In a significant development, a specialized NIA court has issued an order to seize property belonging to Lakhbir Singh Sandhu, also known as “Landa,” a pro-Khalistan terrorist currently residing in Canada. This decision was announced by an official on Friday.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) revealed that Lakhbir Singh Sandhu, a former gangster who has transitioned into a terrorist, has been residing in Canada since 2017. He is believed to be the mastermind behind a series of terrorist activities, including the rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attacks in 2022 on the police intelligence headquarters and the Sarhali police station in Punjab.
According to an NIA spokesperson, the property confiscation was authorized under section 33 (5) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, following Lakhbir Singh Sandhu’s designation as a proclaimed offender on July 2.
The NIA had filed charges against Sandhu on July 22 of this year, subsequent to an investigation into his background. The investigation exposed his involvement in orchestrating the plot to assassinate Punjab Police sub-inspector Dilbagh Singh in August 2022.
Initially involved in criminal and gang-related activities, Sandhu has continued his anti-India operations from his base in Canada. He has reportedly been collaborating with Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and their operative Harwinder Singh Sandhu, also known as Rinda, who is based in Pakistan.
The NIA spokesperson further disclosed that the agency has been actively probing the actions of various proscribed pro-Khalistan terrorist groups, including BKI, Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), and the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). This investigation was initiated on August 20 of the preceding year.
Since then, the NIA has undertaken a series of measures to apprehend these terrorists and thwart their activities against India. It has been uncovered that Sandhu and other pro-Khalistan terrorists operating from foreign locations have been involved in smuggling various forms of terrorist hardware, which encompass arms, ammunition, explosives, and customized improvised explosive devices. Additionally, they have been implicated in trafficking contraband items, including drugs, across the border.
