List of 12 gangsters based in US ready on MHA instructions, New Delhi could share it with Washington this week

“Following the MHA’s directions, the list of 12 criminals was prepared and their criminal dossiers were attached. Also attached is a note on the efforts of Indian agencies (to bring them back),” said a source, adding that security agencies “are expecting smooth communication with their American counterparts” on the topic that would “hopefully end in deportation”.

The list also includes Brar’s associate Darmanjot Singh Kahlon alias Darman Kahlon, Amritpal Singh, Harjot Singh, Harbir Singh, Navroop Singh, Swaran Singh alias Fauji, Sahil Kailash Ritoli, Yogesh alias Bobby Beri, Ashu alias Bhanu Pratap Sambhli, and Aman Sambhi, it is learnt.

Anmol, the brother of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who allegedly masterminded the conspiracy to murder NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, was arrested in the US in November last year after the immigration authorities found him travelling with fake documents. He has been in a US prison since. Last month, a special court in Mumbai issued non-bailable warrants against Anmol and two other wanted accused in connection with Siddique’s murder.

Brar, who was declared a designated terrorist by the Centre under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, is the alleged mastermind of the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. A key member of the Bishnoi gang, Brar hails from Faridkot in Punjab. His real name is Satinderjit Singh. He went to Canada on a student visa in 2017 and later moved to California.

Darmanjot Singh, who hails from Talwandi Khuman village in Amritsar, allegedly supplied weapons and organised a recce of Moosewala before his murder. “Kahlon is one of the key links between Canada-based BKI operative Lakhbir Singh alias Landa and Lawrence Bishnoi’s syndicate. He has been actively involved in a range of criminal activities, including the smuggling of weapons, explosives and heroin into India from Pakistan,” an official said.

Amritpal Singh alias Amrit Bal moved to the US in 2014. “He is an active member of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang and manages the gang’s illegal in Punjab through his local network. In 2023, he also formed an association with Paramjit Singh Pamma to raise terror modules in Punjab,” a source said.

“Most of these US-based gangsters are in touch with Pakistan-based smugglers to smuggle huge quantities of narcotics from Pakistan to India. Apart from using drones to smuggle narcotics consignments, the large consignments smuggled by gangsters-cum-smugglers into India are mostly smuggled through the sea route. They use VPNs to mask their location and encrypt communications, making it difficult to trace. They are using encrypted messaging apps for secure communication,” the source added.