Pro-Khalistan actors using gangs, nexus firmed up in jails in India and abroad, NIA says in chargesheet

“It has also come to light that jails have been the place where the crime-terror nexus firmed up. Arrested gangsters Kaushal Choudhary, Amit Dagar, Neeraj Bawana, Naveen Dabas, Sunil Balyan, Sunil Rathi, Chhenu Pehalwan, while behind bars formed a syndicate with Dubai-based Dala and Patial to execute their unlawful activities. The dots joined…when the Dubai-based gangsters got in touch with the chief of banned outfit Khalistan Tiger Force Hardeep Singh Nijjar,” the charge sheet says.

During investigation, the NIA also found that all the extortion money they [gangsters] received is just a byproduct of their influence, and they conspired to fund the Khalistan cause and execute specific terror acts. “As part of this planning, they conspired to eliminate predetermined targets for creating terror… It has been established that the conspirators continue to operate from inside jails and abroad through their outside jail executioners/financiers,” the NIA chargesheet says.

Three cases were registered by the NIA in August 2022 against Canada-based gangster Lakhbir Singh alias Landa, Pakistan-based gangster Harvinder Singh Rinda, and US-based Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is the founder of the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), and others for supporting the Khalistan movement.

Two cases were registered against gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi, Goldy Brar and Vikram Brar, as well as their rivals Davinder Bambiha, Kaushal Chaudhary, Neeraj Bawana, Sunil alias Tillu Tajpuriya, Dilpreet, and Sukhpreet alias Budha.

Last week, the NIA filed its first charge sheet against members of the Bambiha gang.
“From inside jails, Bambiha group and other members hatched conspiracy to eliminate Youth Akali Dal leader Vicky Middhukhera in 2021 and also killed gangster Jitendra Gogi inside a courtroom in Rohini, and Sundeep Nangal Ambia, a Kabaddi player, was eliminated in 2022. They indulged in killings to terrorise people and to extort money from businessmen, singers and others,” the charge sheet says.

“Killings of prominent personalities are similar to the executions carried out by the underworld in the 1990s, which included murder of T-Series owner Gulshan Kumar, killing of East-West Airlines MD Thakiyudeen Wahid, and that of trade union activist Datta Samant,” says the charge sheet.
“Despite being apprehended under organised crime Acts like MCOCA, and sent behind bars, most of these gangsters flourished while operating from inside jails. While in jail, they transformed into militants and created a deadly terror-criminal nexus, which is not only susceptible to be exploited by external forces who are inimical to India but also dangerous to the national security,” the NIA charge sheet says.

“With the help of the associates of pro- Khalistan organisations, they [gangsters] are getting sophisticated weapons easily…members of Bambiha gang are conspiring with Arsh Dala to carry out targeted killings, extortions and terror acts in India,” the NIA chargesheet says.