International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF)

Formation :

ISYF was formed in August 1984 in England in the aftermath of Operation Blue Star. It was founded by Amrik Singh and Jasbir Singh Rode, nephew of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale who had joined Khalistani movement in 1982. ISYF held its first conference in Walsall, United Kingdom. Similar to other Khalistani militant groups, ISYF also has fractured into splinter groups. Initially, ISYF factionalised into two- one declaring allegiance to Jasbir Singh Rode, who presently resides in Pakistan and his brother Lakhbir Singh Rode, while the other faction was led by Satinderpal Singh Gill (previously a member of Panthic committee). Further endemic factionalisation resulted formation of Damdami Taksal (DDT) Chaheru, Bittoo and Gill factions, which operated in UK, Germany and US.

Ideology/Objective:

ISYF was established with the secessionist aim of establishing an ‘independent home land for Sikhs’. According to US State Department, ISYF was an active terrorist group organization that aspires to carve out of Indian territory- an independent Sikh state called Khalistan.

Location of activity:

ISYF primarily operates from foreign countries. Although they had operated n Punjab, after the ebbing of violence in the state, the group has shifted out of the state. ISYF primarily acted as an off shore support group which assisted terrorists operating in Punjab. One of the primary motives of the group was to raise fund for the Khalistani movement. Currently ISYF’s support base is spread across the UK, North America, Canada, Pakistan as well as West European countries. The hub of operations of ISYF in Pakistan is Gurudawara Dera Sahib in Lahore. Currently the main faction of ISYF is led by Lakhbir Singh Rode, who is wields political influence and kinship in some parts of Punjab. Earlier ISYF had control over Gurdwaras in Abbots Fort near Vancouver and on Ross Road Street in Vancouver (Canada). During the active phase of Khalistan terrorism, Over 1,00,00 Canadian dollars was raised by ISYF in various locations in Canada to purchase arms and form a ‘support fund’ for dependents of terrorists killed.

Funding Sources and External Linkages:

In the initial days, ISYF was successful is raising funds from the Sikh diaspora in Canada after they started a recruitment drive in which they charged five Dollars for membership. They were able to successfully spin a narrative that those who did not enrol in its ranks were government agents. Thus, to avoid suspicion many Sikhs became ISYF members. The ISYF also found a front organisation in the form of a ‘human rights group’, identified as Khalsa Human Rights Group. It became an efficient fundraising tool for Khalistani militants based in foreign countries. Moreover, the front organisation also carried out a propaganda campaigns alleging human rights violations in against Sikhs in India. Pakistan’s Inter-Services-intelligence (ISI) has supported ISYF, with funding training as well as providing arms and ammunition. It has been reported that Pakistan based BKI ‘chief’ Wadhawa Singh and ISYF’s Lakhbir Singh Rode are among top Khalistani militants who have been assigned to carryout militant attacks in India. ISYF also has linkages with Islamist militant groups including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). It has been revealed during interrogation of ‘chief’ of Khalistan Tiger Force Jagtar Singh Tara (arrested in 2015) that he had met a Pakistani national identified as Assadullah ( a known close affiliate of Ilyas Kashmiri) at the residence of Lakhbir Singh Rode at Dera Chahal, where a camp of LeT is know to exist. Rode is also known to be associated with Abdul Karim Tunda, bombmaker known to be behind atleast 40 explosions in India. ISYF has been helping with the cross-border infiltration of terrorists through the Punjab border into India. One such high profile incident had occurred in 2010 when three militants were pushed through the Jammu-Pathankot Sector by Rode. This group was later killed in an encounter in which two Police men were also killed. Furthermore, BKI chief also revealed that Lakhbir Singh Rode had arranged a meeting for BKI chief with Kashmiri militants who were ready to provide him with suicide bombers. ISYF has also been successful in collaborating with other Khalistani terrorist organisations such as Babbar Khalsa (BKI) Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and Khalistan Commando Force (KCF).

Numeric Strength:

Modus Operandi:

Leadership & Key Figures:

Three senior office bearers of SFUK (ISYF was rechristened as SFUK after its ban in 2001) are the former leaders of ISYF. They are ‘president’ Amrik Singh Gill (one of the founding members of the ISYF), Kuldeep Singh Chaheru and Narinderjit Singh (both ‘vice presidents’). Although, SFUK registered itself as a political party of the Sikhs in UK in September 2003, it continues to propagate pro-Khalistani ideology and regularly organizes events in remembrance of the slain Sikh terrorists and brands them as ‘martyrs.’ Extradition of ISYF leader Lakhbir Singh Rhode was saught by India from Pakistan in the wake of December 13, 2001 Parliament attack.

Designated/Listed:

ISYF was banned under the Prevention of Terrorist Activities Act (POTA) on March 22, 2002. Besides being banned in India, the group was banned in UK in 2001. Following the ban of ISYF in UK, ISYF reincarnated themselves as Sikh Federation-UK (SFUK).

Activity Dateline

Incident Date	Incident	Civilian Killed	Military Killed	Security Force Killed	Civilian Injured	Military Injured	Security Force Injured	Civilian Abducted	Military Abducted	Security Force Abducted
23-Feb-2023	During the recent nationwide raids conducted by National Investigation Agency (NIA) at 76 locations across eight states, it arrested six suspects, including a close associate of designated terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dalla, identified as Lucky Khokhar alias Denis, said NIA on February 23. According to the central counter-terrorism law enforcement agency, the other five accused who were arrested in the raid, identified as, Lakhvir Singh, Harpreet, Dalip Bishnoi, Surinder alias Chiku Chaudhary and Hari Om alias Titul. So far, NIA has revealed that they have been involved in smuggling arms, ammunition, explosives etc. across international and inter-state borders in India for several Khalistani terror outfits, including the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF).
20-Feb-2023	The Punjab Police's state special operations cell (SSOC) has booked nine people, including Pakistan-based International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) chief Lakhbir Singh Rode, allegedly for smuggling arms, ammunition, drugs, and explosives across the Punjab border. According to sources, the Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI and the ISYF has been working together through his associates imprisoned in Punjab.
13-Jan-2023	According to reports, the Melbourne Temple vandalism has shocked the Indian community in Australia. The walls of the Melbourne’s Mill Park BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir had slogans saying Hindustan Murdabad and with praises of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the controversial Khalistani militant leader. Report said, there are grave concerns amongst the community and the Australian government regarding the spread of Indian anti national Khalistani elements in Australia. The Australian national newspaper reported in December 2022 that senior Indian government officials have raised the alarm over the growth of Sikh separatism in Australia and its links to terrorist groups in India, warning the Albanese government ministers of the movement’s propensity for violence. The report in the paper also attributed a source in the Indian government having concerns that the local Khalistani movement leaders were recruiting impressionable Indian Sikhs in Australia “who didn’t know what they were getting into.” There are concerns that the Sikh separatist groups Baber Khalsa International (BKI), Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) and International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) which are all banned by India could be infiltrating Australia, as they have created a foothold in Canada. With the close relationship between India and Australia emerging, Australia needs to do more to stamp out these Indian anti-national elements in the community, the report added.
08-Jan-2023	The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said on January 8 that Lakhbir Singh Rode, nephew of deceased Khalistani militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and head of banned Khalistani outfit International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), had planned the December 2021 Ludhiana court complex blast, in which suspected bomber Gagandeep Singh was killed and six people injured. Rode had conspired to carry out bomb blasts in various places in Punjab and used Pakistan-based smugglers to execute his plans, the NIA said. The NIA filed a charge sheet before a Mohali court, naming Gagandeep Singh, Surmukh Singh alias Sammu, Dilbagh Singh alias Baggo, Rajanpreet Singh and a Pakistani national Zulfikar alias Pahalwan, who it said were part of the conspiracy. NIA has already filed a charge sheet against Rode in March 2022. “During investigations, it has been revealed that Lakhbir Singh Rode, Pakistan based ISYF terrorist handler, had planned to execute IED blasts at various locations in Punjab. In order to execute his plans, he, in association with Pakistan based smugglers, recruited India based operatives to smuggle IEDs and to carry out blasts to cause maximum casualties and to strike terror among the general public,” the NIA said in a statement.
24-Dec-2022	The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on December 24 conducted multiple searches at different locations in Punjab pertaining to the case relates to terror activities of chiefs/members of proscribed terrorist organizations, such as Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) etc. NIA said the terror activities include smuggling of terrorist hardware such as arms, ammunition explosives and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) across International Borders (IB) for use by operatives and members of terror outfits and organized criminal gangs operating in various parts of the country for carrying out terrorist acts like bomb explosions, targeted killings etc. Incriminating materials, including digital devices and documents have been recovered during the raids.
08-Apr-2022	Police arrested a person, identified as Gurpreet alias Gopi, who reportedly supplied weapons, including AK-47, to associates of banned Khalistani terrorist groups, from Sonipat in Sonipat district of Haryana. Earlier, on February 19, the CIA unit of the district police had arrested four persons along with weapons. The probe revealed that the accused were involved in “contract killings” in Punjab on the directions of the banned terrorist group handlers — Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). They had relations with terrorists through the social media platforms. Gopi had supplied the weapons to them at Ambala. The court sent Gopi on four-day police remand.
06-Apr-2022	Punjab police registered a case against Pakistan-based chief of the banned Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) Lakhbir Singh Rode for allegedly smuggling arms and ammunition in the border areas of Amritsar district by using drones in the recent days to “attempt a big terror activity” in the state. State special operation cell (SSOC) wing of the Punjab police registered the case against Rode, who is also the chief of International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), on April 6, but the first information report (FIR) was available on April 10. The case has been registered under Sections 25 of the Arms Act, Sections 3, 4, 5 of the Explosive Substance (Amendment) Act, Sections 120, 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Sections 13, 18, 18-A, 18-B and 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in Amritsar on the complaint of SSOC’s Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Harvinder Pal Singh. According to the FIR, the DSP received a tip-off that Rode, who is wanted in various criminal cases in Punjab, has been active in various anti-national activities and in contact with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency and other separatist organisations. “With the help of the ISI and other separatist organisations, Rode has been sending contrabands of arms and ammunition in Punjab to attempt a big terror activity. He has been working, with the help of criminals and gangsters, to destabilise the peaceful atmosphere by targeting social and religious leaders,” it said.
20-Feb-2022	According to reports, with the arrest of four youths on February 19, the Sonepat police claimed to have busted a gang which was involved in ‘contract killings’ in Punjab on the directions of banned terrorist group handlers of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). Sources said that prima facie, it was revealed that the accused were in contact with the banned terrorist groups for the past three or four months and they were searching for youths who have criminal records in Haryana but not in Punjab. They were preparing such criminals for contract killings in Punjab on the directions of their handlers in Canada and Australia. The CIA unit of the district police also recovered an AK-47 rifle, 49 rounds of cartridges of AK-47, three foreign-made automated pistols and cartridges from the possession of the accused. Besides, teams of Punjab Police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA), along with other intelligence agencies, arrived at Sonepat to interrogate the accused.
19-Feb-2022	Four persons who are allegedly associated with Khalistani terrorist groups, identified as Sunil, Jatin, Sagar and Surendra, were arrested with a cache of illegal weapons in Sonipat in Sonipat district of Haryana on February 19. An automatic AK-47, four foreign pistols, one country made pistol, and 56 cartridges were recovered from their possession. Sonipat Superintendent of Police (SP) Rahul Sharma said that primary probe revealed that the illegal weapons had been provided by Khalistani terrorists, who had deposited lakhs in the accused’s bank accounts as well. “The accused were connected to the main leaders of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) through social media,” SP said. The arrested accused also admitted to killing one Avtar Singh in Udhampur Kalan village of Punjab on the behest of Khalistani leaders, Sharma added.
22-Jan-2022	According to reports, the Special Task Force (STF) of drugs has failed to make any breakthrough in the seizure of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) recovered from near Dhanoe Khurd village located on the Attari-Bachiwind border village road in Amritsar over a week ago. The IED contained over 2.7-kg RDX along with 1.36-kg iron ball packed in three containers to enhance its potency. Mohinish Chawla, IG, Border Range, said investigations were still under progress to identify sleeper cells involved in sneaking explosives to India for creating law and order problem, especially when the Republic Day and Assembly elections were round the corner. According to sources privy to the investigations, the IED was smuggled into India with a drone. There was different module used in sneaking this IED (from Dhanoe Khurd village), while RDX seized from Gurdaspur was smuggled by another module. The police had booked gangster Sukh Bikhariwal, who was deported from Malaysia along with Sukh Ghuman, Tharanjot Singh besides ISYF chief Lakhbir Singh Rode and fugitive gangster Arsh Dhalla in the case.
21-Jan-2022	The Punjab Police January 21 thwarted a possible terror attack around the Republic Day and recovered a 40-mm Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) with two compatible grenades, 3.79 kg RDX, nine detonators, and two sets of timer devices from Gurdaspur. The recovery was made on the disclosure of Malkeet Singh, a resident of village Gazikot in Gurdaspur who was arrested January 19 by the Gurdaspur Police based on a tip-off in a terror module and conspiracy case. The consignment of explosives was sent from across the border by Pakistan-based International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) chief Lakhbir Singh Rode. Senior Superintendent of Police Nanak Singh said, “An FIR naming Rode, Sukh Bhikhariwal, Sukh Ghuman, Malkit Singh and Arshdeep Singh Dalla has been registered at the Dinanagar police station. Of these, Malkit Singh of Gazikot village has been arrested and the recovery was made after we interrogated him. Sukh Bhikariwal is lodged in Tihar jail and we will be bringing him here on a production warrant. A manhunt has been launched to nab the remaining accused.”
15-Jan-2022	According to reports, the central intelligence agencies have alerted the Punjab government that with only 30 days to go for the upcoming Assembly elections, terrorists may carry out a major attack in the state. A high alert has been issued to central and state government intelligence agencies in this regard and orders have been issued to strengthen security. According to the alert, Pakistan terrorists Wadhwa Singh Babbar (BKI), Paramjit Singh Panjwar, Ranjit Singh Neeta (KZF), Lakhbir Singh Rode (ISYF) are being used by Pakistan’s intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). An alert sent to the Punjab government also said that RDX can also be used in elections in Punjab.
14-Jan-2022	According to reports, the recent investigations suggest that luring youths of lower strata of society, irrespective of their religion, with foreign dreams and easy money is the latest modus operandi of the banned terror outfit International Youth Sikh Federation (IYSF) to further its cause. Of the six IYSF operatives arrested by the Punjab Police for November 21, 2021 grenade attack at an army camp in Pathankot, three are Hindus and all of them come from a poor family background. The IYSF is a banned outfit being run by wanted terrorist Lakhbir Singh Rode, who reportedly operates in Pakistan. The six were arrested on January 10. Unnamed officials said that the accused were neither radicalised nor driven by pro-Khalistan ideology. Their job was to create panic through grenade attacks as briefed by their handler, Sukhpreet Singh alias Sukh of Kharal village, who is currently in Greece, and reportedly an aide of Rode. The accused trained themselves in handling grenades from videos available on YouTube, the officials said. “They were active for the last four to six months. Probe suggests that one of the accused was not even paid any money. In its attempt for survival, the IYSF is targeting needy youths belonging to the lower strata of society in lieu of paltry sums and foreign dreams,” the officials added.
13-Jan-2022	After busting a terror module of International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), Punjab Police on January 13 seized 2.5 kg of RDX, besides arms and ammunition, on the disclosure of the prime accused in two recent incidents of hurling of grenades in Pathankot. Police also seized a detonator, a detonating cord, five explosive fuses along with wires and 12 live cartridges of AK-47 rifles, Director General of Police (DGP) V K Bhawra said. According to police, the explosive material was to be used in assembling IEDs. “The recovery was made on the disclosure statement of accused Amandeep Kumar alias Mantri of village Lakhanpal in Gurdaspur, who is the prime accused in the two recent incidents of grenade attacks in Pathankot,” said the DGP. Kumar was among the six ISYF operatives arrested by police on January 10. He has confessed to have hurled grenades in two separate incidents in Pathankot, according to the statement.
11-Jan-2022	Punjab Police has solved the hand grenade attacks including an attack at Pathankot Army Camp by busting a major terror module backed by the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) group with the arrest of its six operatives from SBS Nagar district in Punjab. Those arrested were identified as Amandeep alias Mantri, Gurwinder Singh alias Gindi, Parminder Kumar alias Rohit alias Rohta, Rajinder Singh alias Malhi alias Nikku, Harpreet Singh alias Dholki and Raman Kumar. Police also recovered six hand-grenades (86 P), one pistol (9mm), one rifle (.30 bore) along with live bullets and magazines from their possession, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab VK Bhawra said. Earlier, in two instances some unidentified persons had hurled hand grenades at Pathankot - one near Chakki Pull on November 11, 2021, while another grenade attack took place outside Triveni Dwar, 21 sub-area of Army at Pathankot on November 21, 2021. The DGP said that during the preliminary interrogation, accused persons revealed that they were directly in touch with self-proclaimed Chief of ISYF (Rode) Lakhbir Singh Rode and his close aides identified as Sukhmeetpal Singh alias Sukh Bhikhariwal and Sukhpreet alias Sukh for planning terrorist attacks. "The entire cache of the recovered hand grenades, arms and ammunition were pushed in from across the International border by Lakhbir Rode and arrested accused persons had been tasked for further attacking the pre-identified targets which were mainly police and defence establishments, religious places etc," he said. The accused persons have also confessed to having lobbed hand grenades for two times in Pathankot, he added.
15-Sep-2021	Punjab Police arrested one International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) militant, identified as Rubal from Ambala District of Haryana on September 15. He was reportedly working under the directions of ISYF ‘chief’ Lakhbir Singh Rode. Rubal was staying in a Gurudwara run by Kar Sewaks at Shahbad Markanda and used to go with the Kar Sewaks at Gurudwara Mardonpur Bhanokhheri daily. During his stay at Mardonpur, Rubal had reportedly visited the IOC station Ambala Cantonment to observe the feasibility of installing a tiffin bomb in an oil tanker parked in front of the station. It is also learnt that ISYF Chief Rode had promised to pay Rs two lakh to the terrorist module.
08-Dec-2020	Investigative agencies have revealed that Pakistan's Inter-Services International (ISI) is conspiring with Lakhbir Singh Rode, nephew of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and chief of the banned International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) to keep the ‘Khalistan’ movement alive in Punjab. According to the investigating agencies, ISI officials had planned target killing in Punjab through Lakhbir Singh Rode. For this, Lakhbir Singh named the gangster Sukh Bhikhariwal, sitting in Dubai and got him in touch with ISI officials. The Dubai Police, however, had detained Bhikhariwal.
10-Jul-2020	According to latest report, a case relating to two Canadian Sikhs being placed on a no-fly list in the country has now been linked to an alleged Pakistan-based plot to use pro-Khalistan elements to conduct terrorist acts in India. The details emerged as two men — Bhagat Singh Brar and his business partner Parvkar Singh Dulai — challenged being blocked from travelling by air. According to the report from Stewart Bell in the Canadian outlet Global News, Brar was “promoting extremism, including the radicalisation of youth, with the aim of achieving Khalistan independence; and attack planning and facilitation, including weapons procurement, to conduct attacks in India,” as per supporting case documents filed by Canadian security agencies, including Public Safety Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the country’s spy agency. Dulai was described as a “facilitator of terrorist-related activities and has shown an ongoing pattern of involvement within the Khalistani extremist milieu”. The report said that Brar visited Pakistan in 2015 and collaborated with one Gurjeet Singh Cheema to plan an attack in India. These documents alleged that Brar collected donations for gurdwaras and “is suspected to have been diverting major part of the funds for anti-India activities”. He was also linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Dulai has been described as a very vocal supporter of Khalistan. Brar again visited Pakistan in 2018 to meet his father who happens to be Lakhbir Singh Rode, nephew of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and founder of the banned International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). However, none of these allegations have been proven in any court nor have either Brar or Dulai been charged with terrorism. Both have also denied the allegations contained in the Canadian security documents in filings made by their lawyers in this case.
01-Jul-2020	Government of India declared nine individuals, including pro-Khalistani leader and the key member of banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UAPA]. Pannun, who organized the Khalistan 2020 referendum, has been seen actively running a campaign against India and motivating Sikh youngsters in his home state of Punjab to join militancy. The others who have been designated by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) as individual terrorists under the UAPA include Paramjit Singh (Babbar Khalsa International), Hardeep Singh Nijjar (Khalistan Tiger Force), Gurmit Singh Bagga (Khalistan Zindabad Force), Wadhawa Singh Babbar (Babbar Khalsa International), Lakhbir Singh (International Sikh Youth Federation), Ranjeet Singh (Khalistan Zindabad Force), Paramjit Singh (Khalistan Commando Force), Bhupinder Singh Bhinda (Khalistan Zindabad Force). Following an amendment in the UAPA recently, the UMHA declared a total of 13 persons as individual terrorists till date. In an official statement the U said, “These individuals are involved in various acts of terrorism from across the border and from foreign soil. They have been relentless in their nefarious efforts of destabilising the country, by trying to revive militancy in Punjab through their anti-national activities and through their support to and involvement in the Khalistan Movement.”
10-Feb-2020	The convicted Khalistani terrorist, Jaspal Atwal was arrested in Surrey in British Columbia, Canada. According to the sources, Atwal allegedly threatened his former Media Waves Radio manager Ashiana Khan while she was having dinner with a small group of people at the Civic Hotel at 13475 Central Ave in Surrey. This is at least the second time Atwal has been arrested since he made international headlines for being part of Trudeau’s India visit in 2018. He was also once a member of the Khalistani militant group, International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), which has been designated a terror entity by the Canadian government.
29-Jan-2020	According to local sources, the slain Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) ‘chief’ Harmeet Singh alias Happy PhD was cremated at Babu Sabu Chowk cremation ground in Lahore in the presence of fellow Khalistani extremist Lakhbir Singh Rode, the ‘chief’ of International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) on January 29. A superintendent-rank police officer and the Station House Officer of the Dera Chahal station were also present at the cremation ground where Happy PhD was discreetly cremated, sources said.
06-Jun-2019	Gopal Singh Chawla, the General Sectary of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) raised anti-India slogans and said that he will support groups like Babbar Khalsa, Commando Force, Sikh Youth Federation, Khalistan Force and added that they are on the same platform.
12-Feb-2019	Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir states in Lok Sabha that Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) were involved in the November 2018 attack in Amritsar.He also informed that the two people were arrested in connection with the incident and three people residing abroad have been accused in the attack.
02-Jan-2019	The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Ahir said in Rajya Sabha that in the recent grenade attack on a Nirankari mission in Amritsar, the involvement of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), and the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) has emerged; and in last two years, 18 Khalistan-inspired outfits were busted with arrests of 95 Khalistani operatives.
24-Nov-2018	A Sikh seminary—Damdami Taksal-Ajnala located in Ajnala town of Amritsar district has been put under surveillance of security agencies as almost every Khalistan terror module cracked in Punjab has shown links to the seminary. Avtar Singh, ‘president’ of Sikh Youth Federation-Bhinderanwale (SYF-B) who was arrested on November 24 in the Amritsar grenade attack case, is disciple of Amrik Singh Ajnala, who heads the Damdami Taksal Ajnala. Also, at least five other Khalistan terrorist who were arrested in the past two months were disciples of the same seminary.
24-Apr-2018	Two months after the ‘controversial’ trip of the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to India, the Canadian authorities acted on the list of alleged ‘terrorists’ given by the Punjab’s CM Captain Amarinder Singh and arrested Hardeep Singh Nijjar—resident of Surrey, Canada last week. Hardeep Singh Nijjar was an accused of three terror cases—2010 bomb explosion in Patiala, 2015 alleged involvement in killing Hindu leaders, and 2016 alleged for conspiracy and financial support to Mandeep Dhaliwal for killing of Hindu leaders in Ludhiana. All three cases are registered in Punjab. In 2015, a Look-Out-Circular (LOC) was issued against Nijjar and in 2016 a Red Corner Notice (RCN) was issued and finally executed in April 2018. The alleged list handed-over by Punjab CM consists of nine people, most of them alleged for their links to International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) and Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). Reportedly, Nijjar is accused of grooming a module of KTF consisting of five members in 2014. In 2009, he was also accused of murdering Rulda Singh, the then-head of the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat (RSS), an affiliate of the Hindutva ideology organisation— Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
21-Feb-2018	During their official meeting, the Punjab’s CM Captain Amarinder Singh handed-over a list to Canada’s Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau, with details of active handlers, based in Canada, of Khalistani militants operating in Punjab. Most of the operatives in the list belongs to the banned outfit—International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) and Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). The details about operatives included their last visit to India, how the funding for firearms managed and how these groups received terror funding from Pakistan. Out of the nine, the list included five most-wanted operatives namely, Gurjeet Singh Cheema, Gurpreet Singh, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Gurjinder Singh Pannu, and Malkeet Singh alias ‘Fauji’.
27-Nov-2017	In connection with RSS leader, Ravinder Gosain murder case, the NIA special court extended the custody of two accused—Ramandeep Singh alias Canadian and Hardeep Singh alias Shera. The investigation has some ramifications that suspects the role of Pakistan in this conspiracy, said senior special Public Prosecutor. Both the accused have links with the UK based banned Khalistan separatist groups—International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) and the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), said an official on condition of anonymity.
17-Nov-2017	Punjab Police are investigating the role of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) member Gursharan Bir Singh in the series of targeted killings of religious leaders in the state over the past two years. Gursharan is also wanted in the murder of Rashtriya Sikh Sangat head Rulda Singh in Patiala on July 28, 2009. Punjab DGP Suresh Arora said that the State Police has got some leads about Gursharan's involvement while interrogating the men arrested for their alleged role in the killing of at least eight people, including former Punjab RSS vice-president Brig Jagdish Gagneja (retd) in Jalandhar. The State Police had recently arrested UK resident Jagtar Singh Johal alias Jaggi in the targeted killings case. He was arrested from Jalandhar. DGP Suresh Arora said the Police are investigating the alleged links between Pakistan-based Harmeet Singh who is believed to be running Inter Services Intelligence (ISI)-back International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) and another fugitive Rampreet Singh alias Romy who is in Hong Kong. Romy is believed to have links with gangsters in Punjab and has been named as an accused in the 2016 Nabha jailbreak case as well. Police believe Harmeet trained the men involved in the targeted killings.
11-Aug-2017	The three men arrested on August 9 night by Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Punjab Police had supplied pistols to pro-Khalistan militants for targeted political killings in Punjab. The arrested trio includes cousin of a Canada-based Khalistan separatist leader. The three were identified as Balkar Singh (45), Balwindar Singh (28) and Satyendra Rawat (26) from Dabra, Thatipur and Chinor areas of Gwalior District. According to key sources connected with the joint operation, Balkar was originally a native of Gurdaspur District of Punjab, who had migrated to Gwalior District over three decades back and was primarily engaged in agriculture.Gurmeet Cheema, Balkar’s cousin, operates an outfit Khalsa Sewa Dal (KSD) in Canada, and also has links with the terror outfits Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) which primarily operate from Pakistan.
04-Jun-2017	The Punjab Police arrested three terrorists having direct links with Pakistan's ISI-backed banned terror outfit, International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). The arrested terrorists — Gurdial Singh, Jagroop Singh, and Satwinder Singh — had been trained and tasked by the ISI to carry out terror attacks and target various 'anti-Panth and anti-Sikh forces/individuals' by Pakistan-based ISYF 'chief' Lakhbir Rode and Harmeet Singh alias Happy alias PHD.
04-Jun-2014	Agencies have received fresh inputs about Jagtar Singh Tara of KTF and Lakhvir Singh Rode of ISYF coming together to smuggle in explosives from across the border and provide logistics to target BJP leaders. The agencies have also received fresh information about two groups of 10-15 militants belonging to the KCF planning attacks on PM Narendra Modi and other top leaders of the RSS and BJP. A meeting to target Modi was held recently in Islamabad which was attended by Dr. Khalid Rashid and Mohammad Ghalib from the UK, Azmat Khan from JKLF and Wadhwa Singh of BKI.
16-Feb-2014	The UK in its consolidated list of organizations involved in terror activities or terror financing brought out on February 14, 2014, has named ISYF, HM, Babbar Khalsa and Khalistan Zindabad as organizations that require total financial sanctions.
03-Feb-2014	Khalistani terror groups have now found a new ally in JeM ‘chief’ Maulana Masood Azhar to foment trouble in India and to keep alive their demand for separate statehood. Azhar is leading a campaign along with Khalistanis to target senior BJP leader L.K. Advani, according to an Intelligence Bureau (IB) alert. According to a UMHA secret document, dated October 14, 2013 states that "Pakistan spy agency ISI recently held a meeting of Khalistan militant outfits and asked them to chart a broad outline of their plan". The terror groups that participated in the meeting included BKI ‘chief’ Wadhwa Singh, KZF head Ranjit Singh Neeta, KCF ‘chief’ Paramjit Singh Panjwa, KTF ‘chief’ Jagtar Singh Tara, ISYF ‘chief’ Lakhbir Singh Rode and KLF ‘chief’ Harminder Singh Mintu.
06-Oct-2012	Scotland Yard released nine persons on bail in London who were arrested in connection with the attack on Lieutenant General (retired) Kuldeep Singh Brar. Three men will remain in custody. An extensive fundraising campaign is being undertaken by secessionist Sikh groups in Europe and North America at the instance of Pakistan's ISI to revive terrorism in Punjab. Sources in security agencies have informed about the movement of banned BKI, KCF, ISYF terror groups in western countries to radicalize Sikh youth by showing them doctored footage of Operation Blue Star and other propaganda materials. NIA sources confirmed that BKI still has a large network of sleeper cells across Punjab.
03-Sep-2012	Investigation revealed that the terror outfit, BKI has active support from ISI. It received more than INR 800 million in the last four years to fund its militants. The probe has also revealed that a joint committee is in place to coordinate the activities of major militant organizations in which Gurdial Singh Lalli of ISYF, Resham Singh of BKI and Harmeet Singh of Komagata Maru Dal of Khalistan are the prominent leaders. NIA has initiated a probe into the funding of BKI and is soon going to register a case against it and foreign NGOs under the UAPA and the IPC. According to the investigators, there are other NGOs based in Canada, UK, and Germany who have donated money to BKI’s cause for revival of the Khalistan movement. The agency has found that a chunk of money came via hawala (illegal money transfer), legal bank transfers and human courier.
07-Mar-2010	Sikh militant outfits based abroad are trying to revive terrorism in Punjab and the Government is maintaining a close watch on such outfits, the UMHA said. "Available reports suggest that Sikh militant groups, especially those based abroad, continue to persist with their efforts to revive militancy in Punjab," Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Maken told the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament). "A close watch is maintained on the activities of various groups known to have been engaged in trying to foment terrorist activities in Punjab," he said. He also added that pro-Khalistan terrorist outfits namely BKI, ISYF, KCF and KZF continued to be banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2004
11-Mar-2008	According to Intelligence sources, Pakistan’s ISI is making serious attempts to revive Sikh militancy in India by coordinating and establishing linkages among various terrorist outfits with the Sikh extremist leaders. The ISI activities to this extent have been planned from countries like the US, Canada, Germany, UK, France, Norway, and Belgium, besides Pakistan in the absence of ground support in India. The various terror groups have established nexus among themselves in terms of financial and logistical support, sharing of information and tactical planning. An intelligence input indicated that representatives of BKI, ISYF and LeT met in Berlin on June 2007 and decided that financial support would be extended to the LeT and logistical support to the BKI to carry out terrorist actions in India. Another input indicated that Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) had got in touch with a UK-based organization, Parliamentarians for National Self-Determination (PNSD) for modelling their ‘position paper’ on the pattern of the ‘Sikh Position Paper’.
02-May-2007	Intelligence agencies said that the Pakistan-based LeT and the ISI, Pakistan’s external intelligence agency, are trying to revive militancy in the Indian State of Punjab through sympathizers of the Sikh militant groups like the BKI, the ISYF, KZF, and KCF. The information has been sent to the Punjab Police about the plans to target towns of Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Pathankot region. Instructions have also been given to monitor the activities of sympathizers of BKI-Hawara, ISYF-Rode, KZF- Neeta, and KCF, who are sending funds through hawala to "re-launch their separatist movement".
24-Dec-2006	Three unidentified terrorists belonging to the Rode faction of ISYF were arrested from Jalandhar. Police recovered 11 kilograms of RDX, 11 detonators, four hand grenades, 11 timer devices, two pistols with four magazines, 100 live cartridges, along with a walkie-talkie set from their possession. The explosives recovered were reportedly meant for disrupting the 2007 Assembly elections in Punjab.
23-Dec-2006	The Jalandhar Police arrested Paramjit Singh Dhadi and Amolak Singh of the ISYF. Dhadi was arrested while on en route to his ancestral village Gakhal and Amolak Singh was arrested from an unspecified location along with three kilograms of RDX, a hand grenade, three detonators, and 50 cartridges.
17-Aug-2004	According to the annual report of Union Home Ministry 2003-04, Pakistan continues to provide sanctuary to various Sikh militant groups and the ISI, Pakistan’s external intelligence agency, was exerting pressure on these outfits to revive terrorist activities in Punjab. The report indicated that Pakistan continues to provide sanctuary to leaders of important pro-Khalistan militant outfits like BKI headed by Wadhwa Singh, KCF led by Paramjit Singh Panjwar and ISYF led by Lakhbir Singh Rode. Militant groups like KZF led by Ranjit Singh alias "Neeta" and Dal Khalsa International led by Gajinder Singh also continued to receive sanctuary from Pakistani soil, the report said.
28-Jun-2001	The separatist Sikh leader and Khalistan ideologue Jagjit Singh Chauhan, in Mohali, said that he would remain active for the cause of Khalistan. Chauhan, who returned to India after spending 21 years in exile in the UK, claimed that the undercurrents of the Khalistan movement were very strong there and in other western countries. He added that the urge for Khalistan manifests in the form of protests, conferences, rallies, and demonstrations and also in the form of several pro-Khalistan magazines published in the UK. The Federation of Sikh Organisations, which serves as the platform for different organizations, continues to hold periodic meetings. Chauhan said he had been in touch with various pro-Khalistan groups and terrorist leaders such as the BKI and the ISYF. But he denied having links with groups and terrorist leaders based in Pakistan. He also revealed that he had been in touch with Wassan Singh Zaffarwal after the latter left Pakistan. He said, "We have planned to come to India. Since Zaffarwal decided to follow the illegal route to return, he was able to make it much earlier."
19-Apr-2001	The BKI has dissolved its UK wing following the ban imposed by the British Government on 21 different terrorist organizations, including the ISYF. It was dissolved by Avtar Singh Sanghera, vice-president, BKI. He, however, said the outfit had submitted a memorandum to Jack Straw, British Home Secretary, for lifting the ban. He alleged the ban was imposed at the behest of the Indian Government as both the organizations had wings all over the world.
25-May-1988	Tarsem Singh of BKI claims crores of rupees sent by the ISYF World Sikh Organization and Council of Khalistan to Manochahal and Labh Singh to distribute among the families of killed youth and the November 1984 riots victims was used by them to purchase property in UP.