From intensifying intelligence gathering to confiscating the properties of top Khalistani separatists to speeding up investigation into the Pakistan-backed gangster nexus, Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s stamp has been visible on action against the Khalistani network in India. Punjab Police, central intelligence and investigation agencies have been working together to crackdown on the network.
While the Intelligence Bureau has been gathering information and tracking the movement of Pro-Khalistani Entities (PKEs), the NIA has been conducting raids to dismantle the nexus. Amit Shah may not have given public statements on the PKEs, but his imprint is visible in the working of Indian agencies. In the past 10 days, multiple agencies like the NIA, IB and I4C, the cyber security wing of the MHA, have intensified efforts to break the Khalistani network
IB Focus
The Intelligence Bureau, which comes under Amit Shah’s ministry, has shifted its focus to Khalistani activities. Sources say a dedicated team is working to generate inputs about the movements of PKEs and their activities in India. A team is also said to be preparing a list of developments, monitoring social media and PKE activities abroad. Every day, a dedicated report is submitted to the top brass which is in turn shared at the top levels of the Government of India.
Confiscating Properties
The NIA, which also comes under the MHA, has been cornering Canada-based ‘designated individual terrorist’ Gurpatwant Singh Pannu. Last Saturday, the agency confiscated the house and land of the self-styled general counsel of the outlawed Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) outfit in Amritsar and Chandigarh. The properties confiscated include 46 kanal agricultural land in Khankot village of Amritsar and one-fourth share of house number 2033 in Sector 15/C of Chandigarh.
Cancel OCI Cards
Amid the diplomatic tussle between India and Canada, reports have surfaced of cancellation of Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards for dozens of individuals allegedly involved in pro-Khalistan activities. Sources say the Home Ministry is considering cancelling OCI privileges of such individuals. They add that agencies will locate the India-based properties linked to PKEs living aboard.
Speedy Investigation
The NIA has accelerated the investigation of cases involving Khalistani groups. According to the agency, it has released the pictures of 10 wanted accused in the March 2023 attack and vandalism of the Indian Consulate in San Francisco and has sought information about them from the general public.
PKEs had attacked the Indian Consulate in San Francisco on the intervening night of March 18-19, and some individuals also reportedly trespassed into the Consulate and tried to burn it down.
53 Locations Raided
The NIA on Wednesday detained several suspects during a massive multi-state crackdown on the terrorist-gangster-drug smuggler nexus linked to ‘listed terrorist’ Arsh Dalla and many gangsters.
A total of 53 locations were raided during the day-long operation, which started early morning. Pistols, ammunition and large number of digital devices and incriminating material were seized during the raids that spanned the six states — Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, UP, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
The cases relate to conspiracies of targeted killings, terror funding of pro-Khalistan outfits, extortion etc by the gangsters, many of whom are lodged in various jails or are operating from various foreign countries, including Pakistan, Canada, Malaysia, Portugal and Australia.
Reward Announced
Stepping up its crackdown, NIA has announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh each for information leading to the arrest of ‘listed terrorist’ Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda and Lakhbir Singh Sandhu alias Landa. Both have been accused of promoting the terror activities of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) in India.
A cash reward of Rs 5 lakh each has also been declared by the NIA for information on three associates of these terrorists — Parminder Singh Kaira alias Pattu, Satnam Singh alias Satbir Singh alias Satta and Yadvinder Singh alias Yadda.
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