New Delhi : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said on Monday that it has arrested Kulwinderjit Singh alias Khanpuria, a most-wanted militant carrying a bounty of Rs 5 lakh, from the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport here.
Khanpuria, who had links with terror outfits like Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and Khalistan Liberation Front (KLF), was held on Friday after he arrived at Delhi from Bangkok. He had been absconding since 2019.
The arrested terrorist was involved in many terror cases, including conspiracy to carry out targeted killings in Punjab. He was also involved in a bomb blast in Connaught Place and grenade attacks in other states in the nineties.
Probe has revealed that Khanpuria was the chief conspirator for carrying out terrorist attacks by targeting establishments connected to Dera Sacha Sauda, as well as police and security establishments in Punjab.
Besides, he was also targeting senior officials of Bhakra Beas Management Board in Chandigarh, with an objective of creating terror in Punjab and other parts of the country. He had also carried out reconnaissance of some of the targets.
The case against Khanpuria was initially registered by the police in Amritsar in 2019, before it was re-registered by the NIA.
While he was abroad after fleeing from India, Khanpuria had first conspired with Harmeet alias ‘PhD’, and the with Pakistan-based ISYF chief Lakhbir Singh Rode to use his India-based terror associates for targeting identified individuals as well as establishments.
Khanpuria was declared a proclaimed offender (PO) by a special NIA court in Punjab, following which a red corner notice was issued by the Interpol against him.
The NIA had also announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh for information leading to his arrest.
He was chargesheeted as an absconder in November 2019.