NIA conducts raids against Babbar Khalsa, Lawrence Bishnoi gang

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 11

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday seized several illegal arms and ammunition, along with incriminating documents, digital devices and cash, in a massive multi-state crackdown in three cases relating to conspiracies and activities of the banned Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and the Lawrence Bishnoi crime syndicate, among others.

A total of 32 locations in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, as well as Chandigarh were raided early on Thursday morning by NIA teams. The seizures included two pistols, two magazines and ammunition, along with cash amounting to Rs 4.60 lakh, besides documents and digital devices.

The cases in which the NIA swooped down related to the terror activities being carried out by the BKI and the terrorist-gangster network operating in the country. Such activities included smuggling and induction of terror hardware such as arms and ammunition, explosives, IEDs, etc, across the borders.

The terror hardware is being used by members of terror outfits and organised criminal syndicates for carrying out explosions, targeted killings, extortions, terror funding of terror outfits, etc. in the country.

The crackdown involved raids at 16 locations related to the activities of the chiefs/members of the BKI.

The NIA, which had registered a case suo motu on July 10, 2023, has identified Harwinder Singh aka Rinda and Lakhbir Singh Sandhu aka Landa as among the key conspirators involved in hatching terror conspiracies as well as smuggling of arms and ammunition into Punjab.

They have also been sending funds to their associates through various channels for carrying out terror acts as per their investigations.

A total of seven locations were raided in a case registered by the NIA against the organised crime syndicate being run on the directions of Lawrence Bishnoi and his associates, including Goldy Brar, under UAPA, NIA sources said.

The syndicate has spread its mafia style criminal networks in several states as well as abroad in active conspiracy with Rinda.

These networks have been involved in many sensational crimes such as the murder of popular Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala as well as religious and social leaders like Pardeep Kumar, besides large-scale extortions from businessmen.

The third case in which nine raids were conducted related to various proscribed terrorist organisations and criminal gangs based in India and abroad, which have been involved in hatching terror and criminal conspiracies in various parts of the country.

Quizzes FEROZEPUR film artiste

Ferozepur: The NIA conducted raids in Zira and Ferozepur city. Three teams conducted raids at the residences of Sukhdeep Singh of Malwal road in the city, Harinder Singh Bhullar, a government teacher and Punjabi film artiste, besides Parminder Singh Pinku of Jai Mal Singh Wala in Zira. The NIA team stayed at the residence of Bhullar for more than five hours and checked his mobiles, laptop and social media account. Bhullar said he had gone to Pakistan in 2022. “On the basis of the telecommunication record, the NIA team has perhaps raided my house,” said Harinder.

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