NIA raids in 52 places to dismantle gangS-terror nexus

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on early Tuesday carried out searches at 52 locations across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) to dismantle and disrupt the nexus between terrorists, gangsters and drug smugglers based in India and abroad. Sources said NIA arrested 2 persons-Raju Basodi from Haryana’s Sonipat and Asif Khan, an advocate, in Delhi. 

Separate teams of NIA in coordination with state police forces conducted these raids simultaneously at certain locations of the gangsters based on specific inputs, a source privy to the development told The Daily Guardian.  

During today’s searches, five pistols and revolvers were seized, along with ammunition, which includes a cache of four pistols from the house of Asif Khan, an advocate, a residence of Gautam Vihar, Usmanpur in North East Delhi, said the agency, adding, “he was connected with many gangsters in Haryana and Delhi.”

Apart from these, incriminating documents, digital devices, details about benami property possessed through proceeds of crime, cash, gold bars and gold jewellery from Khurja, Bulandshahar (UP), and threat letters were also seized by the NIA.

In Haryana’s Sonipat, the NIA raided the premises of Raju Basodi and Akshay Palda. Both have been accused of carrying out more than two dozen severe criminal incidents in North India, said the NIA.  

The NIA officials also searched the Kaman-hill area in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur along with local police, as per the information.  Two separate teams are searched for illegal weapons and gangsters in Sanvaler and Moongska, as well as in the nearby forest areas.

This was the second round of raids and searches conducted by the NIA as part of its crackdown on top gangsters, their criminal and business associates based in north Indian states. On 12 September, the NIA had conducted similar searches at 50 locations in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi and NCR region.

The NIA crackdown followed the launch of investigations against this nexus by the anti-terror agency after the re-registration of two cases, earlier registered by Delhi Police, on 26 August 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.

“The recent sensational crimes and extortion calls by criminal syndicates and gangsters to businessmen, professionals including doctors etc., had created a widespread scare among the people,” the NIA had said earlier. 

“These gangs were using cyber-space to publicise these crimes to create terror among the public at large.” 

The NIA investigations also revealed that such criminal acts were not isolated local incidents but there was a deep-rooted conspiracy amongst terrorists, gangsters and drug smuggling cartels and networks, who were operating from both within and outside the country. 

“Many gang leaders and members had fled from India and were now operating from foreign countries, including Pakistan, Canada, Malaysia and Australia,” said the NIA when it first time carried out a mega raid against such gangs. 

NIA sources told The Daily Guardian, many gang leaders and members had fled from India and were now operating from foreign countries, including Pakistan, Canada, Malaysia and Australia,