The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested another accused in the targeted killing of the VHP leader Vikas Prabhakar in Nangal, Punjab, in a successful investigation on the murder case of Vikas Prabhakar by the government was arrested by investigators.
According to the NIA, the accused is Manveer Ram alias Ashu. He was detained by immigration authorities at Amritsar International Airport on Thursday after officials acted on an LOC issued by the investigating agency.
Manveer Ram was taken into NIA custody and formally arrested in connection with the case after landing at the airport. He was to be produced before the Special NIA Court for further proceedings, the agency said.
The arrest is linked to the killing of Vikas Prabhakar, a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader in Punjab’s Nangal, by the central agency, which has been trying to catch those who are responsible for the killing.
The Look Out Circular enabled immigration authorities to identify and detain the accused when he arrived at Amritsar International Airport. LOCs are used by investigating and law enforcement agencies to alert immigration authorities to individuals whose movement may need to be monitored in connection with ongoing cases.
The airport detention shows the importance of immigration checks to assist in the investigation of wanted or suspected individuals. Manveer Ram was then handed over to the NIA and arrested.
The accused is to be brought before the Special NIA Court. The investigators will seek further custody if necessary for the investigation.
The killing of Vikas Prabhakar was so dramatic that police claimed it was a targeted attack. The NIA investigation is to establish the circumstances surrounding the killing and identify all individuals who are said to have been involved in planning, facilitating or executing the crime.
The latest arrest is likely to add to the evidence which investigators would be seeking to obtain by trying to determine the network of the attack.
But the allegations against the accused will eventually have to be established through the judicial process. An arrest does not in itself constitute proof of guilt, and the accused is entitled to due process under law.
The NIA has continued to pursue targeted killings and other serious offences in various parts of the country. Central agencies, state police, immigration authorities and other government departments usually coordinate such investigations.
The involvement of immigration authorities in the latest development also illustrates how agencies can use coordinated mechanisms to trace individuals who may be subject to investigative alerts. The LOC issued by the NIA allowed authorities at the airport to identify Manveer Ram before he could proceed further.
The accused's production before the Special NIA Court will be the next significant step in the case. The investigators will give evidence of the arrest and explain why further investigation or custody would be required.
Meanwhile, the NIA will continue to examine the evidence and track other individuals or persons of interest in the case. The agency’s investigation will attempt to establish the whole network, motive and reasons for the targeted killing.
Manveer Ram alias Ashu's arrest is a new development in the investigation and could bring new leads to investigators.
The investigation is still ongoing, they said. The NIA’s response is an indication of its determination to bring all the accused from the Vikas Prabhakar killing case before the law, they said.
