ISLAMABAD: A leading pro-Khalistan British Sikh organisation’s leader has revealed prominent Geo/The News London reporter Murtaza Ali Shah faces death threats from the Indian state over his coverage of Khalistan issues and Sikh activists in the UK and other western countries.
In an interview on the Sikh Channel “Akaal TV”, Sikh Federation UK’s leader Dabinderjit Singh revealed the Metropolitan Police are aware of the threats to Murtaza Ali Shah’s life from the Indian state. The Sikh Federation revealed this in a tweet and a video interview as well.
Dabinderjit Singh, who is a retired civil servant and founded the Sikh federation ten years ago, revealed The News/Geo TV journalist is on the Indian hit list due to his coverage of Sikh issues, particularly his coverage of Khalistan Referendum and Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), a group banned in India.
“Murtaza Ali Shah covers Sikh issues for Geo TV but is not a Sikh. In particular, Murtaza Shah has been covering the Khalistan Referendum organised by Sikhs For Justice in UK, Canada, Switzerland and Italy. He has been reaching these places from London for coverage,” he said, linking his journalistic work to the threat.
India is known for targeting those who report on Kashmir and Khalistan issues. Last year, India banned Murtaza Ali Shah’s social media accounts in India along with other prominent journalists, including Rana Ayyub and C J Werleman.
The revelation by the Sikh leader has gained credence as The Guardian newspaper revealed this week in a big story the Indian government assassinated around 20 individuals in Pakistan as part of a wider strategy to eliminate those living on foreign soil but speaking against India.
