Police arrests kingpin of pro-Khalistan outfit which planned to assassinate former Punjab chief minister

JAIPUR: A team of the Bikaner police on Thursday have arrested 24-year-old Jerman Singh, the kingpin of the pro-Khalistan radical outfit allegedly involved in a plot to assassinate former Punjab chief minister Prakash Singh Badal and his family. He was arrested from a gurudwara situated in Kolayat town of Bikaner district.

The arrest comes three days after Shamli police in Uttar Pradesh had arrested three persons belonging to the same outfit and in their interrogation the name of Jerman Singh came out. The trio allegedly confessed planning to target former Punjab chief minister Prakash Singh Badal and his family members.

Dinesh MN, inspector general of police, who got a specific input given by the ATS Punjab constituted a team that started survllience in the Kolayat town and nearby areas.

“Our team raided the Gurudwara at 11.00 am on Thursday after taking permission from the Gurudwara committee and caught Jerman Singh. The team included SHO Beechwal, Bhawani Singh and SHO, Kolayat Jagdish Singh who went along with commandos and armed policemen. We have intimated about the breakthrough to the ATS Punjab and the accused would be handed over to them,” said Dinesh while talking to TOI.

The Uttar Pradesh police from Shamli had arrested 3 persons identified as Karam Singh, Gurujant Singh alias Jenta and Amreet alias Amrit for attacking a constable and a homeguard in Shamli Jhinjhania of Uttar Pradesh on October 2. At the time they had also looted arms including an INSAS and .303 riffle. Their interrogation made it clear that they had also planned to assassinate former Punjab chief minister, Prakash Singh Badal and his family.

On the role of Jerman Singh, a senior officer, said, "Jerman is a leader of pro khalistan outfit who is getting funding from overseas. He has also been mobilising support for Khalistan movement on the social media."