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Militants target journalist
for talking of Kanishka bombing

A journalist, who participated in a talk show on the arrest of Sikh militants in the Air India bombing case, had been threatened of dire consequences by members of extremist groups in Vancouver.

A local daily Vancouver Sun on Wednesday reported that journalist Sukhminder Singh Cheema received threatening calls on Tuesday following his talk show on a Punjabi radio channel in Surrey.

He said a group of people came to the radio station to intimidate him for his story on the Air India bombing case.

Cheema said there was lot of tension in the Sikh community since the arrest of accused Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri. One of Malik's sons is understood to have shouted at Cheema outside the Vancouver court not to publish any more news on the Air India crash.

Cheema said he reported the matter to the Surrey branch of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The police arrived at the radio station on Monday night and interrogated the men who belonged to the separatist International Sikh Youth Federation. The office of the organisation is next to the radio station.

Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal cancelled his visit to Vancouver, reportedly on the advise of the police. According to embassy sources in the United States, Badal is visiting New York.

RCMP sources said the release of the third suspect was not a setback to the investigation and 'they have very serious interest in the individual - Hardial Singh Johal'.

More arrests were expected soon though no time frame was stipulated. ''We are receiving lots of information and believe that there will be more arrests,'' police added.

UNI

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