News Headlines
Nishtha Anushree
Sep 27, 2023, 02:27 PM | Updated 04:58 PM IST
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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted a raid at the residence of Arshdeep Singh aka Arsh Dalla's accomplice Jones, alias Jora, in Firozpur on Wednesday (27 September) and apprehended him.
The NIA team reached Jora's residence in the fish market area at 5 am. After initial questioning, Jora was arrested and taken into custody. Jora works as a laborer.
Jora's father revealed that NIA officials informed him that his son has connections with individuals outside the country involved in unlawful activities. Arshdeep Dalla is a notorious gangster and Khalistani terrorist based in Canada.
The father stated that he had no prior knowledge of these matters. "The police visited our home and took our son to the City police station for further questioning," he told News 18.
According to the chargesheet filed by the NIA, Arshdeep Dalla was involved in receiving arms from Pakistan through drones in Punjab. Subsequently, he would distribute these sophisticated weapons to local gangsters, collaborating with his associate Naveen Bali in Pakistan. This illicit exchange was carried out in connection with pro-Khalistani activities.
Meanwhile, NIA also conducted a raid at the residence of former Sarpanch Gurmil Singh in Takhtupura village in Moga, interrogating the family for about three hours. The NIA team took away the mobile phone of one of Singh's sons.
A licensed weapon was found in the house, which was left behind. Nothing else was found. The family stated that they could not say anything in front of the media and had already provided all the information to SSP Moga.
Gurinder, the son of former Sarpanch Gurmil Singh, had received threatening calls several times under the name of Arsh Dalla for extortion. It is also reported that some money transfers took place.
On the other hand, the police have taken into custody three individuals who provided shelter to the two accused involved in the murder of Congress block president Baljinder Balli by firing. After the incident, the shooters stayed at their place in Bathinda.
These raids were part of NIA searches at 51 locations across six states, targeting individuals linked to three notorious criminal gangs: Lawrence Bishnoi, Bambiha, and Arshdeep Dalla.
Nishtha Anushree is Senior Sub-editor at Swarajya. She tweets at @nishthaanushree.