Death of Babbar Khalsa Militant Mehal Singh Babbar in Pakistan

Mehal Singh Babbar, a key figure in Babbar Khalsa International and wanted since 1990 for his role in militancy, died in Pakistan due to kidney failure. He faced allegations from the NIA related to weapons smuggling and had been living in Pakistan since the early 1990s. His family history is intertwined with violence and police action in India.

On March 24, 2025, wanted Babbar Khalsa militant Mehal Singh Babbar passed away due to kidney failure in a hospital in Nankana Sahib, Pakistan. He had been a proclaimed offender since 1990 and was linked to militant activities in the Amritsar, Jalandhar, and Faridkot districts during the 1980s. Reports indicate that his cremation is expected to take place on Wednesday evening.

Babbar was accused by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) of collaborating with gangsters and illegally supplying weapons from Pakistan to India. The NIA identified him as the deputy chief of Babbar Khalsa International, which has been involved in militant operations.

A former Indian Air Force officer, Babbar had been residing in Pakistan since the early 1990s, with a reported trip to France in 2003. He was the brother of Sukhdev Singh Babbar, who led the Babbar Khalsa International in 1984 and was killed in 1992.

Gurdev Kaur, Babbar’s wife, continues to live in Amritsar. During the late 1980s, she and other female relatives of militants faced harassment from authorities, with the then Batala Senior Superintendent of Police, Gobind Ram, allegedly detaining them. Afterward, a protest was announced by Giani Darshan Singh Raggi, the Akal Takht Jathedar, outside the Batala police headquarters. Ram was later killed in a bombing incident.

Mehal Singh Babbar’s passing marks the end of a long history connected to militant activities in India. His death brings attention to the ongoing issues surrounding militancy and its impacts on families, both past and present. As investigations continue, the ramifications of his actions remain significant in the context of Indian security.

Original Source: indianexpress.com