How NIA’s 'Operation Dhvast' Is Breaking The Gangster-Terror Nexus

The National Investigation Agency is cracking down heavily on the gangster-terror nexus. Last week under an operation codenamed, 'Operation Dhvast' the NIA raided 324 locations across six states and Union Territories in collaboration with the Punjab and Haryana police.

While on one hand the agency is cracking down on the gangster-terror nexus on the other it is probing pro-Khalistan elements in London. A five member team of the NIA is in London to probe the vandalism that took place in which the Indian High Commission was targeted.

'Operation Dhvast' is aimed at breaking the network of gangsters such as Arsh Dalla, Lawrence Bishnoi, Chhenu Pehalwan, Deepak Teetar, Bhupi Rana, Vikash Lagarpuriya, Ashish Choudhary, Gurpreet Sekhon, Dilpreet Baba, Harsimrat Simma and Anuradha, an official tells OneIndia.

Under this operation the NIA is focus on the financial operations, logistic providers and hawala operatives who are associated with these hardcore members. These gangs have also been found to be working closely with Pakistan based groups who indulge in arms and narcotics trade. Many of these operatives coordinate from Canada with their Pakistan based handlers, an official in the know of the probe details said.

Further the agency has learnt that many of these gangsters are operating from the jails. Several jail officials are also under the scanner as it is suspected that they may be helping these elements with mobile phones so that they can make calls and plot attacks. The murder of Siddhu Moosewala too was planned from jail, investigations have found.

Not just Canada, the NIA has also found that there are gangsters who are operating from countries like Malaysia, Pakistan and Australia.

These groups have been carrying out targeted killings and raising funds for nefarious activities through smuggling of drugs, weapons, hawala channels and extortion, an NIA official said.

Following the recent raids, the NIA said that it had recovered one pistol, assorted live and used ammunition, 60 mobile phones, 5 DVRs, 20 SIM cards, 1 hard disk, 1 pen drive, 1 dongle, 1 Wi-Fi router, 1 digital watch, 2 memory cards, 75 documents and about Rs 39,60,000 in cash.