NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against two gunmen who are allegedly involved in the September 2024 Neemrana firing linked with Khalistani terrorist Arsh Dala, officials said here on Sunday.
The accused — Puneet and Narinder Lalli, both residents of Punjab — have been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), the Arms Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), officials said. Investigators said the duo had opened fire at the Highway King Hotel in Neemrana, Haryana and later issued threats and extortion demands to the hotel's owners.
The NIA said the shooting was not a standalone incident but part of a planned operation by a terror-linked criminal syndicate aimed at intimidation and fundraising. With the filing of the chargesheet against Puneet and Narinder, a total of nine accused have so far been charge sheeted in the case.
The agency said further investigation is underway to identify additional conspirators and financial channels linked to the network.
According to the NIA, the attack was planned by members of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) led by designated individual terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala and the Bambiah gang. Gang members Dinesh Gandhi and Saurabh Kataria allegedly handled the planning, while the execution was carried out by Puneet and Narinder with logistical backing and protection from Arsh Dala and Gandhi.
The probe revealed that the shooters used prohibited weapons and issued threats on behalf of the syndicate. They were also found to have received money, weapons and shelter on a continuing basis to advance the objectives of the Khalistan Tiger Force, the agency said.
Officials said the case underlines the deepening nexus between terrorist groups and organised crime gangs, particularly in the use of extortion and targeted violence to finance extremist activities.