Attack on Lt Gen Brar: 3 Sikh gang members convicted

London, Aug 1:Three members of a Sikh gang, including a woman, were Wednesday convicted of slashing the throat of Lt Gen (retd) Kuldip Singh Brar, the hero of the 1984 Operation Blue Star, here last year. Brar, 78, was attacked as he walked with his wife Meena in Old Quebec Street, central London, on September 30 last year.

Mandeep Singh Sandhu (34) of Birmingham, Dilbag Singh (37) and Harjit Kaur (39) of London were convicted by Southwark Crown Court. Barjinder Singh Sangha (33) of Wolverhampton had admitted the charge. The jury of nine women and two men took just an hour to convict the trio.

Lt Gen Brar was involved in Operation Blue Star against Sikh militants in Amritsar in June 1984. The victim's role in the Indian Army had "made him a target of Sikh extremist groups", the jury was told.

Following the verdict, Mari Reid, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "The group targeted Lieutenant General Brar in revenge for his actions during his military career and today's convictions are another reminder that the UK will not tolerate extremism of any kind."

The couple were on their way from their hotel for a night in West End when the attack happened. Kaur was described as key to the ambush. She boarded the same bus as the former soldier and his wife of 28 years to follow their movements and phone the attackers.

Barjinder "drew a knife as the other men held the victim", the jury heard. The three along with Barjinder, will be sentenced on September 19.

PTI