NIA Files Chargesheet Against 3 Gangster-Turned-Khalistani Leaders, Exposes Int'l Nodes Of Terror Groups

In the charge sheet, the agency exposed their international nodes involved in the recruitment and handling of India-based terror operatives, an official said on Sunday.

NIA has filed a chargesheet against three "individual terrorists" associated with banned Khalistani outfits BKI and KTF. ( Image Source :ANI )

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against three "individual terrorists" – Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala and Lakhbir Singh Sandhu alias Landa – who are associated with banned Khalistani outfits BKI and KTF, reported news agency PTI.

In the charge sheet, the agency exposed their international nodes involved in the recruitment and handling of India-based terror operatives, an official said on Sunday.

According to a spokesperson of the agency, six other associates working for the Babbar Khalsa International and Khalistan Tiger Force were also named in the chargesheet filed before a special court on Sunday. The agency also highlighted a complex mechanism of fundraising for the two outfits.

NIA said that it is also investigating the links of 16 other absconding and arrested accused associated with the BKI and KTF.

The spokesperson said the three notorious gangsters-turned-terrorists and drug smugglers are based outside the country and have created their own networks of operatives there to carry out terror activities in India.

"Through this complex network of operatives based abroad, they have been recruiting, motivating and handling their associates in India to carry out terrorist activities, extortion and cross-border smuggling of weapons and drugs into India," the spokesperson said.

"They also have linkages with major gangs operating in north India, including local gangsters, organized criminal syndicates and networks," the spokesperson added.

According to the NIA, Rinda is a very important BKI member and Khalistani operative. "In the year 2018-19, he fled to Pakistan illegally and is currently living there under the patronage of ISI, and is involved in the commission of terrorist activities against India.

"Rinda is involved in various offences like smuggling of arms, ammunition explosives and drugs into Indian territory from Pakistan, recruitment of BKI operatives, murders, raising funds for BKI through extortion in the states of Punjab and Maharashtra," the spokesperson said.

Rinda has been engaged in numerous terrorist activities, which include the RPG attack on the Punjab Police Intelligence headquarters in May 2022, the official said. The central agency has designated Rinda, along with Dala and Landa, as "individual terrorists."

According to the spokesperson, Dala, who is from Moga, is an infamous gangster who left for Canada sometime back and came in contact with Hardeep Singh Nijjar who was the chief of the terrorist organization KTF.

The duo engaged in the recruitment of youth and formation of terrorist gangs for carrying out extortion for raising funds for KTF and for carrying out targeted killing of businessmen and leaders of particular communities in Punjab, the spokesperson said.

The official said Landa of Tarn Taran was initially involved in criminal and gangster activities and left for Canada in 2017 where he came in contact with Rinda.

Landa started working for the BKI and emerged as the main accused in a number of terrorist incidents, including the RPG attack on Punjab Police Intelligence headquarters and RPG attack on Sarhali Police station in Tarn Taran in December 2022.

He was also the mastermind of the conspiracy to kill Punjab Police Sub Inspector Dilbagh Singh in August last year, the spokesperson said.