The Punjab Police has been placed on a state of high alert following a critical intelligence input warning of a potential assassination plot against incarcerated Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former minister, Bikram Singh Majithia. The threat is reportedly from the Pakistan-based militant outfit, Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).
Intelligence Input Triggers Security Overhaul
Specific warnings from central intelligence agencies prompted the counter-intelligence wing of the Punjab Police to issue urgent directives. Prison authorities and security chiefs at Nabha Jail, where Majithia is currently held, have been ordered to implement immediate and stringent preventive measures. This alert represents a significant shift from the police's stance in May of last year, when an affidavit submitted to the Punjab and Haryana High Court claimed there were no credible threats from terrorists or gangsters to Majithia's life.
However, a fresh memorandum dated January 2 has now identified Majithia as a target on the hit lists of not just BKI, but also other pro-Khalistan groups like the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF). Officials indicate that while Majithia is not directly linked to the sensitive 2015 Guru Granth Sahib sacrilege cases, he is seen as a symbol of the SAD-BJP government of that era, making him a prime target for radical elements.
Badal Family in the Crosshairs
The threat perception extends beyond Majithia. A senior police officer noted that the Badal family remains a primary target for such groups. This assessment is reinforced by the recent attack on SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. "These plots often involve BKI-aligned operatives," the officer stated, highlighting a continued pattern of targeting associated with the previous political establishment.
Enhanced Prison Security and Legal Moves
In response to the heightened danger, Bikram Singh Majithia has already approached the courts, seeking an order for his isolation from the general inmate population at Nabha Jail due to safety fears. When questioned about the security arrangements, Additional Director General of Police (Prisons) Arun Pal Singh confirmed that "adequate arrangements" have been made. "Our jails are secure," he asserted, while declining to share specific operational details citing sensitivity.
Majithia has been in judicial custody since his arrest in June in a case related to disproportionate assets. He also faces charges in corruption and drug-related cases. The latest security alert underscores the volatile intersection of politics, militancy, and law and order in Punjab, prompting authorities to reassess and fortify protections for high-profile detainees.
