Constable-turned-terrorist Pindi extradited from Abu Dhabi

Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Parminder Singh, alias Pindi, who was allegedly involved in multiple heinous crimes, including petrol bomb attacks, violent assaults and extortions in Batala, has been extradited from the UAE, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said on Saturday.

Pindi, who was a constable with the Batala police, fled to the UAE in 2023 to evade arrest after his association with gangsters, terrorists and local criminals emerged in the investigation of several cases. His wife, also a constable with the Amritsar police, has since separated from him.

Talking to The Tribune, Batala SSP Suhail Qasim Mir said, “The Punjab Police had traced him to the UAE. He was spotted when an AI-powered security system at an airport in the UAE recognised his face. He was later arrested by security agencies.”

Mir said a four-member Batala police team, led by an SP-rank officer, took Pindi into custody at the Abu Dhabi airport on Saturday morning. He had since been brought back and was now in the custody of the Batala police. The team travelled on diplomatic passports provided by the Indian Government, the SSP said.

Yadav described the arrest as a significant success in the fight against transnational terrorism targeting India. He highlighted the coordinated efforts of multiple agencies, including the Ministry of External Affairs, the UAE government, the CBI and other central agencies.

He said due to Pindi’s direct links to Pakistan-based terrorists Harwinder Rinda and Happy Passia, the CBI issued a red corner notice against him through Interpol at the request of the Batala police. This global alert was crucial in tracking his movements and locating him in Abu Dhabi, Yadav said.

Pindi was identified as the local handler of a terror funding module backed by Rinda and Passia and was directly involved in orchestrating attacks on liquor vends in September and October 2023.

Recently, he was also involved in planning an attack on a retired Superintendent of Police, which was thwarted by the Punjab Police. Pindi allegedly used various social media platforms to coordinate crimes and finance his operations, the DGP added.