Key Aide of Notorious Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi Arrested in Terror-Gangster-Smuggler Nexus Case
In a significant development in the terror-gangster-smuggler nexus case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Vikramjeet Singh alias Vikram Brar, the key aide of notorious jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. Brar was apprehended after being deported from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to India. The arrest took place immediately upon his arrival on Tuesday.
Vikram Brar, also known as the prime suspect in the high-profile killing of Punjabi singer Shubhdeep Singh alias Sidhu Moosewala, had been evading authorities since 2020. He was wanted in connection with 11 cases of murder, attempted murder, and extortion in various Indian states under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act.
The NIA, in coordination with state police in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi, had issued 11 Look Out Notices against Brar. A Non-Bailable Warrant of Arrest had also been issued by the NIA Special Court in Delhi. The agency disclosed that Brar had been operating as a ‘communications control room’ (CCR) for Lawrence Bishnoi’s terror gang from the UAE. This CCR facilitated communication between Bishnoi, Goldy Brar (based in Canada), and their operatives, enabling them to make extortion calls and carry out their criminal activities.
Aside from his involvement in targeted killings and extortions, Brar played a crucial role in aiding Goldy Brar in the murder of Moosewala. Authorities also revealed that Lawrence Bishnoi had frequently sent extorted money to Brar through hawala channels. Additionally, Brar had demanded extortion money from a doctor in Kurukshetra, Haryana, and threatened him.
Prior to becoming a close associate of Bishnoi, Vikram Brar had affiliations with the Students Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) in Punjab. The NIA stated that Brar, along with other associates, actively participated in various criminal activities such as murder, attempted murder, and extortion. Brar’s arrest is expected to provide crucial leads in dismantling the terror-gangster nexus and disrupting their funding channels.
This arrest marks the 16th apprehension in the ongoing probe into the terror-gangster conspiracy case by the NIA. The agency continues its efforts to eliminate the growing nexus between terrorists, gangsters, and drug smugglers.
The NIA’s success in deporting or extraditing wanted criminals to India has intensified in recent months due to coordinated efforts with central intelligence agencies and persistent follow-up with foreign authorities. Notably, the mastermind behind the Tarn Taran bomb blasts, Bikramjit Singh alias Bikkar Panjwar alias Bikkar Baba, was successfully extradited from Austria in December 2022.
