Terrorism

The charge sheet states that Harvinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, a Pakistan-based Khalistani terrorist of BKI, started employing Bishnoi's shooters for carrying out assassinations and attacks on security establishments. The main reason behind employing Bishnoi's shooters was that his syndicate was one of the most feared terror groups in North India, with approximately 700 associates, of which around 300 were from Punjab.

He was the president of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara. Nijjar, a resident of a village in Jalandhar, was associated with the separatist organisation, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), which is banned in India. He had played a key role in organising the Khalistan referendum in Brampton city.

"In the recent past, a large number of intelligence inputs were received from various intelligence agencies about likely infiltration of terrorists from across Line of Control. On June 15, a specific intelligence input was received of likely infiltration along Jumagund Nar from JK Police," the army said.

It was a joint operation between the Indian Navy and the NCB officials in which a Pakistani national was also held from Kochi, Kerala. The intelligence agencies have called it a big cocktail of terrorism which includes numbers of terror outfits and ultras. Hazi Salim's connection was found with LeT's terrorist Shazidulla.

"Today, at around 3 p.m., an army vehicle was fired on by unidentified terrorists, taking advantage of heavy rains and low visibility in the area," the army said. The army said the vehicle caught fire due to likely use of grenades by terrorists. "Five personnel of the Rashtriya Rifles Unit deployed for Counter Terrorist operations in this area, have unfortunately lost their lives in the incident," the army said.

Atiq and his brother were shot when they were taken for a medical test to the Colvin hospital here. Both died on the spot. According to reports, Atiq was shot in the head from point-blank range when the mediapersons were talking to him. Both the brothers were handcuffed when the incident took place. All the three shooters have been arrested by the UP Police. They have been identified as Lavlesh Tiwari, Arun Maurya and Sunny.

The sleepy town of Talwandi Sabo where Takht Damdama Sahib is situated, witnesses large crowds of devotees every year on Baisakhi, the day when Guru Gobind Singh baptised Sikhs and formed the Khalsa Panth in 1699. Basing strict 'bandobast' on an intelligence input, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav made heavy deployment of police in Talwandi Sabo, especially around the 'pandal' set up by Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) where member of parliament Simranjit Singh Mann was to deliver a speech.

The encounter took place on Thursday. The FIR says, "Just as we instructed our car driver to overtake the motorcycles the two accused were trying to flee in, and loudly asked them to stop, they accelerated and tried to take a turn at a side road to escape, though another team had already surrounded them." The two were repeatedly warned but they did not stop and their motorcycles slipped and fell near a babool tree.

Both carried a reward of Rs five lakh on their heads. The STF team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (SP) Navendu and deputy SP Vimal carried out the encounter at Jhansi. Sophisticated foreign-made weapons have been recovered from the two deceased, said police. Asad had been caught on camera opening fire at Umesh Pal in Dhoomanganj in Prayagraj on February 24.

A police station in the cantonment received a complaint on Wednesday about the accidental death of army man Laghu Raj Shankar and the police have started a probe into this matter. The jawan, who was on duty, died due to a bullet injury in the head, a police official told IANS.After the killing of the four men, the Indian Army said a search team has located the INSAS rifle along with the magazine involved in the killing.