NIA Files Chargesheet Against Five Pro-Khalistanis In Punjab Arms Drop Case

The illegal consignments were sent across the border by Rode and his associates via drones, the NIA said. 

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New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency, on Friday, filed a chargesheet against five pro-Khalistanis including the chief of proscribed International Sikh Youth Federation, in connection with a case of smuggling arms, explosives and narcotics from Pakistan via drones, said an official, reported news agency PTI. 

The charge sheet was filed against ISYF chief Lakhbir Singh Rode alias "Baba" of Moga (Punjab), who is hiding in Pakistan, and his four arrested associates -- Harmesh Singh alias "Kali" of Kilche village of Ferozpur, Darvesh Singh alias "Shinda" of Bainke Wale Jhugge, Gurmukh Singh of New Hardayal Nagar in Jalandhar and Gagandeep Singh of Guru Nanakpura, Phagwara-Kapurthala, said a spokesperson of the National Investigation Agency. 

The case was initially registered at Mamdot police station in Ferozepur on August 25, 2021, and was later re-registered by the agency on November 6, 2021, under various sections of Arms Act, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, Explosives Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, said the NIA. 

The investigation has revealed that the charge-sheeted accused had smuggled illegal consignments of arms, ammunition, explosives and narcotics from across the Indo-Pak border to carry out terror activities in India, the spokesperson said.

The illegal consignments were sent across the border by Rode and his associates via drones, the NIA said. 

"These consignments were received by the co-accused and further discreetly passed on to other accused persons involved in the conspiracy to carry out subversive activities in India," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson further added that incriminating evidence was found against all the charge-sheeted accused persons.

The NIA said that five accused persons have been arrested in the case while Rode was absconding and that further investigation was underway.