The NIA on Thursday took over probe into the killing of an RSS worker in Punjab, the agency said.
The National Investigation Agency or NIA has been entrusted with probing the killing of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker Ravinder Gosain by the Union home ministry, after which the agency registered an FIR under various sections of the IPC and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, an agency spokesperson said.
Mr Gosain, the 'Mukhya Shikshak' of the Mohan shakha of the RSS, was shot dead outside his residence in Ludhiana's Gagandeep Colony in the morning of October 17 by two unidentified assailants riding a motorbike.
The Punjab police, which was earlier probing the case, arrested two people -- Ramandeep Singh and Hardeep Singh -- a few days after the incident.
"During their examination, these accused persons have admitted their involvement in the previous eight incidents of murder or attempted murder in Punjab which have happened since January, 2016.
"Targets in these incidents generally were members of the RSS and Hindu organisations," the NIA spokesperson said.
Besides this, he said, in July, 2017, they also murdered a Christian pastor, Sultan Masih, in Ludhiana.
"It has also come to light that the above mentioned conspiracy to destabilise Punjab has been hatched by Sikh extremist elements and others located in various parts of the world including the United Kingdom, France, Italy, United Arab Emirates and Pakistan," he said.
He added that investigation conducted so far has revealed channelling of funds from foreign countries for execution of these incidents.
The conspiracy also included an element of ideological brainwashing and incitement of the accused on religious grounds by their mentors settled abroad.
Dera Sacha Sauda followers were also targets of the accused arrested for their alleged involvement in the murder of RSS leader Ravinder Gosain. The accused, Ramandeep Singh alias Raman Canadian and Hardeep Singh alias Shera, reportedly told interrogators with the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) that they were also involved in the murder of a father-son duo in Khanna in February. The victims were followers of Dera Sacha Sauda.
Satpal Kumar (65) and his son Ramesh (40) were shot dead on February 26 in Jagera village near Khanna when they were at a canteen of Naam Charcha Ghar run by the dera. There has not been much headway in the case since then.
Shera and Ramdeep Singh were produced in a special NIA court after their four-day remand ended Friday. The court had extended their remand in NIA custody till December 6. The agency also took gangster Dharminder Singh Guggni on production warrants to probe his role in the killings of some RSS leaders. Guggni was also sentenced to life term for his involvement in the murder case of advocate Amarpreet Singh Sethi by a local court on November 22.
