Indian police have claimed to have shot dead three Sikh separatists fighting for a separate homeland called “Khalistan”.
The drive for Khalistan was at the center of a diplomatic firestorm last year after Indian intelligence operatives were linked to the assassination of a respected Sikh leader in Canada and an attempted assassination in the US – a claim New Delhi rejected. .
In the latest incident, Khalistani rebels were killed in a gun battle in Pilibhit district of the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
The men were wanted for their alleged involvement in a grenade attack on a police post in Punjab state this month.
Pelibhait Superintendent of Police Avinash Pandey said officers cornered the men after a tip-off, with the suspects opening “heavy fire”.
“In the retaliatory action, all three were seriously injured and later succumbed to their injuries at the hospital,” he said. Police recovered two assault rifles, two pistols and a large cache of ammunition.
Punjab Police Chief Gaurav Yadav said in a statement that the three men belonged to the Khalistan Zindabad Force, a separatist group.
The Khalistan campaign relates to India’s independence in 1947 and is blamed for the assassination of a prime minister and the bombing of a passenger plane.
This has been a bitter issue between India and many Western countries with large Sikh populations.
New Delhi calls for tough action against the Khalistan movement, which is banned in India, with key leaders accused of “terrorism”.