NIA files more chargesheet in narcotics smuggled from Pak

An NIA spokesperson said that the anti-terror agency filed the chargesheet against Gambhir, a resident of Punjab's Amritsar in a Special NIA court in Mohali under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Prevention Activities Act and the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

The case relates to the seizure of 532 kg of heroin and 52 kg of mixed narcotics from the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari international border last year in June.

The first chargesheet in the case was submitted by the NIA last year on December 27 in a special court at Mohali against 15 accused and business entities namely -- Tariq Ahmed Lone, Jasbir Singh, Nirbhail Singh, Sandeep Kaur, Ajay Gupta, Ranjeet Singh, Iqbal Singh, Farookh Lone, Sahil, Sohaib Noor, Amir Noor, Kanishk Enterprises Pvt Ltd, Gupta Fast Forwarders, Global Vision Impex and Aimex General Trading Company.

The official said that the investigation revealed the involvement of an international drug racket based in Pakistan as well as in Afghanistan.

The official further said that during investigation it was also found that generation of funds through sale of narcotics smuggled from across the international border was used for funding terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

The chargesheet has been filed almost 20 days after the NIA busted a major terror-financing module of the banned terror group Hizbul Mujahideen after the prime accused Ranjit Singh was arrested from Haryana's Sirsa by the NIA.

According to official sources, on the basis of specific intelligence by NIA, Ranjit Singh (also known as Rana or Cheeta) was arrested along with his father Harbhajan Singh and brother Gagandeep Singh in a joint operation by NIA, Punjab Police and Haryana Police. Ranjit, according to official sources, was involved in the Hizbul terror-financing module run by Hilal Ahmad Wagay, a resident of Nowgam, Awantipora in south Kashmir. Wagay, who carried Rs 29 lakh reward for terror activities, was arrested in Amritsar on April 25.

During the subsequent investigation, Bikram Singh (alias Vicky) from Guru Amardas Avenue, Amritsar, was identified as the person who delivered the money to Hilal. Bikram was arrested along with his brother Maninder Singh (Mani) on May 5.

Another NIA official said that the investigation established that the seized consignment was part of five consignments of drugs, out of which four have been successfully smuggled into India.

"This was done through an elaborate network of importers, customs house agents, transporters and the operation is financed through illegal channels like hawala," the official said.

The involvement of Pakistan and Afghanistan based entities in this case gave an indication that the entire operation is to generate finance for terror networks operating in and out of Af-Pak region, he said.