In a significant escalation of its crackdown on extremist elements, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday conducted extensive search operations at 15 locations across Punjab, targeting individuals and networks with suspected links to the banned terrorist organization, Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). The coordinated raids, a crucial development in the ongoing efforts to neutralize anti-national forces, spanned districts including Gurdaspur, Batala, Amritsar, and Kapurthala, signaling a concerted push to dismantle the terror outfit’s infrastructure and funding channels within the state.
These simultaneous searches are directly connected to a case involving a grenade attack on a police station in the Gurdaspur district last December. NIA investigations into this specific incident have unveiled a larger, more insidious conspiracy orchestrated by BKI operatives based in various countries, notably including Pakistan. According to an official statement released by the NIA, a key aide of Pakistan-based BKI terrorist Harwinder Singh alias Rinda, identified as Happy Passian (also known as Harpreet Singh, a US-based BKI operative and gangster), has emerged as a central figure. Happy Passian is believed to have masterminded and orchestrated numerous recent grenade attacks on police stations and police posts not only in Punjab but also in neighboring Haryana, indicating a wider regional threat.
The NIA’s probe has revealed a sophisticated and far-reaching criminal conspiracy. BKI operatives, leveraging their presence in various countries, are actively engaged in recruiting and training India-based associates. This recruitment drive is complemented by a concerted effort to provide these field operatives with the necessary financial resources, a cache of weapons, and a supply of explosives. These nefarious activities are meticulously coordinated and executed through a complex network of associates and acquaintances, many of whom are also based abroad, including in Pakistan. The overarching objective of this well-funded and globally coordinated conspiracy, driven by foreign-based designated terrorists and their handlers, is to carry out terror acts on Indian soil, sowing discord and destabilizing the internal security landscape.
During the extensive search operations conducted across the 15 locations, NIA teams successfully seized a considerable amount of incriminating material. This includes crucial mobile phones, various digital devices that are expected to contain vital communications and data, and a trove of documents. These seized items are anticipated to provide further leads and evidence to bolster the ongoing investigation, helping the agency to map out the full extent of BKI’s network and its operational methodologies.
Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) is a Sikh nationalist organization that has been officially designated as a terrorist entity by various governments, including India, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. Founded in the late 1970s, BKI aims to establish an independent Sikh state called “Khalistan” in the Punjab region. The organization gained international notoriety following the bombing of Air India Flight 182 in 1985, which resulted in the tragic deaths of 329 people. While its influence had declined in the 1990s after several of its senior leaders were killed, reports suggest a resurgence of its activities, often with support from external elements. Wadhawa Singh, reportedly hiding in Pakistan, is believed to be the current head of the outfit.
The recent NIA crackdown is part of a sustained and intensified effort by Indian anti-terror agencies to dismantle the funding, recruitment, and operational modules of Khalistani terror outfits operating from abroad and attempting to revive militancy in Punjab. The agency has been particularly vigilant about the nexus between pro-Khalistan elements, gangsters, and drug traffickers, which often serves as a conduit for financing terror activities and procuring arms.
The current raids underscore the proactive stance of India’s security establishment in neutralizing threats before they can materialize into large-scale incidents. The focus on specific individuals like Happy Passian and his alleged connections to Pakistan-based handlers like Rinda highlights the cross-border dimension of these terror plots. The investigations aim not only to apprehend those directly involved in specific attacks but also to identify and dismantle the broader network that supports and facilitates such acts of terrorism.
The searches and seizures are critical steps in unraveling the intricate web of conspiracy, recruitment, training, and logistical support that BKI relies upon. The digital devices seized could yield crucial information about communication channels, funding transfers, and potential future targets or plans. Similarly, documents could reveal organizational structures, membership details, and ideological propaganda.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been closely monitoring the activities of BKI and other pro-Khalistan groups, especially in the wake of the recent security challenges in Punjab and the broader geopolitical context. The case under which these searches were conducted was registered under the directions of the MHA, signifying the high priority accorded to this investigation. The NIA has confirmed that its investigation into the matter is ongoing, suggesting that further arrests or operations may be conducted as more evidence comes to light.
These operations serve as a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by banned terrorist organizations like BKI, which continue to seek to destabilize India through acts of violence and subversion. The concerted efforts by agencies like the NIA, working in close coordination with state police forces, are crucial in safeguarding national security and maintaining peace in vulnerable regions like Punjab. The success of these raids sends a clear message that India is resolute in its fight against terrorism, irrespective of where its orchestrators may be based.