Canada to deport Babbar Khalsa terrorist

The court passed the order despite request from UN to delay deportation while it examines the case.

Canada has decided to deport Babbar Khalsa terrorist Bachan Singh Sogi, accused of plotting to assassinate former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, his son Sukhbir and former state DGP K P S Gill.

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Canada's Public Security Minister Stockwell Day has rejected Sogi's plea challenging a court order for his deportation.

Sogi was removed from a detention centre in Montreal on Sunday. "We know that he's been removed from the prison and that's all we know," his family members said.

The Federal Court of Canada had on June 23 refused to put Sogi's removal order on hold. Sogi is a member of BKI, a group fighting for an independent Sikh homeland in Punjab, police said.

The court passed the order despite a request from the United Nations committee against torture to delay the deportation while it examines the case.

The BKI terrorist has denied the charge that he was involved in a plot to assassinate senior Punjab officials and contended that he would be tortured if sent back to India.

Police said that Sogi, 45, arrived in Toronto on May 8, 2001 and claimed refugee status, later moving to Montreal.

Police said that there were reasonable grounds to believe that he was actually Gurnam Singh, alias Piare Singh, a member of Babbar Khalsa.