NIA raids 13 places across 5 states in crackdown on gangster-terror nexus

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday carried out searches at 13 places in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Delhi and National Capital Region and seized drugs and ammunition in its crackdown to bust the gangster-terror nexus.

The raids were aimed to dismantle the emerging nexus between terrorists, gangsters based in India and abroad in two cases registered in August 2022 involving the smuggling of drugs and weapons

The places raided by the NIA included Fazilka, Taran Taran, Ludhiana, Sangrur and Mohali, districts of Punjab; Yamuna Nagar district of Haryana, Outer North District of Delhi and Sikar district of Rajasthan.

Searches were conducted at the houses and other premises of Kaushal Chaudhary of Gurugram in Haryana, Vishal Maan of Prahalpur in Delhi, Binny Gurjar of Sangrur in Punjab, Ravi Rajgarh of Ludhiana in Punjab and their associates.

NIA said in a statement that incriminating materials, including various types of contraband along with ammunition was seized during the searches.

This is the third round of raids by the NIA in the case, and searches are part of the crackdown against organised criminal syndicates and networks, top gangsters and arms suppliers.

“Investigations will continue to dismantle such terror networks as well as their funding and support infrastructure. Preliminary investigations have revealed that these gangs were carrying out targeted killings and were also raising funds to carry out such criminal activities through smuggling of drugs and weapons,” said the NIA in the statement.

“The recent sensational crimes and extortion calls by criminal syndicates and gangsters to businessmen, professionals, including doctors etc., had created a widespread scare among the people. These gangs were using cyberspace to publicize these crimes to create terror among the public at large.”

Investigations have also revealed that such criminal acts were not isolated local incidents but there was a deep-rooted conspiracy amongst terrorists, gangsters and drug smuggling cartels and networks, who were operating from both within and outside the country, the anti-terror agency said.

“Many gang leaders and members had fled from India and are operating from foreign countries, including Pakistan, Canada, Malaysia and Australia. Most of these conspiracies were being hatched from inside jails of different States and were being executed by an organized network of operatives based abroad,” according to the NIA statement.