Latest news with #Gagandeep
The Hindu
09-07-2025
- The Hindu
ED conducts searches across Punjab and Haryana in 'Donkey Route' case
The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday (July 8, 2025) conducted searches at 11 locations in Punjab and Haryana in connection with the 'Donkey Route' case related to the illegal immigrants deported from the United States in February. The searches were carried out in Punjab's Amritsar, Sangrur, Patiala, and Moga; and Ambala, Kurukshetra, and Karnal in Haryana, as part of the probe into money-laundering angle. According to the agency, the investigation is based on 17 first information reports registered by the police in Haryana and Punjab against the travel/visa agents and middlemen who cheated various persons willing to go to U.S. It is alleged that the agents used to target the innocent persons aspiring to go abroad and on the false promise of facilitating their air travel through legal channels, they charged about ₹45-50 lakh per head from the victims. 'However, the agents used to dupe the innocent persons as they were sent through illegal routes [Donkey Route] by crossing the borders of many countries illegally through dangerous/jungle routes under the influence of donkers [human trafficking conduits] and the mafia,' the agency said. 'The agents, in collusion with donkers and the mafia, used to create such a threatening situation for the persons and their families that they were forced to pay of a few deportees were recorded by the ED and further examination of facts revealed names of suspects, which are being covered in today's search,' it said. Earlier this month, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested two alleged 'U.S. donkey route' human traffickers after searches at two locations in Himachal Pradesh and Delhi. The accused were identified as Sunny aka Sunny Donker of Dharamshal (Himachal Pradesh) and Shubham Sandhal aka Deep Hundi of Ropar (Punjab) residing in Peeragarhi (Delhi). The accused were associates of Gagandeep Singh who was arrested earlier in March. 'Gagandeep was arrested on a complaint of a victim who was illegally trafficked to the U.S. using the infamous 'dunki' route and was deported to India in February this year. The NIA had charge-sheeted Gagandeep, a resident of Tilak Nagar in Delhi, in the case on June 27,' the NIA said. As alleged, Gagandeep Singh used to take about ₹45 lakh from each victim on the false promise of sending them to the U.S. on a valid visa. He would then illegally send them on an arduous journey via multiple countries, including Spain, El-Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico. He had sent over 100 victims illegally to the U.S.
India Gazette
05-07-2025
- India Gazette
NIA arrests two more 'US donkey route' human traffickers following raids in Himachal, Delhi
New Delhi [India], July 5 (ANI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two 'US donkey route' human traffickers after searches at two locations in Himachal Pradesh and Delhi, the agency said on Saturday. The accused, identified as Sunny alias Sunny Donker of Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district and Shubham Sandhal alias Deep Hundi of Ropar in Punjab, and currently residing in Delhi's Peeragarhi, were associates of Gagandeep Singh alias Goldy, arrested earlier in March. They were arrested on Friday. NIA said Gagandeep was arrested on a complaint of a victim who was illegally trafficked to the US using the infamous 'Dunki' route and was deported back to India in February this year. NIA had chargesheeted Gagandeep, a resident of Tilak Nagar in New Delhi, in the case on June 27. As per NIA investigations, Gagandeep Singh used to take around Rs 45 lakh from each victim on the pretext of sending them to the US on a valid legal visa. 'He would then illegally send them on an arduous journey via multiple countries, including Spain, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico,' said the NIA. He had sent more than 100 victims illegally to the US in this manner before being arrested. Sunny was the main associate of Gagandeep Singh and played a key role in facilitating the journey of the victims on the donkey route. 'The victims were physically and mentally harassed on the way by the donkers and agents seeking to make more money. Shubham Sandhal was an important hawala courier operator involved in transferring funds to donkers in Latin America. Gagandeep used him to transfer part of the money taken from the victims to the donkeys based in Latin America,' said the NIA in a statement. NIA, which took over the case from Punjab Police on March 13, 2025, is continuing with its investigation to unravel the entire illegal racket and conspiracy. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
05-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Protest in Punjab's Bathinda after death in police custody
Social, trader and farmer organisations held a protest outside the Bathinda district administrative complex (DAC) complex on Thursday against the alleged custodial death of Narinderjit Singh, 35, a resident of Goniana town. An instructor at an IELTS centre in Bathinda, Narinderjit, died under suspicious circumstances on May 23. The role of Punjab Police's crime investigation agency (CIA-2) is being probed and four personnel, namely assistant sub-inspector Avtar Singh, head constable Harwinder Singh and senior constables Lakhwinder Singh and Gurpal Singh, have been booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The four were suspended by the Bathinda senior superintendent of police (SSP) on May 26, but they are yet to be arrested. Protesters raised slogans against the district police authorities for allegedly shielding the accused. They demanded murder charges be slapped on the entire CIA-2 staff. Police sources said Narinderjit and his friends, Gagandeep Singh and Happy Luthra, were intercepted on May 23 night by the CIA-2 team on suspicion of carrying narcotics. The three were returning from Ferozepur after an unspecified financial transaction when they were questioned by the police in Bathinda. Following a complaint by Narinderjit's father, Dr Ranjit Singh, both the friends and four CIA-2 staffers were booked at the Canal Colony police station on May 25. On May 24, Gagandeep posted a video on his Facebook page, claiming the CIA-2 staff had picked Narinderjit and he was allegedly tortured to death by the police. In his video, Gagandeep also claimed that following police pressure, he falsely informed Narinderjit's family that he had died in a road accident. The family grew suspicious about Gagandeep's statement and a case was registered against the six persons. Narinderjit's widow Nancy demanded strict and prompt action against the police for the alleged crime. The autopsy report by a board of senior doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bathinda, on May 29 found multiple injuries caused by blunt force on Narinderjit's body but none of them was stated to be fatal. The AIIMS report said that the cause of death could be ascertained after receiving the viscera report. The institute issued a statement on June 3, rubbishing claims that the doctors concluded that electric shocks caused Narinderjit's death. The chemical analysis report of the viscera from the forensic science laboratory in Kharar is awaited.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Tarn Taran man arrested for sharing Army details with Pakistan during Operation Sindoor
Amritsar: Punjab Police on Tuesday arrested a Tarn Taran resident for allegedly sharing sensitive information concerning Army movements during with Pakistan-based pro-Khalistan leader Gopal Singh Chawla reportedly operating under the command of the Inter-Services Intelligence ( ). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Senior superintendent of police Abhimanyu Rana on Tuesday said that Tarn Taran police, in a joint operation with the counter-intelligence unit, arrested Gagandeep Singh alias Gagan, a resident of Mohalla Rodupur, Gali Nazar Singh Wali, Tarn Taran. Preliminary investigation revealed that Gagandeep worked in Vallaha Mandi and came in contact with Chawla over Facebook, said Rana. When asked whether Gagandeep travelled to Pakistan in the past, he replied that police were investigating. He, however, added that Gagandeep was engaged in sharing classified details, including troop deployments and strategic locations, posing a threat to national security. "Gagandeep Singh in touch with Chawla for the past five years, through whom he was introduced to the Pakistani intelligence operatives (PIOs) and also received payments from PIOs via Indian channels," Rana said. The SSP said that they recovered a mobile phone containing intelligence that he shared with the PIOs as well as the details of over 20 ISI contacts. Rana said that during interrogation, Gagandeep disclosed that he was tasked by ISI handlers to gather sensitive information about deployment in border areas, including railway stations and Amritsar city. He was also receiving monetary benefits for espionage activities. Financial and technical investigations were under way to trace other linkages and establish the full scope of this espionage network, he said, adding that more arrests were likely in the next few days. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A case under Sections 3, 4, 5 and 21 of the Official Secrets Act and Section 152 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was registered at Tarn Taran City police station. Chawla, a pro-Khalistan Sikh leader from Nankana Sahib and chairman of Punjabi Sikh Sangat, has been consistently vocal in his anti-India rhetoric. He reportedly played a key role in organising anti-India demonstrations and is believed to be tasked by ISI with identifying "soft targets" among Indian Sikh jathas visiting Pakistan on religious occasions. Chawla first came into the spotlight after posting photographs with Hafiz Saeed, the founder of Jamaat-ud-Dawa and the mastermind behind the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. In 2019, Jalandhar police arrested one Harpal Singh Pala, a resident of Bhatija village, who was in touch with Chawla for allegedly supplying crucial and strategic information to him. MSID:: 121596577 413 |
Time of India
03-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Worker electrocuted during repair work, kin stage protest
Mohali: A tragic incident in the village of Mor Thikri in Derabassi claimed the life of 34-year-old contract worker, Lakhveer Singh, who was electrocuted while repairing an overhead power line. The deceased, a resident of Matwale village, is survived by his wife and two children. According to eyewitnesses and family members, Lakhveer Singh climbed a transformer on Monday to carry out repairs when he suffered an electric shock, which caused him to fall to his death. The incident has sparked outrage, with the victim's family and local farmer union leaders accusing Powercom of gross negligence. On Tuesday, grieving family members staged a protest outside the Powercom office, joined by representatives of farmer organisations. Protesters alleged that Powercom failed to secure the required safety permit before initiating repair work, because of which the transformer was live during the task. "Had power supply been shut down, this tragedy could have been averted," a protester said. The victim had reportedly been working under a private contractor associated with Powercom for the past three years. His family claimed that despite the fatality, no official from Powercom visited them or offered support. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like ¡Trading con IA en Chile ayuda a usuarios a obtener ganancias potenciales! Mainhubfb Más información Undo "Not even a phone call—this is how they treat workers who risk their lives daily," said a family member. Protesters demanded immediate compensation of Rs 20 lakh for the victim's family and refused to allow postmortem till their demands were addressed. "We will not cremate the body till justice is served," said one of the protesters. They also cited the recent death of another lineman, Gagandeep, who died in similar circumstances days ago, raising further questions about the department's safety protocols. When approached for comment, SDO Gurjinder Singh confirmed that an inquiry had been initiated. "A detailed investigation is underway. Strict action will follow based on the findings," he said. As of the time of reporting, the protest continues, with tensions running high among villagers demanding accountability and support for the bereaved family. MSID:: 121600219 413 |
