Arsh Dalla faces 67 FIRs in 14 of Punjab’s 23 districts | India News
MOHALI: Canada-based terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dalla faces 67 FIRs in 14 of Punjab’s 23 districts, most of them pertaining to attempt to murder, extortion and Arms Act offences. Two of these FIRs have been transferred to National Investigation Agency (NIA). Dalla is accused of orchestrating targeted assassinations of prominent figures in the country, predominantly in Punjab.
The highest number of cases — 23 — are filed in Moga, followed by seven in Bathinda, five in Ludhiana and four in Mohali. Sangrur, Ferozepur, Amritsar, Mansa, Barnala, Khanna, Fazilka, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Ropar, Nawanshahr, Faridkot, and Muktsar are the other districts where cases have been filed against Dalla.
Of the 67 FIRs, Dalla is facing investigations in 53. One of India’s most wanted criminals and a close associate of slain Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Dalla has been declared a proclaimed offender (PO) in 11 cases, eight of which are from Moga. Punjab ADGP Pramod Bhan said Dalla was facing trial in 14 cases.
The Punjab cases have come under the spotlight after Dalla’s reported detention over a shootout in Canada’s Ontario. Indian and Canadian authorities have not confirmed the reported detention so far.
Dalla fled to Canada in July 2020 and was declared a designated terrorist by Indian govt in Jan 2023, followed by red corner notices against him.
In September 2023, Dalla claimed responsibility for the assassination of local Congress functionary Baljinder Singh Balli, who was shot dead at his residence in Punjab’s Moga district.
Two days ago, Punjab police arrested two key operatives of Dalla in connection with the murder of a Sikh activist, Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau, in Faridkot in Dec 2023. Investigations revealed the two apprehended operatives were also involved in the killing of Jaswant Singh Gill, a man serving a life sentence in a 2016 murder case. Gill was out on parole when he was shot dead in MP’s Gwalior on Nov 7 this year, allegedly on Dalla’s directives.
