Two suspected members of banned terror group arrested in Delhi

Two suspected members of banned terrorist outfit Khalistan Zindabad Force have been arrested by the Delhi Police from the national capital. Both men were wanted in a sedition case for allegedly raising a 'Khalistan' flag on the terrace of the deputy commissioner's office in Punjab's Moga district.

New Delhi:The Delhi Police has arrested two suspected members of banned terrorist outfit Khalistan Zindabad Force from the national capital, officials said on Sunday.

They have been identified as Inderjeet Singh Gill (31) and Jaspal Singh (27), both residents of Moga district in Punjab. They were wanted in a sedition case registered at Moga, police said.

The two had allegedly raised a 'Khalistan' flag on the terrace of the deputy commissioner's office in Punjab's Moga district on the eve of Independence Day and also tore an Indian flag on its premises, a senior police officer said.

On Saturday, police received information that two members of the Khalistan Zindabad Force would be coming to Delhi to commit some anti-national activities on the directions of their foreign based commanders, the officer said.

Following the information, a trap was laid near a temple on the GT Karnal Road.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav said that around 6.30 pm, two persons were seen standing near the Sani Mandir bus stand.

When police were approaching them, they started moving towards a service road coming from the Singhu border, however, they were apprehended after a short chase, he said.

During interrogation, it was learnt that Gill used to work as a driver.

On August 8, Jagga, a relative of his, persuaded him to watch a banned online channel Sikhs For Justice' on a video hosting platform and asked him to vote for 'Khalistan' on a Whatsapp link to be sent by them and become its member, Yadav said.

Gill subscribed to the channel and started watching it, the DCP said.

On August 9, he received a Whatsapp link where he cast his vote for 'Khalistan'. Gill said that a person called Rana from the US and another person gave lectures on the channel which were anti-India and also asked Sikh youths to build a 'Khalistan', wave the 'Khalistan' flag and tear the Indian flag on August 14, 15 and 16, he said.

Rana had declared a reward of USD 2,500 for waving the the 'Khalista'n flag and for tearing the Indian flag at Moga and a reward of USD 1,25,000 for doing the same on the Red Fort and other historical buildings, Yadav said.

He said in the early hours of August 14, Gill, along with Jaspal Singh and Akashdeep Singh, went to the deputy commissioner's office. Gill and Jaspal Singh went to the terrace and hoisted the 'Khalistan' flag, the DCP said.

Thereafter, they lowered the Indian flag and tore it into pieces. Akashdeep Singh, who was standing outside the deputy commissioner's office, was making a video, Yadav said.

They conveyed it to Rana on Whatsapp and sent all the videos to him, police said.

After a couple of days, Akashdeep Singh was arrested by the Moga Police. Gill and Jaspal Singh were on the run since then. They were planning to go to Nepal and reach Pakistan for training, but were apprehended, police said.

The Punjab Police has been informed about the matter.

PTI