The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed charges against the two main shooters involved in the 2024 Neemrana hotel firing case, which has links to Khalistani terrorist Arsh Dala.
The detained accused, Puneet and Narinder Lalli, have been chargesheeted under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Arms Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The Punjab-based shooters carried out the actual firing and were also involved in issuing threats and demanding extortion from the owners of the Highway King Hotel in Neemrana, Haryana.
With the latest chargesheet, a total of nine accused have so far been chargesheeted in case RC 01/2024/NIA/JPR. The investigation in the matter is still underway.
The attack on the hotel was carried out in September 2024 by a terrorist-gangster syndicate linked to the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). The syndicate was led by designated terrorist Arshdeep Singh, also known as Arsh Dala, along with the Bambiah gang.
According to the NIA, gang members Dinesh Gandhi and Saurabh Kataria were involved in planning the attack. The firing was executed by Puneet and Narinder, who acted under the protection and backing of Arsh Dala and Gandhi.
During the investigation, the NIA uncovered the role of Puneet and Narinder in using prohibited weapons during the attack. The agency also found that they had issued threats on behalf of the syndicate.
It was further revealed that the duo had been receiving funds, shelter and weapons from the syndicate on a regular basis to further the objectives of the Khalistan Tiger Force.
Earlier, the NIA had also chargesheeted three more accused in the 2023 Bengaluru prison radicalisation case linked to the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit.
In a second supplementary chargesheet filed before a special court, the agency named Anees Fathima, Chan Pasha A and Dr Nagaraj S. They were charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Explosive Substances Act, the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Karnataka Prisons Act.
The NIA had taken over the case from the local police in October 2023. It had earlier chargesheeted nine accused, including absconder Junaid Ahmed.
The case was originally registered by the Bengaluru City Police in July 2023. It pertained to the recovery of arms, ammunition and digital devices from habitual offenders who were allegedly planning terror activities in the city with the intent to undermine India’s sovereignty and security.
The NIA said these activities, aimed at promoting the interests of Lashkar-e-Taiba, were part of a bigger conspiracy. The plot also involved facilitating the escape of T Naseer, a life convict in several terror cases, while he was being taken from prison to court.
At the time, Naseer was an undertrial in the 2008 Bengaluru serial blast cases.
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