Mehal Singh Babbar, Deputy Chief of Babbar Khalsa International, Dies in Pakistan
Mehal Singh Babbar, a top leader of the banned militant outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), has died in Nankana Sahib, Pakistan. He was suffering from kidney failure and passed away on March 24, 2025, at a private hospital. Mehal Singh had been a fugitive from Indian law since the 1980s and was wanted in multiple cases related to militancy in Punjab.
From Air Force Officer to Militant Commander
Mehal Singh began his career in the Indian Air Force but turned to militancy during the height of the insurgency in Punjab in the 1980s. He became deeply involved in Babbar Khalsa’s operations, and his name was linked to several terror-related incidents in Amritsar, Jalandhar, and Faridkot. Declared a proclaimed offender in 1990, Mehal Singh eventually rose to become the deputy chief of the BKI.
Indian authorities considered him a key figure in coordinating arms smuggling and terror networks, allegedly working with criminal groups to channel weapons across the border into India.
Life in Exile
Following the crackdown on militancy in Punjab, Mehal Singh fled India and took refuge in Pakistan. He is believed to have briefly moved to France in 2003, but he returned to Pakistan and settled at Gurdwara Tambu Sahib in Nankana Sahib. While in exile, he remained active in gurdwara affairs and maintained connections with pro-Khalistan groups abroad.
Despite his continued presence on India’s wanted list, Mehal Singh lived relatively quietly in Pakistan in his later years, away from public attention but never far from the concerns of Indian intelligence agencies.
Cremation and Family Notification
Following his death due to kidney failure, arrangements are underway for his cremation in Nankana Sahib. His relatives in France and India have been informed, although it remains unclear whether any family members will travel for the last rites.
Mehal Singh’s death marks the end of a long chapter in the saga of Punjab militancy. As one of the key operatives of Babbar Khalsa during the insurgency years, his role in cross-border extremism remained a point of concern for Indian authorities until his final days in exile.
