FBI raids lead to arrest of Pavittar Singh Batala, linked to Khalistani terror network and Babbar Khalsa International
In a high-profile crackdown, the FBI and multiple law enforcement agencies in California arrested eight Indian-origin men in connection with a gang-related kidnapping and torture case. Among them is Pavittar Singh Batala, a known associate of Babbar Khalsa International and a close aide of Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa, who is on the NIA’s most wanted list, reported indiatvnews.com.
The coordinated raids led to the seizure of illegal firearms, ammunition, and cash, exposing a deep nexus between gang violence in the US and transnational terrorism links to Khalistani extremists.
Authorities in San Joaquin County, California, executed five simultaneous raids on July 11, 2025, as part of an investigation into a violent gang-related kidnapping and torture case. The FBI’s SWAT team, in collaboration with local law enforcement units from Stockton, Manteca, and Stanislaus County, carried out the operation.
The suspects were arrested in coordinated raids that resulted in the recovery of:
- 5 handguns (including a fully automatic Glock)
- 1 assault rifle
- Hundreds of rounds of ammunition
- High-capacity magazines
- Over $15,000 in cash
The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office identified Pavittar Singh Batala as the primary suspect. Batala, originally from Punjab, is reportedly affiliated with Babbar Khalsa International, a banned terror group, and is believed to maintain ties with Lakhbir Singh Landa, a top Khalistani militant wanted by Indian authorities.
- Names of the Arrested Individuals:
- Dilpreet Singh
- Arshpreet Singh
- Amritpal Singh
- Vishal
- Pavittar Singh (Batala)
- Gurtaj Singh
- Manpreet Randhawa
- Sarabjit Singh
- Charges Filed
All eight suspects have been lodged in San Joaquin County Jail on a range of serious felony charges, including:
- Kidnapping
- Torture
- False imprisonment
- Criminal conspiracy
- Assault with a semiautomatic firearm
- Witness intimidation
- Terror threats
- Felony gang enhancement
They also face multiple weapons violations, such as:
- Possession of a machine gun
- Illegal possession of an assault weapon
- Manufacturing high-capacity magazines
- Creating a short-barreled rifle
- Possession of loaded, unregistered firearms
- FBI’s ‘Summer Heat’ Initiative
This arrest operation was part of the FBI’s Summer Heat initiative, a national strategy aimed at dismantling violent gangs and curbing organized crime. According to the agency, the crackdown is a testament to its ongoing mission to safeguard American communities from domestic and international criminal networks.
