The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday raided 13 locations in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Chandigarh as part of an ongoing investigation in the nexus between terrorists and gangsters.
The Tuesday's raids were the third round of raids by NIA, according to a spokesperson, who added that these gangs were carrying out targeted killings and raising funds for such criminal activities through smuggling of drugs and weapons.
Incriminating materials, such as contraband and ammunition, were seized during the raids, said NIA.
"The districts involved were Fazilka, Taran Taran, Ludhiana, Sangrur and Mohali of Punjab; Yamuna Nagar district of Haryana; Sikar district of Rajasthan and outer North district of Delhi to dismantle and disrupt the emerging nexus between terrorists, gangsters and drug smugglers and traffickers based in India and abroad in two cases registered in August," said NIA spokesperson in a statement.
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The NIA said the raids and searches are part of the crackdown against organised criminal syndicates and networks, top gangsters, their criminal and business associates based in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan and arms suppliers based in Rajasthan and Delhi.
Searches were conducted at the houses and other premises of Kaushal Chaudhary of Gurugram/Rajasthan, Vishal Maan of Prahladpur-Delhi, Binny Gurjar of Sangrur-Punjab, Ravi Rajgarh of Ludhiana-Punjab and their associates, said the NIA spokesperson.
The NIA said, "Investigations will continue to dismantle such terror networks as well as their funding and support infrastructure. The recent sensational crimes and extortion calls by criminal syndicates and gangsters to businessmen and professionals, including doctors, had created a widespread scare among the people. These gangs were using cyber-space to publicise these crimes to create terror among the public at large."
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The NIA said investigations have 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 operating from foreign countries, including Pakistan, Canada, Malaysia and Australia. Most of these conspiracies were being hatched from inside jails of different states and were being executed by an organised network of operatives based abroad," said the NIA spokesperson.
(With PTI inputs)
