The National Investigation Agency has secured a major breakthrough in the targeted killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Vikas Prabhakar with the apprehension of key conspirator Harvinder Kumar, alias Sonu. Following sustained diplomatic channels and formal extradition procedures, Harvinder was deported from the United Arab Emirates on 1 October 2026. The central counter-terror agency immediately placed him under arrest upon his arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. Investigators identify him as a vital cross-border operative who coordinated ground resources and channeled terror financing for the assassination.
The Daylight Assassination Inside a Nangal Shop
The incident dates back to 13 April 2024, when VHP leader Vikas Prabhakar was fatally attacked while seated inside his shop in Nangal, located in Punjab's Rupnagar district. The brazen nature of the daylight killing pointed toward an organized assassination orchestrated to stoke communal tensions in the border state. Recognizing the deeper terror angles, the NIA took over the probe and registered an official case on 9 May 2024. Through its subsequent multi-layered investigation, the agency has already filed three separate chargesheets against individuals implicated in the broader conspiracy.
Cross-Border Blueprint Orchestrated from Germany
Extensive forensic and technical investigations revealed that the killing was executed at the behest of the banned terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International. The masterminds behind the blueprint have been identified as Germany-based BKI operatives Harjit Singh, alias Laddi, and Kulbir Singh, alias Sidhu. Operating from safe havens abroad, these handlers coordinated the hit by mobilizing an external support infrastructure spanning multiple foreign locations, including Europe and the Middle East, to oversee execution on Indian soil.
Role as Recruiter, Handler, and Financial Courier in the UAE
Harvinder Kumar played a central role while stationed in the United Arab Emirates, acting as an operational link for the Germany-based BKI handlers. Beyond facilitating terror funding, he served as a ground handler and recruiter for the network. Harvinder managed logistics, procured firearms, and ensured that weapons successfully reached the hitmen tasked with carrying out the murder. Additionally, he was instrumental in receiving illicit terror funds and redistributing them across the operational chain strictly following directives issued by Harjit Singh and Kulbir Singh.
Second Extradition Following Earlier Arrest at Amritsar
Harvinder's apprehension marks the second major arrest of an overseas operative in this specific investigation. Earlier, on 13 August 2026, the agency apprehended Manveer Ram after intercepting him at Amritsar airport upon his return from the UAE. Manveer had played an active part in supplying the firearms utilized in the assassination. Federal authorities highlighted that this operation is part of an ongoing mission to track down, repatriate, and prosecute fugitive operatives living abroad who orchestrate terrorist activities against India, with further investigation still underway.
