The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence has refuted claims by Punjab Police that a British Army soldier, Jagjeet Singh, is involved in terrorist activities aimed at reviving militancy in Punjab, India.
Punjab Police allege that Jagjeet Singh, who moved to the UK in 2010 on a student visa and reportedly joined the British Army in 2013, has been orchestrating terror modules under the pseudonym “Fateh Singh Baaghi.” They accuse him of leading the Akaljot Khalistan Force (AKF) and collaborating with banned groups like the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) to recruit youth from Punjab by promising money and opportunities to migrate abroad.
The Ministry of Defence in London, however, stated that no individual by the name Jagjeet Singh or the alias provided is currently serving in the British Army. They also mentioned that Indian authorities have not approached them regarding any such individual.
Punjab’s Director General of Police, Gaurav Yadav, stands by his department’s investigation, asserting that their findings are based on thorough investigations and interrogations of arrested individuals linked to terrorist acts. He indicated plans to engage with British authorities through appropriate channels to address the matter.
The allegations against Jagjeet Singh include plans to target leaders of religious sects to disrupt communal harmony in Punjab. He was declared a proclaimed offender in a 2011 case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. His name also surfaced in a 2021 case involving the recovery of hand grenades and pistols from an accused individual in Tarn Taran.
The situation remains complex, with Punjab Police releasing images purported to be of Jagjeet Singh, while the UK Ministry of Defence disputes his current affiliation with the British Army. Further diplomatic engagement between Indian and British authorities is anticipated to resolve these conflicting claims.
