Khalistani terrorist among 8 men arrested in California in gang-related kidnapping and torture case

Eight Indian-origin men, including a Khalistani terrorist wanted by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA), have been arrested by California’s San Joaquin County Sheriff in connection with a gang-related kidnapping and torture case. In a statement, the county sheriff’s Office mentioned that five search warrants were executed, leading to eight arrests.

As per the statement, the authorities found five handguns, an assault rifle, along with hundreds of rounds of ammunition. They also found more than $15,000 in cash and high-capacity magazines.

“On July 11, 2025, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office AGNET Unit—alongside the Stockton Police Department SWAT Team, Manteca Police Department SWAT Team, Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team, and the FBI SWAT Team—executed five coordinated search warrants across San Joaquin County as part of a gang-related kidnapping and torture investigation,” the American authorities said in a statement on Saturday.

Who are they?

The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office identified the primary suspect as Pavittar Singh Batala, but no other information was provided. The names of other people who were arrested in the case are as follows:

• Dilpreet Singh

• Arshpreet Singh

• Amritpal Singh

• Vishal

• Gurtaj Singh

• Manpreet Randhawa

• Sarabjit Singh

It is pertinent to note that Pavittar Singh Batala is a gangster from Punjab, who is allegedly linked to a banned terror group named Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). He is currently facing terror-related charges by India’s NIA.

In the statement, it is mentioned that the Sheriff’s AGNET unit collaborated with SWAT teams from the Stockton and Manteca Police Departments, Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI to carry out the operation.

The eight suspects were booked into jail on the following charges:

• Kidnapping
• Torture
• False Imprisonment
• Conspiracy to Commit a Crime
• Preventing/Dissuading a Witness
• Assault with a Semiautomatic Firearm
• Threats to Terrorise
• Felony Gang Enhancement

Sources close to the matter told The Times of India that Indian agencies are in touch with their American counterpart to extradite Batala.