NIA arrests Manveer Ram in VHP leader Vikas Prabhakar murder case
Synopsis
The NIA has nabbed another key accused in the 2024 murder of VHP leader Vikas Prabhakar — intercepted at Amritsar airport before he could slip away. The arrest exposes a transnational web: Germany-based Babbar Khalsa International handlers, a UAE-based intermediary arranging weapons, and local recruiters sourced through social media — a blueprint the agency says is being used repeatedly in targeted killings across Punjab.
Key Takeaways
The NIA arrested Manveer Ram alias Ashu at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar based on a Look Out Circular.
Ram allegedly operated from the UAE , acting as an intermediary between Germany-based BKI handlers and weapon suppliers in India.
VHP leader Vikas Prabhakar was shot dead at his confectionery shop in Nangal, Punjab on 13 April 2024 .
Key overseas conspirators identified as Harjit Singh alias Laddi and Kulbeer Singh alias Sidhu , both linked to banned outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) .
Earlier, arms supplier Dharminder Kumar of Ludhiana was arrested by a joint Delhi Police Special Cell -NIA team in the same case.
The NIA has filed one chargesheet and two supplementary chargesheets ; the probe into other accused is ongoing.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday, 15 August 2025, arrested Manveer Ram alias Ashu, another accused in the targeted killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Vikas Prabhakar in Nangal, Punjab. The arrest was made after immigration authorities intercepted Ram at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar, based on a Look Out Circular (LOC) issued by the NIA.
How the Arrest Unfolded
Manveer Ram was detained by immigration officials at the Amritsar airport on Thursday and subsequently taken into NIA custody. He is expected to be produced before the Special NIA Court for further legal proceedings. The case is registered as RC-06/2024/NIA/DLI.
According to the agency, Ram was operating from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and served as a key intermediary between Germany-based handlers and weapon procurement networks inside India. Investigators allege he arranged firearms intended for use in the killing and facilitated communication between overseas conspirators and their associates on the ground.
The Babbar Khalsa International Connection
The NIA's investigation has revealed that the conspiracy to assassinate Prabhakar was allegedly orchestrated by Germany-based operatives of the banned terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). The key conspirators have been identified as Harjit Singh alias Laddi and Kulbeer Singh alias Sidhu.
This is the latest in a series of targeted killings in Punjab that investigators have linked to overseas-directed networks using social media and money transfers to recruit and arm local operatives — a pattern the NIA has documented across multiple chargesheets in recent years.
Earlier Arrests in the Case
In 2024, a 22-year-old arms supplier, Dharminder Kumar, a resident of Ludhiana, was arrested by a joint team of the Delhi Police Special Cell and the NIA. Kumar was allegedly involved in procuring weapons for the accused.
During questioning, Kumar reportedly disclosed that after being released from jail in April 2024, he was contacted through social media by an individual based in a Middle Eastern country who instructed him to arrange firearms.
The Murder of Vikas Prabhakar
Vikas Prabhakar, president of the VHP's Nangal unit, was shot dead by unidentified assailants at his confectionery shop in Nangal, Punjab, on 13 April 2024. The NIA took over the investigation on 9 May 2024 and has since filed one chargesheet and two supplementary chargesheets.
The agency stated it is continuing its probe into the broader conspiracy and examining the involvement of additional individuals linked to the case.
Point of View
Social media as a recruitment tool, and local ex-convicts as disposable foot soldiers. The NIA's ability to intercept Ram at the Amritsar airport — via a Look Out Circular — is a procedural win, but the fact that he was able to travel to the UAE after the murder and remain there for over a year raises hard questions about coordination between Indian intelligence and Gulf-based agencies. With BKI handlers still at large in Germany, the conspiracy's nerve centre remains untouched.
NationPress
14 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Manveer Ram alias Ashu and why was he arrested?
Manveer Ram alias Ashu is an accused in the murder of VHP leader Vikas Prabhakar, who was shot dead in Nangal, Punjab, on 13 April 2024. The NIA arrested him at Amritsar airport after intercepting him based on a Look Out Circular; investigators allege he arranged firearms and facilitated communication between overseas BKI handlers and local operatives from the UAE.
Who was Vikas Prabhakar and how was he killed?
Vikas Prabhakar was the president of the VHP's Nangal unit in Punjab. He was shot dead by unidentified assailants at his confectionery shop in Nangal on 13 April 2024, in what the NIA has described as a targeted killing orchestrated by Germany-based operatives of Babbar Khalsa International.
What is Babbar Khalsa International's alleged role in this case?
According to the NIA, Germany-based operatives of the banned terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) orchestrated the conspiracy to assassinate Prabhakar. The key conspirators named are Harjit Singh alias Laddi and Kulbeer Singh alias Sidhu, who allegedly directed operations from abroad using intermediaries like Manveer Ram.
Who else has been arrested in the Vikas Prabhakar murder case?
Earlier in 2024, arms supplier Dharminder Kumar, a 22-year-old resident of Ludhiana, was arrested by a joint team of the Delhi Police Special Cell and the NIA. Kumar allegedly procured weapons for the accused after being contacted through social media by a Middle East-based handler following his release from jail.
What is the current status of the NIA investigation?
The NIA has filed one chargesheet and two supplementary chargesheets in the case registered as RC-06/2024/NIA/DLI. The agency says it is continuing its probe into the broader conspiracy and examining the involvement of additional individuals; Manveer Ram is expected to be produced before the Special NIA Court.
