Khalistan Tiger Force
Organisation for the Khalistan movement cause / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) is a militant outfit of the Khalistan movement. In February 2023, it was designated as a terrorist organization by the Government of India.[1]
Khalistan Tiger Force | |
---|---|
Founder | Jagtar Singh Tara |
Dates of operation | 1990s – present |
Motives | Creation of a Sikh state |
Active regions | Punjab |
Status | Active |
Means of revenue | Sikh diaspora |
Part of | Khalistan movement |
Designated as a terrorist group by | India |
In May 2023, India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested two wanted persons at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, who allegedly were close aides of KTF's Arshdeep Singh, an “individual designated terrorist” based in Canada.[2] In June 2023, NIA arrested Gagandeep Singh who allegedly is a close-aide of KTF operatives.[3] Gagandeep Singh was also arrested previously in July 2021.[4]
In June 2023, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the alleged chief of Khalistan Tiger Force, was shot dead outside a Sikh Temple by unidentified assailants in Surrey, Canada.[5][6] In September 2023, the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said they had "credible allegations" linking the murder to India. Further, Canada expelled a top Indian diplomat, who was allegedly an Indian Intelligence agent and possibly linked to the murder. In retaliation, India expelled a senior Canadian diplomat.[7]