CONSULATE ATTACKERS' SUPPORTERS FACE NIA HEAT IN PUNJAB, HARYANA

NIA seizes digital data in operations spread across 14 locations in north India.

- RAHUL CHHABRA

In a wave of raids, the NIA has started tightening the noose on Punjab-based sympathisers and supporters of assailants who attacked the Consulate General of India in San Francisco in March and July and seized digital data in operations spread across 14 locations in north India.

The action comes at a time when the Indian government is believed to be examining inputs and media reports which claimed that American authorities thwarted a plot to kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, a dual American and Canadian citizen, on US soil. The Indian agencies have ruled out any role in the alleged plot and the Narendra Modi government is reported to have ex- pressed surprise and concern over it, while offering to investigate the matter.

The US agencies' inputs over Pannu's now-foiled assassination plot have come just two months after Canada said that there were "credible" allegations linking Indian agents to the killing of Canada-based Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In that killing incident also, Canada had raised the suspicion of an Indian agent's involvement. 

Like in the case of Pannu wherein New Delhi has denied any knowledge of the alleged plot to eliminate the Sikh separatist, the Indian government had denied a hand in Nijjar's killing and sought additional information from Canada.