Delhi police’s Special Cell claims hundreds of new Twitter accounts created in Pakistan last week
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.
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“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.