Latest news with #PavittarSinghBatala
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Ludhiana firing linked to California gangster; 2 held, Rs 50 lakh extortion call probed
LUDHIANA: As Ludhiana rural police arrested two sharpshooters for firing at a hardware store owner at Rumi near Jagraon and suspected the involvement of a California-based gangster in the case, the police on Sunday confirmed that Pavittar Singh Batala has been named in the case. Police officials shared that Pavittar Singh, who is allegedly linked with Babbar Khalsa International and is wanted by the National Investigating Agency (NIA), was among eight arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as part of raids against an international terror network in the United States recently. On January 18 evening, Ludhiana rural police disclosed that they captured 23-year-old Nanak Ram of Anandana village in Sangrur and Deepu Singh of Chatha Govindpur, both accused of firing at Jatinder Singh , a hardware dealer at Rumi village near Jagraon, on July 5. SSP Ludhiana rural, Dr Ankur Gupta, confirmed that Pavittar Singh has been named as an accused in the case. He suggested that the caller, who called the store owner of Rumi two days after firing on him, introduced himself as Pavittar Singh Batala while making the extortion call. A police official among the investigators said that Pavittar Batala was booked under section 308 of BNS (extortion) around two days after the extortion call as the voice sounded to be his. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Shop Sale Libas Undo He added that in the call, the suspect is allegedly heard telling the shopkeeper that he got away this time but wouldn't be spared next time, and the caller demanded extortion money of Rs. 50 Lakhs. The police official further said that Pavittar Singh Batala will be questioned in the case once he is extradited to India. He added that as per reports, he was arrested in California on July 10 or 11, and on July 7, he allegedly made a WhatsApp call to the Rumi-based shopkeeper. The police official maintained that as per the preliminary probe, Pavittar Singh Batala might have hired two sharpshooters, arrested recently by Ludhiana rural police, through Serbia-based Lovepreet Singh Lovely, who belongs to Hariau Khurd in the Batala area. He added that they suspect the involvement of Rupinder Singh, a US-based brother-in-law of shopkeeper Jatinder Singh, from Tarewal in Moga, who blames the latter for his divorce from his sister. Police sources said that Rupinder is an NRI in the US and is a rich person with contacts. They added that Rupinder also faces allegations of giving a contract to contract killers for getting his brother-in-law Jatinder killed in 2019 and was also named in two more FIRs lodged by the shopkeeper and his family in January and July this year. Meanwhile, SSP Ludhiana rural said that one of the sharpshooters, Nanak Ram, has three cases against him, including a liquor peddling case. He added that police are scanning the records to determine whether the other accused, Deepu Singh, has a previous criminal history.
News18
5 days ago
- News18
8 Indian-Origin Men, Including NIA Most Wanted, Arrested In Gang Violence Case In US
Last Updated: Sources say the suspects had entered the US illegally and were allegedly involved in criminal activities both in America and in India. Eight Indian-origin people, including a man wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), have been arrested in the United States in connection with a gang-related kidnapping and torture investigation, officials confirmed on Sunday. Among those taken into custody is Pavittar Singh Batala, a known gangster from Punjab who is reportedly associated with the banned terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). Batala is currently facing charges filed by the NIA for his alleged involvement in terror activities. According to a statement from the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office in California, multiple law enforcement teams, including the FBI SWAT, Stockton Police Department SWAT, and local sheriff's offices, executed five coordinated search operations across San Joaquin County on July 11 as part of the probe. The suspects arrested have been identified as Dilpreet Singh, Arshpreet Singh, Amritpal Singh, Vishal, Pavittar Singh, Gurtaj Singh, Manpreet Randhawa, and Sarabjit Singh. Indian intelligence agencies believe all eight are part of a wider gangster-terror nexus. During the raids, authorities recovered five handguns—including a fully-automatic Glock—one assault rifle, large quantities of ammunition, high-capacity magazines, and over $15,000 in cash. The group faces several felony charges, including kidnapping, torture, conspiracy, false imprisonment, and witness intimidation. Additional firearms-related violations include possession of a machine gun, illegal assault weapon possession, manufacturing of high-capacity magazines, and possession of unregistered firearms. 'This takedown was part of the FBI's Summer Heat initiative, a nationwide effort targeting violent offenders and gang members who terrorise our communities," the sheriff's office said. 'Summer Heat reflects Director Patel's commitment to the American people to crush crime and restore safety in neighbourhoods across the country." Sources say the suspects had entered the US illegally and were allegedly involved in criminal activities both in America and in India. US-based Indian gangsters like Goldy Brar, Anmol Bishnoi, and Rohit Godara are also believed to be operating similarly, having used American soil to evade Indian law enforcement. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
5 days ago
- Politics
- News18
India May Pursue Extradition Of Babbar Khalsa Terrorist Batala, Others Linked To Khalistani Network From US
Top sources have told News18 that, following a major crackdown by US law enforcement agencies, all such wanted persons are being pursued legally 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. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
14-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Most-wanted fugitive among 8 Khalistani terrorists in FBI net
In a coordinated operation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), alongside multiple SWAT teams, arrested eight individuals connected to the Khalistani terrorist network in the US on Saturday. Among those apprehended is the most-wanted Indian fugitive and a key member of the banned terrorist organisation Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) Pavittar Singh Batala. The sheriff's office also shared a video of the arrests and identified Pavittar Singh Batala as the primary suspect. Batala, who is wanted in India by the NIA for carrying out terror activities, was involved in a series of criminal cases, including extortion, arms smuggling and murder in Punjab. Those arrested have been identified as Dilpreet Singh, Arshpreet Singh, Amritpal Singh, Vishal, Pavittar Singh Batala, Gurtaj Singh, Manpreet Randhawa, Sarabjit Singh, said San Joaquin County Sheriff's office in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The sheriff's office also shared a video of the arrests and identified Pavittar Singh Batala as the primary suspect. Batala, who is wanted in India by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for carrying out terror activities, was involved in a series of criminal cases, including extortion, arms smuggling and murder in Punjab. Police had issued a red corner notice against him about six months ago. He is wanted in six cases registered in Amritsar police district and two in Batala police district. Batala was working along with Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh Rode. The arrests stem from an ongoing investigation into a gang-related kidnapping and torture case. The operation, which took place on July 11, involved five search warrants executed across San Joaquin County. The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office, in collaboration with the Stockton Police Department SWAT, Manteca Police Department SWAT, Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office SWAT, and the FBI SWAT Team, seized several illegal weapons during the raids, including five handguns (one a fully-automatic Glock), an assault rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, high-capacity magazines, and over $15,000 (around ₹13 lakh) in cash. The arrested individuals are facing a range of serious charges, including kidnapping, torture, false imprisonment, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, criminal conspiracy and violations under the Gang Act, according to media reports. Additional charges include the illegal possession of a machine gun, assault weapon and high-capacity magazines. These charges are linked to their role in a violent gang-terror network operating across the US and in India. The operation was part of the FBI's Summer Heat initiative, aimed at tackling violent offenders and gang members across the country. The arrested men are believed to have entered the US illegally and operated criminal enterprises in both the US and India. Indian intelligence agencies have linked the group to ongoing terror activities in Punjab, including the BKI, which has been involved in multiple violent incidents and terror operations across India.
Hans India
14-07-2025
- Hans India
India's ‘most wanted' among 8 Khalistani ultras arrested in US
Washington: Pavittar Singh Batala, a gangster from Punjab who is on the most wanted list of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), was arrested along with seven other Khalistani terrorists by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States in a gang-related kidnapping case. Batala is reportedly associated with the banned terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and is wanted in India for his alleged involvement in terror activities. The arrests were made on Friday from different parts of the US in a case related to kidnapping and torture in San Joaquin County, according to the sheriff's office. "On July 11, 2025, the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office AGNET Unit-alongside the Stockton Police Department SWAT Team, Manteca Police Department SWAT Team, Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office SWAT Team, and the FBI SWAT Team-executed five coordinated search warrants across San Joaquin County as part of a gang-related kidnapping and torture investigation," the sheriff's office said on Saturday. Apart from Batala, other suspects were identified as Dilpreet Singh, Amritpal Singh, Arshpreet Singh, Manpreet Randhawa, Sarabjit Singh, Gurtaj Singh, and a man identified only as Vishal, who did not provide a last name.
