Daijiworld Media Network- Mohali

Mohali, Mar 12: A special NIA court in Mohali has sentenced nine individuals in connection with the 2019 drone-dropping case involving explosives and arms linked to designated terrorists Gurmeet Singh alias Bagga and Ranjeet Singh alias Neeta.

Of the convicted individuals, six have been awarded life imprisonment, while three others have been sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.

The court found the accused guilty under various sections of the IPC, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Arms Act, and Explosive Substances Act. The case is linked to the proscribed terror outfit Khalistan Zindabad Force.

The convicted individuals include Akashdeep Singh, Balwant Singh, Balbir Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Maan Singh, Shubhdeep Singh, Sajanpreet Singh, Gurdev Singh, and Romandeep Singh. According to the court ruling, Akashdeep, Balwant, Harbhajan, Balbir, Maan, and Gurdev have been sentenced to life imprisonment, whereas Shubhdeep, Sajanpreet, and Romandeep have been handed 10-year rigorous imprisonment for their roles in the conspiracy.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which took over the case from Amritsar police in October 2019, revealed that the accused were involved in collecting, transporting, and smuggling large caches of arms, ammunition, explosives, communication devices, and Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN). These were allegedly sent into India via drones by Germany-based terrorist Bagga and Pakistan-based terrorist Neeta.

The arms and explosives were drone-dropped at designated locations in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district on multiple occasions between August and September 2019. The operation was part of a larger conspiracy aimed at orchestrating terrorist attacks in Punjab to create fear and disrupt national peace, security, and unity.