NIA raids 32 places in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab in terror-gangster case

In a significant move to dismantle the nexus between terrorists, gangsters, and drug smugglers, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted extensive searches at 32 locations in Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab on Thursday. The operations, part of the ongoing efforts to curb organized crime, targeted members associated with the notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s terror-crime syndicate.

The raids, initiated early in the morning, saw multiple teams from the anti-terror agency collaborating closely with state police forces. Key locations, including Jhajjar and Sonipat in Haryana, were among the areas subjected to intensive searches.

This action comes on the heels of the NIA’s attachment of four properties owned by Lawrence Bishnoi on January 6. Three immovable properties and one movable asset were seized in a coordinated operation spanning Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh, utilizing the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967.

The NIA, citing these properties as ‘proceeds of terrorism,’ asserted their use in planning terror conspiracies and executing serious crimes. Among the attached properties is a flat in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, owned by Vikas Singh, identified as a harborer of the terror gang.

Two other properties, located in Fazilka, Punjab, were owned by accused Dalip Kumar, alias Bhola, alias Dalip Bishnoi. Additionally, a Fortuner car registered in the name of Joginder Singh from Yamunanagar in Haryana was seized during the operations.

Investigations revealed that Vikas Singh is an associate of Lawrence Bishnoi and has harbored terrorists involved in a Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) attack on the Punjab Police Headquarters. Joginder Singh, father of gangster Kala Rana, facilitated gang members by allowing them to use his vehicle for transporting arms and ammunition for promoting terrorist acts.

Dalip Kumar’s property was identified as a shelter and warehouse for storing weapons, as well as harboring members of the terrorist gang. The NIA had previously registered a case against Lawrence Bishnoi’s organized crime syndicate under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in August 2022.

NIA’s investigations uncovered the syndicate’s involvement in various sensational crimes, including the murders of popular Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala and religious leaders like Pardeep Kumar. The terror conspiracies were revealed to have been masterminded from abroad, with connections to Pakistan and Canada, as well as coordinated efforts by organized terror syndicate leaders operating from prisons across India.

As part of its ongoing efforts to disrupt and dismantle these terror and mafia networks and their support infrastructure, the NIA has adopted targeted strategies, including the attachment and seizure of properties derived from the ‘proceeds of terrorism.’ The latest raids are indicative of a continued commitment to curbing organized crime and ensuring national security.