Avtar Singh Khanda

Some Lesser Known Facts About Avtar Singh Khanda

• Avtar Singh Khanda was a UK-based activist and journalist who wielded considerable influence as the vice president of the youth wing of Shiromani Akali Dal (Mann). In 2023, he was clouded in controversy for his suspected involvement in the vandalism of the High Commission of India in London during a protest organized by pro-Khalistan supporters in response to the Punjab Police’s crackdown on Amritpal Singh, the leader of Waris Punjab De. Khanda’s connection to the situation is believed to extend beyond his alleged participation in the vandalism; he was also suspected of serving as Amritpal Singh’s mentor.

• The roots of Avtar Singh can be traced back to the household of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the infamous Indian militant. In an interview, Avtar revealed the constant police raids at their home in search of his father, Kulwant Singh Khukrana, who was on run, left Avtar’s family without a place to stay. Bhindranwale, however, offered them shelter in his house, where Avtar Singh’s birth took place. Later, the family kept shifting to various locations in the country like Patiala, Ludhiana, and Moga due to his father’s reputation as a separatist in India.

• On 3 March 1991, his father, Kulwant Singh Khukrana, was killed in a police encounter during the anti-Sikh riots after Indira Gandhi’s assassination in 1984. Khanda’s uncle, Balwant Singh Khukrana, also died during anti-Sikh riots. Following Khukrana’s death, Khanda, along with his mother and sister, was arrested by the police on 1 April 1991 at 5 am for questioning.

• During his school days, Khanda made a conscious decision to avoid morning assemblies. In an interview, he shared that he held a strong opposition towards the nation and its ideals. According to him, singing the national anthem of India as a Sikh was against the Sikh community’s principles. Therefore, he chose to abstain from attending morning assemblies and pay the fine to the teachers for the same to avoid participating in something he did not believe in.

• While talking about his childhood memories, in an interview, Khanda shared that his classmates would often call him the son of a terrorist. Khanda further said that his mother had initially told him that his father, Kulwant Singh Khukrana, was living overseas and would return soon, but in fifth grade, he discovered the truth through an old newspaper at home.

• According to Khanda, the 1984 Sikh Massacre was a calculated assault on the Sikh community. In an interview, he further alleged that the Indian government had been planning the massacre since the country gained independence in 1947.

• Khanda was known to have strong connections with the Khalistani nationalist Paramjit Singh Pamma, who has ties with the terrorist organization Babbar Khalsa International. It is believed that Khanda played a significant role in the planning and execution of the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, alongside Jagtar Singh Tara.

• Some sources claimed that Avtar Singh Khanda mentored Amritpal Singh while the latter was residing in Dubai; however, according to Avtar, he had never met Amritpal Singh but had maintained contact with him for a long period of time.

  

• Apart from being an activist, Avtar worked as a presenter for Khalsa Television Ltd. media house for the shows ‘Shera Di Kaum’ and ‘Itihaas’ on the channel Khalsa Television (KTV), also known as KTV Global. Khalsa Television Limited surrendered its UK broadcasting license on 21 June 2022 following an investigation by the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which found that the show ‘Prime Time’ on the channel breached broadcasting rules by promoting separatist propaganda that encouraged violence. ^[3]The Indian Express

  

• According to Indian intelligence agencies, Khanda is linked to Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

• Avtar Singh Khanda often voiced his opposition to the Indian government and its officials on social media. He once shared a picture on his social media handle in which he was spotted chocking former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi‘s statue at a museum.

  

• In March 2023, he was spotted at various pro-Khalistan protests held in the United Kingdom.