BKI spreads its terror net in Germany, UK, Canada

Since the BKI's activities within India have tapered down, the outfit is trying to re-group by looking for sympathisers and donors outside India, says Vicky Nanjappa

In a bid to bust the rising network of the Babbar Khalsa International, the National Investigation Agency has decided to target the organisations that financially support the activities of the outfit.

The NIA has found that the BKI has strong financial links with sources in London. The agency has now sought the help of local authorities to curb the activities of the BKI.

According to a NIA official, intelligence inputs from India and the United Kingdom indicate that the BKI receives its funds indirectly from some NGOs. The agency has now drawn up a list of donors to these NGOs and is likely to take action against them.

Since the BKI's activities within India have tapered down, the outfit is trying to re-group by looking for sympathisers and donors outside India.

The BKI had sought refuge in Pakistan with the help of the Inter Services Intelligence earlier. But the group had failed to muster up too much support for the Khalistan cause there. When they tried to re-group in India, they realised that the public mood was against them.

Now, the BKI has found supporters in Germany and the UK to gradually rebuild their base.

The NIA has informed UK authorities that the BKI poses a great threat. The agency had warned their British counterparts that the Khalistani outfit was unlikely to launch strikes in India, but would find targets in the UK and Germany.

The NIA has now sought the assistance of the UK to conduct a probe against the BKI under the aegis of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty.

"We have sought details of the NGOs which have been routing in ISI money, which is later handed over to the operatives of the BKI. We have also shared a list of sympathisers who shelter Khalistani terrorists in the UK and help them set up modules," said the official.

The NIA will also send similar letters to authorities in Germany and Canada where the BKI is trying to gain strength. As many as 30 NGOs in these countries are sympathetic to the Khalistani cause; they continue helping the BKI and the Khalistan Zindabad Force.

"They have been organising camps and conducting recruitments through social networking sites and other websites," said the NIA official.

He added, "It is extremely important that we get details about the financial transactions and the NGOs involved. Authorities in the UK, Germany and Canada need to assist us with the probe so that we can collect more evidence".

The NIA also fears that a resurgent BKI may try to make inroads into Punjab and Delhi.

"We will also like to send officials to these three countries to monitor the activities of the militants," the NIA official said.