Who is the Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa who is on the NIA’s radar?
The National Investigation Agency, or NIA, on Wednesday offered a monetary reward for information leading to the arrest of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) agent Lakhbir Singh Sandhu alias “Landa” as part of its increased campaign against Khalistani terrorists. Four other BKI agents, Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, Parminder Singh Kaira alias Pattu, Satnam Singh alias “Satbir Singh” alias “Satta,” and Yadvinder Singh alias “Yadda,” also had incentives promised for information.
A financial prize of Rs. 10 lakh each for Rinda and Landa, and Rs. 5 lakh for Pattu, Satta, and Yadda was declared by the federal agency. An outlawed terrorist group is the BKI.
A day after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed that India was involved in the June murder of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the NIA made its revelation. The argument was, however, dismissed as “absurd and motivated” by India.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the foreign affairs ministry urged its Canadian residents to take “utmost caution” in light of the rise in anti-Indian sentiment and hate crimes.
‘Landa’ aka Lakhbir Singh Sandhu, who?
1. It is said that Lakhbir Singh Landa, who hails from Tarn Taran in Punjab, is now living in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
2. A close associate of Harvinder Singh, aka Rinda, a thug from Pakistan who later joined the terrorist organization BKI, Landa emigrated to Canada in 2017.
3. In July 2011 in Harike Pattan, Landa was accused of attempting to commit murder and violating the Arms Act. He is now dealing with around 18 criminal cases in the districts of Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Moga, and Ferozepur, involving murder, attempted murder, and drug trafficking. Before Landa escaped to Canada in May 2016, the Punjab Police had filed the final case in Moga against him on kidnapping allegations.
4. In addition to laying an IED beneath a sub-inspector’s vehicle in Amritsar, Landa was a major conspirator in the Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) assault on the Punjab Police intelligence headquarters in Mohali.
5. The NIA had opened the probe in 2022 when it became clear that terrorist groups and foreign-based terrorist components were collaborating with leaders and members of organized crime gangs operating in the country’s northern regions to carry out targeted assassinations and other crimes.
6. According to the NIA, and four other people are sought in connection with a case filed at the beginning of this year on the terrorist activities of the BKI intended to sabotage India’s peace and communal harmony and sow fear in the state of Punjab.
7. They are charged with ordering terrorist actions and activities, as well as obtaining money for the BKI, by transporting weapons and drugs used in terrorist attacks into Punjab and engaging in widespread blackmail of powerful businesspeople and other people.
