The parents of a British Sikh soldier accused of running the terror module responsible for the recent grenade attacks on police installations in Punjab have claimed they broke up with him after they went for a “love marriage”, but questioned the state police’s claims. “Doesn’t make any sense”.
Joginder Singh, who retired from the Indian Army as Subedar, has confirmed that his son Jagjit Singh is serving in the British Army and has served in Afghanistan.
The British Ministry of Defense has denied the Punjab Police’s investigation into Jagjit Singh’s involvement in terrorist activities in India and said no one of that name had served in the British Army. Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav has supported the investigation with his force. Yadav had earlier said that “serving British soldier” Jagjit Singh, who used the pseudonym Fateh Singh Baghi, handled the terror module of the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KJF), a banned terrorist outfit whose chief Ranjit Singh Neeta claimed responsibility for the attack. Jagjeet was named by Yadav after three suspected KZF members were killed in an encounter by a joint team of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh police in Pilibhit on Monday.
‘There is no truth in the accusation. If one works in the army, there is no time to think about anything other than the job at hand,” Joginder Singh told The Indian Express.
Joginder, whose other son is serving in the Indian Army, Jagjit first visited the UK in 2010 and joined the army there in 2011.
“His first posting was in Afghanistan. He was also sent to Iraq and Kenya. I don’t know about his post,” said Joginder, adding, “We were also invited by the British government in 2012 for the honour”.
“I have not spoken to Jagjit on condition. After marrying a girl against our will, I broke off my legal relationship with her. I officially barred him from any property rights in 2016,” claimed Joginder, adding that his wife, Balwinder Kaur, speaks to him occasionally.
The family hails from Chabal village near Amritsar. In a statement, Punjab Police had earlier said that Jagjit (37), originally from Miyanpur, a village in Tarn Taran, had gone to the UK on a student visa in 2010 and after completing his studies, “is believed to have joined the British Army in 2013”.
“Jagjit Singh developed links with banned terrorist groups Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and KZF. He formed a radical group called Akaljot Khalistan Force (AKF) and was trying to revive terrorist activities in Punjab by recruiting new members into his group,” the statement said.
However, Joginder said these “allegations are also not well drafted”.
“It doesn’t make any sense. We raised him. Every parent knows about the child they raise. I know he can’t be involved in such activities,” the father added.
Talking about the encounter in Pilibhit, Joginder said that even if the slain terror suspects had named his son, he would not have entertained such allegations.
“My father and I served in the army. My elder son is a sergeant in the army. We informed the police that we had legally broken up with Jagjit. However, we believe that he is not involved in such activities,” Joginder said.
He said Jagjeet had not spoken to the family “especially after the allegations made by the police”. ‘He is currently working in the UK. Other young men from our area are serving in the British Army. That’s why they keep informing about his health condition when they come home,” he said.
When asked if the police had visited the family, Joginder said, “Police visited us five years ago. Recently, no police came to ask about our son,’ he added.
On Tuesday, Ryan Shilabir, Communications Officer, Directorate of Defense Communications, Ministry of Defence, Whitehall, London, told The Indian Express that “there is no one with that name or pseudonym currently serving in the British Army”.
“We have no view from the Indian authorities that anyone in the army was involved in any way in the incident you mentioned,” Shilabir said.
However, DGP Yadav said, ‘The information that we have brought out has been collected from the in-depth investigation and interrogation of the accused arrested in terrorist activities. We will take up the matter with the British authorities through proper channels.”
Why should you buy our membership?
You want to be the smartest in the room.
You want access to our award-winning journalism.
You don’t want to be confused and misinformed.
Choose your subscription package