New Delhi: National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested most wanted terrorist Kulwinderjit Singh alias Khanpuria, who has been associated with terrorist organizations like Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF). The NIA on Monday said Khanpuria, who carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh, who was absconding since 2019, was arrested from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on November 18 after he arrived from Bangkok. The arrested terrorist was involved and wanted in several terror cases including conspiracy to carry out targeted killings in Punjab. He was also involved in a bomb blast case in Connaught Place, New Delhi in the nineties and grenade attacks in other states.
Investigation has revealed that Khanpuria is the main conspirator and mastermind behind the conspiracy to carry out terrorist attacks in India targeting Dera Sacha Sauda-affiliated establishments and police and security personnel in Punjab.
Besides this, the NIA said, Khanpuria was also targeting senior officials of the Bhakra Beas Management Board, Chandigarh with the overall objective of creating terror in Punjab and the entire country. “Khanpuria also did reconnaissance of some of the targets.” The case was initially registered at Police Station State Special Operation Cell, Amritsar on May 30, 2019 and was re-registered by NIA on June 27, 2019. Khanpuria, along with the NIA said, “Khanpuria later managed to flee to India.”
“When he was abroad, he first colluded with Harmeet alias PhD, and now with Pakistan-based ISYF chief Lakhbir Singh Rode for using his India-based terrorist associates to target wanted individuals and establishments,” the Counter-Terrorism Agency said. Khanpuria was declared a Proclaimed Offender (PO) by the NIA Special Court, Punjab, following which a Look Out Circular (LOCU) was issued and a Red Corner Notice was issued against him by the Interpol.
The NIA had also announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh for information leading to his arrest. He was charged as a fugitive on November 21, 2019. Notably, four co-accused conspirators of Khanpuria had already been arrested following the recovery of arms and ammunition from their possession.
