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Gangster-terror network: In 1st charge sheet, NIA hints at role of singers, lawyers
The investigation into a nexus of north India-based gangsters, Khalistani outfits operating from foreign soil and Pakistan-based operatives has revealed that a similar ecosystem like the Mumbai underworld has emerged with links between the music industry, singers, kabbadi players and lawyers, NIA said.
The investigation into a nexus of north India-based gangsters, Khalistani outfits operating from foreign soil and Pakistan-based operatives has revealed that a similar ecosystem like the Mumbai underworld has emerged with links between the music industry, singers, kabbadi players and lawyers, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said on Tuesday in its first charge sheet filed against the gangster-terror network.
The agency has named Canada-based Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dala, who is listed as an individual terrorist under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and is associated with the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), along with other gangsters, Gaurav Patyal, Sukhpreet Buddha, Kaushal Choudhary, Amit Dagar, Naveen Bali, Chhotu Bhat, Asif Khan, Jagga Takhatmal, Tillu Tajpuria, Bhupi Rana and Sandeep Bandar in the charge sheet filed in a Delhi court.
They were in touch with Pakistan-based conspirators as well as Khalistan supporters based in Canada and other countries, it said.
“It was revealed during the investigation that most of the accused were, till recently, operating their own separate gangs involved in extortion rackets. They initially transformed into a gangsters’ syndicate to expand their area of influence in other states, but soon ended up in a deadly criminal-terror nexus after being exposed to exploitation by terrorist elements. Sophisticated weapons and availability of a large pool of cheap shooters made the gangsters’ syndicate an attractive choice for the terrorist outfits,” an NIA spokesperson said in a statement.
“The case has also brought to light links of the gangsters with the music industry, singers, kabaddi players and advocates etc, on the lines of the pre-1993 Mumbai blasts era when extensive linkages of the underworld with the business people and the film industry had surfaced,” the spokesperson said.
At least 10 other suspects, the NIA said, were still being probed for their role in the terror conspiracy, which included plans to eliminate certain leaders, singers and businessmen to terrorise people, extort money from them and create a sensation. The families of many gangsters lodged in prisons, it said, were helping them carry out extortion activities.
The agency is investigating three cases related to the gangster-terror nexus for the past six months and has carried out multiple raids in eight states in northern India.
“The charge sheet filed on Tuesday in Delhi related to dismantling of the gangster-terror network, along with their funding and support infrastructure. These gangs were conspiring to carry out targeted killings and were also raising funds to carry out these and other terror activities, as part of a deep-rooted conspiracy amongst terrorists, gangsters, drug smugglers and their networks, operating from both within and outside the country,” the NIA spokesperson said.
In this case alone, the NIA raided 92 locations in four states including Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, and recovered 20 weapons, 527 rounds of ammunition, 195 digital devices and 281 documents.
Look out circulars have been issued against seven absconding gangsters and three movable and immovable properties each have been attached in the case.
