The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken steps to address the issue of a Khalistani-gangster nexus by offering cash rewards for information leading to the apprehension of five members of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist group. These individuals include the BKI’s leader based in Canada, Lakhbir Singh Landa, and the one based in Pakistan, Harwinder Singh Rinda. The NIA has set a reward of ₹10 lakh each for Landa and Rinda, who hold significant positions within the Khalistan movement, and ₹5 lakh each for Parminder Singh Kaira alias Pattu, Satnam Singh alias Satbir Singh, and Yadvinder Singh alias Yadda. All of these individuals are associated with the BKI.
Furthermore, the NIA has unveiled images of 43 individuals who are part of the Khalistani-gangster network. These individuals have been involved in a range of activities, including homicides, drug and weapon smuggling, both within Punjab and in anti-India actions in the UK. Notably, some of them are believed to have connections with pro-Khalistan elements in Canada, such as Landa, as well as the late Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the leader of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a leader of Sikhs for Justice.
Among the 43 suspects are Lawrence Bishnoi, Satwinderjeet Singh alias Goldy Brar, gangsters Kala Jatheri, Naveen Dabas, Sunil Balyan, and Amit Dagar, among others. It’s worth noting that Bishnoi is already incarcerated, while Sunil Balyan met his demise at the hands of rival gang members inside Tihar prison earlier this year. The NIA is seeking information from the public regarding their assets.
Regarding the BKI terrorists, the NIA stated, “These five terrorists are wanted in a case registered early this year related to the BKI’s terrorist activities aimed at disturbing India’s peace and communal harmony and spreading terror in the state of Punjab. The wanted terrorists are accused of commission of terror acts and activities, besides raising funds for the BKI, a banned terror outfit, through smuggling of terrorist hardware and narcotics into Punjab and also through extensive extortion from businessmen and other prominent individuals. They are also wanted in cases relating to commissioning of targeted killings as well as targeting of law enforcement agencies in order to create an environment of terror in the state of Punjab.”
Additionally, these suspects were involved in recruiting new BKI members by promising financial incentives.
Individuals with specific information leading to the arrest of these five wanted terrorists are encouraged to contact the NIA headquarters in New Delhi or the NIA Branch Office in Chandigarh through provided telephone and WhatsApp numbers.
It is important to note that the NIA’s announcement follows Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent allegation of Indian involvement in the assassination of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June, a claim that India has dismissed as “absurd and motivated.”
In response to these developments, India’s external affairs ministry has issued an advisory, urging its citizens in Canada to exercise “utmost caution” due to the increasing anti-India activities and hate crimes.
