News Brief
Wanted By NIA, Khalistani Terrorist Pavittar Singh Batala Arrested In United States' California
Pic Via X
Pavittar Singh Batala, one of India’s most-wanted gangster fugitives associated with the banned Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), has been apprehended in California during a sweeping operation by US law enforcement agencies targeting organised crime.
Batala was detained alongside seven others following a coordinated series of raids led by the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s AGNET Unit, assisted by FBI SWAT teams and local law enforcement from Stockton and Manteca police as well as the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office.
In total, five search warrants were executed across the county.
The individuals arrested, including Dilpreet Singh, Arshpreet Singh, Amritpal Singh, Vishal, Gurtaj Singh, Manpreet Randhawa, Sarabjit Singh and Batala himself, face multiple felony charges.
These include kidnapping, torture, false imprisonment, conspiracy to commit crime, witness intimidation, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and threats intended to terrorise.
The Sheriff’s Office has released video evidence showcasing the suspects and items seized, which comprised five handguns—one a fully automatic Glock, an assault rifle, several hundred rounds of ammunition, high-capacity magazines, and cash exceeding $15,000.
Batala had been the subject of an Interpol Red Corner Notice and was recently named in a chargesheet by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) in June, alongside Jatinder Joti and designated BKI terrorist Lakhbir Landa.
Joti is alleged to have facilitated the supply of firearms to Punjab-based gangs as part of Batala’s network.
Batala and his associates used virtual numbers and encrypted apps to propagate a pro-Khalistan network in India, allegedly working under the guidance of ISI-linked terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda.
Batala’s arrest could pave the way for his extradition by Indian authorities.
