Pro-Khalistan entities using farmers' protest to further agenda: Delhi police Special Cell

Police security seen outside Red Fort in New Delhi on Wednesday. Pic/PTI

The Special Cell of Delhi police has stepped up surveillance on social media where, cops said, hundreds of new accounts were opened last week in Pakistan, allegedly by pro-Khalistan entities. A senior police officer told mid-day that ‘Khalistani' outfits are misleading people under the garb of supporting farmers in Delhi.

"The recent episode of hoisting the Nishan Sahib flag at Red Fort on Republic Day was a shameful act which can only be done by anti-national elements. During the initial probe, it has come to light that some pro-Khalistani radicals are behind the act."

"Based on information developed through human and technical surveillance, we have learnt that pro-Khalistani entities employ the services of gangsters to revive militancy. The funds are generated through drug trafficking. So, overall, I strongly suspect that this could be a nexus of ISI-Pakistan, pro-Khalistan and narco-terrorism. It needs to be thoroughly investigated," said another senior officer.

"Of late, over 300 new Twitter accounts were created in Pakistan to mislead people. Funding terror activities through drugs by ISI-Pakistan is not a new thing," said the officer, adding, "The involvement of some political outfits to back pro-Khalistani groups cannot be ruled out. We will come out with concrete evidence to bring the culprits to book."

Suspected links with gangsters
Links between Punjab-based gangsters and pro-Khalistani radicals came to the fore during the investigation of target killings of right-wing leaders in Punjab during 2016-17, when eight people were killed in Punjab, the officer said.

"These killings were executed at the behest of ISI and executed through the links between Punjab-based gangsters and pro-Khalistani radicals," he added.

Apart from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the Delhi police's Special Cell, too, has registered an FIR against US-based banned organisation Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for announcing a reward for the unfurling of the Khalistani flag at Red Fort on Republic Day.