India May Pursue Extradition Of Babbar Khalsa Terrorist Batala, Others Linked To Khalistani Network From US
The Indian government could legally pursue the extradition of Babbar Khalsa terrorist Pavittar Singh Batala and others linked to the Khalistani network from the United States. Top sources have told CNN-News18 that, following a major crackdown by US law enforcement agencies, all such wanted persons are being pursued legally. The potential extradition marks a significant development in India's ongoing efforts to counter cross-border terrorism and dismantle extremist networks operating from foreign soil.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested eight individuals across the country in a significant operation against an international terror network. Among them is Pavittar Singh Batala, a Punjab-based gangster wanted by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) for terror activities linked to the banned group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). The arrests, a result of a coordinated operation involving multiple US law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and SWAT teams, also led to the seizure of a cache of arms, ammunition, and cash, underscoring the severity of their alleged criminal and terror activities.
Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) is a Pakistan-backed Sikh separatist organisation designated as a terrorist group by several countries, including India, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, and Malaysia. Its goal is the creation of an independent Sikh state called Khalistan in the Punjab region of India.
Batla's will be the second such case after reports indicate that wanted Khalistani terrorist Happy Passia is set to be extradited to India from the United States in the coming days. The pursuit of Batala's extradition falls under the existing extradition treaty between India and the United States, which provides the legal framework for transferring fugitives to face justice in their respective countries. Should the extradition succeed, it would be a major triumph for India, demonstrating strengthened bilateral cooperation on security matters and sending a strong message to Khalistani elements believed to be operating from North America.
The NIA has charge-sheeted 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.
Jatinder Singh, from the Gurdaspur district of Punjab, was arrested by the NIA in Mumbai on December 23 last year, according to an official statement. Jatinder Singh was involved in the 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 terrorist Landa. The weapons were being used by Batala's operatives in Punjab to promote Babbar Khalsa International's criminal-terror activities.
On June 12, the NIA searched 15 locations linked with the Babbar Khalsa International 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.
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