The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested absconding Khalistani terrorist Gurjeet Singh Nijjar, who was hiding in Cyprus (Europe), upon his arrival at the airport here late on Tuesday night.
The NIA had registered a case on January 10, 2019 against accused Harpal Singh under various Sections of the Arms Act, 1959, Maharashtra Police Act, 1951 and provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
“Investigation has revealed that absconding accused Gurjeet Singh Nijjar was the main conspirator of this case. Accused Gurjeet Singh Nijjar, Harpal Singh and Moin Khan were active on social media platforms and hatched a criminal conspiracy to revive Sikh militancy for ultimate aim of formation of a separate state of Khalistan,” the NIA said in a statement.
During investigation it was revealed that Nijjar of Pandori village in Amritsar left India on October 19, 2017 for Cyprus.
Investigation further revealed that as part of the conspiracy of separate “Khalistan State” accused Gurjeet Singh Nijjar, accused Harpal Singh and accused Moin Khan used to post videos and images containing praises of militant Jagtar Singh Hawara (a convicted accused in assassination of Beant Singh, former Chief Minister of Punjab), images and videos of Operation Blue Star of 1984 and pro-Khalistani posts related to proscribed organisation Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) with sole intention to motivate likeminded Sikh youths and others to join the Khalistan “movement”, it further said.
Investigation further revealed that Moin Khan was in Tihar jail from 2013 to 2016 and during this period he developed contact with Jagtar Singh Hawara, and shown his willingness to work for him and shared his contact number with him. Subsequently, as planned, Khan sent friend request to Facebook ID “Khalistani Jindabad Khalistan” from his Facebook account. By joining this Facebook account, Moin Khan came in contact with Harpal Singh and Gurjeet Singh Nijjar, it said.
Accused Gurjeet Singh Nijjar motivated Khan by discussing about atrocities committed against the Muslims and Sikhs in India and convinced him to work for separate ‘Khalistan State’. In furtherance of conspiracy, accused Gurjeet Singh Nijjar directed Khan to purchase a pistol and ammunition in 2018 and to carry out their nefarious designs, it said.
On May 23, 2019, the NIA had filed the charge sheet in the NIA Special Court against wanted accused Gurjeet Singh Nijjar, accused Harpal Singh, Moin Khan and Sundar Lal Parashar.
Accordingly, a Look-Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him. On Monday, wanted accused Gurjeet Singh Nijjar was detained at Indira Gandhi International Airport here and he was arrested by NIA. His transit custody shall be obtained from the Competent Court and he shall be taken to Mumbai for further investigation, it added.