India’s NIA attaches Amritsar house of two Sikh brothers accused in Narco-terror case

NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has attached a house in Amritsar of two brothers accused of a Pakistan-sponsored narco-terrorism case.

Bikramjit Singh, also known as Bikram Singh or Vicky, and Maninder Singh, also known as Mani, from Amritsar are now facing the attachment of their residential property under section 25 (1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The NIA had previously arrested the brothers in connection with the case, according to a report in Hindustan Times.

An official statement from the agency revealed that four charge-sheets have already been filed against 13 accused individuals under relevant sections of the UAPA, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and the Indian Penal Code.

The case, which was registered on May 8, 2020, centers around an alleged conspiracy orchestrated by a narco-terror module to smuggle substantial quantities of drugs into India from Pakistan. The smuggled narcotics were disguised as rock salt imported from across the border.

The NIA further stated that the proceeds from the drug trafficking were utilized to acquire movable and immovable assets in Punjab, while also being funneled to fund terrorists associated with Hizbul Mujahideen in the Kashmir Valley.

In addition to the house attachment, the NIA had previously seized approximately 60 Kanal 10 Marla of land, along with six vehicles and Rs6,35,000 in cash in relation to this case. The agency continues its ongoing investigations to uncover further details.

The case has implications for national security, as it highlights the convergence of drug trafficking and terrorism, which poses a grave threat to the stability and integrity of the region.

The NIA has arrested of Bikramjit Singh, an alleged pro-Khalistan operative believed to be the mastermind behind the 2019 Tarn Taran bomb blast in Punjab. Bikramjit Singh was extradited from Vienna, Austria, and taken into custody by the agency on December 8, 2022.

The bomb blast incident, which occurred on the outskirts of Pandori Gola village in Tarn Taran, resulted in the tragic deaths of two individuals, Harpreet Singh and Vikram Singh. The explosion was reported to be accidental in nature. A third person, Gurjant Singh, sustained injuries in the blast.

According to investigations, the three individuals were allegedly attempting to retrieve explosives that they had buried on a piece of land on the outskirts of the village. The coordination of this activity was purportedly overseen by Bikramjit Singh.

The arrest of Bikramjit Singh marks a significant development in the NIA’s ongoing efforts to unravel the circumstances surrounding the Tarn Taran bomb blast.

The extradition from Vienna demonstrates international cooperation in combating terrorism-related activities and ensuring that those responsible for such incidents are brought to justice.

The NIA continues its investigation into the incident, aiming to shed light on the motivations and networks behind the blast.