Two Associates of Canada-based Terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa Arrested by Delhi Police

Two alleged associates of Canada-based terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa from Punjab have been arrested by Delhi police ahead of Republic Day. According to the police, the two were smuggling drugs and firearms and were tasked with two targeted killings as well.

Rajan Bhatti, a resident of Gurdapur in Punjab, and Kanwaljeet Singh alias Chinna, a resident of Ferozepur in Punjab have been nabbed by Delhi police ahead of Republic Day, according to reports. Bhatti was caught first in the ongoing operation to dismantle Khalistani terror-gangster nexus.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Manishi Chandra stated Bhatti is Punjab’s wanted gangster and a close associate of Landa Harike, another fugitive. He was reportedly involved in over 15 cases in Punjab and an FIR has been registered against him for his involvement in target killings and for disturbing communal harmony. He was taking instructions from Lakhbir Singh Landa and Harvinder Singh Rinda.

The police used the information they got from Bhatti to arrest Kanwaljeet Singh. The DCP shared that Delhi police and Punjab police carried out a joint operation to capture Singh. According to reports, Bhatti was Singh’s handler and was working with him to send and receive drugs and firearms in Punjab through drones. The DCP added that the duo also had instructions from Landa Harike to carry out two target killings in Punjab.

Singh was in a hotel along with an accomplice in Amritsar when he was caught. There was a shootout between the joint team brought together for the raid and the suspects. The suspects opened fire in an attempt to escape and the Singh’s accomplice got away. Constable Yogesh was injured in the brief gunfight but the team managed to capture Singh.

Punjab police has been cracking down on drug and firearm smuggling operations across the state. Late last year, Punjab police arrested two men and recovered 10 kg of heroin along with arms and ammunition in its crackdown on trans-border smuggling networks. The two arrested were identified as Sarwan Singh alias Sabba of Shahur Kalan village and Harshdeep Singh of Thaman village. They were in contact with Pakistan-based smuggler Rehmat Miyan.

Just days before this arrest, Punjab police seized 10 kg of heroin, arrested two men, and recovered a high-tech drone.

Vineet Washington