NIA takes over probe into killing of Shaurya Chakra awardee in Punjab

The National Investigation Agency Wednesday took over the probe into the killing of Shaurya Chakra recipient Balwinder Singh Sandhu in Punjab.
Sandhu, recognized for combating militancy in Punjab, was gunned down at his house in Tarn Taran district’s Bhikhiwind by two unidentified bikers on October 16. The assault befell months after the 62-year-old’s safety cowl was eliminated by the state authorities. Sandhu’s household termed the killing a terror assault, and blamed it on the choice to take away his safety.
“During the initial investigation by Punjab Police, it was revealed that the killing was executed under a conspiracy hatched by Pakistan based Khalistani Terrorist Lakvir Singh Rode and his handlers in Pakistani intelligence agency, ISI. The killing of Comrade Balwinder Singh was executed through Sukhmeet Pal Singh alias Sukh Bhikariwal r/o village Bhikariwal, Kalanaur, District Gurdaspur, a gangster turned terrorist,” NIA stated in an announcement.
In November, the Tarn Taran police had arrested eight individuals within the case. But in December, the Delhi Police Special Cell arrested 5 suspected members of a banned terrorist group following a short alternate of fireside in East Delhi’s Shakarpur. While two had been from Punjab, three belonged to Kashmir.

The two accused from Punjab had been stated to be associates of dreaded gangster Sukhmeet Singh, alias Sukh Bhikhariwal, and had been allegedly concerned within the killing of Sandhu, a former CPI(M) member.
Police had then stated they had been engaged on the instructions of Khalistan motion leaders sponsored by Pakistan’s ISI and had allegedly killed Sandhu on their orders.
The two males had been allegedly planning focused killings in numerous north Indian states and the police seizedweapons, medicine, and different incriminating supplies from their possession.