NIA team will travel to Germany to grill Ludhiana blast suspect Multani

A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will travel to Germany to question the member of designated terror group Sikh for Justice (SFJ) Jaswinder Singh Multani for his alleged involvement in the Ludhiana blast case, said a senior officer on Friday. Following this, an FIR has been registered against Multani under UAPA sections 10, 13 and 18. A bomb blast had occurred at the Ludhiana court complex on December 23 that killed one and injured two others.

New Delhi: A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will travel to Germany to question the member of designated terror group Sikh for Justice (SFJ) Jaswinder Singh Multani for his alleged involvement in the Ludhiana blast case, said a senior officer on Friday.

He was arrested after India shared evidence to counter-terror agencies in Berlin.

NIA has registered a case under sections 120 B & 121 A of IPC and sections 10, 13, 17, 18 & 18B of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 against Multani and his other associates.

This case relates to criminal conspiracy hatched by Jaswinder Singh Multani with several other pro-Khalistani elements located abroad for radicalising, motivating and recruiting youths in Punjab to propagate their ideology with the aim of seceding Punjab from India.

Jaswinder Singh Multani has also been in contact with ISI operatives to carry out terror attacks in Mumbai and other parts of India.

"These Pro Khalistan supporters were radicalising youth in Punjab and using social media platforms to propagate their agenda and terror activities. Ahead of Punjab elections, there is a sudden surge in their activities to destabilise peace in the state," the officer said.

When asked regarding a video released by SFJ's Gurpatwant Singh Pannu claiming Multani had not been arrested, he said Multani has been detained not arrested. Sources stated that the agency will make all efforts through diplomatic channels to bring him back to India for investigation.

The NIA is also keeping watch on other pro-Khalistan groups and supporters operating from other countries.

Separately, Kamaljit Kaur, the Deputy Reader of DSP Headquarters Khanna, was suspended for her association with the main accused Gagandeep.

Kaur's connection with the accused was revealed when the police had examined the call details of the Gagandeep.

During the investigation into the Ludhiana blast case, it was found that the banned outfits and their operatives have been raising funds to procure arms, ammunition and explosives through the smuggling networks in Punjab for carrying out terror attacks.

A bomb blast had occurred at the Ludhiana court complex on December 23 that killed one and injured two others.