NIA and ED are working together against terrorism in Punjab, big crackdown on terror funding network

Punjab News: After the recent Jalandhar and Amritsar bomb blasts in Punjab, central investigative agencies have intensified their crackdown on terrorism and its associated economic networks. According to sources, the director of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was present in Punjab the day before yesterday, while the very next day the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided several locations in Punjab and Chandigarh.

Possible relationships being investigated

According to the investigating agencies, the NIA is investigating possible links between the Sikh extremist module operating in Punjab, Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI, local mafia networks, drug syndicates and terror funding channels. The evidence being collected in the investigation is also being shared with ED, so that parallel investigation can be done on the movement of money and financial networks related to terrorist activities.

Difference between NIA and ED

In fact, despite the roles of NIA and ED being different, they are considered complementary to each other. NIA finds out who planned the attack, where the conspiracy was hatched and who carried it out. At the same time, ED tracks where the money came from to carry out terrorist activities, through which means it was diverted and how it was used. Investigating agencies believe that only when blast cases, hawala transactions, land deals, extortion and foreign funding are linked together, the complete picture of the terror funding module emerges.

What is the possible connection in Punjab case?

On one hand, investigation is going on in IED and blast cases in Punjab, while on the other hand, action is also being taken on Builder-CLU (Change of Land Use) and alleged money laundering network. If the investigation proves that money from illegal land deals, corruption, extortion, drugs or foreign funding was used in terrorist activities or logistics, then the matter goes beyond being an economic crime and is linked to national security.

According to the investigating agencies, the possible network may work like this:

Foreign handler/ISI contact → Hawala operator → Local financier or business channel → Cash withdrawal or asset routing → Weapon procurement and module support

Hybrid gangster-terror model

In recent years, the model on which agencies in Punjab have been focusing the most is not traditional terrorism but the model of nexus of gangsters, extortion, drugs and terror funding. According to agencies, gangsters raise money through extortion, drugs and other illegal businesses. This money can be used for things like purchasing weapons, safe houses, recruitment and delivering explosives. Handlers sitting abroad can operate these networks both at the funding and promotion level. For this reason, many times raids that appear to be related to land scam, money laundering or tax fraud later turn into matters related to national security.

ED’s latest action

In May 2026, ED raided several locations in Mohali, Chandigarh and Patiala. The focus of the investigation is said to be on the alleged Builder-CLU scam and the money laundering network related to it.
According to sources, about Rs 21 lakh in cash was recovered from the flat of an IT professional located in Kharar (Mohali). It was also claimed that during the raid, some bags were thrown down from the ninth floor of the building, following which the cash was recovered. Regarding these raids, the opposition has accused the Punjab government of corruption and political patronage.

Investigation into terrorist-gangster nexus intensified

Security agencies say that a “hybrid terrorist-gangster network” is active in Punjab, in which the role of ISI-backed networks and Khalistani handlers sitting abroad is being investigated. In January 2026, Punjab Police arrested 4 suspected terrorists from Hoshiarpur. 2.5 kg RDX, weapons and cartridges were recovered from the accused. According to the investigating agencies, they may be related to the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) module.

High alert after recent blasts

High alert continues across Punjab after IED blasts near BSF headquarters in Jalandhar and in Amritsar in early May 2026.
The investigation into possible links between Pakistan’s ISI and Sikh extremist network behind these blasts is ongoing. In this sequence, NIA has intensified investigation into foreign funding, hawala channel, arms smuggling and Khalistani-gangster nexus by conducting raids in many districts including Moga. Overall, this joint action of NIA and ED in Punjab is not limited to the investigation of terrorist incidents only, but is considered to be part of a broader strategy to break the entire structure of terrorism funding, hawala network, drugs and organized crime.

Also read: Punjab Blasts: AAP leader Sanjay Singh’s allegation on Punjab blasts, attempts are being made to disturb peace, said- there should be an impartial investigation into the matter.