On May 17, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) raised 324 locations across six states and two Union Territories (UTs), in collaboration with Punjab and Haryana police, wherein it seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition and certain incriminating materials.
Codenamed “Operation Dhvast,” the raids were part of a multi-state crackdown on the terrorist-gangster-drug-peddler nexus. Three accused were arrested during the May 17 crackdown across eight states – Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Chandigarh, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.
It was reported that the NIA raided 129 locations, the Punjab Police raided 143 locations and the Haryana Police raided 52 locations in raids commencing at 5:30 am. The NIA revealed that one pistol, assorted live and used ammunition, 60 mobile phones, 5 DVRs, 20 SIM cards, 1 hard disk, 1 pen drive, 1 dongle, 1 Wi-Fi router, 1 digital watch, 2 memory cards, 75 documents and about Rs 39,60,000 in cash were recovered during the raids.
‘Operation Dhvast’ was aimed at breaking the terror nexus of Arsh Dalla, a designated terrorist, apart from dreaded gangsters such as Lawrence Bishnoi, Chhenu Pehalwan, Deepak Teetar, Bhupi Rana, Vikash Lagarpuriya, Ashish Choudhary, Gurpreet Sekhon, Dilpreet Baba, Harsimrat Simma and Anuradha, said the NIA.
“The focus of today’s raids was on weapon suppliers, financiers, logistic providers and hawala operators associated with the hardcore gangs working with drug smugglers and terrorists based out of other countries like Pakistan and Canada,” the anti-terror agency said.
The cases are linked to NIA’s crackdowns following the registration of three cases since August 2022 of conspiracies related to targeted killings, terror funding of pro-Khalistan outfits and extortion. The sensational killing of Maharashtra-based builder Sanjay Biyani and international Kabaddi player Sandeep Nangal Ambia in Punjab are notable among the case.
NIA investigations have revealed that the conspiracies were being hatched in jails of different states and were being executed by an organised network of operatives based abroad. “The spotlight on these gangs has become sharper after reports of several prisons becoming havens of the deadly nexus and hubs of gang wars, which recently resulted in violence and murder inside Goindwal Jail and Tihar Jail”, said the NIA.
Furthermore, the NIA found out that many criminals, who were leadings the gangs in India, fled to countries like Pakistan, Canada, Malaysia and Australia, and that these criminals have been engaged in planning serious crimes in collaboration with criminals lodged in jail across India. “These groups were carrying out targeted killings and raising funds for their nefarious activities through smuggling of drugs and weapons, hawala and extortion”, one of the NIA officials said.
The NIA had previously conducted searches at 231 locations and seized 38 arms, including 4 lethal weapons, along with 1,129 rounds of ammunition. It has so far frozen 87 bank accounts and attached 13 properties, besides seizing 331 digital devices, 418 documents and two vehicles. Two absconders have been declared as designated individual terrorists, and NBWs have been issued against 10 persons and Look Out Circulars against 14 others.
“Further investigations are on to dismantle such terror networks as well as their funding and support infrastructure,” added the NIA.
[with inputs from ANI]
