Canada-based Gangster Lakhbir Singh Landa Designated a ‘Terrorist’ by MHA

Lakhbir Singh Landa has over 30 cases registered against him in different districts of Punjab. Image Courtesy: News18 Hindi

Published on January 5, 2024

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has designated Canada-based gangster Lakhbir Singh Landa as an “individual terrorist” under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The 33-year-old is a prominent leader of the Khalistani group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and is now the 55th individual to be identified as a terrorist under the UAPA.

Landa, also known as Lakhbir Singh Sandhu alias ‘Landa,’ has been involved in numerous criminal activities in India. The MHA has accused him of planning the rocket attack on the Punjab Police Intelligence Headquarters in Mohali in 2022, as well as participating in other acts of terrorism.

Who is Lakhbir Singh Landa?

Lakhbir Singh Landa was born in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district in 1989. He has more than 30 cases registered against him in various districts of the state, according to ThePrint. Landa fled to Canada several years ago and is currently based in Edmonton, Alberta.

Landa is believed to have close ties with Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, a gangster based in Pakistan, as reported by Hindustan Times (HT). Both their names featured in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) list of five pro-Khalistan BKI operatives in September, with the federal agency offering cash rewards for information leading to their arrest.

Landa has been under the radar of the NIA for some time. In recent interviews, Lakhbir Singh’s parents described how their son got involved in heroin smuggling at the age of 16, which led him down the path of crime. They mentioned that he escaped to Canada in 2016 and has since lost contact with them. According to his parents, Landa was influenced by bad company and powerful local leaders who transformed him from an innocent boy into a gangster.

The first case against Landa was filed in July 2011 under the Arms Act at Harike Pattan for an alleged murder attempt. Since then, dozens of cases have been registered against him. Even after fleeing to Canada, Landa was booked by the Punjab Police for an alleged kidnapping in Moga in May 2016, as reported by HT.

The name Lakhbir Singh Landa still evokes fear in his hometown of Harike, located in the border district of Tarn Taran city. The residents claim to receive extortion calls in the gangster’s name. According to police sources, Landa’s gang remains active in Harike, with Landa operating it from Canada.

Between 2016 and 2020, Landa was believed to be inactive as he attempted to run a legal business in Canada. However, he regained notoriety after the 2021 Patti double murder case in Punjab. The arrestees in the case reportedly confessed that the murders were carried out on Landa’s orders, according to The Quint.

MHA’s Charges against Lakhbir Singh Landa

The Ministry of Home Affairs has accused Lakhbir Singh Landa of various terrorist activities. He was involved in the rocket attack on the Punjab Police intelligence headquarters in Mohali and has been supplying improvised explosive devices (IEDs), arms, sophisticated weapons, and explosives from across the border to various modules for carrying out terrorist activities in Punjab, according to the MHA notification.

A Look Out Circular was issued against Landa in June 2021. The MHA believes that Landa is involved in terrorism and should be designated as a terrorist. Landa is also accused of planting an IED below the car of a police sub-inspector in Amritsar, as reported by Indian Express.

According to the notification, Lakhbir Singh Landa and his associates have been conspiring to disrupt peace, law, and order in Punjab by carrying out targeted killings, extortions, and other anti-national activities in different parts of India. He is believed to have played a significant role in targeted killings and other anti-national activities in several parts of India.

With Lakhbir Singh Landa’s designation as an “individual terrorist,” the authorities hope to curb his activities and take necessary action against him and his associates involved in terrorism and unlawful activities.

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