Inside NIA’s raids in 53 locations exposing Khalistani-gangsters nexus

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has ratcheted up its crackdown on the terror-gangster network operating in India and other countries. The central agency raided 53 locations across several states and Union Territories today (27 September) linked to associates of ‘listed terrorist’ Arsh Dalla, gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and others, including from the Bambiha gang. Let’s take a look at NIA’s raids exposing the nexus of terrorists, gangsters and drug smugglers. Raids in six states/UTs As per NIA’s statement, raids were carried out with the help of local police across Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. The agency seized pistols, ammunition, several digital devices and incriminating material during the raids, reported India Today. Besides Dalla and Bishnoi, the NIA targeted notorious gangsters like Sukhdool Singh alias Sukha Duneke, Harry Maur, Narender alias Lali, Kala Jatheri, and Deepak Tinu. This was the seventh such operation in a series of crackdowns by the NIA after the lodging of five cases since last August, including two new cases against Organised Criminal Gangs this July, as per Times of India (TOI). These raids were an attempt at “dismantling the terror-gangster-drug smuggler nexus, and on weapon suppliers, financiers and logistics providers associated with various hardcore gangs and their operatives”, the agency said, as per ThePrint.  [caption id=“attachment_13177382” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Police officials were seen outside a house during a raid by NIA in Dehradun. PTI[/caption] The raids targeted gangsters who are incarcerated or operating from foreign countries, including Pakistan, the UAE, Canada, Portugal and so on. In Uttarakhand, the agency raided the house of one Parikshit Negi in Dehradun. He is allegedly linked to the recovery of 2,000 rounds of ammunition, including imported cartridges, near the Anand Vihar inter-state bus terminal in Delhi last August, reported Indian Express. The house of one Asim in Uttarakhand’s Udham Singh Nagar district was also under NIA’s radar. As per Indian Express, Asim is connected to the 2016 Nabha jailbreak case in Punjab. What has the NIA revealed? As per the NIA, these gangs are allegedly working with drug smugglers and terrorists in various countries, including Pakistan and Canada. The agency has detained several suspects, including Dalla’s aide Sunder alias Jora,  after the raids, as per India Today. 

#WATCH | Police in Ferozepur take a man into custody as NIA raids are underway at various locations of associates of Canada-based terrorist Arshdeep Singh Dala in Punjab pic.twitter.com/xRvqiMg7pr

— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2023

The NIA said in its statement that the nexus was using Indian jails as “havens” where conspiracies were being hatched and “executed by an organised network of operatives based abroad”. “Many of the criminals and gangsters who were earlier leading gangs in India have fled abroad in recent years and are now pursuing their terror and violence-related activities from there, as per NIA investigations. These criminals have been engaged in planning and commissioning serious crimes, including contract and revenge killings, in association with criminals lodged in jails across India. These groups have been carrying out targeted killings and raising funds for attacks and other nefarious activities through smuggling of drugs and weapons, hawala and extortions,” ThePrint cited the agency as saying. The notable conspiracies hatched by these criminals include the murder of Maharashtra builder Sanjay Biyani, mining trader Mehal Singh and international Kabaddi player Sandeep Nangal Ambia in Punjab last year, as per TOI. A look at recent NIA action Two days back, the NIA raided more than 1,000 locations across Punjab and Haryana linked to Goldy Brar. Brar, also known as Satwinderjeet Singh, a key member of the Bishnoi gang, is a prime accused in the murder of famous Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala. Last week, the NIA confiscated the properties of US-based Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in Punjab’s Amritsar and Chandigarh. On the NIA’s radar since 2019, Pannun was designated an “individual terrorist” by India in 2020. On 20 September, the NIA released a list of 43 most-wanted criminals, including those linked to the pro-Khalistan movement. As per The Tribune, among those featured in this list, Brar, Arshdeep Singh Gill or Arsh Dalla, and designated terrorist Lakhbir Singh Sandhu alias Landa are known for supporting Khalistani extremists. Landa and Dalla are believed to be in Canada, while Brar is reportedly in the United States, after spending five years in Canada. Earlier, the NIA confiscated properties of Landa at his ancestral village Kirian near Harike in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district, noted ThePrint. The agency has also announced cash rewards for information on Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) operatives Landa and Harwinder Singh Sandhu, also known as Rinda. NIA’s action comes in the wake of Canada’s recent allegation that India was behind the murder of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has dismissed the charges as “absurd and motivated”. With inputs from agencies