Khalistani terrorism threat

It is rare in India that efforts are made to eliminate any threat emerging for national security in time., But at least this time there seems to be an effort in that direction. Under this, some associates of Khalistani campaigner Amritpal Singh were caught and sent to Dibrugarh Jail in Assam and every possible effort is being made to arrest Amritpal Singh as well. Central agencies are also helping Punjab in this. This is a good example of coordination between the Central and State Governments in the national interest, which other State Governments should also emulate. If Amritpal Singh and his associates were not tightened, then after the attack on Ajnala police station, the Khalistani elements would have been emboldened and the Punjab Police would have come under their pressure. This could have culminated in a pre-Operation Blue Star situation in Punjab when the local police could do nothing for months despite having full knowledge of the ammunition being carried inside the Golden Temple. Then the Khalistani elements had so dominated the police that killings of police officers were common. After the murder of Inspector General of Police Atwal on the threshold of the Golden Temple, the police could not even muster the courage to pick up his dead body. Had the likes of Bhindranwale and Amrik Singh not been appeased for political interests at that time, the unfortunate military action like Blue Star would never have happened.

In the last few days, similar symptoms were again visible in Punjab. For example, Shiv Sena leader Sudhir Suri was murdered in the presence of media cameras and more than a dozen policemen. The headquarters of the Intelligence Department of the Punjab Police came under attack from rocket launchers and the number of drone intrusions coming from Pakistan was increasing. A few days ago, a heavy drone from Pakistan was intercepted by the Indian security forces, to which an AK-47 rifle was tied. Everyone had seen how Ajnala police station was attacked keeping Sri Guru Granth Sahib in front. After the success of Khalistan supporters in Ajnala, there was a danger that if the separatist elements start violence on the streets by keeping religious symbols in front, then it would become very difficult for the administration to maintain law and order and violence would also take place on a large scale. Could have flared up. Waris Punjab De’s back has been broken after the recent action of the Punjab Police, but the threat of Khalistani terrorism has not completely averted from Punjab. It is true that even after the action against Waris Punjab De, there was more peace than expected in Punjab, but we should not forget that even after a big action like Blue Star, the streets of Punjab did not see such a huge uproar. Security agencies had apprehensions, but with the passage of time, Khalistani terrorists started ambushing and attacking politicians, government officials and innocent people, especially Hindu minorities. Respected Sikh leader like Sant Harcharan Singh Longowal was also murdered by Khalistanis. In such a situation, the security agencies of the Center and the State will have to be constantly alert, but more danger is being seen from the domestic front for the NRIs, especially the Hindus. Khalistani organizations active abroad are not only conducting an illegal plebiscite in the name of Khalistan in countries like Canada, Britain and Australia, but have been targeting Indian Embassies, Hindu temples and Indian community people in these countries for a long time. Such incidents have increased since the action of Indian security agencies on Waris Punjab De.

The Indian High Commission in London was ransacked by Khalistan supporters and the Khalistani flag was hoisted after removing the tricolor. India’s consulate was also attacked with sharp weapons by Khalistanis in San Francisco, USA. In both these cases, the police force concerned was absent from the spot, while Indian diplomatic missions are subjected to various kinds of terrorist threats. In such a situation, Indian diplomatic missions being left without high-level security by these countries of the western bloc is worrisome. If all this is the result of not following the line drawn by the West on the Russia-Ukraine dispute, then it is very immature diplomacy, which can spoil the image of countries like America, Britain and Australia in the Indian public.

Western countries should remember that within hours of the 9/11 terror attacks, Indian security agencies had automatically increased the security level of their embassies without any demand from these countries. A few months later, when there was a terrorist attack on the American Center in Kolkata, five Indian security personnel lost their lives, but not a single American was spared. In such a situation, if Indian embassies are being attacked today and the police of these countries are absent, then it is natural for India to resent. Many terrorist attacks have been carried out in India by Khalistani terrorists. The biggest terrorist attack outside India was carried out in the form of a bomb blast on Air India flight AI-182 coming from Canada, which is the biggest terrorist attack in India’s aviation history. This shows how Khalistani terrorists are a huge threat not only to the security of Indian diaspora, but also to the security of citizens of countries like Canada, UK and Australia who have deliberately turned a blind eye to their activities. If the western countries do not control the Khalistanis, they will become a problem for them only.

(The writer is a strategic analyst affiliated with the Council of Strategic Affairs) (Credits: Jagran)
, Divya Kumar Soti