The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Thursday arrested an Indian-origin man, Nitish Kaushal, in Vermont, days after he was added to its most-wanted list as part of its crackdown on transnational organized crime.Kaushal was arrested as authorities cordoned off Bhagwanpuria’s gang, the CBI said.According to the agency, Kaushal is allegedly involved in murder, kidnapping and drug trafficking in the United States. The FBI said the Indian national carried out violent acts on behalf of the Bhagwanpuria organized crime group, including kidnappings and assaults.“Nitesh Kaushal is wanted by the FBI for his alleged involvement in a transnational criminal organization involved in, among other things, acts including murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, extortion, arms smuggling, money laundering and human smuggling,” the bureau said earlier this week.The FBI also warned that Kaushal should be considered armed, dangerous and a flight risk.The US District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles issued a federal arrest warrant for Kaushal on June 25 after charging him with racketeering conspiracy.The arrest comes on the heels of Operation Hard Ball, a coordinated international law enforcement operation targeting the Bhagwanpuria gang.The operation included raids across the United States, Canada and Europe, underscoring growing international efforts to dismantle transnational criminal gangs with roots in India.
Earlier this month, US federal prosecutors accused jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his close associate Goldie Brar of ordering the assassination of Khalistan separatist activist Hardeep Singh Nigar in Canada.The FBI and other law enforcement agencies also carried out large-scale raids targeting Lawrence Bishnoi’s network in the United States.
