In Vermont, USA, the FBI has arrested Nitish Kaushal, an alleged associate of imprisoned gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, as part of Operation Hard Ball. Kaushal was recently added to the FBI’s Most Wanted list before his arrest. The FBI stated that Kaushal is linked to a criminal organization involved in various illicit activities like murder, drug trafficking, and extortion, originating from Punjab, India.
Kaushal, accused of serious crimes including kidnapping and assaults on behalf of the Bhagwanpuria syndicate, had an arrest warrant issued against him by the US District Court for the Central District of California. This arrest is seen as a positive step in dismantling the gangster-terror network, which allegedly collaborates with Pakistan’s ISI to promote the Khalistan movement through criminal and terror activities.
Operation Hard Ball, an ongoing FBI initiative, has resulted in multiple arrests across the US, Canada, and Spain, targeting gangster networks. Lawrence Bishnoi, an Indian gangster in prison, is a key figure in the investigation, accused of orchestrating criminal activities internationally. The FBI is also pursuing Bishnoi’s associate, Goldy Brar, with a $50,000 bounty on his head.
The FBI’s efforts have also shed light on the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in 2023, revealing a complex web of international relations. Recent diplomatic engagements between India and Canada, under Prime Minister Mark Carney, have aimed at enhancing cooperation, particularly in security matters. India has consistently alerted global partners about the dangers posed by the gangster-terror nexus, emphasizing the need for collective action against transnational criminal syndicates.
