An official claimed Wednesday that the National Investigation Agency captured numerous people during a large multi-state assault on a nexus of terrorists, criminals, and drug smugglers.
The raids were related to cases involving Arsh Dalla, a designated terrorist, and other feared gangsters, according to a federal agency spokesperson.
The various state police forces offered required support to the daylong searches conducted in 53 locations throughout Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and the union territories of Delhi and Chandigarh, according to a spokesperson for the federal agency.
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According to the official, during the operations intended at breaking up the terror-gangster-smuggler nexus, pistols, ammo, a huge number of digital devices, and incriminating documents were confiscated.
According to him, the operation targeted weapon suppliers, financiers, and logistical providers affiliated with numerous hardcore gangs operating with drug smugglers and terror organisations in Pakistan, the UAE, Canada, Portugal, and other nations.
Some of the locations where raids were conducted included Amritsar, Moga, Fazilka , Ludhiana, Mohali, Faridkot, Barnala, Bhatinda, Ferozepur, SAS Naga and Jalandhar districts of Punjab; Rohtak, Sirsa, Fatehabad and Faridabad districts of Haryana; Sri Ganganagar, Jhunjhunu, Hanumangarh and Jodhpur districts of Rajasthan; Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh; Dehradun and Udhamsingh Nagar districts of Uttarakhand, the spokesperson said.
According to him, raids were also conducted in the southeast district of Delhi-NCR and in Chandigarh.
Other gangsters under NIA scrutiny in these operations included Lawrence Bishnoi, Sukha Duneke, Harry Maur, Narender alias Lali, Kala Jatheri, and Deepak Tinu, according to the spokesperson.
The operations were the seventh in a series of such crackdowns initiated by the NIA since August 2022, including two fresh cases recorded against organized criminal gangs in July this year.
The cases involve plots of targeted killings, terror funding of pro-Khalistan organisations, and extortion by gangsters, many of whom are imprisoned or operating from various other countries, according to the spokeswoman.
Investigations have revealed that these plots were developed in prisons around the country and were carried out by a well-organized network of foreign-based operators.
According to the spokesperson, these plots included the shocking killings of Maharashtra builder Sanjay Biyani, mining merchant Mehal Singh, and international Kabaddi player Sandeep Nangal Ambia in Punjab last year.
According to the official, many of the crooks and gangsters who previously commanded gangs in India have fled abroad and are now carrying out terror and violence-related operations from there.
“These criminals have been involved in the planning and execution of serious crimes, including contract and revenge killings, in collaboration with criminals imprisoned across India.” “Through drug and weapon smuggling, hawala, and extortion, these groups have carried out targeted killings and raised funds for attacks and other nefarious activities,” the spokesperson said.
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According to the official, the spotlight on these gangs became brighter after reports of various prisons becoming safe havens for the lethal nexus and focal points for gang warfare, which recently resulted in violence and murder within Goindwal Jail.
Previously, the NIA conducted similar operations in approximately 370 sites, resulting in the recovery of 38 firearms, including four fatal weapons, and 1,129 rounds of ammunition.
So far, the agency has blocked 87 bank accounts, attached 13 properties, and seized 331 digital devices, 418 documents, and two vehicles.
As a result of the NIA’s efforts to destroy and dismantle the deadly nexus between terrorists like Dalla and feared gangsters and drug smugglers, two absconders have been declared designated individual terrorists, 15 accused as Proclaimed Offenders, and Red Corner Notices (RCNs) issued against nine others, the spokesperson said.
