Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) chief Paramjit Singh Panjwar was reportedly gunned down by two unidentified shooters in Johar Town of Lahore in Pakistan, according to intelligence sources.
He was killed while walking near his house in Sunflower Society in Johar Town around 6 am along with his gunman by two unidentified men on a motorcycle. Panjwar was reportedly high on India's most wanted list of terrorists.
He was involved in drug and weapon smuggling through drones into Indian Punjab and joined the KCF, which is listed as a terrorist organisation under the UAPA after being radicalized by his cousin Labh Singh in 1986. He was earlier working in a Central Cooperative Bank in Sohal, a report by Hindustan Times said.
Who was Paramjit Singh Panjwar?
Paramjit Singh Panjwar joined KCF in 1986. Before that he worked at the Central Cooperative Bank in Sohal. He was heading the banned Khalistan Commando Force-Panjwar group and was involved in drug and weapons smuggling and other terror activities when he was designated as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in July 2020.
What was he accused of?
According to a report by Indian Express, among the FIRs against Panjwar in just one year, from 1989 to 1990, seven were for murder and two under Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA).
Though he was inactive for the last couple of years, Singh had been operating from Lahore and was involved in arranging arms training for youths in Pakistan. He was engaged in supplying arms and ammunition and subsequent infiltration into India for targeting VIPs and economic installations.
He was also involved in broadcasting highly seditious and separatist programmes on Radio Pakistan, intended to incite minorities against the Indian government. He was active in the smuggling of drugs and was a major conduit between smugglers and terrorists, the Ministry of Home Affairs had said in a notification that designated him a terrorist under UAPA.
"Panjwar's complicity in promoting drug trade and Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) operation in Punjab are well documented. Efforts are being made by his organisation KCF to reactive former militants, sleeper cells and also those on bail and it has been in favour of forming nexus with other forces hostile to India," the ministry had said.
What is Khalistani Commando Force?
KCF came into existence in February 1986. According to the Indian Express report, the KCF raised funds by committing bank robberies or kidnappings for ransom, to establish an independent state of Khalistan.
The banned outfit under the patronage of Paramjit Singh Panjwar was involved in various terrorist attacks in India, which include a bomb attack in October 1988, killig 10 Rai Sikhs at Firozpur and the killing of Major Gen. B. N. Kumar, according to the ministry.
(With inputs from PTI)
