Four terrorists get life imprisonment in terror plot case. (Representative)
New Delhi:
Four terrorists were sentenced to life imprisonment by a special NIA court in Mohali on Thursday in a terror conspiracy case related to banned group Babbar Khalsa International, according to an official statement.
The terrorists convicted by the court include main conspirator Kulwinderjeet Singh alias Khanpuria, involved in several terror cases, including a Connaught Place bomb blast and a grenade attack on Red Fort in Delhi, in the 1990s, the National Security Council statement said . Investigation Agency (NIA).
He was also wanted in several terror cases, including a conspiracy to carry out targeted killings in Punjab, the report said.
Khanpuria in this case was found to be the mastermind behind the BKI terror conspiracy, the statement said.
He was missing since 2019 and was arrested by the NIA from the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, during his deportation from Bangkok in November 2022.
He then carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh for his arrest and was declared an offender by the NIA court.
“In a major victory for NIA in its fight against the terror groups and networks, the NIA Special Court, Mohali, on Thursday sentenced four terrorists to life in a terror conspiracy case linked to banned group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI),” statement said.
NIA investigation had revealed that Khanpuria, along with his handlers and associates based in India and abroad, had planned and conspired to carry out terrorist attacks in India.
He later managed to escape India.
“While based abroad, he came into contact with Harmeet alias PhD, and subsequently with wanted Pakistani ISYF (International Sikh Youth Federation) chief Lakhbir Singh Rode, who persuaded him to use his India-based terrorist associates for the attacks by several identified terrorists. both individuals and institutions,” the statement said.
All four were actively involved in the criminal conspiracy to unleash a wave of terror attacks across the country, with the aim of reviving the terrorist movement in Punjab, the report said.
To further their nefarious anti-India agenda, they had amassed money, arms and ammunition and also scouted key targets including the Dera Sacha Sauda complex, security-related establishments in Punjab and the BBMB (Bhakra Beas Management Board) office. in Chandigarh, NIA investigation had revealed.
The NIA had earlier charged them under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Arms Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The case was originally registered by the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), Amritsar, on May 30, 2019. The case was later taken over and re-registered by the NIA in pursuance of the Union Home Ministry order dated June 26, 2019.
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