NIA charges 2 members of pro-Khalistan terror group, aide of Canadian terrorist Arshdeep Singh

The national investigative agency on Thursday filed charges against two members of a Khalistani terror unit who were recently expelled from the Philippines.

The anti-terror agency has named two accused – Manpreet Singh alias Pita and Mandeep Singh – as “individual terrorists on the list” Arshdeep Singh alias Ash Darla’s assistant.

According to the NIA, Arshdeep recruited Manpreet and Mandeep who were doing business in the Philippines. The two were actively involved in recruiting youths into terror and criminal groups, the NIA added.

In its second supplementary chargesheet in the case, the NIA said the two accused also played a vital role in a “larger terror conspiracy against India” by lining up a banned terror group through large-scale extortion. Raising funds for the Lebanese Terrorist Group (KTF). From India. They funneled all their money into drugs, other businesses and trade, as well as through hawala networks to different countries, the chargesheet said.

The NIA said the accused were also involved in smuggling arms and ammunition from Pakistan to Indian territory. It also said the chargesheet exposed the role of international nodes of the KTF, recruitment and processing of Indian accused, and complex fundraising and diversion mechanisms through formal channels through layered and other mechanisms as well as informal channels.

During the investigation, it was discovered that the accused was involved in a criminal conspiracy to raise funds for KTF. The NIA said Arshdeep, in collusion with Manpreet, recruited criminal cadres and terrorists and also built a full-fledged terror and criminal syndicate in Punjab. They target businessmen, high-net-worth individuals and professionals, threatening victims with weapons if their demands are ignored, the agency added.

The NIA investigation also established that extortion funds were remitted abroad through banking and non-banking channels to facilitate terror and terror activities against India. The KTF, a complex network of agents based abroad and also operating in India, is continuously involved in recruiting and mentoring criminal associates in India.

The network is also involved in smuggling arms and ammunition from across borders through drones and other different mediums to carry out terror activities within India, the NIA said.

Previously, the NIA had filed charges against 13 accused in July and November last year. Another 10 accused, along with their aides, associates of the KTF and Babar Khalsa International (BKI), are being investigated for their roles in the conspiracy.