NIAconductsraidsacrossstates ingangster-terroristnexuscase
NEW DELHI: In a fresh crackdown against gangster nexus, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday morning launched massive multistate raids covering Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan and Haryana, people familiar with the matter said.
The raids are being conducted at the residential and other premises linked to gangsters in more than six districts across these four states and Delhi in an ongoing case aimed to dismantle and disrupt the emerging nexus between terrorists, gangsters and drug smugglers based in India and abroad, the people added.
The raids are focussed on gang nexus linked to Laurence Bishnoi, Neeraj Bawana and Tillu Tazpuriya and Goldy Brar, who are already under the lens of the anti-terror agency. These searches were planned after the questioning of several gangsters by the NIA.
Lawrence Bishnoi is being probed in the killing of singerpolitician Sidhu Moosewala in May. Jailed gangsters - Sunil
Maan alias Tillu Tajpuriya and Naveen Dabas alias Naveen Bali - have been linked to the murder of Jitender Maan alias Gogi inside a courtroom in Delhi.
In October, the NIA arrested an advocate here and a gangster from Haryana following a mega search operation conducted during the day at 52 locations across north India’s four states and Delhi.
The arrested advocate was identified as Asif Khan, a resident of Gautam Vihar in Usmanpur area of North East Delhi. The agency sleuths arrested him after they recovered four weapons and a few pistols (in semi-knocked down condition), alongwith ammunition, from his house during searches conducted at his residence.
During the interrogation, the NIA said it was revealed that
Asif was in touch with jailed gangsters. The NIA also arrested one Rajesh alias Raju Mota who hails from Basaudi, Sonepat ( Haryana). Mota, according to the NIA, has multiple criminal cases registered against him.
The gangster nexus works both inside and outside the Jail and the gang members actively assist gangsters and criminals in carrying out various types of criminal and illegal activities, the agency said.
A spokesperson had stressed at the time that the probe “to dismantle such terror networks as well as their funding and support infrastructure” will continue. “Preliminary investigations have revealed that these gangs were carrying out targeted killings and were also raising funds to carry out such criminal activities through smuggling of drugs and weapons,” he said.
In September, NIA also conducted searches at 52 locations in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi as well as the National Capital Region (NCR).
The searches earlier conducted included the premises of
Sampat Nehra of Churu-Rajasthan; Naresh Sethi (notorious gangster-criminal) of Jhajjar in Haryana; Surender alias Cheeku of Narnaul in Haryana; Naveen alias Bali of Bawana in Delhi; Amit alias Dabang of Tajpur in Outer Delhi; Amit Dagar of Gurugram in Haryana; Sandeep alias Bandar, Salim alias Pistol of North-East Delhi; Qurban and Rizwan Khurja of Bulandshahr in UP and their associates.
During the searches, NIA has seized pistols and revolvers, ammunition, few weapons in semi-knocked down condition and other incriminating documents, digital devices, details about benami property created through proceeds of crime, cash, gold bars and gold jewellery and threat letters.
The NIA crackdown followed the launch of investigations against this nexus by the antiterror agency after the re-registration of two cases, earlier registered by Delhi Police, on August 26 this year. A few of the most desperate gang leaders and their associates based in India and abroad, who are spearheading and carrying out such terror and criminal activities were identified and booked.