London: UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) denied Punjab Police’s findings that a British Army soldier was involved in terrorist activities in India. The MoD stated on Tuesday that no person with the name or pseudonym cited by Punjab Police is currently serving in the British Army. Meanwhile, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav stood by his department’s investigation, stating that the matter would be pursued through appropriate channels.
The denial came a day after DGP Yadav shared on social media that a “serving British soldier” named Jagjeet Singh, who reportedly operated under the alias Fateh Singh Baaghi, had links to the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF), a banned terrorist group.
MoD response
Rhian Shillabeer, communications officer for UK Ministry of Defence, said the claims were inaccurate. “There is no one with either the name or pseudonym provided currently serving in the British Army,” she said. Shillabeer also clarified that there had been no communication from Indian authorities regarding the alleged involvement of a British soldier.
Responding to a photograph released by Punjab Police, Shillabeer said the image was of a British Sikh soldier but noted that the person’s name did not match Jagjeet Singh, even with variations in spelling. She emphasized that investigations into criminal or terrorist activity in India are the responsibility of Indian authorities.
Punjab Police’s stand
Despite UK’s denial, Punjab Police maintained its stand. The DGP said the findings were based on thorough investigations and interrogations of people arrested for terrorist activities in Punjab. “We stand by the information gathered through our investigations. This matter will be taken up with British authorities through proper channels,” DGP Yadav said.
The police also released another photograph, claiming it to be a recent image of Jagjeet Singh, and reiterated that he was involved in a series of terrorist attacks in Punjab. These attacks included grenade and IED explosions targeting police posts over the past three months, as reported by Indian Express.
Allegations against Jagjeet Singh
Punjab Police claimed that Jagjeet Singh, originally from Mianpur village in Tarn Taran district, moved to the UK in 2010 on a student visa. After completing his studies, he allegedly joined the British Army in 2013.
The police accused Singh of developing links with banned groups like Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and KZF after moving to the UK. They alleged that Singh founded a radical group called Akaljot Khalistan Force (AKF) to recruit members and revive terrorism in Punjab.
Punjab Police also linked Singh to past cases. In 2011, he was allegedly involved in a plot to target religious leaders in Punjab and was declared a proclaimed offender under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). In 2021, Singh’s name reportedly surfaced in a case involving the recovery of grenades and pistols in Tarn Taran.
