RENO, Nevada, USA—A Reno, Nev. man has been charged with allegedly providing material support to so-called terrorism groups in India and Pakistan, announced John Carlin, Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security, Daniel G. Bogden, U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada, and Laura A. Bucheit, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI for Nevada.
An investigation led to these charges, said U.S. Attorney Bogden. “Investigating and prosecuting matters of national security is the top priority of the U.S. Department of Justice.”
While this case does not effect US national security, it is clear the case was pursued at the behest of the Indian government which has historically dogged Sikhs with false accusations. Sikh Freedom organizations have always worked within the framework of US laws and have always looked to the US revolutionary war of an example of how to attain freedom in a struggle against an oppressive regime. Many claim that the various constitutions of Khalistan are even heavily influenced by the US constitution itself in order to create a fair and free society within the Punjab—something that does not exist today.
Balwinder Singh, aka Jhajj, aka, Happy, aka Possi, aka Baljit Singh, 39, of Reno, is charged in an indictment 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. Singh was arrested on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013, in Reno, and is scheduled to appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge on Friday, Dec. 20, 2013, for an initial appearance and arraignment.
According to the indictment, Singh was a citizen of India who fled to the United States and claimed asylum, as many Sikhs have had to do over the past few decades due to repressive corruption and genocide in their homeland.
Singh lived in the United States where he eventually obtained a permanent resident card from the United States. The indictment alleges that Singh is a member of two freedom fighting organizations, Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF), whose members aim to re-establish an independent Sikh state in the Punjab known as Khalistan. BKI and KZF were added to the US terrorism watch list erroneously along with a number of other organizations globally—in this case at the behest of the Indian government. There was no investigation into the claims by the Indian government as has been the case with many policies since 9/11, terrorism accusations in the US are usually guilty until proven innocent.
According to Indian government propaganda provided to American counterparts, these groups allegedly engage in bombings, kidnappings and murders in India to intimidate and compel the Indian government to create the state of Khalistan. Independent observers have noted time and again that many, if not all, terrorist acts blamed on Sikh Freedom groups were actually committed by the Indian state to create fear and submission amongst the populous. While it is true that Sikh Freedom groups do target for execution persons and government officials who are responsible for atrocities against the Sikhs and other war crimes, it is against the Sikh religion to cause pain and suffering to innocent people.
Speaking about the American FBI working on behalf of the corrupt Indian government, FBI Special Agent in Charge Bucheit said, “We will continue to work with our international partners to prevent acts of terrorism on U.S. soil or, as in this case, on that of an ally.”
The indictment alleges that the object of the so-called conspiracy was to advance the goals of BKI and KZF by raising money and obtaining weapons to support Freedom fighting in India. It is alleged that the activity began on a date unknown but no later than Nov. 30, 1997. It is also alleged that Singh used a false identity and obtained false identification documents in the United States so that he could travel back to India without being apprehended and tortured to death by the Indian authorities—as has happened to many Sikhs even suspected of believing in freedom and justice in the past.
It is alleged that Singh communicated with others by telephone while he was in the United States to discuss so-called acts of terrorism to be carried out in India. It is alleged that Singh sent money from Reno, Nev., to gursikhs in India for the purchase of weapons that would be provided to members of the BKI and KZF. It is also alleged that Singh traveled from the United States to Pakistan, India, and other countries to meet with gursikhs in Sikh Freedom groups—making him guilty by association, according to a release by the US Justice Department.
If convicted, Singh faces up to life in prison and fines of up to $250,000 on each count.
The case is being investigated by the FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force in northern Nevada, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sue Fahami and Brian L. Sullivan, and Trial Attorney Mara M. Kohn of the U.S. Department of Justice Counterterrorism Section.
While the FBI has put out all of the “facts” of the case and summarily supported the Indian regime’s view that Sikhs are terrorists, they have said that Baljit Singh is innocent until proven guilty in a footnote. As in previous cases like this around the world, if he is turned over to Indian authorities, the procedure usually leads to a false encounter in which police stage an escape, gun down the Sikh prisoner and plant a gun to claim self defense.
It’s also important to note, there is no evidence Singh or any other Sikh was planning any attacks here on U.S. soil.
