The secessionist outfit SFJ, formed in 2007, is a US-based group seeking a separate homeland for Sikhs -- a "Khalistan" in Punjab.
Coming down heavily on racist attacks, an Australian court in Melbourne has sentenced the attacker of an Indian student, who went into a coma after being brutally beaten up, to over four years in jail. Judge Pamela Jenkins sentenced 21-year-old Zakarie Hussein to four-and-a-half years' jail term, with a minimum non-parole period of two years, observing that such racist attacks need to be condemned. Sukhraj Singh, 28, was attacked by Zakarie and a gang.
Deputy Inspector General (Ferozepur Range) Hardial Singh Mann, in an official release, said the murder was the handiwork of some gangsters. Mann said they have arrested 11 persons for their alleged role in the crime. The accused are still being questioned to ascertain their motive behind killing Balwinder, he said.
About 20 Punjab Congress leaders met in Ludhiana on Tuesday, with some of them batting for a key role for Navjot Singh Sidhu, the former state party unit chief who was among the participants.
The Punjab Police on Thursday arrested the second shooter involved in the killing of Shaurya Chakra awardee Balwinder Singh Sandhu last year.
Several people were feared trapped under the debris, police said, adding that the rescue operation was underway.
Three police personnel -- station officer Ramji Lal, sub-inspector Raj Singh and lady constable Sukhraj Kaur -- have been suspended following the incident.
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