Amid Dalai Lama’s birthday celebrations, NIA raids McLeodganj centre over owner’s suspected Khalistani links-OxBig News Network

In a dramatic development amid the ongoing 90th birthday celebrations of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday raided the premises of a local communication centre owner in McLeodganj. He is suspected to have links with Khalistani activists operating both within India and abroad.

Sources said the raid was related to heightened security concerns surrounding the visit of several VVIPs attending the Dalai Lama’s birthday celebrations.

The Station House Officer (SHO) of McLeodganj Police Station, Deepak Kumar, said that local police had not been informed in advance about the NIA operation. “We are trying to ascertain the details. It appears to be related to high-level security concerns,” he said.

Another senior police official based in Dharamsala stated that the raid was linked to alleged terror financing activities benefiting Khalistani groups.

The person under investigation has been identified as Sunny, son of Ghindro Ram, who runs a communication centre near the Dalai Lama’s temple. He is reportedly married to a Russian national who has been living with him in McLeodganj for several years.

Till the filing of this report, the NIA raid was still under way at both Sunny’s residence and his business establishment. The agency has seized several items, including documents, computer hard drives and mobile phones for forensic examination.

Sources said Sunny’s bank transactions and foreign exchange activities had raised suspicions. His possible connections with overseas individuals, particularly those associated with Khalistani networks, are being investigated.