NIA Raids 32 Locations In 6 States In Crackdown Against Babbar Khalsa International, Bishnoi Gang, Weapons & Cash Seized

The NIA seized several illegal arms, incriminating documents, digital devices in connection with cases relating to activities of the banned Babbar Khalsa International.

In a multi-state crackodown, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday seized several illegal arms and ammunition, along with incriminating documents, digital devices and cash in connection with cases relating to conspiracies and activities of the banned Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and the Lawrence Bishnoi crime syndicate.

A spokesperson of the probe agency said that a total of 32 locations in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, as well as the Union Territory of Chandigarh were raided by NIA teams as part of the operation that began early Thursday morning, as reported by news agency PTI.

The seizures during the searches carried out in connection with three cases included two pistols, two magazines and ammunition, along with cash amounting to Rs 4.6 lakh, besides documents and digital devices, PTI reported.

"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, as quoted by news agency ANI.

"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, ANI reported.

The NIA, which had registered the case suo motu (on its own) on July 10, 2023, has identified Harwinder Singh alias Rinda and Lakhbir Singh Sandhu alias Landa as among the key conspirators involved in hatching terror conspiracies as well as smuggling of arms and ammunition into Punjab, as reported by PTI. 

According to the investigations done by NIA, they have also been sending funds to their associates through various money transfer service scheme (MTSS) channels for carrying out terrorist acts.