Khalistan Tiger Force operative Arshdeep Dhalla's aides Amritpal and Amrik in NIA custody

A Delhi court on Friday granted eight-day custody of Amritpal Singh alias Ammy and Amrik Singh to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) till May 27. They are allegedly associated with Canada-based terrorist Arshdeep Dhalla and the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF).

The duo were arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2019 (UAPA) at the Indira Gandhi International Airport after being deported from Manila, Philippines on Friday.

Special judge Shailendra Malik granted eight-day custody of both accused for interrogation in connection with their alleged involvement in the recruitment of youths for KTF and also involvement in the smuggling and procurement of arms and ammunition and raising funds for the organisation. "The agency sought 12-day custody of both accused persons," said an official, who did not wish to be identified.

The hearing was conducted in a closed courtroom. The accused had non-bailable arrest warrants issued against them by the NIA court in a case related to unlawful and violent activities of banned organisations in India.

The duo also have several criminal cases registered against them in Punjab. The NIA had registered a suo motu case on August 20 last year under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and UAPA. The agency said both the accused hail from Punjab and they were "nabbed in an early morning operation by the NIA, whose team was waiting at the airport for their flight to land". In association with another wanted accused Manpreet Singh alias Peeta, they had been allegedly involved in smuggling weapons from Pakistan and recruitment of youths to carry out acts of violence and terrorism in the country at the behest of the KTF.