NIA Picks Up Punjab ‘Labourer’ for Questioning in Gangster-Terror Network Case | Raids at 51 Spots

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has picked up a “labourer", Yunis alias Jora from Punjab’s Ferozepur, for questioning in the gangster-terror network case after the searches on Wednesday.

Jora has been issued a notice under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) asking him to join the investigation. The NIA is likely to question him in Chandigarh. NIA officials suspect that Jora is associated with terrorist Arsh Dalla’s gang. His family, however, claims Jora is a labourer whose monthly income is only Rs 12,000.

“It appears that you were acquainted with the facts of this case. Therefore, you are hereby required to appear at NIA office at Chandigarh for purpose of investigation to answer certain queries pertaining to the said case," the notice given by the investigating officer of NIA , seen by News18, said.

Earlier, the NIA confirmed that searches were carried out across 51 locations in six states in connection with three cases. “The NIA is conducting raids across 6 states in 3 cases (RC 37/2022/NIA/DLI, RC 39/2022/NIA/DLI and RC 22/2023/NIA/DLI) in 51 locations belonging to associates of Lawrence, Bambiha and Arsh Dalla gangs," NIA said.

The agency in its statement said, “The NIA on Wednesday detained several suspects during a massive multi-state crackdown on the terrorists-gangsters-drug smugglers nexus, connected with ‘listed terrorist’ Arsh Dalla and many dreaded gangsters."

700+ ASSOCIATES OF GANGSTERS SPREADING TERROR IN PUNJAB

The charge sheet, filed by the NIA earlier in the year, said several youths from Punjab were being lured into the gangs run by Lawrence Bishnoi and others promising them Canada visa and ticket.

“Around 700-800 recruits could be working for these gangs. Each person is given a specific task and details are given only on need-to-know basis. Most gang members are unaware of the identity of others to protect multiple arrests in case of a crackdown," the agency charge sheet said.

ARMS AND AMMUNITIONS RECOVERED

The NIA raids on Wednesday were carried out after leads from arrested suspects and analysis of digital and material evidence, officials said. “The focus of raids, aimed at dismantling the terror-gangster-drug smuggler nexus, was on weapon suppliers, financiers and logistics providers associated with various hardcore gangs and their operatives. These gangs are working with drug smugglers and terrorists based out of other countries, including Pakistan, UAE, Canada, Portugal etc," the NIA spokesperson said.

“A total of 53 locations were raided during the day-long operation, which started early this morning. Pistols, ammunition, large numbers of digital devices and incriminating material, were seized during the raids that spanned the six States of Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, UP, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and the UT of Chandigarh," NIA spokesperson said .

Besides Arsh Dalla, others under the NIA scanner in these raids were notorious gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi, Sukha Duneke, Harry Maur, Narender alias Lali, Kala Jatheri, Deepak Tinu etc.

These were the seventh in the series of such crackdowns launched by NIA following the registration of five cases since August 2022, including the two new cases registered against Organised Criminal Gangs in July 2023. The cases relate to conspiracies of targeted killings, terror funding of pro-Khalistan outfits, extortion, etc. by the gangsters, many of whom are lodged in various Jails or are operating from various foreign countries, including Pakistan, Canada, Malaysia, Portugal and Australia, etc.

CONSPIRACY FROM BEHIND BARS

NIA investigations have revealed that the conspiracies under investigation were being hatched in jails of different states and were being executed by an organised network of operatives based abroad.

Among the conspiracies were the sensational killing of Maharashtra builder Sanjay Biyani, mining trader Mehal Singh and international kabaddi player Sandeep Nangal Ambia in Punjab last year.

Many criminals and gangsters who were earlier leading gangs in India have fled abroad in recent years and are now pursuing their terror and violence-related activities from there, as per NIA investigations. These criminals are engaged in planning and commissioning serious crimes, including contract and revenge killings, in association with criminals lodged in jails across India. These groups have been carrying out targeted killings and raising funds for attacks and other nefarious activities through smuggling of drugs and weapons, hawala and extortions.

The spotlight on these gangs has become sharper after reports of several prisons becoming havens of the deadly nexus and hubs of gang wars, which recently resulted in violence and murder inside Goindwal Jail, etc.

Some of the locations where raids were conducted are Amritsar, Moga, Fazilka , Ludhiana, Mohali, Faridkot, Barnala, Bhatinda, Ferozpur, SAS Nagar, Amritsar, and Jalandhar districts of Punjab; Rohtak, Sirsa, Fatehabad and Faridabad districts of Haryana; Sri Ganga Nagar, Jhunjhunu, Hanumangarh and Jodhpur districts of Rajasthan; Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh; Dehradun and Udhamsingh Nagar districts of Uttarakhand; besides South-east district of Delhi/ NCR and UT of Chandigarh.

The NIA had earlier conducted similar raids at over 370 locations, leading to seizure of 38 arms, including four lethal weapons, along with 1,129 rounds of ammunition. The NIA has so far frozen 87 banks accounts and attached 13 properties, besides seizing 331 digital devices, 418 documents and two vehicles. Two absconders have been declared as designated individual terrorists, and 15 accused declared as proclaimed offenders and Red Corner Notices (RCNs) have been issued against nine others.