On Wednesday, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) offered a Rs. 10 lakh reward for the capture of five members of the terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), as the counterterrorism organization stepped up its operations against Khalistani terrorists operating in India.

In an official statement, the NIA offered a cash reward of Rs. 10 lakh each to anyone with information that could result in the capture of "listed terrorists" Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda and Lakhbir Singh Sandhu alias Landa, who are charged with encouraging terrorism in India on behalf of the BKI outfit.

According to an NIA spokesperson, these five terrorists are wanted in connection with a case that was filed at the beginning of the year regarding the BKI's terrorist actions intended to sabotage India's peace and communal harmony and spread terror in the state of Punjab. The NIA had registered the case under sections 17, 18, 18B, 20, 38 & 39 of UA (P) Act, 1967.

“The wanted terrorists are accused of commission of terror acts and activities, besides raising funds for the BKI, a banned terror outfit, through smuggling of terrorist hardware and narcotics into Punjab and also through extensive extortion from businessmen and other prominent individuals. They are also wanted in cases relating to the commissioning of targeted killings as well as targeting of law enforcement agencies in order to create an environment of terror in the state of Punjab,” the spokesperson said.

According to the official, investigations have revealed that the five terrorists were actively involved in recruiting new BKI members by promising them monetary rewards.

“They have also established a network of operatives in various countries to further their terror activities in different parts of India,” the official said.

Meanwhile, the NIA released two lists of 54 individuals with their photographs who are wanted in the investigation of two cases, registered last year, to dismantle terror-gangster networks in the country.

The lists, one naming 11 persons and the other 43 persons, were shared by the NIA on its official account on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The anti-terror agency has asked the public to share the details of the properties and assets of these 43 individuals so those can be seized and taken over by the Central government. In a post shared on X (former Twitter), the NIA shared pictures of Lawrence Bishnoi, Jasdeep Singh, Kala Jatheri alias Sandeep, Virender Pratap alias Kala Rana and Joginder Singh along with their names.

The NIA highlighted that the above-mentioned gangsters are based in Canada and requested the general public to share details about the properties/assets/businesses owned by them in their own name or in the name of their associates, friends, and relatives.

Image source: IANS