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Khalistani-gangster nexus: Raids at 50 places in Punjab, UP, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Rajasthan

The National Investigation Agency raided a number of locations in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi NCR, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh on…

Statesman News Service | New Delhi | September 27, 2023 1:09 pm

Khalistani-gangster nexus: Raids at 50 places in Punjab, UP, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Rajasthan

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The National Investigation Agency raided a number of locations in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi NCR, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday in a crackdown on the Khalistani gangster nexus. During its raid, the NIA detained gangster-turned-terrorist Arsh Dala’s aide, Sunder alias Jora, from Punjab’s Ferozepur. They’re going to interrogate Jora in Chandigarh. The raids were launched at a total of over 50 locations in those countries, as detailed below.

The development comes at a time when India and Canada are already on the brink of a diplomatic showdown after Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused “potential Indian agents” of being involved in the assassination of a prominent Khalistani extremist in British Columbia on June 18. New Delhi dismissed the allegation as “absurd” and “motivated.”

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Also Read: Khalistan supporters hold protest outside Indian Consulate in Vancouver

NIA sources said, “Khalistani and gangsters based in overseas countries are financing overground workers in India through the use of hawala for drugs and arms.” According to sources, the NIA has also received information on the nexus between the Khalistani, the Information and Information Technology (IIT) and the gangsters. The sources said that the information collected from the gangsters and the Khalistanis so far arrested under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) indicates that the nexus deals with financing terrorism, supplying weapons and carrying out anti-state activities from abroad.

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The raids were carried out on Wednesday at 30 locations across Punjab, Rajasthan (13 locations), Haryana (4 locations), Uttarakhand (2 locations), Delhi (1 location) and Uttar Pradesh (1 location). In the context of the ongoing diplomatic dispute, India on Wednesday imposed a visa suspension on Canadian citizens and requested Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence.

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The Kerala High Court, on Thursday, granted bail to M K Nasar, one of the individuals convicted by the special NIA court last year in the case of chopping the hands of Professor T J Joseph in 2010. A division bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice P V Balakrishnan suspended Nasar’s sentence and granted conditional bail to him after considering his appeal against the NIA court’s conviction in the case Considering the prolonged detention and citing the potential for trial delays, the court suspended Nasar’s sentence and granted conditional bail, taking into account that some co-accused with similar allegations had already been released after serving shorter terms. The court noted that he had already spent nine years in jail and that delays in resolving appeals could justify suspending a convict’s prison term. It also observed that other accused in the case had received lesser sentences and had already been released after serving their terms. “The applicant has been undergoing incarceration, at the pre-conviction and post-conviction phases, for over 9 years. Furthermore, the fact that the accused facing the same allegations were earlier imposed a lesser term of imprisonment and have been released after having undergone the sentence is a factor that cannot be ignored. Additionally, the appeals filed by the NIA against the findings of the learned Sessions Judge are being considered in separate appeals, which have not yet been taken up. “There is also the likelihood of delay, as the prime accused has surrendered, and the learned Sessions Judge may have to take up the trial and dispose of it in accordance with the law and some of the original records may be required for that purpose. In view of these facts and circumstances, we are of the considered opinion that the sentence imposed on the applicant can be suspended pending the consideration of the appeal.” The court said The court, however, imposed strict conditions for Nasar’s bail. He is not supposed to provide a bond of Rs 1 lakh with two sureties, refrain from leaving the country without the court’s permission, avoid interfering with the trial or witnesses, and not commit similar offences while on bail The gruesome incident dates back to July 4, 2010, when Joseph, a professor at Newman College, Thodupuzha, was returning from Sunday mass with his family, members of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI) attacked him, allegedly in retaliation for a question paper he set, which contained a passage that they claimed insulted Prophet Mohammed was derogatory. His right hand was chopped off in this attack. Nasar was accused of playing a critical role in the attack. Investigations revealed his involvement in recruiting gang members, assigning specific tasks, collecting funds, procuring communication devices, and maintaining communication links with key conspirators.

The Kerala High Court, on Thursday, granted bail to M K Nasar, one of the individuals convicted by the special NIA court last year in the case of chopping the hands of Professor T J Joseph in 2010.