New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday has taken major action against the nexus of terrorism, drug smugglers and gangsters across the country.
The NIA carried out searches at over 100 locations in six states – Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh.
According to the information, the NIA teams are carrying out the raids in Punjab in response to five cases registered against the nexus of terror-narcotics-smugglers-gangsters. Jaswinder Singh Multani was involved in planting a bomb near Model Burail Jail in Chandigarh last year. He was arrested in Germany in 2021 on charges of masterminding the Ludhiana court blast.
According to NIA sources, gangsters sitting abroad are allegedly trying to spread terror by funding Khalistani separatists. Sources said over 200 NIA raid team members were present in the raids at over 100 locations. Jaswinder Singh Multani is considered to be a close associate of SFJ founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannu and is allegedly involved in separatist activities.
Multani had allegedly conspired to kill farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal at the Singhu border during the farmers’ protest in 2020-2021. He allegedly radicalised a Jiwan Singh to kill Balbir Singh Rajewal. In 2019, the Centre had banned SFJ under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for promoting a separatist agenda and violent militancy in Punjab.
The government said their activities were aimed at creating divisions among communities and disturbing peace and communal harmony in Punjab.