NIA attaches properties of two accused in narco terror case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has attached several immovable properties belonging to two accused in a Punjab narco-terror case involving the killing of Shaurya Chakra awardee Comrade Balwinder Singh Sandhu by agents of the banned Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF).

Acting on the orders of the NIA Special Court, SAS Nagar (Mohali), the anti-terror agency has attached a property measuring 9 marlas in Village Peeran Bagh and another measuring 2 Kanal 07 sarsai in village Salimpur Arian, both registered in the name of accused Gurwinder Singh alias Baba of Gurdaspur district.  In addition, a 2 kanal, 10 marla piece of land in Village Jeobala, registered in the name of Harbhinder Singh alias Pinder alias Dhillon of district Tarn Taran, has also been attached. The attachment action has been taken under section 33 (i) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967.

NIA investigations had revealed that Harbhinder Singh, along with an associate, had helped an accused Inderjit Singh in the reconnaissance of the residence of Comrade Balwinder Singh Sandhu with the purpose of eliminating him as part of a conspiracy by KLF cadres based in India and abroad. Gurwinder Singh alias Baba, in association with Sukhmeet Pal Singh @ Sukh Bhikariwal, was involved in supplying weapons, which were used in the murder. Sukhmeet Pal Singh is a close associate of ‘designated individual terrorist’ Lakhbir Singh Rode.

Both Harbhinder Singh and Gurwinder Singh were chargesheeted by the NIA in December 2021. A Supplementary chargesheet was also filed against Gurwinder on 2 January 2023 with additional charges.

The case was originally registered as an FIR at police station Bhikhiwind, Tarn Taran, on 16 October 2020. It was taken over by the NIA on 26 January 2021 and re-registered as RC-01/2021/NIA/DLI under various sections of IPC, Arms Act and UA(P) Act.