Chandigarh, June 9 -- The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday carried out extensive searches at 18 locations across Punjab and Haryana as part of its investigation into three terror-related cases linked to Pakistan-based terrorist and gangster-turned-terror operative Shahzad Bhatti.

In an official statement, the agency said coordinated raids were conducted across nine districts of the two states. During the searches, NIA teams examined several premises, questioned individuals believed to be connected to the investigations, and seized digital devices, documents, and other materials for further analysis.

The agency said it had also gathered information relating to communication channels, financial transactions, and the activities...