Latest news with #Landa
Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Indian Express
Firing at Moga doctor: Terrorist Lakhbir Landa nominated as accused, one more held: police
Designated terrorist Lakhbir Landa, alias Landa Harike, a key operative of the banned terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), has been nominated as an accused in the daylight firing at Dr Anil Kamboj on July 4, Moga police said Thursday. Landa is believed to be hiding in Canada. Dr Kamboj was in 'Harbans Nursing Home' in Kot Ise Khan town of Moga district when two assailants entered his room posing as patients, and opened fire at him. Dr Kamboj continues to be critical and on ventilator support at a private hospital. He had been receiving extortion and threat calls from Landa since 2022, his son Dr Chahat Kamboj said. Dharamkot DSP Ramandeep Singh said, 'Landa has been nominated as an accused in the FIR registered at the Kot Ise Khan police station for attempt to murder.' 'Another associate of Landa, identified as Harmeet Singh, alias Meetu, 25, of Talwandi Shobha Singh village in Tarn Taran district, has been arrested in the case for allegedly supplying weapons to Landa's shooters, who would fire at targets selected by him.' The DSP said at a press conference. Earlier, police had arrested three accused — Khushpreet Singh, alias Khush, Gurlal Singh, alias Gola, and Gurmandeep Singh, all hailing from Tarn Taran district — in the case after an encounter, in which the trio suffered injuries. One Pawandeep Kaur from Fatehgarh Sahib was also arrested for allegedly sheltering Gurmandeep, one of the shooters. An FIR was also registered in December 2022 against Landa for alleged extortion calls to Dr Kamboj and other influential people in the town. Landa was allegedly demanding Rs 1 crore from the doctor, said the family. Landa's three aides held in separate case In a separate case registered earlier, three other associates of Landa, including his maternal uncle, were arrested, the DSP said. Police identified them as Baljinder Singh of Kulla Road, Patti, Gaganpreet Singh of Datewala and Lovepreet Singh of Khosa Randhir village. The DSP said, 'Landa's maternal uncle Baljinder Singh used to handle money which Landa would extort from victims. Further probe was on.' Moga police conducted a flag march in Kot Ise Khan town on Thursday. Led by SP Sandeep Singh, police told people that no one would be allowed to disturb law and order in the district. They further appealed to the public to report to the police immediately if they receive any threats.
Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Indian Express
‘Lakhbir Landa threatened us, demanded Rs 1 cr': Moga doctor's son accuses Punjab Police of withdrawing security cover
Four days after the alleged operatives of Canada-based designated terrorist Lakhbir Singh alias Landa Harike opened fire at Dr Aniljit Kamboj alias Nanni at his clinic, his son Dr Chahat Kamboj Tuesday accused Moga Police of withdrawing his father's security cover, even as he was 'continuously getting extortion calls' from Landa himself. Dr Aniljit Kamboj is battling for life at a private hospital, after two assailants while posing as patients entered his clinic in Kot Ise Khan and opened fire at him on Friday afternoon. Speaking to The Indian Express, Dr Chahat Kamboj, an eyewitness in the incident, said that since 2022, Landa has been calling his father, demanding Rs 1 crore. 'Even as he made multiple threat calls to my father, the Moga Police had withdrawn the only gunman who was deputed for my father's security. Since mid-April this year, we had no security cover even as we had received a fresh threat in March,' he said. 'The police needs to answer that despite threat perception, why the security cover was withdrawn? Landa used to call my father and threaten that if he won't give him ransom, he will get me (his son) killed,' said Dr Chahat. Asked if Dr Kamboj's security was withdrawn despite Landa's threats, Moga SP (detective) Bal Krishan Singla, said: 'Not in my knowledge.' Inspector Gurwinder Singh Bhullar, SHO of Kot Ise Khan police station said: 'Landa was demanding money from the doctor since 2022. Since I joined this police station on April 17 this year, the family was neither given any security, nor withdrawn. I cannot comment on what happened before my joining.' On Sunday, Moga Police arrested three alleged operatives of Landa gang, after an encounter, for opening fire at Dr Kamboj. Landa Harike, currently hiding in Canada, is key operative of banned terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), and declared a designated terrorist by the Ministry of Home Affairs. A native of Harike Pattan in Tarn Taran district, he has been booked in multiple cases in Punjab for orchestrating violence in Punjab and demanding extortion money from businessmen/traders and other influential people. Dr Chahat said that since 2022 when his father had received first threat call from Landa, his security cover provided by Moga Police was on and off. 'After he received the latest threat in March, we again informed the SSP and SP and one gunman was provided again. However, after some days, Moga SP Balkrishan Singla called us to the CIA (Crime Investigation Agency) office. The SP had some issue with my father related to a medico-legal report he had issued. While we had gone to the CIA with a gunman, we returned without him,' Dr Chahat said. 'gunman was withdrawn without giving us any reason. We needs answers as to why my father's security was withdrawn,' he said. Sources in Moga Police said that fugitive Landa Harike is an ex-student of Baba Isher Singh College, Kot Ise Khan, and he knows local residents well. 'He knows everything about wealthy and influential people in Kot Ise Khan town, and has been targeting them. threatens to kill them or their children. Since he is sitting abroad, we can't do much except providing security. Many don't even get FIR registered due to fear,' said a police official. An FIR (copy with The Indian Express) was registered on December 15, 2022 at Kot Ise Khan police station against Landa Harike on the basis of secret information, stating that 'some influential people in Kot Ise Khan town have received extortion calls from Landa Harike including well-known Dr Aniljit Kamboj alias Nanni. The common people are under immense fear and none is ready to file a direct complaint against him.' Dr Chahat said that his father was yet to come out of the trauma of his elder son Dr Raghav Kamboj's death 'due to cardiac arrest' when Landa had called him in 2022. 'Many years ago, during a local clash, Landa had received a bullet injury and my father had removed that bullet from his body. When he called us towards the end of 2022 to demand Rs 1 crore, my father told him to at least respect what he did for him but Landa said he needs money as he has to get 'many of his accomplices released from jail,' Dr Chahat said. 'After the 2022 call, we were provided a gypsy with four gunmen and a personal gunman but they were withdrawn a year and half later sometime in early 2024,' he said. 'In 2024, we were again told by NIA sources that my father's name has been intercepted in Landa's calls and we went to senior Moga police officials. The SP (D) taunted us and said 'tuhanu security rakhan da shaunk hai (You are fond of having security cover),' said Dr Chahat. 'After my father stopped taking Landa's calls, he started leaving voice notes. In March this year, he threatened my father and said 'tere sheher da ikk laala maarna hai, tere munde nu marwa dena (I have to kill one wealthy man from your town. I can also get your son killed). When my father told Landa he can't give money, he would then demand Rs 30-40 lakh instead of Rs 1 crore,' he added. Dr Kamboj, apart from owning a clinic, also runs a private school. His stepdaughter Tania is a Punjabi actor. 'The Moga Police is responsible for the condition my father is in today. We provided them ample evidence—call recordings, international numbers from which Landa called and even the security was withdrawn,' said Dr Chahat. 'Instead, the police tried to link my father with Landa, but had no answers when we asked for evidence,' he added. 'There's no fear of police left in Punjab today. These shooters dared to enter our clinic even as a police chowki is at a short distance. Whenever we used to question police on what action is being taken against Landa, they would say, 'We can't do much as he is sitting abroad.' So does that mean common people can't live peacefully because of these gangsters sitting abroad,' he questioned. Meanwhile, Moga police Tuesday arrested a woman, Pawandeep Kaur of Sodha in Sirhind of Fatehgarh Sahib district for allegedly providing shelter to one of the shooters. 'Threats continue, despite doctor being shot' Meanwhile, sources in Moga Police said that even after daylight firing at the doctor, residents are still getting threat calls in Kot Ise Khan. 'Two locals who run businesses have received threat calls in past two days, both from Landa group. One of them has approached police,' said the police source. Divya Goyal is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in Punjab. Her interest lies in exploring both news and feature stories, with an effort to reflect human interest at the heart of each piece. She writes on gender issues, education, politics, Sikh diaspora, heritage, the Partition among other subjects. She has also extensively covered issues of minority communities in Pakistan and Afghanistan. She also explores the legacy of India's partition and distinct stories from both West and East Punjab. She is a gold medalist from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi, the most revered government institute for media studies in India, from where she pursued English Journalism (Print). Her research work on 'Role of micro-blogging platform Twitter in content generation in newspapers' had won accolades at IIMC. She had started her career in print journalism with Hindustan Times before switching to The Indian Express in 2012. Her investigative report in 2019 on gender disparity while treating women drug addicts in Punjab won her the Laadli Media Award for Gender Sensitivity in 2020. She won another Laadli for her ground report on the struggle of two girls who ride a boat to reach their school in the border village of Punjab. ... Read More
India Gazette
26-06-2025
- India Gazette
NIA raids 18 places in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh in terror conspiracy case
New Delhi [India], June 26 (ANI) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday conducted searches at 18 places across Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in a terror conspiracy case. The raids are underway since early morning at the locations of suspects at nine places in Punjab, seven in Haryana and two in Uttar Pradesh. The NIA team is being assisted by state police forces of the three states during the raids being conducted based on specific inputs. The NIA's has been carrying out raids in the past in Punjab in connection with terrorist networks allegedly linked to pro-Khalistani groups and other anti-national elements operating within India and abroad. The anti-terror agency is investigating a larger conspiracy involving attempts to revive terrorism in Punjab through targeted killings, extortion, and smuggling. Earlier on June 22, NIA chargesheeted Jatinder Singh, a key abide of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKL) terrorist Lakhbir Singh, also known as Landa and dreaded gangster Pavittar Batala in a Punjab terror conspiracy case. Jatinder Singh alias Joti, hailing from Gurdaspur district of Punjab, was arrested by NIA from Mumbai on December 23, 2024 in the case, said NIA in a statement. NIA found during the investigation that Jatinder was involved in illegal procurement and supply of firearms from Madhya Pradesh to Punjab-based gangsters. He was facilitating the supply of weapons to ground operatives of Batala, a close associate of Designated Individual Terrorist Lakhbir Singh alias Landa. Batala's foreign-based associates were coordinating Jatinder's operations in India. The weapons were being used by Batala's operatives in Punjab to promote BKI's criminal-terror activities. It was further found during NIA investigations that Jatinder used to procure illegal weapons from a known arms supplier, Baljeet Singh alias Rana Bhai, in Madhya Pradesh. Baljeet had already been arrested and chargesheeted by the NIA. The accused were using virtual numbers and encrypted applications to avoid detection by LEAs. NIA is investigating the role of Landa as well as designated terrorist'>terrorist Harwinder Singh alias Rinda and their foreign-based accomplices in the conspiracy. (ANI)
NDTV
26-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Anti-Terror Agency NIA Raids 18 Places In Punjab, Haryana, UP In Conspiracy Case
New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday conducted searches at 18 places across Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in a terror conspiracy case. The raids are underway since early morning at the locations of suspects at nine places in Punjab, seven in Haryana and two in Uttar Pradesh. The NIA team is being assisted by state police forces of the three states during the raids being conducted based on specific inputs. The NIA's has been carrying out raids in the past in Punjab in connection with terrorist networks allegedly linked to pro-Khalistani groups and other anti-national elements operating within India and abroad. The anti-terror agency is investigating a larger conspiracy involving attempts to revive terrorism in Punjab through targeted killings, extortion, and smuggling. Earlier on June 22, NIA chargesheeted Jatinder Singh, a key abide of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKL) terrorist Lakhbir Singh, also known as Landa and dreaded gangster Pavittar Batala in a Punjab terror conspiracy case. Jatinder Singh alias Joti, hailing from Gurdaspur district of Punjab, was arrested by NIA from Mumbai on December 23, 2024 in the case, said NIA in a statement. NIA found during the investigation that Jatinder was involved in illegal procurement and supply of firearms from Madhya Pradesh to Punjab-based gangsters. He was facilitating the supply of weapons to ground operatives of Batala, a close associate of Designated Individual Terrorist Lakhbir Singh alias Landa. Batala's foreign-based associates were coordinating Jatinder's operations in India. The weapons were being used by Batala's operatives in Punjab to promote BKI's criminal-terror activities. It was further found during NIA investigations that Jatinder used to procure illegal weapons from a known arms supplier, Baljeet Singh alias Rana Bhai, in Madhya Pradesh. Baljeet had already been arrested and chargesheeted by the NIA. The accused were using virtual numbers and encrypted applications to avoid detection by LEAs. NIA is investigating the role of Landa as well as designated terrorist">terrorist Harwinder Singh alias Rinda and their foreign-based accomplices in the conspiracy.
Hindustan Times
22-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Terror conspiracy case: NIA chargesheets key aide of Khalistani terrorists
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has chargesheeted Jatinder Singh alias Joti, a key aide of Babbar Khalsa International terrorist Lakhbir Singh alias Landa and dreaded gangster Pavittar Batala, in a Punjab terror conspiracy case, officials said on Sunday. The chargesheet was filed before a special NIA court in Mohali on Friday. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has chargesheeted Jatinder Singh alias Joti, a key aide of Babbar Khalsa International terrorist Lakhbir Singh alias Landa and dreaded gangster Pavittar Batala, in a Punjab terror conspiracy case, officials said on Sunday. The chargesheet was filed before a special NIA court in Mohali on Friday. (PTI File) Jatinder Singh, hailing from Gurdaspur district of Punjab, was arrested by the NIA from Mumbai on December 23 last year in the case, according to an official statement. Jatinder Singh was involved in illegal procurement and supply of firearms from Madhya Pradesh to Punjab-based gangsters, the agency said. He was facilitating the supply of weapons to operatives of Pavittar Batala, a close associate of designated individual terrorist Landa, it said. Batala's foreign-based associates were coordinating Jatinder Singh's operations in India, the NIA said. The weapons were being used by Batala's operatives in Punjab to promote Babbar Khalsa International's criminal-terror activities, it mentioned. It was further found during the NIA investigation that Jatinder Singh used to procure illegal weapons from a known arms supplier, Baljeet Singh alias Rana Bhai, in Madhya Pradesh. Baljeet Singh had already been arrested and chargesheeted by the NIA. The accused were using virtual numbers and encrypted applications to avoid detection by law enforcement agencies, the statement said. The NIA is investigating the role of Landa as well as designated terrorist Harwinder Singh alias Rinda and their foreign-based accomplices in the conspiracy, it added. On June 12, the NIA had searched 15 locations linked with the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror organisation in Punjab and Haryana. The places searched included Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Pathankot, Kapurthala and Rupnagar districts of Punjab and Sirsa in Haryana in connection with the January grenade attack at a police post in Amritsar, according to the NIA. The NIA said a host of incriminating materials, including mobiles, digital devices and documents, were seized during the search operation. These are being examined for further clues to the terror syndicate of the BKI. As part of its investigation, the NIA, which took over the case in April and registered a fresh cash on June 12, searched the premises of accused and suspects linked to Mandeep as well as Sarwan Singh alias Bhola, currently based in the US, and his brother Mandeep Singh alias Makka.
