Pilibhit encounter: Terror suspects hailed from poor families

Three suspected Khalistani terrorists killed in Uttar Pradesh encounter, families claim innocence, struggle to believe involvement in attack.

The three suspected Khalistani terrorists killed in an encounter in Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit hailed from poor families, with their kin finding it hard to believe they could be involved in anti-national activities.

Accused of being involved in the grenade attack at a police post in Gurdaspur recently, the three were killed in an encounter with police in Pilibhit on Monday (December 23).

The three suspected members of the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) were identified as Varinder Singh alias Ravi (23) of Agwan in Kalanaur, Gurwinder Singh (25) of Bhaini Bania Mohalla in Kalanaur and Jashanpreet Singh alias Partap Singh (18) of Shur Khurd in Kalanaur.

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The families of two of the suspects claimed they have no clue how they landed in Uttar Pradesh.

Gurwinder's family said he left home last week for Batala in Punjab. His phone was later found switched off, his family told reporters at their home.

"We cannot believe he could even think of doing such a thing," his father Gurdev Singh, a labourer, told reporters.