Murdered Khalistani Terrorist Had Ordered
Attacks In India
Hardeep Singh Nijjar: In 2014, he allegedly planned to execute a terror attack
on Dera Sacha Sauda Headquarters in Haryana's Sirsa, but he couldn't reach
India, the dossier said.
New Delhi: Murdered Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated
terrorist in India, was allegedly involved in crime since the 1980s and had
connections with local goons from a young age, a detailed dossier prepared by
Indian authorities, and accessed by NDTV, revealed. It further says Nijjar, who
fled to Canada on a forged passport in 1996 and maintained a low profile as a
truck driver there, travelled to Pakistan for arms and explosives training. He
also allegedly ordered several killings and attacks in Punjab while taking
refuge on Canadian soil.
A resident of the Bhar Singh Pura village in Punjab's Jalandhar, Hardeep Singh
Nijjar was initiated to the gangster life by Gurnek Singh alias Neka, the
dossier said. In the 1980s and 90s, he was associated with Khalistan Commando
Force (KCF) militants and later since 2012, he was closely associated with
Jagtar Singh Tara, Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) Chief, it added. After his name
cropped up in several terrorism cases, Nijjar escaped to Canada in 1996.
Later, he allegedly came in touch with Pakistan based KTF Chief, Jagtar Singh
Tara. He also visited Pakistan in the garb of a Baisakhi jatha member in April
2012 and underwent an arms and explosive training there for a fortnight, the
dossier said.
After returning to Canada, he allegedly started arranging funds for terror
activities through his associates engaged in drugs and arms smuggling in Canada.
Nijjar planned with Jagtar Singh Tara to execute a terror attack in Punjab and
raised a gang in Canada which included Mandeep Singh Dhaliwal, Sarbjit Singh,
Anupveer Singh, and Darshan Singh alias Fauji, the dossier claims, adidng that
they received arms training in British Columbia, Canada in December 2015.
In 2014, Nijjar allegedly planned to execute a terror attack on Dera Sacha Sauda
Headquarters in Haryana's Sirsa, but he couldn't reach India, the dossier said,
so he directed his module to target former DGP Mohd Izhar Alam, Punjab based
Shiv Sena leader Nishant Sharma, and Baba Mann Singh Pehowa Wale.
Nijjar also worked with Punjab-based gangster Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh
Dala from Moga to carry out terror activities in Punjab, the dossier said. He
allegedly tasked Arshdeep to carry out the double-murder of Manohar Lal Arora
and Jatinderbir Singh Arora, the father-son duo accused of 'anti-Panthic
activities', in 2020. In the attack, Manohar Lal was shot dead at his residence
in Bathinda on November 20, 2020, but his son escaped. Nijjar had sent money
from Canada for their murder, the dossier said.
In 2021, Nijjar allegedly asked Arshdeep to murder the priest of Bhar Singh Pura
village (Nijjar's native place). However, the priest survived. Nijjar, in this
manner, allegedly built an ecosystem of terror in Punjab from behind the scenes
in Canada.
Nijjar was gunned down outside a Gurdwara in a parking area in Canada's Surrey,
British Columbia, on June 18.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today doubled down on his explosive
charge that "Indian government agents" were behind Hardeep Singh Nijjar's
killing, claiming "credible allegations" were shared with India weeks ago.
Trudeau had first linked Nijjar's killing to India on Monday, prompting a quick
and stern denial by India. Canada has shared no specific information regarding
its charges, India said, flagging "politically condoned hate crimes and criminal
violence" in that country.
The allegation triggered tit-for-tat moves like expelling diplomats that
escalated underlying tensions to a major diplomatic crisis between the two
countries. India has suspended visa services citing "security threats" to its
High Commissions and consulates in Canada.
(
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/hardeep-singh-nijjar-ordered-killings-attacks-in-india-dossier-details-history-4416503)
India's Dossier to Canada Chronicles Nijjar's History of Violence, Terror, And
Lies to Gain Citizenship
According to officials, Hardeep Singh Nijjar escaped to Canada in 1996, fearing
a threat to life from the police. He indulged in illegal activities like drug
smuggling and extortion in Canada to arrange funding for terrorist activities.
Amid the tension with Canada over the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Indian
agencies have claimed that the alleged Khalistani terrorist had misrepresented
facts to gain Canadian citizenship and ran a terror ecosystem from the country
he adopted.
A dossier on Nijjar prepared by Indian agencies says that he fled to Canada on a
forged passport in 1996 after police started probing him for links with local
goons in Punjab and association with the Khalistan Tiger Force. “Hardeep Singh
Nijjar was an old associate of Gurdeep Singh @Deepa Heranwala, KCF (Khalistan
Commando Force) militant who was involved in more than 200 killings in Punjab
during late 1980s and early 1990s," the dossier says. “Hardeep Singh Nijjar was
a resident of village Bhar Singh Pura, Jalandhar, Punjab. Since his early days,
he had connections with local goons. He was initiated to gangster life by Gurnek
Singh@ Neka."
Nijjar, as per Indian agencies, led a quiet life as a truck driver in his
initial years in Canada. His request for asylum was repeatedly rejected and the
final circumstances of him getting Canadian citizenship are also unclear.
FAKED MARRIAGE FOR CITIZENSHIP
Hardeep Singh Nijjar reached Canada in 1997 using a counterfeit passport under
the alias Ravi Sharma, as per the dossier. He applied for asylum in Canada by
claiming that he feared persecution in India because he belonged to “a
particular social group, namely, individuals associated with Sikh militancy".
However, his asylum plea was rejected on the grounds of a fabricated narrative.
11 days after his claim was rejected, he entered into a “marriage" agreement
with a lady who sponsored his immigration. This application was also rejected by
immigration officials in Canada as the aforesaid woman had also arrived in
Canada in 1997 on sponsorship by a different husband.
Nijjar appealed against the rejection in courts of Canada but he kept referring
to himself as a Canadian citizen, the dossier says.
“Nijjar was later granted Canadian citizenship the circumstances of which are
not clear," Indian agencies have claimed.
According to officials, Nijjar escaped to Canada in 1996, fearing a threat to
life from the police. He indulged in illegal activities like drug smuggling and
extortion in Canada to arrange funding for terrorist activities. In 2012, Nijjar
visited Pakistan and came in touch with Jagtar Singh Tara, BKI chief. Tara
imparted arms and IED training to Nijjar in 2012, and in 2013, he sent US-based
Harjot Singh Birring to Canada to impart training to Nijjar in operating
hand-held GPS devices. Nijjar sent Rs 1 million Pakistani currency to Jagtar
Singh Tara. In 2014, Nijjar planned to execute a terror attack on Dera Sacha
Sauda Headquarters, Sirsa, Haryana on the directions of Tara. However, it did
not materialise because Nijjar was denied an Indian visa.
RED CORNER NOTICE
Interpol published a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Nijjar in November 2014.
The request had been made by India, accusing Nijjar of masterminding more than a
dozen cases of murder and terror.
“The details of cases were shared with Canadian authorities but no action was
taken. Also, despite RCN, Canadian authorities did not take any action except
putting him on a no-fly list," the dossier says.
Indian agencies claimed that Nijjar forced his cousin Raghbir Singh Nijjar out
and became the president of Surrey Gurdwara in 2021 so that he could escape the
Red Corner Notice of Interpol. “He pretended to be involved in Canadian Gurdwara
politics to escape the RCN," officials said.
TERROR ECOSYSTEM IN CANADA
Nijjar was a close associate of Jagtar Singh Tara from his Punjab days. The
dossier accessed by CNN-News18 states that in the 1980s and 90s, Nijjar was
associated with Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) militants and, later since 2012,
he was closely linked with Jagtar Singh Tara, Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief.
In 2014, Nijjar allegedly planned to execute a terror attack on the Dera Sacha
Sauda headquarters in Sirsa, Haryana, but he could not reach India. So he
directed his module to target former top cop Mohd Izhar Alam, Punjab-based Shiv
Sena leader Nishant Sharma, and Baba Mann Singh Ji Pehowa Wale.
In 2015, Nijjar and Tara allegedly planned a terror attack in Punjab and “raised
a gang in Canada which included Mandeep Singh Dhaliwal, Sarbjit Singh, Anupveer
Singh and Darshan Singh@Fauji. They were imparted arms training in British
Columbia, Canada in December 2015," agency officials said.
After the deportation of Jagtar Singh Tara to India in 2015, Nijjar reportedly
assumed the role of Operation Chief of KTF.
The probe by India revealed that Nijjar visited Pakistan in April 2021 in the
garb of “Baisakhi jatha" but used the visit to get arms and explosive training
for a fortnight.
“After returning to Canada, he started arranging funds for terror activities
through his associates engaged in drugs and arms smuggling in Canada. Nijjar was
also associated with Sikhs For Justice, a banned terrorist organisation, as the
head of its Canada chapter. He had also organised violent anti-India protests in
Canada and threatened Indian diplomats. He had also given a call to ban Indian
embassy officials from participating in various programmes organised by local
gurdwaras in Canada," officials said.
Nijjar has been accused of association with Punjab-based gangster Arshdeep Singh
Gill (@ Arsh Dala r/o Moga). Arsh Dala reportedly carried out terror acts in
Punjab at Nijjar’s behest. “He tasked Arshdeep to carry out the double murder of
Manohar Lal Arora and Jatinderbir Singh Arora, father-son duo, famous for their
anti-Panthic activities in 2020. In the attack, Manohar Lal was shot dead at his
residence in Bathinda on Nov 20, 2020 but his son escaped. Nijjar had sent money
from Canada for their murder," says the dossier.
In 2021, Nijjar allegedly tasked Arshdeep to murder the priest of Bhar Singh
Pura village (Nijjar’s native place). “However, the priest survived," the
dossier says.
(
https://www.news18.com/india/indias-dossier-to-canada-chronicles-nijjars-history-of-violence-terror-and-lies-to-gain-citizenship-8588035.html)
NEW DELHI: The arrest of three India nationals by the Canadian police for their
alleged role in the killing of Khalistani operative Hardeep Singh Nijjar is
likely to confirm the assessment of Indian authorities that Nijjar’s killing was
the fallout of a gang war and a fight for the control of the resource-rich
gurdwaras of Canada. The Canadian government under Justin Trudeau, for the last
one year, under pressure from Sikh radical groups and Khalistani pressure
groups, has been claiming that Nijjar was killed by Indian intelligence
operatives.
Apart from leading the Khalistan Tiger Force, which has been banned by
Government of India and being a prominent member of another banned terrorist
group, Sikhs For Justice, Nijjar was also the president of the Guru Nanak Sikh
gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. After his death, videos and
pictures showing him carrying automatic assault rifles and taking part in
training exercises had emerged.
Sikh gurdwaras receive huge donations from various quarters, some of which is
then given by the office bearers to local politicians to be on their good side.
These office bearers too are given preferential treatment by local politicians
because of the influence they hold over the Sikh voters.
These office bearers, apart from handling the affairs of the gurdwaras, carry
out their own businesses which includes mediating over disputes between two
parties.
On Friday night, the Canadian police announced the arrest of the 22-year-old
Karan Brar, Kamal Preet Singh and 28-year-old Karan Preet Singh from Edmonton,
Alberta.
Ottawa-based local sources told The Sunday Guardian that the three were a part
of a hit-squad that has carried out similar murders in the last one year.
The three had entered Canada at different points since 2021 as “international
students” and were involved in criminal activities since then.
Sources said that these three were also likely to be involved in a November 2023
shootout that took place in Edmonton in which a 41-year-old Harpreet Singh Uppal
and his 11-year-old son were shot dead on 9 November. Uppal was a high ranking
member of a criminal syndicate involved in a drug trade and had escaped a
similar attack in October 2021 after he and his family members were fired at by
unidentified gunmen while having dinner at a restaurant in Edmonton.
One day before, on 8 November, Parmvir Singh Chahil, a 27-year-old member of
“United Nations group” formed in 1979, was shot dead in Toronto.
On 20 September, another Canada based gangster who had fled India in 2017,
Sukhdool Singh Gill alias Sukha Duneke was shot dead in Winnipeg. He was a
senior member of Davinder Bambiha gang and a close associate of Arshdeep Singh,
better known as Arsh Dala, another member of the Bambiha gang. Bambiha, 25, was
shot dead in a police encounter at Gill Kalan near Rampura, Bathinda in
September 2016. However, his gang members continue to operate across Canada and
the United States.
The Bambiha gang and a criminal syndicate led by another gangster, Lawrence
Bishnoi, who has been in the custody of Indian authorities since 2014, have been
killing each member for supremacy and revenge.
Members of both these gangs have tied up with local gangs in the respective
countries to pool their resources and the Punjabi youth, who are migrating to
Canada in large numbers, are considered by them as an easy pool to pick and
recruit them as lower level operators for which they are assured money, drugs
and access to sex workers.
While the Canadian police have not yet confirmed whether these four
killings—that of Nijjar, Uppal, Gill and Chahil—were carried out by the same
group members that were arrested on Friday, sources said that all them were
linked and happened because of turf war and/or retribution.
Emails sent to Canadian officials seeking a response on whether they have been
able to uncover the links between these four murders did not elicit a response
till the time this report went to press.
In 2023, Edmonton had recorded 200-plus shooting incidents, most of them
targeted shooting, a rise of more than 50% over 2022.
Canada has a long history of experiencing gang wars, which is attributed to the
political patronage that these gangs receive from local officials and
politicians. In the 1990s, all major Canadian cities were reeling under mob
violence, with “Hells Angels” and “Blood Family Mafia” who were majorly into
drug trafficking, becoming household names.
Now, they have been replaced with local Canadian gangs who are actively working
with their Indian counterparts while expanding their operations to other
countries.
(
https://sundayguardianlive.com/top-five/arrests-in-canada-confirm-gang-war-behind-nijjar-killing#google_vignette)
Centre Designates Canada-Based Arshdeep Singh Gill As Terrorist Over Khalistan
Activities, Read All About Him
Canada-based Arshdeep Singh Gill is involved in targeted killings, terror
financing, and is under investigation by National Investigation Agency (NIA), as
per the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Madhur Sharma
Updated on: 9 January 2023 12:23 pm
The Union government on Monday designated Canada-based Arshdeep Singh Gill as a
terrorist over his association with Khalistani movement and terrorist acts.
Gill has been designated as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities
(Prevention) Act (UAPA). The law was amended in 2019 to empower the Union
government to designate individuals as terrorists as well. Earlier, only
orgnaisations could be designated.
Gill is closely associated with Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the chief of Khalistan
Tiger Force (KTF) who carries a reward of Rs 10 lakhs, according to a
notification issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Nijjar was
designated as terrorist in 2020.
Here is all you need to know about Arshdeep Singh Gill, his links with the
Khalistan movement, and what does government action mean.
Who is Arshdeep Singh Gill?
Arshdeep Singh Gill was born in Punjab but went to Canada later in his life. He
has now been designated as a terrorist under UAPA Act.
Arshdeep, also known as Arsh Dala, was born on May 21, 1996, in Jagraon village
in Punjab's Ludhiana.
Arshdeep is currently based in Canada and is associated with Khalistan Tiger
Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
"Presently based in Canada, [Arshdeep] is associated with Khalistan Tiger Force
(KTF)...Arshdeep Singh Gill @ Arsh Dala is very close to Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a
designated terrorist under the said Act and runs terror modules on behalf of
him," says the MHA notification.
The MHA says Arshdeep is involved in targeted killings, terror financing, and
cross-border smuggling.
"Arshdeep Singh Gill @ Arsh Dala is involved in heinous crimes such as murder,
extortion and targeted killings besides terror activities...Arshdeep Singh Gill
@ Arsh Dala is involved in terror financing, cross border smuggling of drugs or
weapons in large scale," says the MHA notification.
The MHA further says he is under investigation by the National Investigation
Agency (NIA).
"Arshdeep Singh Gill @ Arsh Dala is accused in various cases registered and
investigated by the National Investigation Agency including targeted killing,
extorting money for terror funding, attempt to murder, disturbing communal
harmony and creating terror among the people in the state of Punjab, India,"
says the MHA notifiation.
What's Khalistan Tiger Force, Who's Hardeep Singh Nijjar?
The MHA says Arshdeep Singh Gill is associated with the Khalistan Tiger Force
(KTF) and handles terror modules on behalf of its chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Both KTF and Nijjar are based in Canada.
Nijjar was designated as terrorist in 2020 along with eight other persons, all
of whom were associated with the Khalistan movement.
The Khalistan movement aims for a Sikh nation to be carved out of India,
including the Sikh-majority state of Punjab. The nation, as per believers of the
Khalistan movement, would be called Khalistan. The Khalistan movement waged a
bloody insurgency in Punjab for decades which finally ebbed in 1990s. Currently,
Canada is a major hub of Khalistani organisations and supporters.
"These individuals are involved in various acts of terrorism from across the
border and from foreign soil. They have been relentless in their nefarious
efforts of destabilizing the country, by trying to revive militancy in Punjab
through their anti national activities and through their support to and
involvement in the Khalistan Movement," said the MHA in 2020 when it designated
Nijjar as terrorist along with others.
Nijjar was recently also involved in organising Khalistan referendum in
Brampton, Canada. He is also a chief of a Sikh gurdwara in Surrey in Canada.
"Pro-Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who is wanted in various terror
cases in India, has been unanimously re-elected the president of the managing
committee of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Surrey, in British Columbia province of
Canada...Nijjar has been associated with the separatist organisation, Sikhs for
Justice (SFJ), which is banned in India," reported Hindustan Times in October
when Nijjar was elected as chief for the second time.
The KTF and Nijjar are accused in a plot to kill a Hindu priest in Punjab's
Jalandhar.
"Nijjar is wanted by the NIA in a conspiracy case hatched by KTF to kill a Hindu
priest at Jalandhar. Nijjar is presently residing in Canada and is the Chief of
Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF)," said NIA when it declared Rs 10 lakh reward on
Nijjar.
Khalistan movement in Canada
Canada has emerged as a hub for Khalistani sympathisers in recent years as
Canadian leaders have been soft on them. This is despite the fact that the
biggest act of terror in Canadian history was carried out by Khalistanis.
On June 23, 1985, Air India Flight 182 took off from Canada's Toronto to Mumbai
via London. It exploded mid-air and killed all 329 passengers and crew onboard.
Yet only one man was convicted in Canada for the bombing and that too decades
after the bombing.
Talwinder Singh Parmar, the mastermind, was never convicted and a major Canadian
leader was for long soft on him. After attending events peddling Khalistani
ideas for years, it was only in 2018 that Jagmeet Singh acknowledged Parmar as
being responsible for the Emperor Kanishka bombing. Jagmeet is the head of New
Democratic Party (NDP).
At one point, Jagmeet, who is an influential leader and coalition partner of
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, went on to say he had "no qualms" about attending
rallies in future where those like Bhindranwale, who birthed the Khalistan
movement, are honoured, reported Hindustan Times in 2018, citing CBC News.
The Hindustan Times also noted, "Facing sustained attack over his appearance at
a rally featuring posters of Khalistani leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and
attending an event organised by a separatist group, New Democratic Party leader
Jagmeet Singh has for the first 6time accepted that Babbar Khalsa International
founder Talwinder Singh Parmar was the man behind the terrorist bombing of Air
India flight 182 in 1985."
The Government of India has taken up the issue with the Canadian government.
Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar in October said New Delhi has flagged
issues related to Khalistani separatist forces operating out of Canada to
Ottawa, emphasising the need to ensure that freedoms in a democratic society are
not misused by forces which actually advocate violence and bigotry.
The Narendra Modi-led Union government served a demarche to the Justin Trudeau
government in October, asking it to stop the so-called Khalistan referendum
organised by a proscribed organisation in Ontario on November 6 as it challenges
the territorial integrity and sovereignty of India.
In October, Jaishankar said, "From time to time, we have engaged the Canadian
government, I have myself engaged with my counterpart on this (Khalistani)
issue. And we have flagged the need to ensure that freedoms in a democratic
society are not misused by forces which actually advocate violence and, and
bigotry. So, it’s important, I think, to understand really, how democracies
should function not only at home but also the responsibility that democracies
have to other democracies abroad."
(
https://www.outlookindia.com/national/centre-designates-canada-based-arshdeep-singh-gill-as-terrorist-over-khalistan-activities-read-all-about-him-news-2521)
The recent killings of two
Punjab-origin, Canada-settled pro-Khalistan handlers of terrorists and gangsters
spread across the world have not only triggered a diplomatic standoff between
India and Canada but have once again brought international focus to bear on the
extremists’ designs to execute terrorist and secessionist activities in India,
mainly Punjab.
Banned militant outfit Khalistan Tiger
Force (KTF) chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar, from Jalandhar district, who was shot
dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, promoted the
secessionist agenda of US-based pro-Khalistan organisation Sikhs for Justice
(SFJ) and terror activities in India. The NIA had announced in July last year a
Rs 10-lakh award on him for conspiring to kill Hindu priest Kamaldeep Sharma in
Jalandhar in January 2021.
Gangster-turned-terrorist Sukhdool Singh,
alias Sukha Duneke, born in Moga district, was gunned down in an alleged
inter-gang rivalry at Winnipeg, Canada, on September 20. Duneke was close to
Moga native and gangster-turned-terrorist Arshdeep Singh, alias Arsh Dala, now
based in Canada. Both Dala and Duneke were active in reviving KTF after Nijjar’s
murder. Duneke had over 20 cases of murder, extortion and other crimes
registered against him in India. His name also figured in the list of 43
criminals released by the NIA earlier this week.
The Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF)
was launched on March 13, 2011, by Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist
Jagtar Singh Tara, one of the life convicts in the assassination of former
Punjab chief minister Beant Singh. After Tara’s arrest on January 5, 2015, in
Thailand and eventual extradition to India, Nijjar became the KTF chief. Later,
Dala, who was once a small-time gangster in Punjab and emigrated to Canada in
2018, became an active member of KTF, which was declared a terrorist
organisation by the Indian government on February 17, 2023.
Nijjar and Dala were focused on
the recruitment of youth and formation of terrorist gangs to carry out
extortions to raise funds for KTF and on targeted killings, mainly of Hindu
leaders, and also of businessmen in Punjab and other states. Dala was declared
an individual terrorist by India on January 9, 2023; he has 46 criminal cases
registered against him in Punjab, Haryana and Uttarakhand. He is also an accused
in three cases registered by the NIA.
Other members associated with
KTF include Philippines-based Manpreet Singh, alias Peeta, and Vikramjit Singh,
alias Vickey, and Australia-based Gurjant Singh. Also, the gang of Davinder
Bambiha, who was killed by Punjab police in an encounter in 2016, is linked to
KTF. This gang is now headed by Armenia-based Gaurav Patial, alias Lucky Patial,
who is from Chandigarh.
BKI & Pakistan link
Babbar Khalsa International
(BKI) was founded in the early 1980s, after clashes between Nirankaris and
Akhand Kirtanis on April 13, 1978 in Amritsar that had left 13 people dead,
including the then chief of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha, Fauja Singh. BKI,
designated an international terrorist
organisation by India, the US,
UK, Canada, the European Union and Japan, aims to create an independent
Khalistan through violent means.
Pakistan-based Wadhawa Singh,
alias Chacha, alias Babbar, is the current chief of BKI. He is assisted by
Pakistan-based designated terrorist Harwinder Singh Sandhu, alias Rinda, as the
main conspirator and recruiter for BKI. His other associates include
Canada-based Lakhbir Singh Sandhu, alias Landa, US-based Harjot Singh,
Nepal-based Kashmir Singh Galwadi, alias Balbir Singh, Deepak Kumar, alias
Deepak Ranga, and UAEbased Tarsem Singh. Rinda started as a gangster with bases
in Nanded, Maharashtra, and Tarn Taran in Punjab.
Another Khalistan-linked gangster Sukhdool Singh, wanted in India,
killed in Canada
Ranga and an associate had
carried out the rocket-propelled grenade attack on the Punjab Police
intelligence headquarters in Mohali on May 9, 2022 on the directions of Rinda
and Landa. Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, lodged in Bathinda jail, is aligned to BKI
and runs his gang’s operations through Canada-based Goldy Brar in North Indian
states.
Modus operandi & Hawala network
During an investigation by Punjab Police
and the NIA, it emerged that Rinda and his BKI associates were involved in
cross-border smuggling of arms and ammunition and explosives and narcotics,
mainly from Pakistan. These consignments were smuggled from one place to
another, mostly through a cut-out mechanism where one person in the chain does
not have any contact with the other. The investigation also revealed the complex
network of transferring terror funds extorted from India for terrorist
activities. The funds are transferred to foreign countries through time-tested
hawala channels, or via formal money transfer service schemes and banking
channels. It also emerged that the KTF module was using MTSS services, like
Western Union, RIA Money and Transfast, to transfer funds to India-based
associates. These terrorists and gangsters identify and threaten businessmen and
singers in India to extort money and order killings if their demands are
ignored. They use secure means of communication, like Signal, WhatsApp, Zangi,
Facebook Messenger and Wire, to evade interception by law-enforcement agencies.
WhatsApp is the most frequently used platform to make threat calls to potential
victims.
Parallels to Mumbai underworld
Investigating agencies have found that
over a period of time individual gangs felt the need to expand their area of
influence and joined hands to share resources to increase criminal activity over
a wider area. To procure sophisticated weapons, syndicate members forged a
symbiotic relationship with proscribed terrorist organisations and persons
working for the cause of Khalistan.
In return for weapons, the criminal
syndicate carried out extortions and targeted killings for foreign-based
proscribed organisations to further the Khalistan cause.
This has a parallel with Mumbai’s
underworld, which, initially, would carry out criminal activity such as murder,
shooting important personalities and businessmen, abductions and land-grabbing.
Later, the Mumbai underworld joined anti-India organisations in Pakistan to
carry out terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
Investigations have revealed that the main
associates of the Punjab-based Bambiha Gang had come in contact with friendly
gangs operating in Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan by 2021. Now, Bambiha gang
members work in close association with KTF.
To procure sophisticated
weapons, syndicate members forged a symbiotic relationship with proscribed
terror outfits and persons working for the cause of Khalistan. In return for
weapons, it carried out extortions and targeted killings for foreign-based
proscribed organisations. This has a parallel with Mumbai’s underworld, which,
initially, would carry out criminal activity and later joined anti-India
organisations in Pakistan to carry out terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
