NIA Cracks Down on Khalistani Separatists, Raids Over 50 Locations

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has initiated a widespread crackdown on the collaboration between criminal organizations within India and Khalistani separatists and terrorists operating from countries such as Pakistan and Canada. These networks have been employed for various terror-related activities. In a significant operation, the NIA conducted raids at more than 50 locations associated with gangs led by Lawrence Bishnoi and Arshdeep Dalla, who were recently linked by Delhi Police to the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba and rumoured attacks on Hindu leaders in Punjab.

The NIA’s investigation has revealed that fugitives like Dalla and Gaurav Patial are based abroad but maintain close communication with pro-Khalistan individuals to orchestrate targeted killings and extortion activities. The raids conducted by the NIA spanned multiple states, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and the National Capital Region, with 30 locations targeted in Punjab alone. These efforts are aimed at building a solid case against the syndicates, many of which now operate from Dubai. The raids are linked to three cases registered by the NIA in August 2022.

These cases involve individuals such as Lakhbir Singh alias Landa in Canada, Harvinder Singh Rinda in Pakistan, and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the United States, who is the founder of the banned Sikhs for Justice separatist group. The NIA has revealed details from a dossier on Pannun, which indicates his intention to “create countries by dividing India.” Additional cases have been filed against gangster leaders like Goldy Brar and Vikram Brar, as well as their rivals Bambiha, Kaushal Chaudhary, Neeraj Bawana, Dilpreet, and Sukhpreet alias Budha.

The NIA has also filed cases related to individuals like Sunil alias Tillu Tajpuriya, who was killed inside Delhi’s Tihar Jail in May, and Bambiha, who was shot dead in a Punjab encounter in 2016. Among these bosses, Lawrence Bishnoi is currently incarcerated in Ahmedabad, while Arshdeep Dalla is located in Canada. In a recent development, the NIA seized properties owned by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in Chandigarh and Amritsar under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Pannun wanted since 2019 on charges of promoting and commissioning terrorist acts, faces 22 criminal cases in Punjab, including three charges of sedition.

Just two days prior to this operation, the NIA conducted raids at over 1,000 locations in Punjab and Haryana, with connections to Goldy Brar, who is alleged to have planned the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. Goldy Brar is currently among India’s most wanted gangsters and is also believed to be responsible for the killing of rival crime boss Sukha Dukhe, who was shot dead in the Canadian city of Winnipeg.