The Khanna Police in Punjab has recovered videos from a mobile phone of Tajinder Singh Gill, aka Baba Gorkha, a close aide of pro-Khalistani leader and ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh.

The phone carries pictures of the flag, emblem and currency of “Khalistan” and videos show firearms practice by youngsters allegedly picked for the radical preacher’s Anandpur Khalistan Fauz (AKF), the Punjab Police said on Friday.

The incriminating material shows the “sinister designs” of this nascent militia force and the enormous threat they would have become for “peace and harmony of Punjab and national security”, a statement by police in Khanna district said.

Who is Tajinder Singh Gill and what Punjab Police revealed?

Senior Superintendent of Police (Khanna) Amneet Kondal said that during interrogation, Tajinder Singh Gill or Baba Gorkha said he had come in contact with Amritpal Singh through Bikram Singh Khalsa, whom he had come in touch with during the farmers’ protest on the outskirts of Delhi.

Baba also revealed that they made a firing range in Amritpal’s native Jullupur Kheda village in Amritsar district. They have also arranged bulletproof jackets.

Baba went to Jallupur Khera five months back and was inducted as his gunman. Baba was given weapons marked AKF and firing practice was conducted at a makeshift range in the village.

Baba used to display weapons in pictures and videos on social media without having an arms licence. An FIR against him was registered under IPC Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), the police earlier said.

Officials said the investigation has revealed that he was also involved in the Ajnala incident and the Ajnala Police will separately take action against him.

The arrested man was a member of the AKF, being raised by Amritpal to wage an armed struggle for the formation of a separate Khalistan state, a police statement said.

What Punjab Police found?

The phone seized after the arrest on Wednesday of Baba, 42, of village Mangewal held pictures that revealed the design of the flag and the emblem of “Khalistan” and the logos for its proposed provinces.

Kondal said the mobile phone also had pictures of an AKF hologram and Khalistan currency, including a “10 dollar” note. There was also a picture of a Pakistani national’s driving licence.

The “Khalistan flag” had some Urdu words on it.

During the investigation, police said, Baba revealed that all AKF members were assigned belt numbers like AKF 3, AKF 56 and AKF 47 – perhaps based on their seniority or proximity to Amritpal Singh.

The examination of his phone showed that two WhatsApp groups – “AKF” and “Amritpal Tiger Force” – were created.

The members of the AKF were paid salaries.

Another associate, Gurbhej Singh alias Bheja, arranged 10 bullet-proof jackets with AKF inscribed on them for the group two months back.

He also gave firearms training to newly inducted members of the group at the makeshift firing range.

Videos of members showing their expertise in assembling, disassembling, cleaning weapons have been recovered, the SSP said.

While Amritpal has eluded police since it began a crackdown against him and his Waris Punjab De outfit, several of his alleged aides are now in custody.

(With inputs from PTI)

Union minister Anurag Thakur on Friday announced that the government has increased the dearness allowance or DA for central government employees by 4 per cent to 42 per cent with effect from January 1, 2023.