India seeks extradition of Babbar Khalsa man

India has formally asked US Justice Department for the extradition of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Balwinder Singh Possi. A formal request was made by the Ministry of External Affairs earlier this month. Shishir Gupta reports

India has formally asked US Justice Department for the extradition of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Balwinder Singh Possi. A formal request was made by the Ministry of External Affairs earlier this month.

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Possi is wanted for the twin blasts at Jalandhar’s inter-state roadways bus stand in 2006.

Government sources told HT that Punjab Police is also planning to file for the extradition of another BKI terrorist Gurnam Singh, alias Neka, from the US.

Neka is wanted for the two blasts which were carried out on April 24 and 28, 2006, in which three persons were killed. Punjab police is also investigating the involvement of a third BKI terrorist Gursharan Singh Cheema in the blasts. Both the accused fled to the US in 2006 shortly after the blasts.

The extradition plea for the three terrorists featured in the official meeting between Indian and US delegations on Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty today.

However, 26/11 accused David Headley and his accomplice Tahawwur Rana are not going to be extradited to India. While US national Headley has struck a deal with the FBI that bars his extradition to a third country, Tahawwur Rana is a Pakistan national who has been acquitted of his involvement in 26/11 conspiracy by a US court.