KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
The Sikh community in Lahore held a protest on September 20 against the Indian government, condemning the killing of Khalistani terrorist and the chief of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Lahore, Pakistan. Former member of the Punjab Assembly, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, claimed to the media that India had a hand in the assassination of the Khalistan leader. The protestors accused Indian intelligence agencies of targeting Sikhs globally and urged the international community to take note of India's alleged acts of terrorism.
The Lahore High Court, on September 16, raised objections to the reopening of the case of Indian independence war hero Bhagat Singh's 1931 sentencing and the consideration of posthumous state awards for him. The objections pertain to the maintainability of the petition and the constitution of a larger bench for an early hearing. The petitioners argue that Bhagat Singh's name was not originally mentioned in the First Information Report (FIR) for the murder for which he was sentenced to death, and they seek to establish his innocence in the case.
Pakistan's Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has exposed a significant drug-smuggling network operating in India, led by Mazhar Iqbal, the head of Lahore Police's anti-narcotics wing. Iqbal and his network used drones to smuggle drugs from Kasur in the Punjab Province of Pakistan, particularly heroin, into India, specifically Punjab. Despite a history of dismissals and suspensions related to illegal activities, Iqbal held a key position in the anti-narcotics department of Lahore Police. The police investigation revealed that a drone in Mazhar Iqbal's network transported up to 6 kg of drugs across the border to Indian Punjab. The network's exposure came after the arrest of six Indians from Punjab: Gurmeet Singh, Shinder Singh, Juginder Singh, Vishal Jagga, Rattan Pal Singh, and Garvender Singh in Pakistani territory, leading to an investigation into Iqbal's involvement in cross-border drug smuggling, with authorities estimating his amassed wealth to be substantial.
Pakistan's caretaker Religious Affairs Minister, Aneeq Ahmed, on September 7 announced efforts to increase the number of Sikh and Hindu pilgrims from India, as their numbers have declined in recent years due to strained bilateral ties. This announcement was made during his visit to the Evacuee Property Trust Board (EPTB) in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, a Member of Parliament (MP) from the United Kingdom (UK) Labour Party on September 19 mentioned that he had been contacted by many anxious, angry, and fearful Sikhs following the sharp escalation of the India-Canada diplomatic ties due to allegations levelled against India by Canadian Prime minister (PM) Justin Trudeau.
Charanjeet Kaur, the mother of Avtar Singh Khanda, the slain Khalistani terrorist and chief of Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) in London, has refused to accept the explanation of his death from acute myeloid Leukemia and a blood clot, claiming he was poisoned. However, West Midlands Police stated that after conducting a comprehensive review in response to such speculations, they concluded that there were no suspicious circumstances related to Khanda’s death.
A spokesperson from the United Kingdom (UK) government stated that they are maintaining close communication with their Canadian counterparts regarding the serious allegations. They mentioned that it would not be suitable to provide further comments while the Canadian authorities are still conducting their investigation. Additionally, a spokesperson for Rishi Sunak informed Reuters that Trudeau's remarks have not disrupted the India-UK trade talks.
A Sikh man identified as Jaswant Singh Chail, who had informed guards at Windsor Castle on Christmas Day 2021 that he intended to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II, apologized to King Charles III and the royal family on September 15 at the Old Bailey court in London, United Kingdom (UK). Chail, who claimed revenge for the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar as his motive, cited embarrassment and shame for his actions.
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The Air India Flight 182 Kanishka on June 23, 1985, flying from Toronto to Mumbai, exploded in mid-air over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Ireland killing all 307 passengers and 22 crew members. The mid-air bomb explosion which killed all the 329 persons, including 268 Canadians, 27 British, 22 Indians and 12 others on board, was the deadliest attack on civil aviation until the September 11, 2001 attack in neighbouring USA.
At least 50 passengers were killed and another 30 persons were injured as terrorists belonged to Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) attacked the train passengers in a train at Baddowal village in Ludhiana District on June 15, 1991. When the train was stopped as someone pulled the ‘emergency cords’ at Baddowal on the Ludhiana-Ferozepur railway line, the terrorists entered into the train’s compartments and started firing at the passengers.
Khalistani terrorists attacked a passenger bus and killed 38 innocent civilians and injured another 33 others on July 6, 1987, near Lalru village in Mohali District of Punjab. Around a half dozen terrorists belonging to Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) forcefully stopped a passenger bus - Haryana Roadways bus HYE 1735 – near Lalru village (between Jamalpur and Hasanpur villages) and opened fire on passengers, killing 38 passengers including women and children.
The Border Security Force (BSF) in a joint operation with Punjab Police, on September 24, arrested two individuals identified as Jagpreet Singh and Surinder Singh and recovered 12 kg of heroin and INR 19.3 lakh from their possession, from near Chaura Kalan village in Gurdaspur district. Three suspects were spotted riding a motorcycle and behaving suspiciously. Subsequently, two of them were apprehended while attempting to flee a checkpoint. The police are currently searching for the third suspect.
The counter-intelligence (CI) wing of Punjab Police and the Border Security Force (BSF) on September 23 recovered a small drone and 500 gm of heroin on the outskirts of Mahawa village in Amritsar district. The recovered drone is a Quadcopter (Model - DJI Mavic 3 classic) made in China.
Amritsar Police on September 19 busted a cross-border heroin smuggling module based in Pakistan, arresting one of its members, Gurjit Singh along with INR 13.5 lakh in drug money, 850 grams of heroin, and a car in Cheecha village in Amritsar district. Investigations revealed that the operation was orchestrated by jailed drug smuggler Gurwinder Singh alias Mehak, from Kapurthala Central Jail. Gurjit admitted to smuggling approximately 40 kg of heroin in the past month. He received heroin supplies from an unidentified source in Pakistan and transported them through various means, including the riverine route and drones. Gurjit also confessed to collaborating with Pakistani smugglers and using hawala networks to transfer proceeds, raising concerns of potential terror funding.
A Red Corner Notice (RCN) was issued against Gurpreet Singh by INTERPOL in October 2019 for his criminal and terrorist activities.
INTERPOL had issued a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Balwinder Singh for several charges including being member of terrorist organization, raising fund for terrorist organization etc.
INTERPOL issued a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Gurjinder Singh Pannu in 2019 for various charges including raising funds for terrorist act.
INTERPOL has issued a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) leader Harmeet Singh alias PhD alias Happy in 2019.
Holding his own party-led government responsible for inaction against Khalistan extremists, Liberal party MP Chandra Arya on Sunday asserted that Hindu Canadians are fearful after the threats issued by extremist elements.
US-based pro-Khalistan organisation, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), has asserted that India’s attempts to silence and coerce SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun through asset seizures in Indian Punjab and false cases would not deter the Khalistan Referendum movement, which continues despite challenges.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday confiscated land and part of a house belonging to Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, the US-based founder and lawyer of the banned Sikhs for Justice, in Amritsar and Chandigarh.
Gangster Sukha Duneke has been killed in Canada, according to reports. He was killed in an inter-gang rivalry. Duneke was part of Khalistan movement in Canada. Sukhdool Singh alias Sukha Duneke, who escaped to Canada from Punjab in 2017 on forged documents, was shot dead in Winnipeg by assailants.
