NIA files charge sheet against 9 Khalistani terrorists in Punjab drone arms drop case

The NIA on Wednesday filed a charge sheet against nine members of Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) terrorist group for their alleged involvement in a case relating to dropping of arms and ammunition in Punjab by drones from Pakistan.

All the accused, including two senior citizens, have been charged with relevant provisions of the IPC, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Arms Act and Explosives Substances Act, an NIA spokesperson said.

Akashdeep Singh (21), Balwant Singh (48), Harbhajan Singh (65) , Balbir Singh (70), Maan Singh (43), Gurdev Singh (40), Shubhdeep Singh (21), Sajanpreet Singh (22) and Romandeep Singh (20) have been named in the charge sheet filed before the special NIA court here, the official said.

The case relates to the information that Pakistan-based chief of KZF, Ranjeet Singh in connivance with Gurmeet Singh have smuggled arms, ammunition, explosives and Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) into India via drones from Pakistan, the premier investigation agency said.

These consignments were received by their associates Akashdeep, Balwant, Harbhajan, Balbir and Shubhdeep in India in order to revive a huge terrorism in Punjab and carry out a terror attack in the country, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) spokesperson said.

They were preparing to execute a huge terrorist incident so as to create an atmosphere of disharmony, communal tension and instability in Punjab and other states of India, the official said.

Subsequently, Akashdeep, Balwant, Balbir and Harbhajan were arrested from Punjab's Tarn Taran district on September 22 last year along with a huge cache of arms, ammunition, explosives, communication devices and FICN, the NIA official said.

Akashdeep was recruited in KZF by Maan and Gurdev and the terror conspiracy was hatched in Amritsar Central Jail during 2018-2019 when the three were in judicial custody in other crimes, the NIA said.

Further investigation revealed that the consignments were sent through a total of eight sorties of drones on five days in August and September last year. The consignments were received by Akashdeep, Subhdeep, Sajanpreet and Romandeep, the premier investigation agency said.

Further investigation against absconding accused Gurmeet and Ranjit and other suspects continues, the NIA added.