Patiala – The Mohali and Patiala police have started preparing the case file of UK based Sikh Asylum seeker Paramjeet Singh, alias Pamma, relative of Bhai Balwinder Singh Jatana, to be passed on to Central agencies for his smooth extradition to India.
Paramjit Singh Pamma was arrested two days ago by the Portugal Police. Portugal’s Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) arrested Pamma after an Interpol red corner notice was issued, following a request from the Patiala police.
It is learnt that Paramjeet Singh Pamma was staying in England on political ‘asylum’. Notably his name does not appear in the list of wanted persons on the website of InterPol.
Paramjeet Singh Pamma is wanted in the July 2009 murder case of Rulda Singh — then head of the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, a wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) — and the April 2010 Patiala bomb blast, Goldy was deported from Malaysia.
It is to be noticed that during the visit of Indian PM Narendra Modi to UK, he personally handed a dossier of accusations against UK Sikhs to David Cameron. The dossier was compiled by his security advisor Ajit Doval, who incidentally, was one of the key individuals instrumental in planning Operation Bluestar, leading to the government’s attack on Harmandir Sahib (the Golden Temple), in Amritsar in 1984.
It seems as if the UK have attempted to mask their involvement by waiting for Pamma to step off-shore, and using Interpol to make the arrest.
“The Portuguese has a double deadline system, which includes an 18-day deadline followed by a second 22-day deadline. In total, there is a maximum deadline of 40 days, at the end of which the request must be formally presented,” said a senior police officer attached with the process of extradition of the arrested terrorist.
“We do not want Pamma to get bail. We will present all case files and documents to extradite him as his arrest will be crucial to solve many cases,” he stated.
Based in the United Kingdom for the past two decades, Pamma was staying at a hotel in Portugal, when he was detained on Friday night. Pamma had taken political asylum in the UK.
The Central agencies confirmed Pamma’s detention in Portugal to Punjab Police, following which the crime wing of the state is dealing with the case and has intimated the Mohali police to complete the legal formalities that include the entire crime record of the arrested accused, available with the state police.
“We will pass his crime records to the Mohali police and the files will then be used by the Central agencies to press for the extradition of Pamma,” confirmed Patiala SSP Gurmeet Chauhan.
“Pamma is needed in the Rulda Singh murder case as well and he will be questioned once he is back in India,” he said. Sources said the arrest of Pamma gave a great chance to the state police to crosscheck the claims of Jagtar Tara, who was extradited on January 17.
Tara was also brought by the Patiala police in the Rulda Singh murder case and was questioned by the Punjab Police intelligence wing and Central intelligence agencies. “Their statements will help us track the entire series of events and the foreign funding they have received in Pakistan,” they said.
Sikh Organisations step up efforts to prevent Pamma’s extradition
The UK Sikh Council, which was the first to declare the arrest on social media, on Sunday said it step up efforts to prevent Pamma’s extradition to India. It has also claimed to have raised the issue with UK MP and Labour leader John Spellar.
Gurinder Singh, Head of Political Engagement with Rt Hon John Spellar MP re Paramjeet Singh Portugal arrest @spellar pic.twitter.com/1jC07YSEwu
— Sikh Council UK (@SikhCouncilUK) December 19, 2015
Subsequent to Singh’s arrest, he was presented at Évora Court, held over the weekend and again will be in court on Monday for an extradition hearing.
The international organisation Sikhs for Justice has appointed lawyer Manuel Luís Ferreira to defend Paramjit Singh whose extradition is sought by the Indian government.
Sikhs for Justice also has instructed its lawyer Gurpatwant Singh Pannun to go to Portugal for the Monday court hearing,
Paramjeet Singh’s laywers will oppose the extradition request but it is not known on what grounds.
Shiromani Gurudwara Parbhandak Committee interim committee member Karnail Singh Panjoli has also urged Portugal to not deport Pamma.