Cops waiting for official request to track down Sikh militants

KUALA LUMPUR: The police are waiting for an official request from their Punjab counterpart to track down four suspected Sikh militants said to be hiding in Malaysia.

Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan said it was waiting for word from New Delhi and would cooperate with Indian authorities to address the militancy problem.

"They (Punjab police ) should make an official request so that action can be taken according to the law. The type of action will depend on the situation and offences committed. We have to follow international law," he told Bernama when contacted today.

Musa said police would not compromise and take stern action based on the law to check militancy as it could harm national security.

He was commenting on a statement by Patiala police chief Senior Supt Ranbir Singh Khatra from New Delhi that Punjab police would use diplomatic channels to get cooperation of the Malaysian government to track down the suspects.

Based on intellIgence inputs, three of the suspected Sikh militants, Harminder Singh,45, Daljit Singh and Harpreet Singh, both in their 20s, all of whom are from Punjab state are believed to be hiding in Malaysia.

There are no details of the fourth suspect.

Punjab police claimed that Khalistan Liberation Force, a violent Sikh separatist group, had set up base outside Kuala Lumpur and that four of its mmebers are hiding in the country.