NEW DELHI: Avtar Singh Khanda, a trusted associate of Amritpal Singh and the prominent figure behind the demonstrations at the Indian High Commission in London, passed away in the United Kingdom today. Khanda served as the leader of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), a terrorist organization based in the UK. He was also known by the name Ranjodh Singh and had sought political asylum in the UK, where he played a significant role in influencing Sikh youth towards the cause of separatism.
Khanda had been battling blood cancer and took his last breath at Birmingham's Sandwell Hospital. He was admitted to the hospital approximately fourteen nights ago.
According to reports, Khanda's supporters are seeking confirmation in the medical report that his death was caused by poisoning. This would allow them to attribute the murder to the Indian security establishment. Some reports suggested that he was placed on life support on Wednesday, and his demise resulted from a cancer-related clot burst.
Khanda's father was a member of the KLF and was killed by security forces in 1991. His mother also had connections to a KLF operative with strong ties to a Pakistani deep state known as Gurjant Singh Budhsigwala.
The National Investigating Agency has identified Khanda, along with three others, as the main instigators behind the violent protests outside the Indian mission in London. He is also credited with mentoring Amritpal Singh and assuming the role of the 'Waris Punjab De' chief following Deep Sidhu's death. Some previous reports indicated that Khanda possessed expertise in manufacturing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and even conducted bomb-making demonstrations in certain gurudwaras in the UK.
In the meantime, Amritpal Singh was apprehended by the Punjab police in Moga district on March 23rd. He faces charges related to inciting disharmony among different social classes, attempted murder, assaulting police personnel, and obstructing the lawful discharge of duties by a public servant.
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