Ahead of Ayodhya Ram Temple mega inauguration on January 22, the Uttar Pradesh has arrested three men in the city with alleged Khalistan links.
The three men were arrested on Thursday.
Reportedly, the suspicion on the trio grew after a recorded voice message by Khalistan leaders was circulated on some people’s mobile phones in Lucknow.
It is said the recorded message was of a man posing as Khalistan terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
In the audio message, the reports said the man posing as Panun in his address to UP CM Yogi Adityanath, said that Sikh for Justice (SFJ), a US-based group that supports the secession of Punjab from India, was going to hold the UP CM accountable on January 22 and Ram Temple consecration was not going to save him.
The recorded message also mentioned the arrest of two SFJ members from Ayodhya.
HT quoting UP police director general (DG), law and order, Prashant Kumar, confirmed that the three accused were identified as Rajasthan residents Shankar Dussad alias Shankar Jajod, Ajit Kumar Sharma and Pradeep Puniya.
One of the arrested man Dussad was in touch with Pannun through another Canada-based arms smuggler Lakhbir Singh Sandhu alias Landa, the reports said.
The Khalistan leaders had asked Dussad to visit Ayodhya and prepare a map of the site, HT reported.
The trio was taken into custody during the checking of the vehicle in front of Trimurti Hotel in Ayodhya, the reports stated.
Arrested man Dussad developed links with Khalistan inside Rajasthan jail:
One of the arrested man Dussad was released on bail from Central Jail, Bikaner, on May 15, 2023, as per the reports.
He was released after spending over seven years in jail since March 21, 2016.
“Dussad forged links with Khalistan groups while staying in Bikaner Jail when he met a prisoner Lakhbinder Singh who asked him to meet his nephew Pumma through whom he came in touch with Canada-based Khalistani leader Sukhdool Singh Gill alias Sukha Duneke, who was shot dead by unknown assailants in September 2023,” HT reported.
Dussad was in touch with Duneke and Landa through WhatsApp, the reports said.
Dussad, close aide of slain gangster Rajendra Jaat:
Dussad was a close aide of slain notorious gangster Rajendra Jaat.
Dussad had reportedly had taken over his gang after Jaat was killed by five assailants in front of his house in Sikar, Rajasthan in December
