We examine the identity of Inderpal Singh Gaba, who was arrested by NIA on Thursday, including his biography, nationality and criminal record
In a vital arrest carried out by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday, Inderpal Gaba is taken into custody for his alleged involvement in the bomb attack of the Embassy of India in London in 2023. Gaba, who settled in London in 1995 and established a grocery business, found himself ensnared in the investigation after returning from a trip to Pakistan in December of the preceding year, as per sources close to the matter.
Who is Inderpal Singh Gaba arrested by the NIA for attack on the High Commission of India, biography, age, nationality and business
NIA has arrested Inderpal Singh Gaba, a Khalistani extremist involved in desecrating the national flag 🇮🇳 at the Indian high commission in London on March 23, 2023.
Gaba, a UK resident, was visiting India.
Another Khalistan involved in the attack, Avtar Singh Khanda (in pic) died… pic.twitter.com/WAU8uWFNLU— Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) April 25, 2024
Who is Inderpal Gaba?
Inderpal Singh Gaba, who was recently living in Hounslow UK, has been detained by Delhi authorities on suspicions of his role in the incidents leading to a March 22 attack. Notably, this attack was conducted by approximately 2000 pro-Khalistan supporters who attacked High Commission. Unfortunately, this incident turned into a chaos where the outlaws destroyed and defaced the building.
He is a Sikh of Afghanistan origin who went to London and is a resident of Hounslow. He ran a grocery, liquor and tobacco store called Strawberry Local Group Ltd in Greater London and had come to India in December last year after a visit to Pakistan. He was born in 1986 and is aged 38.
It has been alleged that the real reason behind the subsequent and retaliatory protest was the actions taken by the Punjab police against Amritpal Singh, the key leader of Waris Punjab De on March 18. As per reports, the mastermind of this attack was Avaatar Singh Kanda, a UK-based sikh radicalism and the commander of the Khalistan Liberation force (KLF). Khanda, who felt akin to the convicted Khalistan terrorist Jagtar Singh the Tara, died in the UK hospital on June 2023.
Gaba’s arrest case is reportedly related to the illegal transactions he was involved in on March 22, 2023. Yet, the narrative with respect to his apprehension point and why he had been to Delhi before is missing from the information given by the agency. In this respect, the agency has not shared the specific question of Gaba in the attack or any respective relations with pro-Khalistani leaders.
How Gaba reacted to allegations against him?
In response to the allegations, Gaba’s defense lawyer Satvinder Singh stated that Gaba totally complied with authorities and he didn’t have any associations with Khalistani organizations. Singh highlighted the fact that Gaba had already been interrogated by the agency since December wherein no material evidence was brought against him.
During his defense, Gaba claimed that he had only been present at the scene of the demonstration outside the high commission and not an activist participant. He explained that his visit to Pakistan was normal just like the one he recently made for religious purposes and to attend a friend’s engagement.