The National Investigation Agency (NIA) stepped up its crackdown on Khalistani terrorists amid a row with Canada. The probe agency on Wednesday 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" and released a list of 54 criminals.
The federal agency announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh each for Rinda and Landa and Rs 5 lakh each for Parminder Singh Kaira alias “Pattu”, Satnam Singh alias “Satbir Singh” alias “Satta” and Yadvinder Singh alias “Yadda”.
"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," an NIA spokesperson said.
The wanted terrorists are accused of commission of terror acts and activities, besides raising funds for the BKI, a banned terror outfit, through smuggling of terrorist hardware and narcotics into Punjab and also through extensive extortion from businessmen and other prominent individuals.
Cases in Punjab
The official said they are also wanted in cases relating to the commissioning of targeted killings as well as the targeting of law enforcement agencies in order to create an environment of terror in the state of Punjab.
The investigations have shown that the five terrorists have been engaged in recruiting new members of the BKI by promising them monetary benefits, he added.
"They have also established a network of operatives in various countries to further their terror activities in different parts of India,” the official said.
Rinda, originally a resident of Maharashtra, is a Pakistan-based "listed individual terrorist" and member of the BKI, while Landa, Khaira, Satnam and Yadvinder are residents of Punjab.
"Any specific information leading to the arrest of the five wanted terrorists can be shared with the NIA headquarters in New Delhi or the NIA Branch Office in Chandigarh," the spokesperson said, sharing the telephone and WhatsApp numbers.
NIA's lists of 54 individuals
The NIA released two lists of 54 individuals with their photographs who are wanted in the investigation of two cases, registered last year, to dismantle terror-gangster networks in the country.
The lists, one naming 11 persons and the other 43 persons, were shared by the NIA on its official account.
The list included several wanted gangsters, including Goldy Brar, Lawrence Bishnoi, Anmol Bishnoi and Arshdeep Singh Gill.
"If you have any information about properties/assets/business owned by them in their name or in name of their associates, friends and relatives, please WhatsApp,” the agency said, sharing the mobile number.
(With PTI inputs)
