Three youths killed in Pilibhit encounter linked to Khalistan Zindabad Force

Chandigarh: Three youths, wanted in connection with a grenade attack near the Bakshiwal police outpost in Gurdaspur’s Kalanaur area three days ago, were killed in an encounter with a joint team of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh police in Pilibhit on Monday morning.

The deceased were identified as Gurwinder Singh (25), son of Gurdev Singh from Kalanaur; Varinder Singh alias Ravi (23), son of Ranjit Singh from Agwan village; and Jashanpreet Singh (18) from Niko Sara village in Kalanaur.

Punjab Police confirmed that the three were linked to the Pakistan-backed Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF), a militant outfit.

Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav described the encounter as a significant success in the state’s efforts to dismantle KZF’s terror module.