Amritsar: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday morning arrested a key associate of Khalistani terrorists Harvinder Sandhu alias Rinda and Lakhbir Singh alias Landa from the UAE. He has been successfully extradited from the UAE. The arrested terrorist is Tarsem Singh of Tarn Taran district of Punjab, who is the real brother of terrorist Lakhbir Landa.
A non-bailable warrant of arrest was issued against Tarsem Singh in June 2023. He was wanted in the NIA case. He was a key member of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist organization and an important terrorist link of terrorists Rinda and Landa in the UAE.
Tarsem was initially picked up in Abu Dhabi in November 2023 following an order by the NIA Special Court and subsequent issuance of a Red Corner Notice by Interpol. Finally, he was extradited from the UAE to India on Friday following due procedures of Interpol.
According to the NIA investigation, Tarsem was actively involved in arranging and providing terror funds to India-based associates of terrorists Rinda and Landa sitting abroad. The NIA had registered a suo motu case on August 20, 2022. The case relates to the terror activities of heads and members of banned terrorist organizations like Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), BKI, International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), etc.
According to the NIA investigation, the said organizations are operating through cadres and members of terror organizations and organized criminal gangs to smuggle arms, ammunition, explosives, IEDs, etc. across the border. NIA’s investigation so far has revealed that they are using drug trafficking, extortion, hawala business, etc. to raise funds for carrying out terrorist activities on Indians.