New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) launched searches at more than 70 locations across several states on Tuesday in a major crackdown against gangster syndicate, reported ANI.
The raids are being conducted in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. In Punjab, searches are being done at over 30 places. Early visuals from Punjab's Gidderbaha show NIA officials conducting searches at a house.
The agency is also conducted searches at the premises of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's close aid Kulwinder in Gandhidham. ANI reported citing sources that Kulwinder has been a longtime associate of Bishnoi. There are cases of providing shelter to the people of the Bishnoi gang against him.
NIA sources have revealed told ANI that Kulwinder is also connected to international drug syndicates.
The ongoing raids are in connection with a probe into a case registered by the agency against gangsters and their criminal syndicate, ANI reported.
As per the report, this is the fourth round of NIA raids on the gangster network.
Visuals from a house located in Azad Nagar in Yamunanagar, Haryana were posted on Twitter by ANI.
Earlier on Wednesday, the NIA conducted raids at multiple locations across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala in connection with the Coimbatore blast case. The raids are conducted in over 60 places.
According to ANI, sources said, “National Investigation Agency conducts raids in Coimbatore and Mayiladuthurai, in connection with the Coimbatore car cylinder blast case. Raids are underway at multiple locations across Tamil Nadu."
The blast that took place a day after Diwali shook the residents of Kottaimedu in Coimbatore. Jameesha Mubin, the victim, parked his car in front of Sangameswarar Temple to avoid police patrol and suddenly the car exploded in a blast triggered by one of the two LPG cylinders kept in the vehicle on October 23, 2022.
Following this, a case was registered at Ukkadam police station but the investigation was later handed over to NIA on November 27. The police also seized incriminating documents in the searches.
Earlier on Feb 5, after NIA filed an FIR against the three accused and others on January 25 this year, the investigation agency has named three arrested persons — Mohd Zahed, Maaz Hasan Farooq, and Samiuddin — under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for conspiring terror attacks in Hyderabad in October 2022.
The key person Zahed, accused in several terror-related cases in Hyderabad had recruited several youths, including Maaz and Samiuddin, on the directions of Pakistan-based handlers belonging to LeT and ISI.
"As per the instructions of those handlers, Zahed conspired with his gang members to carry out terror activities including blasts and lone wolf attacks in Hyderabad City to create terror in the minds of the common public. It was also learnt that Zahed had received hand grenades from Pakistan-based handlers and was planning to hurl them at public gatherings and processions in order to create communal tension," NIA said as quoted by news agency ANI.