British police to probe Punjab murder

CHANDIGARH - A British police team will reach Punjab to probe the killing of a Sikh religious leader in the state suspected to have been assassinated by British nationals of Punjab origin.

Rashtriya Sikh Sangat (RSS) president Rulda Singh was shot and seriously injured by unidentified men outside his house in Patiala district July 28, 2009. He died here after about 18 days.

A police inquiry suggested that four British nationals of Punjab origin had plotted the murder.

“An eight-member UK police team will reach Punjab. They will record the statements of witnesses and visit the crime spot,” a Punjab Police officer said Tuesday. “They have arrested four people in the UK in this case.”

Punjab Police have also arrested two men, Darshan Singh and Jagmohan Singh, over the murder, which has been blamed on the banned Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).

“BKI activists in the UK were unhappy with Rulda Singh,” an officer said.