Planning terror strikes against Indian targets was the goal of a U.S.-based man who was apprehended in Reno, Nevada, on Tuesday, and has been charged with providing material support to militant outfits in both India and Pakistan “in order to intimidate the Indian government.”
The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday announced the arrest and indictment of Balwinder Singh (39), aka Jhajj/Happy/Possi/Baljit Singh, describing him as a citizen of India who, after fleeing to the U.S. and successfully claiming asylum here, was a member of “two terrorist organisations, Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF).”
Singh, who ultimately obtained a permanent resident card from the U.S. and continued to live here engaged in a conspiracy to advance the goals of BKI and KZF by “raising money and obtaining weapons to support acts of terrorism in India,” the criminal complaint against him said, adding that he started engaging in such activities at least as far back as November 30, 1997.
The indictment against Singh charges him with one count of conspiracy to murder, kidnap, and maim persons in a foreign country, one count of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, one count of making a false statement on an immigration document, two counts of use of an immigration document procured by fraud, and one count of unlawful production of an identification document.
Forged documents
Using a false identity and forged travel documents Singh not only travelled to India on several occasions but also to Pakistan and several other countries, so as to meet with co-conspirators in anti-India terror, and advise them on methods, the DOJ noted.
He also reportedly continued making terror plans while in the U.S., on several occasions speaking to co-conspirators abroad via telephone and sending them money from Reno “for the purchase of weapons that would be provided to members of the BKI and KZF to support acts of terrorism in India.”
May face life imprisonment
The Department said that if convicted, Singh faced up to life in prison and fines of up to $250,000 on each count.
He is scheduled to appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge on December 20, 2013, for an initial appearance and arraignment.
