VHP leader killing: NIA arrests accused deported from UAE
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According to the NIA, Harwinder acted as a recruiter and handler, arranged weapons, and facilitated their delivery to the shooters involved in the killing of Prabhakar. File | Photo Credit: The Hindu
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday (October 1, 2026) arrested an accused following his deportation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in connection with the targeted killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Vikas Prabhakar by the banned terrorist organisation Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) in Punjab’s Roopnagar in April 2024.
Harwinder Kumar alias Sonu was deported to India after sustained diplomatic efforts. He operated from the UAE and had allegedly provided logistical support and financing to the perpetrators. The NIA arrested him soon after his arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi.
The VHP leader was shot by terrorists at his confectionery shop in Nangal, Roopnagar, on April 13, 2024. The agency registered the case on May 9, 2024, and has filed three chargesheets so far. On August 13, 2026, it arrested another UAE-based accused, Manveer Ram, who was allegedly involved in supplying the weapons used in the crime. He was intercepted at Amritsar airport and subsequently placed under arrest.
“NIA investigation has revealed that the conspiracy to eliminate Vikas Prabhakar was allegedly hatched by Germany-based BKI operatives Harjit Singh alias Laddi and Kulbeer Singh alias Sidhu... Harwinder Kumar alias Sonu, while operating from the UAE, played a crucial role as a logistics provider and financer for the BKI operatives based abroad,” said the agency.
According to the NIA, Harwinder acted as a recruiter and handler, arranged weapons, and facilitated their delivery to the shooters involved in the killing of Prabhakar. Acting on the directions of Harjit Singh and Kulbeer Singh, he also received and transferred terror funds linked to the alleged conspiracy.
In the chargesheet filed in October 2024, the agency named Pakistan-based BKI chief Wadhawa Singh alias Babbar and five other alleged terrorists.
“Two of the three arrested accused have been identified as shooters Mandeep Kumar aka Mangli and Surinder Kumar aka Rika, both residents of Nawanshahr, Punjab. They have been charged under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the erstwhile Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act. The third arrested accused chargesheeted by the NIA is Gurpreet Ram aka Gora, also from Nawanshahr,” it said.
The NIA has alleged that the three absconders were the handlers of the arrested accused. “Babbar, currently based in Pakistan, along with Harjit Singh aka Laddi of Nawanshahr and Kulbeer Singh aka Sidhu of Yamunanagar, Haryana, had provided the arms, ammunition, and funds etc. to carry out the attack,” said the agency.
“The investigation has further revealed that Wadhawa Singh from Pakistan directed Germany-based nodes, namely Laddi and Sidhu, to undertake the killing. Roles of a Dubai-based logistics provider and India-based weapons suppliers have also figured...,” it added.
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