Who was Paramjit Singh Panjwar? Khalistan Commando Force Chief Shot Dead in Lahore

Paramjit Singh Panjwar, the chief of the Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), a banned militant group that seeks an independent Sikh homeland in India, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Lahore, Pakistan, on May 6, 2023. He was one of the most wanted terrorists in India and had been living in Pakistan for over three decades. His killing is seen as a major setback for the Khalistan movement, which has been losing its relevance and support in recent years.
About Paramjit Singh Panjwar
Paramjit Singh Panjwar was born in 1960 in Panjwar village of Tarn Taran district in Punjab, India. He was a bank employee before he joined the KCF in 1984, following the Operation Blue Star, a military operation by the Indian Army to flush out Sikh militants from the Golden Temple in Amritsar. He became the chief of the KCF after its founder Manbir Singh Chaheru was killed by the police in 1988.
Panjwar was involved in several terrorist attacks in Punjab and other parts of India, including the assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh in 1995. He was also accused of masterminding the hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight from Kathmandu to Delhi in 1999, which resulted in the release of three terrorists, including Masood Azhar, the founder of Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Panjwar fled to Pakistan in the late 1980s and had been operating from there ever since. He was designated as a terrorist by India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in July 2020. He was also on the list of 20 terrorists that India had given to Pakistan after the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
How did Paramjit Singh Panjwar die?
According to media reports, Panjwar was on a morning walk with his guard near his residence in Sun Flower Housing Society in Jauhar Town, Lahore, when two gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire at them and fled. Panjwar was shot in the head and died on the spot, while his guard succumbed to his injuries later at a hospital.
The police and intelligence agencies cordoned off the area and launched an investigation into the incident. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. Some sources have speculated that it could be an internal feud among the Khalistani groups or a retaliation by Indian intelligence agencies.
What is the impact of his death?
Panjwar’s death is a significant blow to the Khalistan movement, which has been struggling to revive itself after being crushed by the Indian security forces in the 1990s. The movement has also lost its appeal among the Sikh diaspora, especially in Canada, UK, and the US, where it had once enjoyed considerable support and funding.
The movement has also faced opposition from the mainstream Sikh political parties and religious bodies in India, who have denounced violence and separatism as contrary to Sikh principles. The majority of Sikhs in Punjab and elsewhere have rejected the idea of Khalistan and have embraced democracy and pluralism.
However, some fringe elements within the Sikh community have continued to propagate the Khalistan agenda through social media and online platforms. They have also tried to exploit some contentious issues such as farmers’ protests and human rights violations to mobilize support for their cause.
The death of Panjwar may further weaken these elements and isolate them from the mainstream Sikh opinion. It may also create a leadership vacuum within the KCF and other militant groups that operate under its umbrella. It may also prompt Pakistan to crack down on these groups, which have been using its soil as a safe haven for their activities.

The death of Panjwar may also open up new avenues for dialogue and reconciliation between India and Pakistan, which have been locked in a bitter rivalry over various issues, including Kashmir and terrorism. Both countries may realize that supporting or harboring terrorists is counterproductive and detrimental to their own interests and stability.
The death of Panjwar may also send a message to other terrorists and separatists that violence is not a solution to any problem and that they cannot escape justice forever. It may also inspire more people to renounce extremism and embrace peace and harmony.
Source: News Unzip