India has secured the deportation of wanted accused Harwinder Kumar from the United Arab Emirates in connection with the 2024 killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Vikas Prabhakar in Punjab's Nangal, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Thursday.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Harwinder, also known as Sonu Barnala, soon after his deportation at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Thursday. He was subsequently produced before a Special NIA Court for further legal proceedings, according to ANI.
The case
Prabhakar was shot dead by operatives of the banned terror organisation Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) in Nangal in 2024, in what the MHA said was an attempt to create communal unrest at the behest of the group's Pakistan-based chief Wadhawa Singh, alias Babbar.
A Red Corner Notice was issued against Harwinder, who was based in the UAE, on April 17, 2026. "Following a request from Indian agencies on June 19, 2026, the UAE authorities handed him over to India," the MHA said in a statement.
The NIA said Harwinder provided logistical support and financing to the perpetrators and had been wanted by the anti-terror agency. The case, registered as RC-06/2024/NIA/DLI on May 9, 2024, pertains to the targeted killing, and the NIA has so far filed three chargesheets in the matter.
PRAHAAR initiative
The MHA also said it has launched the PRAHAAR initiative, under which the deportation of terrorists to India has been expedited.
The latest arrest follows the arrest of another UAE-based accused, Manveer Ram, on August 13, 2026. Ram was allegedly involved in supplying weapons used in the crime and was intercepted at Amritsar Airport before being arrested by the NIA.
All allegations against the accused will be tested in court. The investigation continues.
Sources: India secures deportation of wanted accused Harwinder Kumar from UAE | India secures deportation of Harwinder Kumar from UAE in VHP killing
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Harwinder, also known as Sonu Barnala, soon after his deportation at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Thursday. He was subsequently produced before a Special NIA Court for further legal proceedings, according to ANI.
The case
Prabhakar was shot dead by operatives of the banned terror organisation Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) in Nangal in 2024, in what the MHA said was an attempt to create communal unrest at the behest of the group's Pakistan-based chief Wadhawa Singh, alias Babbar.
A Red Corner Notice was issued against Harwinder, who was based in the UAE, on April 17, 2026. "Following a request from Indian agencies on June 19, 2026, the UAE authorities handed him over to India," the MHA said in a statement.
The NIA said Harwinder provided logistical support and financing to the perpetrators and had been wanted by the anti-terror agency. The case, registered as RC-06/2024/NIA/DLI on May 9, 2024, pertains to the targeted killing, and the NIA has so far filed three chargesheets in the matter.
PRAHAAR initiative
The MHA also said it has launched the PRAHAAR initiative, under which the deportation of terrorists to India has been expedited.
The latest arrest follows the arrest of another UAE-based accused, Manveer Ram, on August 13, 2026. Ram was allegedly involved in supplying weapons used in the crime and was intercepted at Amritsar Airport before being arrested by the NIA.
All allegations against the accused will be tested in court. The investigation continues.
Sources: India secures deportation of wanted accused Harwinder Kumar from UAE | India secures deportation of Harwinder Kumar from UAE in VHP killing
