The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has declared Canada-based gangster Arshdeep Singh Gill, also known as Arsh Dalla, a designated terrorist after discovering his involvement in crimes such as murder, extortion, targeted killings, and terrorism.
According to a notification, Gill is associated with the Khalistan Tiger Force and is accused of various offences, including targeted killing, extortion for terrorism funding, attempted murder, inciting communal strife, and spreading terror in Punjab.
In December of last year, four members of a gang linked to Gill and another individual based in the Philippines were arrested in Punjab and found in possession of a firearm, magazine, and live cartridges. The arrested individuals were reportedly collecting extortion money on behalf of Gill and the other suspects, who were making calls to local businesses from Canada and the Philippines.
The Union Home Ministry in a statement said that Arsh Dala has been designated as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 due to his involvement in cross-border smuggling of drugs and weapons and association with the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Gill, who is originally from Ludhiana but currently resides in Canada, has been accused in various cases by the National Investigation Agency, including targeted killing, extortion for terror funding, attempted murder, inciting communal unrest, and inciting fear among the people of Punjab. This marks the fifth individual to be designated as a terrorist in the past week, all of whom are based in countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and Canada.
According to a notification from the central Government, Gill is closely connected to Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and is involved in running terror modules on behalf of Nijjar. The notification also states that Gill has been involved in crimes such as murder, extortion, and targeted killings, as well as terror financing and the large-scale smuggling of drugs and weapons across borders.
Gill has been accused in multiple cases investigated by the National Investigation Agency, including attempted murder, extortion to fund terrorism, disturbing communal harmony, and creating fear among the people of Punjab. As a result, the Central Government has added Gill as a terrorist under section 35 of the UAPA.
This will make Gill the 53rd individual to be designated as a terrorist under the Act, which was enacted to prevent unlawful activities and deal with terrorist activities.
(With inputs from PTI.)