Canada-based Arshdeep Singh Gill, who has been involved in targeted killings, terror financing and extortion in Punjab, was on Monday designated as a terrorist by the government.
The Union Home Ministry said in a notification that Gill alias Arsh Dala, who was born in Ludhiana but is currently based in Canada, is involved in large-scale cross-border smuggling of drugs and weapons.
He is associated with the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and runs the terror module on behalf of designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
He is the fifth person to be declared a terrorist within a week. All these terrorists are based in countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Canada.
Mr. Gill is an accused in various cases registered and probed by the National Investigation Agency, including targeted killing, fundraising for terror financing, attempt to murder, disturbing communal harmony and creating panic among people in Punjab.
The Central Government believes that Mr. Gill is involved in terrorism and has therefore been designated as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 35. are named in Act, the notification said.