NIA chargesheets 5 suspected Khalistani operatives

New Delhi: The National Investigation (NIA) filed a chargesheet against five for suspected Khalistani operations. This was related to a case of smuggling arms and narcotics over borders using drones, The Indian Express reported.

NIA identified those named in the chargesheet as Harmesh Singh, Darvesh Singh, Gurmukh Singh, Gagandeep Singh and Lakhbir Singh Rode. All are residents of Punjab.

"Investigation has revealed that the chargesheeted accused persons had smuggled illegal consignments of arms, ammunition, explosives and narcotics from across the India-Pakistan border to carry out terror activities in India," NIA said in a statement. The agency said that the seized illegal consignments were sent by the accused Lakhbir Singh Rode, Chief of ISYF, a banned terrorist organization and his accomplices from Pakistan. The absconding Lakhbir Singh used drones to bypass borders, NIA said.

The items were received by the accused in India, and they were passed on to other accused people to initiate subversive activities in India. NIA added that they have incriminating evidence against all the accused named in the chargesheet.

The smuggling case was first registered at Mamdot police station in Punjab's Ferozepur in August 2021. The NIA took the matter over in November that year.

Lakhbir Singh is also facing a probe on the killing of Comrade Balwinder Singh Sandhu in 2020. Sandhu was gunned down at his home in Tarn Taran district of Punjab after the state government removed the security cover provided for him. His family had blamed the state government for his death, terming the assault a terror attack.