Indian-Nepalese fugitive arrested in Bacolod - BI

An  Indian-Nepalese citizen wanted in New Delhi for allegedly being a ranking leader of a separatist terror group was arrested in Bacolod City, Negros  Occidental on Monday, the Bureau of Immigration said.

The BI said the 41-year-old foreigner was nabbed by the BI’s fugitive search unit in his residence following a request from the Indian government.

“Medyo nahirapan tayong i-track siya kasi gumamit siya ng ibang identity. So,  reportedly, may ginamit siyang Nepalese passport at ibang pangalan,” said BI FSU chief Rendy Sy in John Consulta’s report on“24 Oras.”

(We had a hard time tracking him because he used a different identity. So,  reportedly, he used a Nepalese passport and another name.)

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that Indian authorities have  described him as a “notorious criminal with a history of serious  offenses including murder,  extortion, and robbery.”

The BI added that the alleged terrorist is “suspected of heading an organized crime syndicate, and was sentenced  to life imprisonment for firearms possession cases in India.”

The bureau also said that the suspect is “believed to have links to the  Khalistani terror group which has waged an armed separatist rebellion  with the aim of establishing an independent Sikh state in Punjab  province.”

Authorities arrested three members of the Khalistani group in Iloilo in August 2023. These three suspects also changed their identities. 

The BI believed that those three foreigners arrested last year could be linked to the Indian-Nepalese citizen. 

“Napakahalaga na masawata natin itong mga kagaya nitong mga pugante na nai-involve sa terrorism na dito nga sa atin namamalagi. Kasi di malayong mag-create din sila ng local group nila dito at ma-impluwensiyahan yung ibang mga Pilipinong sumapi sa kanilang terrorist group,” said Sy.

(It is very important to arrest these fugitives involved in terrorism, especially if they are here in our country. Because it’s possible that they can create a local group here and influence Filipinos to join the terrorist group.) 

Tansingco said the Indian-Nepalese citizen would be deported for being an undesirable, undocumented, and illegally staying alien.

The arrested Indian-Nepalese citizen is now detained at the BI warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City pending deportation proceedings. — DVM, GMA Integrated News