In a significant development, Lakhbir Singh Rode, the notorious chief of the banned Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), passed away in Pakistan on Monday at the age of 72. The self-styled head of the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) and nephew of the slain Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Rode had long been a thorn in the side of India, orchestrating anti-India operations from across the border.
The news of Rode’s demise was confirmed by his brother, former Akal Takht Jathedar Jasbir Singh Rode, who revealed that Lakhbir Singh had already been cremated in Pakistan on the same day.
Recently, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) special court in Mohali took a decisive step by ordering the confiscation of Rode’s land in Punjab’s Moga district. The court’s move was executed under Section 33(5) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, allowing the seizure of property belonging to individuals involved in serious crimes.
This decision was part of a broader legal action initiated by the NIA in October 2021, following the registration of a case under the Explosive Substances Act, UAPA, NDPS Act, and the IPC. The case was originally filed on September 16, 2021, in connection with a tiffin bomb blast near Punjab National Bank in Fazilka district.
Lakhbir Singh Rode’s association with the ISYF, a group founded in 1984 and known for its activities in Canada and the UK, has long been a cause for concern. The US State Department has labeled ISYF as an active terrorist organization with links to Islamist militant groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The group was banned under the Prevention of Terrorist Activities Act (POTA) in India in 2002 and faced a similar ban in the UK in 2001, prompting a name change to Sikh Federation-UK (SFUK).
Rode, who resided in Lahore, collaborated closely with Pakistan’s ISI to disrupt peace in Punjab. His involvement in various incidents, including the Ludhiana Court blast of 2021 and the killing of Comrade Balwinder Singh, a Shaurya Chakra awardee, highlighted his role in orchestrating acts of terror. Rode’s nefarious activities extended to the smuggling of arms, ammunition, drugs, and explosives using drones, leading to the involvement of the Punjab Police’s state special operation cell (SSOC) earlier this year.
With Rode’s demise, authorities are now faced with the challenge of dismantling the networks he had cultivated over the years. The legacy of his involvement in anti-India operations and acts of terror will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the efforts to maintain peace and security in the region.
