NIA raids 70 locations linked to Bishnoi, Bawana & other gangsters
Darpan News Desk IANS, 21 Feb, 2023 11:28 AM
New Delhi, Feb 21 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday was conducting raids across the nation at more than 70 locations belonging to gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi, Neeraj Bawana and their aides.
The raids were conducted in Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chandigarh and Uttar Pradesh.
The raids started early Tuesday morning and are currently going on.
Lawrence Bishnoi was placed under arrest by the NIA on November 24, 2022 in connection with a case related to conspiracy hatched by terrorists, gangsters and drug smugglers' syndicate to create terror among the public.
His arrest was made when he was lodged in the Bhatinda Jail.
The case pertains to conspiracy hatched by the members of criminal syndicate based in India and abroad, to raise funds, recruit youth to carry out terrorist acts in Delhi and other parts of the country to execute spectacular heinous crimes, including targeted killings of prominent persons, with an intention to strike terror in the minds of the people of the country.
The case was initially registered at police station Special Cell, Delhi Police on August 4, 2022 and later on the probe of the matter was taken over by the NIA.
"We have learnt that the terrorist-gangster-drug smugglers syndicate led by Bishnoi was involved in many targeted killings and extortion from businessmen, professionals, including doctors.
This had created a widespread scare and terror among the public at large. All such criminal acts were not isolated local incidents but part of a deep-rooted conspiracy amongst the terrorists, gangsters, drug smuggling cartels and networks, operating from both within and outside the country," the NIA had earlier said.
The NIA found that most of the conspiracies were hatched from inside the jail by Bishnoi and were executed by an organised network of operatives based in India and abroad. Pertinently, the arrested gangster is involved and wanted in many cases, including the conspiracy to carry out targeted and sensational killings in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi for more than a decade.
Bishnoi along with his brothers Sachin and Anmol Bishnoi and associates, including Goldy Brar, Kala Jathedi, Kala Rana, Bikram Brar and Sampat Nehra were also raising funds to carry out all such terror/criminal activities through smuggling of drugs and weapons and widespread extortions.
Asserting that the SAD stood with the beleaguered peasantry, he announced the party would oppose collection of penalties imposed on the farmers, besides launching a sustained campaign in case the red entries in land records were not revoked.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Manpreet Singh and Bhupinder Singh -- both from Faridkot; and Baljit Singh of Muktsar Sahib. The DGP said the police had established the identity of two of the main shooters -- Manpreet and Bhupinder -- on the first day of the crime and a manhunt was launched in this regard.
Police said that they have arrested nine people, including an Assam Rifles Head Constable, of the gang. Meanwhile, a manhunt has been initiated to nab other accused which also includes a Delhi-based lawyer.
Keeping in view the declining cases of Covid-19 in the country, the government on Wednesday removed mandatory requirement to wear masks in flights. The Ministry of Civil Aviation said that the decision has been taken following a review meeting on the issue with the Ministry of Health.
A police spokesperson said the case properties of drug cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, in Amritsar and Fazilka were destroyed on Tuesday.
Addressing a gathering during at a state-level function to mark the martyrdom day of the Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha at his native village here, the Chief Minister said bestowing the Bharat Ratna award to Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha, Shaheed Rajguru, Shaheed Sukhdev, Lala Lajpat Rai and others will enhance the prestige of this award.
