BIRMINGHAM: The Sikh community in the United Kingdom (UK) has demanded full investigation into the death of Avtar Singh Khanda, a Khalistan Movement leader, who mysteriously died in Birmingham.
It is pertinent to mention here that Avtar Singh Khanda had led the protests at Indian High Commission in London earlier this year when the Indian flag was pulled down by the Khalistan activists. Avtar Singh Khanda could be seen leading the protests in the videos.
Cellphone videos on social media showed the Khalistan protesters climbing the building and taking down the Indian flag. Avtar Singh was seen leading the protest in the videos. India had registered a strong protest over the incident, saying the UK government’s “indifference” to Indian diplomats and personnel was “unacceptable.”
According to the local media reports, Khalistan leader Khanda was admitted to a Birmingham hospital after complaining of uneasiness on Monday. The exact cause of his death is not clear yet; however, the Sikh community cast doubts over the death and sought a probe into it.
In a letter to the United Kingdom Police, CEO Khalsa Aid International Ravinder Singh requested a “full investigation and a full coroner’s report” into the death of our leader Khanda, which caused concern amongst the community across the United Kingdom and internationally.
He said, “This death follows a number of other untimely deaths of Sikh activists within the last 18 months. We seek reassurance that this death is not politically motivated or sinister.”
He said the deceased’s family has requested a post-mortem to establish the cause of death.
The Indian media reports Khalistan leader Khanda suffered from blood cancer, while his close circles refused the claim.
Some Indian newspapers reported that Khalistan leader Khanda was suspected of being poisoned, though the facts were yet to be ascertained.
