'Sikh militants, LeT trying to revive terrorism in Punjab'

NEW DELHI: The Intelligence Bureau today warned that "inimical agencies" from "international bases" were trying to revive Sikh militancy in Punjab by forging an alliance between Sikh militant groups and Lashkar-e-Taiba.

"The attempts to revive Sikh militancy using international bases is another worrisome trend," Director, Intelligence Bureau, Rajiv Mathur said addressing the two-day conference of Director Generals of state police here.

"There have been clear attempts by inimical agencies abroad to reactivate Sikh terrorist elements, forge nexus between LeT and terrorist groups like Babbar Khalsa International and the Khalistan Zindabad Force and mobilise their resources for planning terrorist violence in Punjab and elsewhere in the country," Mathur said.

Earlier this month, Minister of state for Home Affairs Ajay Maken had also warned against attempts by Sikh groups to revive militancy.

"A close watch is maintained on the activities of various groups known to have been engaged in trying to foment terrorist activities in Punjab," the Minister had said.

Babbar Khalsa International, International Sikh Youth Federation, Khalistan Commando Force and Khalistan Zindabad Force are listed as terrorist organisations in the schedule of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2004.