The Punjab police on Friday said it had arrested the key assailant involved in the targeted killings in the State, including the murder of RSS leader Brig. Gagneja (retd.).
He is the fifth suspect to be held in connection with the murder of seven RSS, Shiv Sena and Dera Sacha Sauda leaders in 2016-17.
Director General of Police Suresh Arora said the police had also traced the handlers of the suspects, who were part of a larger conspiracy designed and perpetrated by Pakistan’s ISI.
“Role of the Khalistani Liberation Force in the conspiracy is also being investigated. Though it is too early to share details, the funding of the module from foreign sources has been confirmed,” he said.
Mr. Arora said the fifth accused was identified as Hardeep Singh, a resident of Majri Kihnewali village in Fategharh Sahib. He reportedly worked in cohorts with Ramandeep Singh, a resident of Chuharwal in Ludhiana to execute the murders. “While Ramandeep was held on Wednesday, Hardeep Singh was arrested this morning (Friday) from Fatehgarh Sahib town,” he said.
The three other accused arrested earlier are Jimmy Singh, a Jammu resident; Jagtar Singh Johal alias Jaggi, a U.K. national; and Dharmender alias Guggni, hailing from Meharban in Ludhiana.
“With these arrests, the police have also unravelled the mystery behind the two attacks on RSS shakhas and the firing on Amit Arora, a Ludhiana-based Hindu leader. Five incidents of targeted killings took place between April 2016 and February 2017, while two took place in July and October 2017,” he added.
Mr. Arora said the modus operandi of the accused was to target RSS leaders to create communal disharmony in Punjab. “They did proper recce before hitting the target. In the case of Brig. Gagneja, the accused went to Jalandhar three times before the final assault. They always wore masks to hide their identity from CCTV cameras and would destroy their clothes after every killing,” he said.