• By Mayukh Debnath
  • Wed, 27 Sep 2023 08:20 PM (IST)
  • Source:ANI
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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday detained an alleged aide of Canada-based gangster and Khalistan sympathiser Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala as it carried out raids across six states. The raids were in connection with the anti-terror agency's ongoing probe into the nexus between India- and foreign-based gangsters, terrorists, and drug dealers. Meanwhile, in Rajasthan, NIA detained 12 other individuals during the raids conducted throughout northern India.

The NIA, with assistance from local police, raided as many as 51 locations belonging to associates of Lawrence Bishnoi, Bambiha, and Arsh Dalla gangs in connection with three cases. While Dala is based out of Canada, Lawrence Bishnoi is lodged in jail, and Davinder Bambiha was killed in a 2016 encounter with Punjab Police.

NIA's probe has revealed that several gangsters having nexus with individual 'listed terrorist' Arsh Dala had entered into a criminal conspiracy to raise funds for Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), a proscribed terror outfit. They were also engaged in smuggling of arms, ammunition, and explosives for the KTF from across the border.

Here are the top updates from the mega raid:

1. The alleged aide of Arsh Dala detained by NIA has been identified as Yunis alias Jora, who was picked up from Punjab's Ferozpur. His family members were handed over a document which mentioned that he would be questioned in Chandigarh.

2. Yunis works as a labourer earning Rs 12,000 per month, news agency ANI reported.

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3. The house of a liquor contractor in Takhtupura village of Moga district in Punjab was also raided by the central probe agency.

4. Five districts of Rajasthan including Sriganganagar, Hanumangarh, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, and Jhunjhunu also witnessed the action by NIA, Rajasthan Anti-terror Squad (ATS) informed.

5. NIA raided "seven locations in Sriganganagar district and detained over 12 suspects in connection with funding through Hawala and other online platforms from the Khalistani network," Om Prakash, Inspector General of Police, Bikaner range was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

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6. In Rajasthan, NIA also interrogated a few people, Anshuman Bhomla, Director General of Police (DGP), Rajasthan ATS, said. However, it is not clear if the same persons who were questioned were also detained later.

7. Besides Punjab and Rajasthan, raids were also carried out at locations in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Delhi-NCR.

8. In the early hours of Wednesday, NIA raided the house of a liquor contractor in Takhtupura village of Moga district in Punjab.

9. According to ANI, the NIA also reportedly raided a gun house in the Bajpur police station area of Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand.

10. Another premises raided by the anti-terror agency in Uttarakhand is reportedly located in the Clementown police station area of Dehradun district.

(On the orders of an NIA court, a property confiscation notice was pasted outside a house owned by banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) founder and designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in Chandigarh on September 23, 2023. Pic credits: ANI)

The raids by NIA come amid diplomatic tensions between India and Canada following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's unsubstantiated allegations against New Delhi regarding the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Last week, the NIA confiscated properties located in Punjab, and Chandigarh and belonging to Nijjar, and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who heads Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) - a pro-Khalistan outfit banned in India.


(With inputs from agencies)