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The NIA investigations have revealed links of the accused persons with “Khalistan Tiger Force”, a proscribed organization, and its operative Arshdeep Singh Gill @Arsh Dala, a listed ‘Individual Terrorist’.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday i.e. March 21, filed chargesheet against 12 accused persons, before the NIA Court Delhi in one of the three terror-gangster nexus cases. The accused persons have been found to have “links with pro-Khalistani outfits” and “Pak-based conspirators”.
The chargesheet relates to the dismantling of the gangster-terror network, along with their funding and support infrastructure. These gangs were conspiring to carry out “targeted killings” and were also “raising funds to carry out these and other terror activities”, as part of a deep-rooted conspiracy amongst terrorists, gangsters, drug smugglers, and their networks, operating from both within and outside the country.
NIA investigations have revealed linkages of the accused persons with “Khalistan Tiger Force”, a proscribed organization, and its operative Arshdeep Singh Gill @Arsh Dala, a listed ‘Individual Terrorist’. Besides being in contact with Pak-based conspirators, the accused were also in touch with pro-Khalistanis based in Canada and abroad.
The 12 chargesheeted accused persons are:
The agency’s press release also stated that ten other persons are still under investigation for their role in the terror conspiracy, which included plans to eliminate certain leaders, singers, and businessmen to terrorize people, extort money from them and create a sensation.
“The Chargesheet against them followed 6 months of extensive searches and examination of around 100 members of different Organised Crime Support networks by the NIA at 91 locations in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi, across 25 districts, i.e. Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Mohali, Muktsar, Moga, Ferozpur, Bhatinda, Sangrur, Patiala in Punjab; Gurugram, Sirsa, Yamunanagar, Jhajjar, Rohtak, Rewari in Haryana: Outer North, North, Rohini, Dwarka, North-west, North-East in Delhi; and Bagpat, Bulandsahar, Pilibhit, Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh”, the NIA press release stated.
“The searches led to the seizure of large amounts of incriminating materials. The NIA has also unearthed centres created for harboring the gang members and stocking weapons for them in various places across Haryana and Punjab”, it added.
It also stated that around 20 weapons, 527 rounds of ammunition, 195 digital devices, 281 documents, etc., were seized in these raids and searches, Seven LOCs and 10 Non-Bailable Warrants (NBWs) have so far been issued during the course of the investigations. It added that three Immovable properties and three movable properties have been attached/seized under Section 25 Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The investigation revealed that the majority of the accused were, until recently, running their own independent gangs engaged in "extortion rackets". They initially changed into a gangsters' syndicate to broaden their sphere of influence in other states, but after being exploited by terrorist elements, they quickly became involved in a deadly "criminal-terror nexus". The gangsters' syndicate was a desirable option for terrorist organizations due to its access to sophisticated weapons and a large pool of inexpensive shooters.
NIA press release stated, “The case has also brought to light links of the gangsters with the Music Industry, Singers, Kabaddi players, and Advocates, etc, on the lines of the pre-1993 Mumbai blasts era when extensive linkages of the underworld with the business people and the film industry had surfaced.”
“It has further been found that family members of many of the gangsters lodged in Prisons are helping them in carrying out extortion activities from behind the bars”, it further added.
Statue: The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act
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