The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday conducted searches at multiple locations across Punjab and Rajasthan as part of the probe against pro-Khalistan elements and organised criminal syndicates.
The searches were carried out at 14 places in Amritsar, Bathinda, Moga, Sangrur, and Kapurthala in Punjab; and two places in Rajasthan’s Churu and Hanumangarh.
“Several persons were taken in for questioning and examination for their involvement in terrorist activities. Several digital devices, mobile phones and incriminating documents were seized, which are being examined,” said the agency.
The NIA had earlier registered eight cases to investigate and prosecute the persons associated with pro-Khalistan banned terrorist outfits and the criminal syndicates linked to them. Last year, it conducted 50 raids during the probe into the larger conspiracy behind the attacks on the High Commissions of India in Ottawa and London, and on the Consulate General of India in San Francisco, U.S.. The agency also identified 43 suspects.
Among the arrested persons were Amritpal Singh, Amrik Singh, Manpreet Singh aka Peeta, and Mandeep, who were deported from the Philippines, while accused Vikram Brar was arrested following deportation from the United Arab Emirates. Peeta is the right-hand man of Canada-based designated terrorist Arshdeep Dalla, it is alleged.
Deepak Ranga, the main accused in the Rocket-Propelled Grenade attack on the Punjab police intelligence headquarters, was also arrested. He was allegedly the chief executioner of terror activities of the Babbar Khalsa International’s Pakistan-based Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda and Canada-based Lakhbir Singh Landa, who are designated “individual terrorists”.
