The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday categorically denied it carried out any raid linked to the Dalai Lama’s security or in connection with Khalistani terror funding in McLeodganj, Himachal Pradesh, on Friday.
What was NIA raid in McLeodganj about?
NIA clarified that the raid in McLeodganj on Friday was held in connection with the ‘US donkey route’ human trafficking case. It also dismissed media reports claiming the raid was connected to Dalai Lama's security or Khalistani terrorists as “completely false”.
The National Investigation Agency on Friday arrested two ‘US donkey route’ human traffickers after searches at two locations in Himachal Pradesh and Delhi.
— ANI (@ANI) July 5, 2025
The accused, identified as Sunny alias Sunny Donker of Dharamshala, District Kangra (HP) and Shubham Sandhal alias Deep… pic.twitter.com/RJsdOTGJqZ
The investigation agency said it had informed the local police regarding the raid and the cops accompanied the NIA sleuths during the search in McLeodganj. A similar raid was carried out in Delhi too.
2 more arrested in US donkey route case
Following the search in McLeodganj and Delhi, the NIA arrested two more ‘US donkey route’ human traffickers. They were identified as Sunny Donker from Dharamshala and Shubham Sandhal alias Deep Hundi from Pujab's Ropar and currently residing in Peeragarhi, New Delhi. Both of them were associates of Gagandeep Singh alias Goldy from Tilak Nagar, New Delhi. He was arrested in March when the NIA had taken over the donkey route case from the Punjab police.
Gagandeep was arrested based on a complaint lodged by a victim who was illegally trafficked to the US through the infamous ‘donkey’ route. The Donald Trump administration deported him to India in February. An NIA chargesheet was filed against Gagandeep on June 27.
Gagandeep allegedly used to receive around ₹45 lakh from each trafficking victim in the guise of arranging their travel to the US on a valid visa. But he would actually force these victims to travel illegally through multiple countries, including Spain, El-Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico. NIA revealed that Gagandeep trafficked over 100 people to the US before his arrest.
Sunny was identified as the “donker” who organises the journey via the donkey route. The victims would be harassed throughout the journey by the donkers in order to extort more money from them.
Shubham Sandhal alias Deep Hundi was a hawala courier operator through whom Gagandeep transferred funds to the donkers in Latin American countries, including Sunny.
