Indian police have confirmed the deaths of three Sikh separatists involved in the Khalistan movement following a gun battle in Pilibhit district, Uttar Pradesh, on Monday. The men, associated with the Khalistan Zindabad Force, were wanted for their alleged involvement in a grenade attack on a police outpost in Punjab earlier this month.
According to police superintendent Avinash Pandey, officers surrounded the suspects after receiving a tip-off. When the suspects opened fire, police retaliated, resulting in all three men being critically injured and later dying in the hospital. Authorities recovered two assault rifles, two pistols, and a large amount of ammunition from the scene.
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The Khalistan movement, which seeks a separate homeland for Sikhs, has been a source of tension in India and internationally for decades. The struggle gained worldwide attention following violent incidents in the 1980s and 1990s and continues to cause diplomatic friction, especially after recent allegations linking Indian intelligence to the killing of a Sikh leader in Canada.
The Khalistan movement is banned in India, and leaders associated with it are accused of terrorism, further complicating relations between India and nations with significant Sikh populations.
