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Migrants were told to seek asylum as Khalistan supporters

Migrants were told to seek asylum as Khalistan supporters

CID (crime) officers probing the human smuggling case after France grounded a chartered flight carrying 303 Indians during a refuelling stop at Vatry airport near Paris, including 96 Gujaratis, on Friday said that the human smugglers had told illegal immigrants from Punjab to seek asylum in the US saying they were Khalistan supporters. 

According to CID (crime) officers, the agents told the would-be emigrants from Punjab - who were numerous - to seek asylum as Khalistani supporters if they were caught by US security agencies. This is because Khalistan supporters have been agitating against the Indian state. 

For Gujaratis, the agents instructed them to use different stories about persecution to seek asylum in the US. 

Sources in the police said those from Gujarat were told to seek asylum either as Congress or Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers on the grounds of political persecution. Newlyweds or young couples were told to seek asylum on the grounds of inter-caste marriage or family feuds. 

ADGP CID (crime) Rajkumar Pandian said they have booked 14 agents for human smuggling, destruction of evidence and criminal conspiracy. 

"The procedure to issue look-out circulars against the 14 agents, many of whom are abroad, will be taken up very soon," Pandian said. 

He said the agents made the emigrants delete messages and destroy evidence, but the agency succeeded in retrieving some of them. 

The agents booked by CID (crime) were named as Joginder alias Jaggi Paji and Joginder Mansaram from Delhi; Salim Dubai and Sam Paji from Dubai; Chandresh Patel, Sandip Patel and Kiran Patel from Mehsana; Bhargav Darji, Jayesh Patel, Biren Patel, Arpit Jhala and Piyush Barot from Gandhinagar along with Raju Panchal and Raja Bhai from Mumbai. 

France had grounded the chartered flight for suspected human trafficking after receiving a tip-off. It had taken off from Dubai and was to head to Nicaragua. On December 24, a court set up at Vatry airport ordered the release of the passengers and allowed the flight to take off for Mumbai. However, 276 people landed in Mumbai. Sources in the agency said the human smugglers had chartered the flight to Nicaragua from Dubai. They planned to send the flyers from North Gujarat and northern states of India to Mexico, from where they would cross into the US.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/migrants-were-told-to-seek-asylum-as-khalistan-supporters/articleshow/106794281.cms 


13-Jan-2024

NIA inputs in San Francisco Indian Consulate attack case to aid FBI probe

NIA inputs in San Francisco Indian Consulate attack case to aid FBI probe

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has shared its findings with the United State’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) pertaining to the March 2023 attack on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, to ensure that the perpetrators are prosecuted for the offence expeditiously.

During the visit of a U.S. delegation led by FBI Director Christopher A. Wray about a month ago, the senior agency officials had held a detailed discussion on the issue. They apprised the delegation of the inputs gathered by the NIA, including the information on the nexus between terrorists and members of organised criminal syndicates.

‘Aggressively probing’

Mr. Wray had informed the officials that the FBI was aggressively probing the attack. It is learnt that the FBI case has not yet reached the prosecution stage and investigations are still under way.

In September 2023, the NIA had released the photographs of 10 persons wanted for the attack and vandalism at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. It had issued three separate “Request for Identification & Information” notices seeking information that could lead to the arrest or detention of the accused persons.

The agency had registered the case in June 2023 under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act to investigate the attack that took place in the intervening night of March 18 and 19, 2023. Some pro-Khalistan entities had allegedly illegally entered the consulate premises and tried to set it afire.

The same day, slogan-shouting Khalistan supporters had broken through the makeshift security barriers installed by the local police and put up two pro-Khalistan flags on the consulate premises, damaged the building, assaulted and injured some consulate officials.

In another case related to the attack on the High Commission of India in London on March 19 last year, the NIA questioned some persons linked to the case, during their visit to India. In August 2023, the agency had raided 31 locations related to the suspects and their associates in Punjab and Haryana.

A group of about 50 pro-Khalistan persons had attacked the High Commission, causing disrespect to the Indian National flag, damaging the public property and injuring some officials. The NIA found that the attack had been organised allegedly by Gurcharan Singh of Dal Khalsa, United Kingdom; Avtar Singh Khanda (who recently died) of Khalistan Liberation Force; one Jasvir Singh, and their associates.

An NIA team had visited the United Kingdom in May last year as part of the investigations in the case. Based on “crowdsourced information”, it also identified the attackers.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/nia-inputs-in-san-francisco-indian-consulate-attack-case-to-aid-fbi-probe/article67738063.ece/amp/ 


13-Jan-2024

Pannun calls for shutdown of airports from Amritsar to Ayodhya ahead of Jan 22

Pannun calls for shutdown of airports from Amritsar to Ayodhya ahead of Jan 22

Khalistan leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun continued his incendiary provocation of violence against India on Monday, calling for shutdown of airports from Amritsar to Ayodhya ahead of the January 22 Ram temple Pran Pratishtha ceremony.

The legal counsel of the outlawed Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) group also exhorted Muslims in the country to "oppose" the ceremony, and urged them to carve out ‘Urduistan’ from India.

"From Amritsar to Ayodhya, shut down airports. Now is the time, Muslims, you carve out a country Urduistan from India," Pannun said in a fresh video message released on Monday.

Threatening that the ceremony is going to have a "global consequence", Pannun said, "every Muslim must protest".

Pannun's threats come as preparations for the Ram Mandir's Pran Pratishtha' in Ayodhya are in full swing with over one lakh devotees expected to be in the city for the event, which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The newly-inaugurated Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya has already received more than 40 requests for landing of chartered flights for the mega religious event.

Last week, the Sikh separatist had issued another video calling for India's “economic destruction” by targeting the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) from March 12, coinciding with the 31st anniversary of serial blasts in Mumbai in 1993.

Pannun was declared a designated terrorist in 2020 by India under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

While the US claims to have shielded him from a purported assassination by Indian agents, he is wanted in nearly two dozen cases, including some of terrorism and sedition in India.

In September 2023, his properties in Amritsar and Chandigarh cities were seized by the NIA, which also charged him and his separatist organisation under several sections of the Indian Penal Code and the UAPA on November 20.

Following the NIA charges, the radical Sikh and his secessionist group gave a call to pro-Khalistan elements to “picket” Air India’s outbound flights from the airports in the Canadian cities of Toronto and Vancouver on December 1, 2023.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/pannun-calls-for-shutdown-of-airports-from-amritsar-to-ayodhya-ahead-of-jan-22 


08-Jan-2024

Key BKI operative arrested after encounter in Balongi

Key BKI operative arrested after encounter in Balongi

An operative of a terrorist module of the banned pro-Khalistan group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) suffered a bullet injury inside Bal Gopal Gaushala in Balongi amid a joint operation conducted by the Mohali CIA and the Batala police on Thursday evening. 

An operative of a terrorist module of the banned pro-Khalistan group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) suffered a bullet injury inside Bal Gopal Gaushala in Balongi amid a joint operation conducted by the Mohali CIA and the Batala police on Thursday evening. (HT Photo) 

The accused, identified as Sharanpreet Singh alias Sunny, a close associate of ISI-backed terrorist Harvinder Rinda and US-based gangster Harpreet alias Happy Pasia, was rushed to Phase-6 government hospital after he was shot in leg

Police recovered a pistol and two live cartridges from Sunny. According to the police, Sunny was wanted in two UAPA cases registered in Fazilka and Mohali and was also involved in a murder case in Batala. 

Earlier on Wednesday, Mohali CIA team led by DSP Gursher Singh Sandhu and inspector Shiv Kumar arrested his two accomplices Karan Gujjarpuria and Vishaldeep Singh from Amritsar and recovered three weapons and eight live cartridges from the former. “Sunny used to work with Gujjarpuria. As Sunny was also wanted by Batala police, Mohali CIA and Batala police jointly interrogated his two accomplices. During interrogation, it was revealed that Sunny was hiding in Balongi following which patrolling teams launched a search and spotted him in Balongi around 5 pm. When chased, he ran into the gaushala and exchanged fire with the police. He was nabbed after being shot in the leg,” Sandeep Kumar Garg, SSP, Mohali, said. 

He added that all the three arrested accused were part of the module busted by the Mohali CIA in October last year. 

“Earlier we had arrested one Amarjit. Sunny and Amarjit used to go to the border to procure weapons smuggled from the cross-border. We will register a fresh case under the Arms Act and attempt to murder against Sunny,” DSP Sandhu said. 

In another firing incident in Kharar, local police arrested two men for firing at the supervisor of a de-addiction centre located at Randhawa Road, Kharar, due to an old rivalry. 

The accused have been identified as a 24-year-old Yamuna Nagar resident and Ravi Kumar of Jalandhar. They were arrested from Banga by a team led by Kharar DSP Karan Sandhu. 

According to the police, the Yamuna Nagar resident was earlier admitted to the same de-addiction centre and nursed a grudge against victim Sarabjit claiming that the latter deliberately prolonged his stay in the rehab centre. The accused who reached in an Alto car shot at the victim in his stomach following which he was rushed to a private hospital in Phase-6. His condition is out of danger, the police said. Kharar city police have booked both accused under section 307 (attempt to murder) and the Arms Act. This was the fourth encounter in 21 days by the Mohali Police 

On December 13, a gangster, Karanjit Singh alias Jassa Happowal, was shot in both legs when he tried to escape from Punjab Police’s custody at Peer Muchalla in Zirakpur town. 

On December 16, two gangsters, wanted in at least six cases of carjacking and extortion in Mohali, were shot in the legs as they tried to flee on being intercepted by district police’s CIA at Saneta in Sohana area of the town on December 16. 

On December 21, Mohali police nabbed two criminals, allegedly owing allegiance to the Prince Chauhan gang and involved in eight cases of extortion from Balongi area after an exchange of fire. 

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/key-bki-operative-arrested-after-encounter-in-balongi-101704397859101.html 


05-Jan-2024

Hindu temple defaced with pro-Khalistan graffiti in California

Hindu temple defaced with pro-Khalistan graffiti in California

A Hindu temple in the US state of California was defaced with pro-Khalistani graffiti. This incident comes weeks after Swaminarayan Mandir in California was vandalised with anti-India graffiti.

The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) shared information about the vandalisation of California's Sherawali Temple in a social media post on Friday. A photo of the defacement was also shared by the HAF.

The organisation, in its post on X, said it was in touch with the police regarding the incident. The HAF also asked Hindu temples to install security cameras and alarm systems in view of "rising threat from Khalistan proponents as well as the omnipresent risk from anti-Hindu actors".

On December 23 last year, a Hindu temple was defaced with pro-Khalistani slogans in California's Newark city. The pictures were shared on X by the Hindu American Foundation, showing slogans scribbled on the walls of the Swaminarayan Mandir Vasana Sanstha.

Images showed hateful slogans against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the wall of the temple.

At the time, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had taken note of the incident and reiterated that extremists and separatists should not be given space.

"I have seen it. Extremists, separatists and such forces should not be given space. Our Consulate there complained to the government and the police and an inquiry is underway," Jaishankar had told reporters.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/hindu-temple-attacked-with-pro-khalistan-graffiti-in-california-week-after-canada-incident-2484507-2024-01-05 


04-Jan-2024

Narco-terror nexus: Govt planning to install anti-drone technology in border areas

Narco-terror nexus: Govt planning to install anti-drone technology in border areas

To prevent smuggling via drones from across the border into Indian territory, the Central has decided to install indigenous anti-drone technology in the next six months, which is being developed to check all such misadventures by the anti-national elements. In the last 12 months, the Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police have recovered around 110 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and reported 593 drone sightings along the India-Pakistan border since 2019.

Sources in the government said that the security agencies are working on as many as three designs of the anti-drone technology and the final outcome could be three or a combination of all three. “The menace of smuggling in arms and narcotics from across the border, especially in Punjab through the use of drones will be over in the next six months. Definitely the anti-drone technology will be placed by then and currently the trial on the new technology is going,” the sources said.

Data provided by the MHA, shows that maximum drones have been seized from Amritsar sector with 52 and 31 from Ferozpur. In 2023, over 77.32 kg heroin, 3.58 drugs, three pistols, one AKM rifle, three magazines and 63 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the six sectors of Punjab.

According to officials, central agencies believe Pakistani smugglers are using the UAVs to finance and supply weapons to pro-Khalistan entities (PKEs) on the Indian side, who are reciprocating by offering help in establishing “cross-border linkages” and supporting Pakistan intelligence operatives (PIOs). “Pakistan’s ISI supports this narco-terrorism network and they are using drug smugglers as a weapons supplier. The narco smugglers are helping PKEs through weapons smuggling and financing, while PKEs are helping them with the support of cross-border linkage and Pakistan intelligence operatives (PIOs),” the official said, adding the central intelligence agencies have sufficient evidence to show the “nexus”.

In March last year, Union Minister of State for Home Nisith Pramanik had said the Ministry of Home Affairs has established Anti Rogue Drone Technology Committee under the supervision of the director general of the Border Security Force with the mandate to evaluate the technology available to counter rogue drones and certify its effectiveness in dealing with rouge drones.

According to the MHA’s annual report-2023 released last month, 10 states and three Central Armed Police Forces have attended the “drone and anti-drone” training at the NSG centre in Manesar.


Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/drone-smuggling-technology-border-areas-narco-terror-nexus-9092716/ 


02-Jan-2024

NIA identifies 43 Khalistan supporters involved in violence at Indian Missions abroad

NIA identifies 43 Khalistan supporters involved in violence at Indian Missions abroad

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has identified 43 Khalistan supporters, allegedly involved in violence at the Indian High Commission in London during a protest on March 19 and also who allegedly targeted the Indian Consulate in San Francisco on July 2.

According to the NIA, the attacks on the High Commissions of India in Ottawa and London, as well as on the Consulate General of India, San Francisco, US, also remained the focus of the NIA actions on offences against Indian interests abroad through the year, which witnessed more than 50 raids and searches as part of the agency’s efforts to unravel the conspiracy behind the attacks on Indian Missions abroad.

“The attacks involved criminal trespass, vandalism, damage to public property, and attempts to cause hurt to Indian officials and damage the Consulate building through acts of arson. NIA has used several innovative methods of

investigation, including crowd sourcing of information while investigating the larger conspiracy of attacks on Indian Missions, which resulted in identification of 43 suspects. The NIA has stepped up its investigation in these cases in recent months and examined more than 80 persons in India suspected to be part of the conspiracy of the attacks,” an NIA spokesperson said.

Sharing details of their overall conviction rate, the spokesperson said the agency has maintained a robust overall conviction rate of 94.70 per cent, underscoring the efficacy of its investigational and prosecution expertise, effectiveness and prowess. Last year, the overall conviction rate was 94.39 per cent.

“The NIA had this year arrested 625 persons as compared to 490 in 2022 — a nearly 28 per cent increase. Among 625, 65 were arrested in ISIS cases, 114 for jihadi terror cases, 45 in human trafficking cases, 28 for terrorist and organised criminal activity and 76 in Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) cases,” the spokesperson said.

“NIA registered a total of 68 cases in 2023, covering a wide spectrum of terror-related incidents. These encompass 18 jihadi terror cases in multiple states, three cases from Jammu and Kashmir, 12 of LWE, seven cases involving terrorist and organised criminal activity in Punjab, five cases of the Northeast, and two cases related to Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN),” the spokesperson added. In 2022, NIA had lodged 73 cases, 19.67 per cent increase from the 61 cases registered in 2021, and is an all-time high for the agency.

“The number of persons chargesheeted and convicted stood at 513 and 74, respectively, as against 459 and 79 in 2022,” the spokesperson said, adding that the NIA managed to track down and arrest 47 absconders in 2023, 14 more than last year.

An official said the Union Home Ministry has handed over 324 cases to the NIA from December 1, 2018, to November 30, 2023.

“In 2022, the NIA had attached a total of 37 properties worth Rs 10.53 crore, while in 2023, the figure went up to 240, including 156 bank accounts with a total value of Rs 55.90 crore, especially in cases related to Jammu and Kashmir. These properties belonged to the accused and suspects involved in terrorism, LWE, explosives and other prominent cases. The attachments, made under various provisions of UA(P)A, included 12 properties — of which 4 were bank accounts — worth Rs 1.5 crore, of six listed ‘individual terrorists’,” the spokesperson said.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/nia-identifies-43-khalistan-supporters-involved-in-violence-at-missions-abroad-9089807/ 


01-Jan-2024

‘Will target Bombay Stock Exchange from March 12’: Gurpatwant Pannun’s latest threat

‘Will target Bombay Stock Exchange from March 12’: Gurpatwant Pannun’s latest threat

Khalistan terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who has been making incendiary provocation of violence against India, has called for the country’s “economic destruction” by targeting the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange from March 12.

The day coincides with the 31st anniversary of the serial blasts in Mumbai in 1993.

"Unlike 1993 which damaged the BSE buildings, the call to target BSE/NSE from 12th March is aimed at destroying India's economic system," Pannun said in a video statement.

The US-based Khalistani leader has been designated as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act by the Home Ministry. He is wanted by Indian security agencies in at least two dozen cases, including terrorism and sedition.

In his latest video message, Pannun urged people to dump Indian stocks and buy American stocks before March 12.

Last month, he had exhorted the “Muslims of Uttar Pradesh” to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he came to Ayodhya to inaugurate a new airport and unveil many other developmental projects.

Pannun has been making open calls for violence against India ever since the US government alleged the hands of an Indian agent in a failed attempt to kill the Khalistan leader on the American soil.

Last month, he put out a video in which he said Indian parliament would be targeted on or before December 13, sending the Delhi Police into tizzy.

In the previous month, Pannun had urged Sikhs to stop flying on Air India planes on and after November  19, claiming threat to their lives. He also threatened that the airline would not be allowed to operate its flights.

In September this year, the National Investigation Agency had confiscated his house and land in Amritsar and Chandigarh. 

An NIA Special Court had issued non-bailable warrants against him in February 2021 and he was declared a 'Proclaimed Offender' in November 2022.

Source: https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2024/01/01/gurpatwant-pannuns-latest-threat-will-target-bombay-stock-exchange-from-march-12.html 


01-Jan-2024

Goldy Brar declared terrorist by MHA — ‘associated with Babbar Khalsa, involved in multiple killings’

Goldy Brar declared terrorist by MHA — ‘associated with Babbar Khalsa, involved in multiple killings’

The government Monday declared fugitive gangster Goldy Brar an individual terrorist under the  Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. 

The announcement came two days after Canada-based Lakhbir Singh Landa, a gangster associated with the terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International, was declared an individual terrorist.

Among other things, Brar, who is currently believed to be in Canada’s Brampton, has also been accused of being associated with Babbar Khalsa International.  

In a gazette notification Monday, the Ministry of Home Affairs said Satwinder Singh alias Satinderjit Singh alias Goldy Brar has been involved in “multiple killings and professes radical ideology, figured in making threatening calls to pro-nationalist leaders demanding ransom and posting the claims of killings on different social media platforms”. 

The notification says Brar “has been involved in smuggling of high-grade arms, ammunitions and explosive materials through drones from across the border and supplying thereon for carrying out killings and also providing sharp shooters”. 

“He and his associates have been conspiring to disrupt the peace, communal harmony and law and order in the state of Punjab through nefarious designs including sabotage, raising of terror modules, carrying out targeted killings, and other anti-national activities,” it adds. 

Brar is the subject of a Red Corner Notice issued by the Interpol, the notification says, adding that he has a non-bailable warrant and lookout circular against him. 

The Punjab Police had in September 2023 raided over 1,000 locations as part of a crackdown on Brar’s associates. 

Brar is allegedly the mastermind of singer-politician Sidhu Moosewala’s killing in 2022, and purportedly claimed responsibility for the murder in a post on social media. 

Brar and Lawrence Bishnoi (who is currently lodged in a Gujarat jail) are associates. In 2022, Brar had also claimed responsibility for the murder of Dera Sacha Sauda follower Pradeep Singh, an accused in the Bargari “sacrilege case”.

Singer Honey Singh had last year filed a complaint with the Delhi Police accusing Brar of threatening him. 

A native of Muktsar, Punjab, Brar reportedly moved to Canada on a student visa in 2017.

Source: https://theprint.in/india/goldy-brar-declared-terrorist-by-mha-associated-with-babbar-khalsa-involved-in-multiple-killings/1907275/ 


01-Jan-2024

MHA declares Canada-based gangster ‘Lakhbir Singh Landa’ an ‘individual terrorist’.

MHA declares Canada-based gangster ‘Lakhbir Singh Landa’ an ‘individual terrorist’.

Canada-based gangster and Babbar Khalsa International leader Lakhbir Singh Langa has been declared an “individual terrorist" under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, according to a report published by the news agency ANI.

In a notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), it stated that Landa was closely associated with Canada-based pro-Khalistan elements including Sikhs for Justice leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, and Khalistan Tiger Force leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar among others.

This September, NIA announced cash rewards for information leading to the arrest of five Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) operatives, including Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias "Rinda" and Lakhbir Singh Sandhu alias "Landa".

The federal agency announced a cash reward of ₹10 lakh each for Rinda and Landa and ₹5 lakh each for Parminder Singh Kaira alias “Pattu", Satnam Singh alias “Satbir Singh" alias “Satta" and Yadvinder Singh alias “Yadda".

A spokesperson of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had said 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 official said investigations have shown that the five terrorists have been engaged in recruiting new members of the BKI by promising them monetary benefits.

Who is Lakhbir Singh Landa?

1) Lakhbir Singh Landa is a resident of Tarn Taran in Punjab. Now, it is believed that Landa is residing in Canada's Alberta. He fled to Canada in 2017, according to HT reports.

2) He is a close aide of Pakistan-based gangster-turned-terrorist Harvinder Singh. After settling down in Canada, Landa joined hands with the pro-Khalistan terror organization ‘BKI’.

3) In July 2011, the first case was registered against Landa for a murder under the Arms Act at Harike Pattan. Since then, a total of 18 criminal cases have been registered against him including murder, drug smuggling, etc.

4) Before he fled to Canada, the Punjab Police had registered the last case against him under kidnapping charges in Moga.

5) Some media reports stated that Lakhbir Singh was a main conspirator of the Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) attack at the Punjab Police intelligence headquarters in Mohali.

6) Besides this, it is also believed that Landa is a key conspirator in planting an improvised explosive device (IED) under a sub-inspector’s car in Amritsar.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/mha-declares-canada-based-gangster-lakhbir-singh-landa-an-individual-terrorist-all-you-need-to-know-about-him-11703898785882.html 


30-Dec-2023

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