India has officially designated the notorious Canada-based criminal Lakhbir Singh Landa as a terrorist. Landa, aged 34 and hailing from Harike in the Tarn Taran district of Punjab, is presently residing in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He is associated with the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), recognized as a terrorist organization under serial number 1 of the First Schedule, according to a notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Landa, supported by a transnational network, played a pivotal role in a terror attack involving a shoulder-mounted Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) on the Punjab State Intelligence Headquarters in Mohali last year.
The MHA notification reveals Landa's involvement in the supply of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), arms, sophisticated weaponry, and explosives across borders to various modules for executing terrorist activities in the state of Punjab, India. Additionally, Landa has been implicated in various criminal cases related to establishing terror networks, extortion, assassinations, planting IEDs, weapon and narcotics smuggling, and utilizing funds for terrorist acts in Punjab and other parts of the country.
The notification also states that Landa and his associates have been conspiring to disrupt peace, law, and order in Punjab by orchestrating targeted killings, extortions, and other anti-national activities across India.
An open-ended warrant and a Look Out Circular dated June 9, 2021, have been issued against Landa. The Central Government, citing Landa's involvement in terrorism, has decided to include him as a terrorist in the Fourth Schedule under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
In light of recent revelations, last year's RPG attack on the Intelligence Headquarters in Mohali targeted the late Punjabi singer Shubhdeeep Sidhu, known as Sidhu Moosewala. However, the attackers altered their plan to avoid higher casualties during a public gathering. The RPG, supplied by Khalistani terrorist Harwinder Singh Sandhu (alias Rinda), originally intended for Moosewala, was smuggled into India through the Pakistan border implicating Pakistan's ISI.
Further investigations unveiled that fugitive gangster Lakhbir Singh Landa collaborated with Rinda, serving as the second in command. Goldy Brar, with direct links to Landa, was identified as another BKI operative working closely with Rinda, as per the ongoing NIA investigations