Reno Man Charged With Helping Sikh Militant Group

[ekgurjaskhalsa]

RENO, NV - A Reno man has been charged with providing material support to terrorism groups in India and Pakistan to intimidate the Indian government and to harm people who were not supporting their cause, according to Daniel G. Bogden, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada and the FBI.

“A thorough investigation and cooperation among agencies led to these charges,” said U.S. Attorney Bogden. “Investigating and prosecuting matters of national security is the top priority of the U.S. Department of Justice.”

Balwinder Singh, aka Jhajj, aka, Happy, aka Possi, aka Baljit Singh, 39, of Reno, is charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to murder, kidnap, and maim persons in a foreign country, one count of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, one count of
making a false statement on an immigration document, two counts of use of an immigration document procured by fraud, and one count of unlawful production of an identification document. Singh was arrested on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013, in Reno, and is scheduled to appear before a United States Magistrate Judge on Friday, Dec. 20, 2013, for an initial appearance and arraignment.

“After an extensive investigation, the FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) of Northern Nevada has disrupted an individual’s involvement in facilitation activities in support of a foreign terrorist organization, targeting an ally of the United States,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Laura A. Bucheit. “We will continue to work with our international partners to prevent acts of terrorism on U.S. soil or, as in this case, on that of an ally. This investigation demonstrates the importance of law enforcement coordination and collaboration here and around the world.”

According to the indictment, Singh was a citizen of India who fled to the United States and claimed asylum. Singh lived in the United States where he eventually obtained a permanent resident card from the United States. The indictment alleges that Singh is a member of two terrorist organizations, Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF), whose members aim to establish an independent Sikh state in part of the Punjab region of India known as Khalistan. These groups engage in bombings, kidnappings and murders in India to intimidate and compel the Indian government to create the state of Khalistan. These groups also target for assassination persons they consider traitors to the Sikh religion and government officials who they consider responsible for atrocities against the Sikhs.

The indictment alleges that the object of the conspiracy was to advance the goals of BKI and KZF by raising money and obtaining weapons to support acts of terrorism in India. It is alleged that the conspiracy began on a date unknown but no later than Nov. 30, 1997. It is alleged that Singh used a false identity and obtained false identification documents in the United States so that he could travel back to India without being apprehended by the Indian authorities.

It is alleged that Singh communicated with other coconspirators by telephone while he was in the United States to discuss acts of terrorism to be carried out in India. It is alleged that Singh sent money from Reno, Nev., to co-conspirators in India for the purchase of weapons that would be provided to members of the BKI and KZF to support acts of terrorism in India. It is alleged that Singh traveled from the United States to Pakistan, India, and other countries to meet with coconspirators to assist in the planning of terrorism in India, and that Singh provided advice to coconspirators about how to carry out acts of terrorism.

If convicted, Singh faces up to life in prison and fines of up to $250,000 on each count. The case is being investigated by the FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force in northern Nevada, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sue Fahami and Brian L. Sullivan, and Trial Attorney Mara M. Kohn of the U.S. Department of Justice Counterterrorism Section.

The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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http://www.kolotv.com/news/headlines/CNN-Reno-Man-Charged-With-Helping-Sikh-Militant-Group-236455731.html?device=phone

[N30S1NGH]

Who is this Balwinder Singh, aka Jhajj, aka, Happy, aka Possi, aka Baljit Singh, 39, of Reno?

American Sikh Community does not know him. Nevertheless, He should be condemned since sikh community is being implicated/misinterperted by him and since is reported to support sikh cause. What sikh cause? Sikh cause has nothing to do with violence ,,.Violence has no place in sikhism. Self defense Yes..Violence no.

Sikh journalist should do its own investigative journalism on this person, background, his tribal group attachment and american sikh community should cooperate fully with authorities..i hope they are already doing so.

Good job on FBI and other intel agencies to catch fanatics, rogue extremist elements as i mentioned in their earlier thread- extermist elements seem to only 1% but they do make most noise. They surely have nothing to do with Sikh community. Sikhs are peaceful community.

Sikh community promotes peace and harmony and peaceful political activism- our recent example of peaceful bhai gurbakash singh khalsa and his peaceful hunger strike.

[ekgurjaskhalsa]

No idea. Never heard of this guy. But it shows that US and India has such good relations. Thats why Obama did not declare 84 as Sikh genocide.

This news coming out at this time is to tarnish the image of Sikhs in USA So that Sikhs can't get support for the justice campaign by Sikhs for Justice against Sonia Gandhi.

They have already done that in Canada and UK.

I remember when few months ago, Sikh American Congressional Caucus was established by Sikhs, Indian media made a big deal about it and published news framing it to be pro-khalistani and attempt of khalistanis to get into u.s. politics. Many politicians withdrew support from Caucus.The mission of Caucus was to advocate for rights of Sikh Americans.

They will never let Sikhs rise in America and do whatever to tarnish our image in front of world.

[N30S1NGH]

No idea. Never heard of this guy. But it shows that US and India has such good relations. Thats why Obama did not declare 84 as Sikh genocide.

This news coming out at this time is to tarnish the image of Sikhs in USA So that Sikhs can't get support for the justice campaign by Sikhs for Justice against Sonia Gandhi.

They have already done that in Canada and UK.

I remember when few months ago, Sikh American Congressional Caucus was established by Sikhs, Indian media made a big deal about it and published news framing it to be pro-khalistani and attempt of khalistanis to get into u.s. politics. Many politicians withdrew support from Caucus.The mission of Caucus was to advocate for rights of Sikh Americans.

They will never let Sikhs rise in America and do whatever to tarnish our image in front of world.

India and US relations have been bumpy lately and recent one indian diplomat being expelled and india rejection of defense contract of US. US envies India on diplomatIc level , they summoned sonia gandhi and others regarding sikh human right issues, they support sikhs more than sikh members themselves supporting sikh cause so when that happens then conveniently usa becomes freind but when one of tribal no name arbitrary mob who happens to have sikh sounding name gets implicated in terrorism then US becomes India friend.?

I actually don't support this criminal - no name arbitary mob who happens to have sikh sounding name and don't support people supporting this criminal in way or form. Nor i support terrorist indian state gov't . I am with US fully. FBI does excellent job as always.

[ekgurjaskhalsa]

Us and India has been allies for a long time. Many of Obama's advisors are from Indian descent. Making a statement and saying we condemn 1984 acts and then refusing to take further action is not a support.

Such arrests are made by US almost everyday involving people from all around the world, not often it makes up a news

I am not supporting him or his acts but it has been out of the blue that it made news at this time. There is definitely more to it. He has not even been tried for this or proven guilty yet.

Lets see what happens and how it turns out.

[proactive]

India and US relations have been bumpy lately and recent one indian diplomat being expelled and india rejection of defense contract of US. US envies India on diplomatIc level , they summoned sonia gandhi and others regarding sikh human right issues, they support sikhs more than sikh members themselves supporting sikh cause so when that happens then conveniently usa becomes freind but when one of tribal no name arbitrary mob who happens to have sikh sounding name gets implicated in terrorism then US becomes India friend.?

I actually don't support this criminal - no name arbitary mob who happens to have sikh sounding name and don't support people supporting this criminal in way or form. Nor i support terrorist indian state gov't . I am with US fully. FBI does excellent job as always.

The guy is innocent until proven guilty. I thought you would have learnt some lessons from the last time you claimed that Bagri was guilty of the Air India bombing and should be hung! It's not beyond the FBI to stitch someone up just to get on the good books of India. Surprising how this came about after the police in the US arrested that Indian female monkey diplomat and gave her a cavity search! Maybe the arrest of the Singh is to make up for the outrage in India.

[just_someone]

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

n30 u really are getting carried away with your mob mentality you have condemned a Sikh without even thinking what u are saying, the guy got asylum in usa so he was running away from state terror he might have been part of the freedom struggle the same struggle Bhai Gurbakash Singh ji fought in and was in jail for is he a terrorist?.

the indian government have been trying to label the freedom struggle as a terrorist war, we dont need sikhs calling other sikhs silly names grow up u sound like a 5 year olid.

sikhs have a right to help other sikhs back home, if he was sending money to shaheeds family's, the usa have double stands has other citizens of usa can help other struggles yet the sikh struggle does not fit into its politics.

one mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter

[MAJHAIL_JATT]

what can you say... babbar khalsa international and KZF are both organizations that are fighting for Sikh freedom.. if you're going to call this guy a terrorist or criminal you are not with us but against us. hurling remarks from the comfort of your couch while a real Sikh puts himself on the line to make something happen against the criminal regime is Dehli.

[sat]

us, uk, indian governments all piss in the same pot, sikhs will continue there struggle to end of time.

[Shaastar]

Nor i support terrorist indian state gov't . I am with US fully. FBI does excellent job as always.

Khair jo hoya average citizens we dont know whats what to this case.

Bhai Jagraj Singh Faujdar de Vichar dekhlavoh viroh.

boht dhiaan na duniaa di halaat dekh ke challoh.