NIA team probing RSS leader's murder attacked in Ghaziabad

A mob fired and attacked a joint team of National Investigating Agency (NIA) and Uttar Pradesh police officials leading to a constable being injured while they were conducting a raid in connection with the murder of Ludhiana RSS leader Ravinder Gosain. 

The raids were being carried out at Pilakhuwa Dehat on the outskirts of Ghaziabad. Police have also arrested a person said to be involved in the firing incident.

While investigating the murder case of Gosain, names of several arms supplier, who had supplied the firearms to the accused in Punjab, had cropped up. A team of NIA officials, along with the help of the UP police, conducted a raid in the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday and apprehended the suspected arms dealers from Meerut. On developing further information, the officers raided the residence of another suspect Malook in Pilakhuwa Dehat, Ghaziabad on Sunday morning.

The NIA, in a statement issued, said that a large crowd of men and women tried to obstruct them while they were conducting a raid."Some people in the mob also began firing followed by stone-pelting. The mob also caused multiple roadblocks to obstruct the officials in the discharge of their duties. In self-defence, the UP Police as well as the NIA officers fired in the air," read the statement.

Constable Tahjib Khan of the Uttar Pradesh Police got injured in his leg and the police vehicle was also vandalised by the mob. It appears that the mob tried to shield the suspect, Malook, who is wanted in connection with the supply of arms and ammunition used in the killing of Ravinder Gosain in Punjab.

After questioning several persons, a person identified as Nazim was arrested in connection with the firing incident.

On November 30, the NIA registered the case to probe the killing of Gosain under various sections of the IPC and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Gosain, the 'Mukhya Shikshak' of the Mohan shakha of the RSS, was shot dead outside his residence in Ludhiana's Gagandeep Colony on the morning of October 17, by two unidentified assailants riding a motorbike.

The Punjab Police, which was earlier probing the case, arrested two people -- Ramandeep Singh and Hardeep Singh -- a few days after the incident. "It has also come to light that a conspiracy to destabilise Punjab has been hatched by Sikh extremist elements and others located in various parts of the world, including the United Kingdom, France, Italy, United Arab Emirates and Pakistan," the NIA spokesman had said.

He added that investigation conducted so far revealed channelling of funds from foreign countries for the execution of these incidents. The conspiracy also included an element of ideological brainwashing and incitement of the accused on religious grounds by their mentors settled abroad

FOREIGN FUNDS

NIA spokesman said that investigation conducted so far revealed channelling of funds from foreign countries for the execution of these incidents.