United Kingdom link to pro-Khalistan network in Terai region: Police

HARYANA YOUTH IN ENGLAND CALLED 2 PILIBHIT YOUTHS TO ARRANGE HOTEL ROOM FOR 3 MILITANTS GUNNED DOWN IN ENCOUNTER: UP POLICE

- Rohit Kumar Singh

LUCKNOW: A fresh UK link has surfaced in UP Police's investigation into the pro-Khalistan network in Terai region of UP, after three alleged militants of Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) were gunned down in Pilibhit on December 23, said officials on Friday. Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav had also claimed a UK link to the grenade attack on a police outpost in Gurdaspur on December 18.

A Haryana youth, Siddhu, based in England, had called two Pilibhit youths, Sunny and Manoj on December 20, to arrange a hotel room for the three alleged militants gunned down in the encounter, said a UP police official citing investigation by the local police, UP ATS and NIA.

The Terai region includes Pilibhit, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Lakhimpur Kheri and Badaun districts of UP.

SP (Pilibhit) Avinash Pandey also confirmed to media persons that a caller from England had asked the two Pilibhit youths to arrange a hotel room.