The National Investigation Agency (NIA) recently conducted nationwide raids at 76 locations across eight states and arrested six people; several of whom are linked to Lawrence Bishnoi and Khalistan ideologues. Among the arrested are Lucky Khokhar, who is closely associated with Canada-based ‘designated terrorist’, Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dalla.
NIA carried out raids in different states such as Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, UP, Delhi, NCR, Maharashtra, and MP. The probe agency also searched the locations of associates of gangsters Lawrance Bishnoi, Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, and Goldy Brar.
Last year on August 20, the NIA filed a suo-moto case against seven people, including Harwinder Singh @ Rinda, Lakhbir Singh Sandhu @ Landa, and Arshdeep Singh @ Arsh Dala. One person, Deepak Ranga, was earlier arrested in the case by the NIA.
As per the NIA, many hard-core gangsters who were active in India have gone to Pakistan, Canada, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Australia, and from there they are carrying out criminal activities with the help of criminals lodged in jails in different states in India.
These groups have been involved in targeted killings and have raised funds to increase their terror activities. They are responsible for drug and weapons smuggling, money laundering, and extortion as well.
Lucky Khokhar of Bhatinda in Punjab was arrested in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, on Tuesday. He was frequently in touch with Arsh Dala in Canada and recently carried out recruitment for him and got a huge amount to perform terror-related activities.
Khokhar had provided arms and ammunition to Arsh Dala’s men in Punjab as per his direction. Arsh Dala was the mastermind behind the recent killing of Jagraon in Punjab.
NIA spokesperson went on to say that Khokhar was associated with
Dalla, who was responsible for activities like smuggling, providing arms, ammunition, explosives, IEDs, etc. across international and inter-state borders for several Khalistani terror outfits, including the Khalistan Liberation Force, Babbar Khalsa International, and the Sikh Youth Federation.
The investigative agency apprehended Hari Om alias Titu and Lakhvir Singh in connection with a case registered against them. Nine weapons were recovered from Lakhvir’s possession. He is associated with Chhotu Ram Bhaat, who is already in jail. Nine accused have been arrested by the NIA, including Kaushal Choudhary, Amit Dagar, Sukhpreet Singh, Bhupi Rana, Neeraj Bawana, Naveen Bali, and Sunil Balyan in this case.
The spokesperson said Surinder Chaudhry was arrested on Tuesday, and several cases were filed against him under the NDPS Act for attempted murder and extortion. His other activities included involvement in illegal liquor contracts, smuggling, and extortion from liquor & mining contractors in Haryana.
Dalip Bishnoi, arrested on Wednesday, is a hard-core criminal; 13 cases were lodged against him. He was the financier of the terror groups as well as the person who provided logistics support to the gangs in Punjab and Rajasthan.
Further investigations have been progressing to root out such terror networks and their funding and support infrastructure.