Over a dozen linked to Jaswinder Singh Multani, ISI drug syndicate identified
The revelations have prompted the German police to initiate an independent probe into the activities of Multani and his associates, it is learnt. The NIA has alleged that Multani was responsible for raising funds to supply arms, ammunition and exp...
According to the NIA, the smuggling syndicate of ISI-backed Rana Taseem is said to be behind SFJ’s attempts to revive militancy in Punjab.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has identified more than a dozen suspects linked to Jaswinder Singh Multani of the Sikhs For Justice, ET has learnt. He was arrested in Germany on December 27 on India's request.
The probe has also revealed, according to officials, Multani's alleged links with the smuggling syndicate backed by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
The revelations have prompted the German police to initiate an independent probe into the activities of Multani and his associates, it is learnt. The NIA has alleged that Multani was responsible for raising funds to supply arms, ammunition and explosives using the smuggling network in Punjab. He was actively using social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube to propagate SFJ's ideology, officials said.
According to the NIA, the smuggling syndicate of ISI-backed Rana Taseem is said to be behind SFJ's attempts to revive militancy in Punjab. "Banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, in India, SFJ is trying to muster support from gangsters and radicals in Punjab. It points to an emerging trend of gangsters-terrorist groups link. The gangsters are involved in smuggling arms and operating with drug cartels," said an official.
Among the others named by NIA are Jagdish Singh Bhura of Khalistani Zindabad Force, its deputy chief and SFJ associate Gurmeet Singh, Ranjeet Singh Pakhoke, Paramjit Singh Pamma and Ranjeet Singh Neeta of Khalistan Tiger Force, and Sukhdev Singh Heran and Hardeep Singh Nijjar of Babbar Khalsa lnternational. All except Bhura, Pakhoke and Heran have been designated as individual terrorist under the recently amended UAPA.
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A Union home ministry official said that a team of NIA sleuths would soon visit Germany in connection with the probe. Canadian resident Nijjar was recently named by the agency for allegedly sending funds to India through various money transfer service schemes and hawala channels to develop a network of sympathisers for undertaking targeted killings in Punjab.
The charge sheet filed by NIA against pro-Khalistan elements said that "they have been trying to incite Sikhs to vote for secession, agitate against India and carry out violent activities through various posts and audio messages".
