States » NorthPosted at: Oct 1 2026 5:43PM


Vikas Prabhakar murder case: NIA arrests accused after UAE deportation

Neeraj Bali
Chandigarh, Oct 1 (UNI) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday arrested Harwinder Kumar alias Sonu after he was deported from the United Arab Emirates in connection with the 2024 killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Vikas Prabhakar in Punjab.
Harwinder, son of Chaman Lal, was arrested by the NIA at the Indira Gandhi International Airport soon after he arrived in India and was being produced before a Special NIA court for further legal proceedings, the agency said.
Prabhakar, also known as Vikas Bagga, was shot dead by two assailants at his confectionery shop in Nangal in Punjab's Rupnagar district on April 13, 2024. The case was initially registered by Punjab Police before the investigation was taken over by the NIA in May 2024.
The NIA alleged that Harwinder, who had been based in the UAE, played a key role in providing logistical and financial support to operatives of the banned Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).
"Harwinder Kumar @ Sonu (A-7), while operating from the UAE, played a crucial role as a logistics provider and financer for the BKI operatives based abroad," the NIA said in its statement.
The agency alleged that Harwinder acted as a recruiter and handler, arranged weapons and facilitated their delivery to the shooters involved in Prabhakar's killing. It also accused him of receiving and transferring funds connected with the alleged conspiracy.
According to the NIA, the conspiracy to kill Prabhakar was allegedly hatched by Germany-based BKI operatives Harjit Singh alias Laddi and Kulbeer Singh alias Sidhu. The allegations have not yet been proven in court.
Harwinder's arrest follows that of another UAE-based accused, Manveer Ram, who was arrested in August after being intercepted at Amritsar airport. The NIA has alleged that Ram was involved in supplying weapons used in the killing.
The agency has filed three charge sheets in the case so far.
The NIA said Harwinder's deportation followed diplomatic efforts aimed at bringing fugitives wanted in terrorism cases back to India.
"The deportation of Harwinder Kumar @ Sonu from the UAE and his subsequent arrest by the NIA demonstrates the Agency's resolve to pursue fugitives involved in terrorism cases and bring them back to India to face the process of law," the agency said.
Further investigation is underway.
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