts"] 31 May 2005] Many innocent Sikhs are being accused of terrorist intentions because of the actions of these members of the Babbar Khalsa. Fact|date=September 2007

One week later the Delhi police arrested Babbar Khalsa's India Operations Chief Jagtar Singh Hawara Babbar. Hawara had escaped from jail in Chandigarh through a long tunnel dug by inmates. At the time, he stood accused of being the mastermind behind the assassination of Beant Singh in 1995. Among the items recovered in the arrest were 10.35 kg of RDX, four pistols, 207 live cartridges, remote control devices, and a hand grenade. [ [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050609/main1.htm The Tribune, India, "Delhi blasts: Babbar Khalsa chief Hawara held"] 8 June 2005]

On of 21 March, 2006, three Babbar Khalsa members on 21 March, 2006. Paramjit Singh Bheora Babbar, the current head of Babbar Khalsa's India Operations was arrested, along with Jasbir Singh Babbar and Bhupinder Singh Babbar. Bheora had assumed the position of head of India Operations following the arrest of Jagtar Singh Hawara Babbar.

According to Delhi Police, items recovered in the arrest included 4 kilograms of RDX, 3 detonators, 1 remote control device with a wireless set, 1 timer, 3 Star make pistols, 39 cartridges and a stolen car. Bheora had allegedly worked with Jagtar Singh Hawara Babbar Jagtar Singh Tara Babbar in digging a 100-foot escape tunnel in Burail jail. [ [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060321/main1.htm The Tribune, India, "Bheora, 2 other Babbars arrested"] 21 March 2006] According to Punjab Police, Paramjit Singh Bheora confessed to recruiting up to 24 people into Babbar Khalsa, allegedly stating his intention to send 6 of them to Pakistan for training and to purchase some weapons. [ [http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=176166 Express Newsline, India, "Bheora recruited 24 men after escaping"] 1 April 2006]

The Punjab Police arrested 4 more people associated with Babbar Khalsa International (India branch) chief Paramjit Singh Bheora. [ [http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=374752 Outlook India, India, "Four associates of BKI militant Bheora arrested"] 4 April 2006] Punjab Police apprehended Amanpreet Kaur, wife of Paramjit Singh Bheora along with 4 other suspected militants. The police also recovered some weapons from them. [ [http://indiamonitor.com/news/readNews.jsp?ni=11212 India Monitor, UK, "Police nab five terrorists in Kapurthala"] 4 April 2006]

Police arrested an aide to Jagtar Singh Hawara Babbar, known as Gurinder Singh Babbar in the town of Jagraon. Gurinder Singh Babbar was later charged by Indian Police for planning to assassinate a retired army general who played a vital part in Operation Bluestar and for providing shelter to Hawara when he escaped from Burail prison. [ [http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=179896 Express India, India, "Jagraon Police nets ‘big fish’: Hawara aide nabbed from bus stand"] 28 April 2006]

Following these developments, Indian Police arrested Harpal Singh Cheema in New Delhi at Indira Gandhi Airport. According to the Indian Police, Cheema allegedly had links to some Sikh militant groups such as Babbar Khalsa. [ [http://indiamonitor.com/news/readNews.jsp?ni=11454 India Monitor, UK, "Terrorist nabbed at IGI Airport"] 3 May 2006]

The Canadian government decided to deport a Babbar Khalsa militant, Bachan Singh Sogi Babbar, on charges of planning to assassinate former Chief Minister of Punjab Prakash Singh Badal along with his son Sukhbir Singh Badal, and former Punjab Police Chief KPS Gill. [ [http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=306695&sid=NAT Zee News, India, "Canada deports Babbar Khalsa militant"] 3 July 2006] Bachan Singh Sogi Babbar was considered to be number three in the Babbar Khalsa hierarchy, after Wadhawa Singh Babbar and Mehal Singh Babbar. [ [http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?rep=2&aid=308295&sid=NAT Zee News, India, "Police remand of Sogi extended till July 13"] 10 July 2006]

On December 13, 2007, Punjab Police arrested three members of the module led by Gurpreet Singh Babbar. The 3 were identified as Gurinder Singh, a local Friends Colony resident, Zorawar Singh alias Zora of Mandi Gobindgarh and Parmider singh alias Babloo of Amloh in district Fathgarh Sahib. Police also recovered 9.75 kg of RDX. They allegedly planned to assassinate 2 major religious leaders; Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and head of another sect. Police also recovered 300 gms RDX, two detonators, two timers, 40 cartridges of different bores, four boxes of other explosive material, two kg of copper wire and two mobile phones along with several other articles. The arrested BKI members have confessed that Gurpreet was running a training camp for terrorists in Garhi Mansowal village (Punjab) near Garhshankar in district Hoshiarpur. The three were imparted training in assembling explosive devices at this camp. Thee chief of the module, Gurpreet Singh Babbar alias Khalsa is still absconding. [ [http://www.newkerala.com/one.php?action=fullnews&id=2870, India, "Punjab Police foil attempt to assassinate Sacha Sauda head"] 13 December 2007]

On December 30, 2007, The Punjab police claimed to have solved the Shingar cinema blast case with the arrest of four activists of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). Announcing the arrest of the fourndash Gurpreet Singh Babbar alias Khalsa, Palwinder Singh, Sandeep Singh alias Harry and Ravinder alias Rinku. DGP N.S. Aulakh said the motive behind the October 14 blast, which killed six people and injured 37, was to revive terrorism and to create communal tension.A fifth man, Harminder Singh Babbar is still absconding. Incidentally, Gurpreet had escaped arrest days before the blast when a car laden with RDX was intercepted at Mullanpur near here. The driver of the car was Gurpreet, who managed to give police a slip then. The number of arrested BKI activists in December alone is 11. [ [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/4_Babbar_Khalsa_men_held_for_Ludhiana_cinema_blast/articleshow/2663186.cms, India, "4 Babbar Khalsa men held for Ludhiana cinema blast"] 30 December 2007]

ee also

*Sukhdev Singh Babbar
*Jagtar Singh Hawara
*Talwinder Singh Parmar
*Malagar Singh Babbar
*Dilawar Singh Babbar
*Jagdev Singh Mehra

References