The National Investigation Agency (NIA) launched a massive operation on Thursday, searching 32 locations across four States and two Union Territories (UTs), including the nation’s capital, in relation to its ongoing investigation into three separate terror-gangster cases. The searches were conducted against the notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, the banned terror organization Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), and other individuals. In a massive multi-state crackdown on three cases involving the BKI and the Lawrence Bishnoi crime syndicate, among others, the anti-terror agency also seized several illegal weapons and ammunition along with incriminating documents, digital devices, and cash.
The 32 locations raided by the NIA sleuths included Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Chandigarh. The mega-operation began early this morning.
In the raids, the NIA claimed to have seized two pistols, two magazines and ammunition, along with cash amounting to Rs 4.60 lakhs, besides documents and digital devices.
“The three cases in which the NIA swooped down today relate to the terror activities being carried out by the BKI and the terrorist-gangster networks operating in the country. Such activities include the smuggling and induction of terrorist hardware, such as arms and ammunition, explosives, and IEDs across borders,” said the NIA in a statement.
“The terror hardware is being used by operatives and members of terror outfits and organized criminal syndicates for carrying out bomb explosions, targeted killings, extortions, and terror funding of terror outfits in various parts of the country.”
Of the raids conducted at 32 locations, the crackdown involved searches at 16 locations in the case (RC-21/2023/NIA/DLI) related to the activities of the chiefs and members of BKI.