ISI Using Khalistan Militants to Kill RSS, Dera Men in Punjab: NIA

The contract killers were recruited by the Khalistan Liberation Force (KFL) on behest of the ISI in 2015.

File photo of RSS leader Ravinder Gosai, who was killed in October 2017.

(Photo: ANI)

Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is using Khalistani extremists in its attempt to stoke communal unrest in Punjab. A National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into a series of targeted killings, including those of RSS workers, Dera Sacha Sauda followers and a pastor in Punjab in the last two years has revealed Pakistan’s secret service’s involvement, according to a report in The Times of India.

NIA unfolded the conspiracy while questioning two mercenaries – Ramandeep Singh and Hardeep Singh – in the murder case of RSS worker Ravinder Gosian in Ludhiana in October 2017. As per the TOI report, the duo allegedly admitted to killing six other RSS men, Shiv Sena leader Durga Prasad Gupta, Hindu Takht leader Amit Sharma, Dera Sacha Sauda follower Satpal Singh and Christian pastor Sultan Masih.

The NIA took over the case of Gosian’s murder from Punjab Police following a 16 November order by the Home Ministry.

Ramandeep and Hardeep were recruited by the Khalistan Liberation Force (KFL) on behest of the ISI in 2015, the report said quoting sources. The KLF is led by Harminder Singh Mintoo, lodged in Moga Jail, and Harmeet Singh, rumored to be living in Pakistan under ISI cover.

The KLF, which reportedly used its network in UK to hire the two mercenaries, was planning more killings the state.

(Breathe In, Breathe Out: Are you finding it tough to breathe polluted air? Join hands with FIT to find #PollutionKaSolution. Send in your suggestions to [e-mail] or WhatsApp @ [phone])