CHANDIGARH, India -- Punjab security forces arrested two Sikh extremists, including one alleged terrorist suspected in attacks that claimed 27 lives, officials said Saturday.
Punjab Chief Minister Surjit Singh Barnala said Manbir Singh Chereu and Baldev Singh Ghuman were captured by authorities and paramilitary troops late Friday at Ghuman's home outside Jullundur, 95 miles northwest of Chandigarh.
The pair surrendered peacefully, Barnala told reporters. The troops and police found a light machine gun, six rifles and 1,000 rounds of ammunition in the house.
The authorities were watching the house for a week after receiving a tip the pair would show up there, Barnala said.
'The capture of two most-wanted terrorists is the biggest catch of this year,' Punjab Police Chief Julius Ribeiro said by telephone. 'Our efforts are being rewarded.'
Chereu, who calls himself Gen. Hari Singh, is the leader of the 'Khalistan Commando Force' and topped the state's list of most-wanted Sikh extremists fighting to create the independent nation of 'Khalistan' in predominantly Sikh Punjab.
More than 400 people, most of them Hindus, have died this year in Punjab in attacks apparently aimed at terrifying the minority community into flight.
Chereu is wanted for a March 6 attack on Kabul Singh, the acting president of the moderate Sikh Temple Management Committee, in Kapurthala, 85 miles northwest of Chandigarh. Singh was wounded and seven people killed in the assault.
Barnala said Chereu is also suspected in the March 29 slayings of 12 people near Nakodar, 95 miles west of Chandigarh, by Sikh gunmen who sprayed gunfire from a jeep.
In addition, he is wanted for an April 5 raid on the Jullundur District Court by Sikh extremists, who killed eight police officers and escaped with three murder suspects, Barnala said.
