Canada-based gangster Lakhbir Landa designated as terrorist under UAPA

New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry on Friday classified Canadian-based gangster Lakhbir Singh Landa as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

According to the authorities, Landa is associated with Babbar Khalsa International, which is classified as a terrorist organisation under the Act. According to the allegations, the 33-year-old plotted an assault on the Punjab Police Intelligence Headquarters in Mohali in 2021.

“Landa backed by cross border agency was involved in the terror attack through shoulder mounted Rocket Propelled Grenade on the building of Punjab State Intelligence Headquarter at Mohali,” a notification by the home ministry. “...[He] has been involved in the supply of Improvised Explosive Devices [IEDs], arms, sophisticated weapons, explosives from across the border to various modules for carrying out terrorist activities in the Punjab,” the Centre said, Scroll.in reported.

The notification further stated that Landa has been mentioned as an accused party in cases related to the establishment of terror modules, extortion, murders, the installation of explosive devices, the smuggling of weapons and drugs, and the use of finances for terrorist acts in Punjab and other regions of the nation.

Landa is originally from the Tarn Taran area of Punjab and is currently a resident of the Canadian province of Alberta.

This development comes amid accusations from the US and Canada that India is pursuing Sikh separatists abroad.

The parliament of Canada was informed on September 18 by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that intelligence services were actively looking into "credible allegations" linking Indian government agents to the June 18 shooting death of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot and killed by masked gunmen in the Vancouver area.