Accused in Punjab Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Vikas Prabhakar’s murder , NIA on Thursday arrested Harwinder Kumar, alias Sonu Barnala, after he was deported from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
He was intercepted at the Amritsar airport and subsequently arrested by the NIA. Barnala was deported from the UAE to India on October 1, 2026 after ‘vigorous diplomatic efforts’. On August 13, the NIA arrested another UAE-based accused, Manveer Ram, who was allegedly involved in supplying weapons used in Prabhakar’s killing.
He will be produced before the Special NIA Court for further legal proceedings. The NIA arrested him at the Indira Gandhi International Airport upon his arrival from the UAE on Thursday.
Investigation also found that Barnala played a crucial role as a logistics provider and financer for the BKI operatives based abroad. He acted as a recruiter and handler, arranged weapons and facilitated their delivery to the shooters involved in Prabhakar’s murder. He also received and transferred terror funds in connection with the conspiracy, acting on the directions of Laddi and Sidhu.
Barnala was involved in providing logistical support and financing to the perpetrators and had been wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the government said in a statement.
