NIA files charge-sheet against 9 in Punjab arms drop case

Chandigarh, March 18 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed charge-sheet against nine terrorist of the proscribed Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) in a case of dropping of arms and ammunition in Punjab through drones.

The charge-sheet was filed in the special NIA court in Mohali, said an NIA spokesperson, here on Wednesday.

The nine KZF members are Akashdeep Singh (21), Balwant Singh (48), Romandeep Singh (20) — all residents of Tarn Taran in Punjab — Harbhajan Singh (65), Balbir Singh (70), Gurdev Singh (40) — residents of Hoshiyarpur — Maan Singh (43), Shubhdeep Singh (21) and Sajanpreet Singh (22) — residents of Amritsar.

They have been charged under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and the Explosives Substances Act.

In September 2019, arms, ammunition, explosives, communication devices and fake Indian currency were dropped in Chola Sahib through unmanned aerial vehicles that originated from Pakistan.

A case was registered by state special operation cell in Amritsar that Pakistan-based KZF chief Ranjeet Singh aka Neeta in connivance with Gurmeet Singh aka Bagga had smuggled in the consignment. Bagga, a key KZF operative, was based in Hamburg, Germany.

The NIA later took over the case as it was considered “to cause loss of life and property of citizens as well as to threaten the security of India.”

Investigation revealed that Akashdeep Singh was recruited in the KZF by Maan Singh and Gurdev Singh. The conspiracy was hatched in the Amritsar Central Jail in 2018-19 when all three were in the judicial custody.

The drones made eight sorties on five days in August and September to drop the consignment received by Akashdeep Singh, Subhdeep Singh, Sajanpreet Singh and Romandeep Singh.

–IANS

aks/pcj