New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) executed a series of raids across Punjab, targeting individuals and locations allegedly linked to the banned terrorist organisation Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). Simultaneous searches were conducted at 15 different sites spanning the districts of Gurdaspur, Batala, Amritsar, and Kapurthala. This decisive action comes in the wake of an ongoing investigation into a grenade attack on a police station in the Gurdaspur district that occurred last year.
In an official statement released by the agency, the NIA revealed that these targeted operations yielded the seizure of a substantial amount of incriminating material. This includes mobile phones, various digital devices, and crucial documents that are expected to provide further insights into the BKI’s operational network and activities within the state.
On the radar were premises of suspects linked with US-based BKI operative and gangster Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passian and his nodes Shamsher Singh Shera alias Honey, along with others based in various countries.
The NIA’s investigation has reportedly identified a key associate of Harwinder Singh, a Pakistan-based BKI terrorist, as the mastermind behind a recent surge in grenade attacks targeting police stations and posts in both Punjab and neighboring Haryana. This revelation underscores the cross-border nature of the BKI’s operations and the persistent threat it poses to regional security.
NIA investigations in the case relating to the hand grenade attack on Police Station Ghanie Ke Bangar in district Gurdaspur had revealed that the arrested accused, who had committed the crime, was acting on the directions of Happy, along with Shamsher and other aides.
Further delving into the organisational structure, NIA investigations have indicated that BKI operatives, operating from various international locations, are actively involved in a well-orchestrated criminal conspiracy. This conspiracy encompasses the recruitment and training of individuals within India, as well as the provision of financial support, weapons, and explosives to operatives on the ground.
The agency highlighted that these illicit activities are facilitated through a network of associates and acquaintances situated abroad, including within Pakistan.
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