The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted searches in multiple locations across Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. The searches were carried out to scuttle the attempts of the banned CPI (Maoist) organisation to revive its presence in the Northern Regional Bureau area. As part of the crackdown, nine locations linked with various accused and suspects in a case were searched. These included four locations in Punjab, two each in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana and one in Delhi. Several digital devices including laptops, mobile phones and pocket diaries were seized during the searches conducted at the premises of suspects believed to be close aides of various accused in the case. According to the NIA, these suspects were receiving funds for the propagation of CPI (Maoist) ideology from the erstwhile Eastern Regional Bureau (ERB) head Prashant Bose. The ERB had been funding the suspects to recruit cadres and raise the organisation in the northern states.

In another development, the agency also conducted searches in Punjab today in connection with the targeted killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Vikas Bagga. Searches were conducted at two locations linked with suspects who were believed to have facilitated logistics for the accused involved in the murder. During the searches, the agency seized several digital devices and other incriminating materials. NIA’s Investigation so far revealed that the killing of the VHP leader was coordinated and conspired by foreign-based operatives of Babar Khalsa International.