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"Your intentions and actions create ripples in the universe. Make them count": Avtar Singh Khanda, an asylum seeker Khalistani terrorist passed away in a UK hospital in Birmingham late last night after NIA released 45 wanted criminals for identification

In March, UK authorities arrested Khanda in connection with the vandalization of the high commission
 |  Satyaagrah  |  Anti-National
Mastermind of Indian High Commission attack in London Avtar Singh Khanda dies, NIA investigation picks up pace
Mastermind of Indian High Commission attack in London Avtar Singh Khanda dies, NIA investigation picks up pace

Avtar Singh Khanda, an asylum seeker, and Khalistani terrorist, passed away in a UK hospital in Birmingham late last night. The news of his death comes after Khanda, who was reportedly suffering from blood cancer, was listed as one of the 45 suspects wanted for the vandalization of the Indian High Commission in London on March 19. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had recently released the list of suspects, and it was later discovered that Khanda's health had deteriorated.

Khanda, known for his expertise in bomb-making, held a significant role as the head of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and served as the handler for Khalistani separatist Amritpal Singh. In March, UK authorities arrested Khanda in connection with the vandalization of the high commission. The incident occurred during a protest organized by Khanda and his supporters, who were expressing their discontent with the crackdown on Amritpal. Khanda's involvement in the secessionist Khalistani movement was prominent, and he had affiliations with organizations such as Babbar Khalsa International and the ISI.

Born in Punjab's Moga district, Khanda hailed from a family deeply associated with the Khalistan movement. Throughout the years, he faced accusations of radicalizing youth not only in Punjab but also in countries like the UK, Canada, the US, Germany, and Australia, inciting anti-India sentiments. His connections with other Khalistani terrorists, including Jagtar Singh Tara and Paramjit Singh Pamma, an active member of the Khalistan Tiger Force, further exemplified his involvement in the movement. Khanda gained considerable attention during NIA investigations into Amritpal's activities, as he was believed to have helped him evade arrest for 37 days following the crackdown on their group, Waaris Punjab De.

In response to the March 19 attack on the Indian High Commission in London, the NIA has intensified its investigation. Late last night, the agency released pictures of the 45 suspects involved, urging the public to provide any information that could aid in their identification. Among the suspects, Khanda and his associates Gurcharan Singh and Jasvir Singh were already identified by the NIA, as they were named in the FIR filed by a high commission official following the incident. The agency is expected to issue lookout notices for them in the near future.

Earlier this week, the NIA shared a two-hour-long CCTV footage of the attack, seeking public support in identifying and apprehending the culprits. Today, the agency released photographs of the suspected Khalistani protesters involved in the incident. The viral videos captured during the protest depicted individuals carrying yellow and black Khalistan flags, demanding the release of Amritpal Singh, the leader of Waris Punjab De. Disturbingly, one of the protesters climbed onto a balcony of the high commission office, disrespectfully pulled down the Indian national flag, and caused significant outrage.

The investigation into the attack on the Indian High Commission, including the flag-pulling incident, remains ongoing as the NIA continues its efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice. With public assistance and information, the agency aims to ensure that those responsible for the vandalization and flag desecration are held accountable for their actions.

Avtar Singh Khanda

Avtar Singh Khanda (1988-2023) was a UK-based activist and journalist. He was the vice president of the youth wing of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar). [1] In 2023, Khanda hit the headlines when a group of pro-Khalistan supporters vandalised the Indian High Commission in London, UK, during a protest against Punjab Police’s attempt to nab the Waris Punjab De chief https://wikibio.in/amritpal-singh/">Amritpal Singh. Khanda was believed to be the mentor of Amritpal Singh. On 15 June 2023, he died at Sandwell Hospital in Birmingham, UK.

Avtar Singh Khanda was born in 1988 (age 35 years; as of 2023) in Rode village of Moga district in Punjab Province, British India (Punjab, India). He studied in a model school governed by Arya Samaj. Owing to his father’s image as a separatist in India, various agencies, including the police would often raid their premises due to which the family shifted their home to various locations like Patiala, Ludhiana, and Moga in Punjab.

Avtar Singh Khanda belonged to a Sikh family.

His father, Kulwant Singh Khukrana, was a terrorist and was associated with the ‘Khalistan Liberation Force’ and ‘Khalitan Commando Force.’ He died on 3 March 1991 in a police encounter during the anti-Sikh riots after Indira Gandhi’s assassination in 1984. Khanda’s uncle, Balwant Singh Khukrana, also died during anti-Sikh riots. Avtar Singh had a younger sister. There is not much information about his marital status.

Avtar Singh Khanda followed Sikhism.

“Mission Khalistan”

Khanda was a pro-Khalistan supporter. He was often spotted expressing his views on separatism in various interviews. Khanda strongly advocated for the establishment of a separate Sikh state.

Avtar Singh worked as a presenter for the shows ‘Shera Di Kaum’ and ‘Itihaas’ on the channel Khalsa Television (KTV), also known as KTV Global. On 21 June 2022, Khalsa Television Limited surrendered its UK broadcasting license when the United Kingdom’s communications regulator, Office of Communications (Ofcom), found out that the show ‘Prime Time’ of the channel was promoting separatist propaganda that encouraged violence.

Vandalism at the High Commission of India in London

On 21 March 2023, Avtar Singh Khanda was taken into custody in connection with the vandalism at the Indian High Commission in London. Two days prior to the arrest, i.e., on 19 March 2023, Pro-Khalistan supporters removed the Indian flag from atop the High Commission building in a protest against the Punjab Police’s crackdown on Amritpal Singh and his followers. The demonstration included Khalistan supporters and other anti-national elements who gathered outside the High Commission in London, chanting ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ slogans. During the protest, one person attempted to take down the tricolour, but security personnel intervened and prevented the act. The individual was subsequently identified as Avtar Singh Khanda.

An IED Specialist

In 2015, Khanda was mentioned in an Indian report on Khalistani activities that was prepared for the British authorities. India expressed concerns about Khalistani groups conducting ideological indoctrination sessions and practical bomb-making demonstrations at certain gurudwaras in the UK for the Sikh diaspora. Intelligence reports suggested that Khanda was planning to conduct radicalisation training courses for the Sikh youth, which included instructions on assembling improvised explosive devices (IEDs) using locally available chemicals. According to sources, similar courses were held at Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Birmingham in December 2014 and at Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Glasgow in January 2015. 

On 15 June 2023, he died at Sandwell Hospital in Birmingham, UK. Some media sources claimed that he died of food poisoning, while others claimed he died of blood cancer. 

Facts/Trivia

  • Avtar Singh was born in the house of https://wikibio.in/jarnail-singh-bhindranwale/">Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, an Indian militant. In an interview, he said that due to the frequent visits of police officials to their home in search of his fugitive father, Kulwant Singh Khukrana, his family was unable to reside at their house; however, Bhindranwale provided his family with a place in his house to stay.
  • Khanda was believed to be a close aide of the Khalistani nationalist Paramjit Singh Pamma (associated with Babbar Khalsa International) and the mastermind of the former Punjab Chief Minister https://wikibio.in/beant-singh/">Beant Singh‘s assassination, Jagtar Singh Tara.
  • As a student, Khanda refrained from attending morning assemblies at school. In an interview, he recounted his experiences from his school days with a strong sense of hostility towards the nation, citing his belief as a Sikh that singing the national anthem of India was against the principles of the Sikh community. Consequently, he deliberately avoided attending morning assemblies.
  • While talking about his childhood memories in an interview, Khanda recollected how his classmates used to mock him by calling him the child of a terrorist. He added that his mother had told him that his father, Kulwant Singh Khukrana, who had been killed by the police, was living overseas and would return to him shortly; however, in 5th grade, he stumbled upon an old newspaper at home, which revealed the truth about his father’s death. After Kulwant Singh Khukrana’s death on 3 March 1991, the police officials arrested Khanda, along with his mother and sister, on 1 April 1991 at 5 am for investigation purposes.
  • In an interview, Khanda shared his views on the 1984 Sikh Massacre and said that it was a premeditated attack on the Sikh community. He went on to claim that the Indian government had been planning the massacre since the country gained independence in 1947
  • It is claimed that Avtar Singh Khanda groomed https://wikibio.in/amritpal-singh/">Amritpal Singh when he was in Dubai. According to Khanda, although he had been in contact with Amritpal for a long period of time, he had never met him in person.
  • Indian intelligence agencies believe Khanda had ties with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan.
  • Avtar Singh often shared posts against the Indian government and its leaders. In one such post, he was spotted chocking former Indian Prime Minister https://wikibio.in/indira-gandhi/">Indira Gandhi‘s statue at a museum.
References:

Sikh Radical Groups
Pro-Khalistan Activist
Bomb Expert
Khalsa Television Channel
Wikibio 

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