New Delhi, 29-12-2023 : The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has officially designated Lakhbir Singh Landa, a notorious gangster based in Canada, as a terrorist. This decision comes amidst escalating tensions in diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Ottawa, particularly following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s assertion of Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.
In an official release, the MHA disclosed that Lakhbir Singh Landa, aged 34 and the son of Niranjan Singh and Parminder Kaur, holds permanent residence in VP0 Harike in the Tarn Taran district of Punjab, situated along the Pakistan border. Citing the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967, the MHA invoked the authority granted by Clause (a) of Sub-section (1) and Sub-section (2) of Section 35 to add Landa’s name to the Fourth Schedule of the Act, asserting his involvement in terrorism.
Landa is currently residing in Edmonton, the capital of Alberta in Canada, and is identified as a member of Babbar Khalsa International, recognized as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The MHA alleges that Landa, supported by cross-border agencies, orchestrated a terror attack using a shoulder-mounted rocket-propelled grenade on Punjab’s State Intelligence Headquarters in Mohali.
The MHA further accuses Landa of supplying Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), arms, sophisticated weapons, and explosives from across the border to various modules, aiming to carry out terrorist activities in the state of Punjab, India. Landa has a criminal history that includes involvement in the formation of terror modules, extortion, killings, planting IEDs, smuggling weapons and narcotics, and utilizing funds for terrorist acts in Punjab and other parts of the country.
Landa and his associates are alleged to be conspiring to disrupt peace and law and order in Punjab through targeted killings, extortions, and other anti-national activities across the country. The MHA has issued an open-ended warrant against Lakhbir Singh Landa, who is the subject of Look Out Circular No. 2144306 dated 09.06.2021.
The Central Government, exercising its powers under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, has amended the Fourth Schedule to include Landa’s name. Living in Canada since 2017, Landa is identified as the mastermind behind several acts of terrorism, including RPG attacks on the Punjab Police Intelligence Headquarters and the Sarhali police station in 2022.
In August of this year, the Special Court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) ordered the confiscation of Landa’s property in Kirian village, Tarn Taran district, citing Section 33 (5) of the UA (P) Act, 1967. Declared a Proclaimed Offender on July 27, 2023, Landa, initially involved in criminal and gangster activities, has reportedly continued his anti-India activities from Canada, as per official statements.
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