The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a comprehensive charge-sheet in the NIA Special Court in Mohali, Punjab against Malkit Singh, known as Pistol, in relation to a cross-border arms smuggling case. The case revolves around the smuggling of arms and ammunition across borders using drones in the Gurdaspur district.
BSF authorities recovered a cache of firearms and ammunition from the Cremation ground in the area of village Bagtana Boharwala, Dera Baba Nanak, Batala, Punjab. Among the recovered items were five Glock Pistols made in Austria, 91 live cartridges of 9 MM, and 10 magazines. Subsequently, FIR No. 39, dated March 24, 2023, was registered under specific sections at the Police Station Dera Baba Nanak, Police District Batala, Punjab.
Earlier, on August 8, 2023, NIA re-registered the case as RC-25/2023/NIA/DLI under relevant sections of the Arms Act, Aircraft Act, and UA (P) Act-1967. Further investigations uncovered connections between members of the proscribed terrorist organization Khalistan Liberation Force and individuals in Pakistan.
The accused identified in this terror network include Malkit Singh (alias Pistol), Taranjot Singh (alias Tanna), and Gurjit Singh (alias Paa). These operatives were found to be in direct communication with Pakistan-based figures, including drug smugglers and the Chief of ISYF, Lakhbir Singh Rode (alias Babaji).
Lakhbir Singh Rode (alias Babaji) heads the proscribed terrorist organization Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). Both organizations have been banned by the Indian government due to their involvement in a series of severe terror crimes. These include attacks on law enforcement personnel, intimidation, murder, extortion, fundraising for terrorist activities, and instilling terror among the populace.
