On Friday, the Indian National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted raids in several places in the state of Punjab. These raids were in connection to an event that occurred on March 19, 2023, in which Pro-Khalistan sympathizers picketed the High Commission of India in Ottawa, Canada. The demonstrations were in continuation of the campaign supported by Pro-Khalistan, a group of people who want a new state for the Sikhs. Some protestors were violent, and some were frightened by possible security threats; hence, the Indian authorities had to probe into the incidents further.
NIA probes Pro-Khalistan ties to protests
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Soon thereafter, the NIA, India’s leading counter-terrorism organization, took over the case, citing the threat to national security and foreign infiltration. Sources have indicated that Friday’s operations involved a crackdown on people who could have been involved in ‘organizing’ demonstrations from India. Some of the premises were searched during the operation, and electronic equipment, documents and other articles were recovered to facilitate further investigations. This case is considered an attempt by Indian authorities to further increase the pressure on the Pro-Khalistan movement, which has been a problem in relations between India and some countries for a long time.
Since its inception, the NIA has been keeping a close eye on organizations and people with links with the movement, local as well as international. There has been no arrest in the two locations since the operations, but the sources indicate that more probes are ongoing. The agency is expected to continue its investigation as it seeks to come up with more proof that would incriminate some individuals in Punjab who were said to have funded the protests in Canada.
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