KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
08-Jun-2024
Indian-origin Canadian Member of Parliament (MP) Chandra Arya condemned the depiction of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination in a float by Khalistani supporters via a statement on social media site X on June 8. He called on Canadian law enforcement to take immediate action, stating that such actions are meant to instill fear among Hindu-Canadians. Arya emphasized that the portrayal of Gandhi with bullet holes and her bodyguards as assassins is part of ongoing threats, urging Canadian law enforcement to take immediate action.
07-Jun-2024
Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic Leblanc, in a statement on social media site X on June 7 condemned the promotion of violence following the display of posters depicting the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister (PM) Indira Gandhi by Khalistani supporters in Vancouver in Canada.
07-Jun-2024
On June 7, a Ludhiana man identified as Yuvraj Goyal was shot dead in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. The police subsequently arrested four persons, identified as Manvir Basra, Sahib Basra, Harkirat Jhutty, and Keilon Francois, in connection with the murder. The Canadian police suspect it was a case of mistaken identity.
06-Jun-2024
Pro-Khalistan supporters held protests at the Indian Consulate in Vancouver, Canada, on June 6, to mark the 40th anniversary of Operation Blue Star. The protest featured a float depicting the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and was organized by the banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ).
04-Jun-2024
According to sources, Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, was the target of a failed assassination plot by the Indian government at a wedding in Canada.
03-Jun-2024
According to sources, Amandeep Singh's arrest on November 3, 2023, in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, came just one day before a wedding attended by key Khalistani supporters. Singh was charged in connection with the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The wedding, held at a Brampton gurdwara, included many individuals on India's Sikh enemies list, including U.S.-Canadian citizen and Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who ultimately did not attend due to security concerns.
02-Jun-2024
The banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), led by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, called for a "lockdown" of India's High Commission in Ottawa and its consulates in Vancouver and Toronto in Canada on June 6, the 40th anniversary of Operation Bluestar.
01-Jun-2024
On June 1, the New Democratic Party (NDP) of Canada announced plans to seek official recognition of the "Sikh genocide" in November 2024, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the anti-Sikh riots in India following Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination.
28-May-2024
Canadian journalist and author Terry Milewski recently joined Harrison Faulkner on The Faulkner Show to discuss the Khalistan movement's significant influence on Canadian politics. Milewski, who has studied the movement since the 1980s and authored Blood for Blood: 50 Years of the Global Khalistan Movement, explained how Khalistani activists have leveraged political power to promote anti-India sentiment in Canada.
24-May-2024
According to reports, Canada’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has informed the Indian High Commission about the arrest of four Indian nationals in connection with the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The arrested men—Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh, Karanpreet Singh, and Amandeep Singh—have been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. While IHIT has provided the men with legal counsel, it is up to them if they wish to speak to Indian authorities.
23-May-2024
According to a CBC News report, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has warned Hardeep Malik, son of Ripudaman Singh Malik who was acquitted in connection with the Air India bombing of 1985, about potential threats to his life following Ripudaman's murder in 2022. The RCMP is investigating possible Indian government involvement in Ripudaman's assassination, similar to allegations in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Despite these suspicions, India denies any involvement, and conclusive evidence remains lacking.
21-May-2024
Three Indian nationals, identified as Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karanpreet Singh, accused of killing Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar appeared in person for the first time in the British Columbia (BC) Provincial Court in Surrey, Canada on May 21. A fourth accused, Amandeep Singh, appeared via video link. The judge ordered them to have no contact with several community members.
21-May-2024
On May 21, three Indian nationals, Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh, and Amandeep Singh, accused of killing Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, appeared in a Canadian court in Surrey, British Columbia. Outside the courthouse, hundreds of pro-Khalistan supporters carrying Khalistan flags and chanting slogans demonstrated.
15-May-2024
On May 15, Amandeep Singh, the fourth accused in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, made his first appearance in a provincial court in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. Singh, already in custody in Ontario on unrelated firearms charges, appeared virtually as a crowd gathered outside to protest India's alleged involvement in Nijjar's death.
14-May-2024
The three Indian nationals, Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karanpreet Singh, accused of killing Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, made their first video appearance in a Canadian court facing homicide charges in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. The court session attracted hundreds of Khalistan supporters, who protested with slogans and placards blaming the Indian government for Nijjar's death. Brar and Karanpreet Singh are set to appear again on May 21, while a new date for Kamalpreet Singh's appearance is pending as he is seeking legal representation.
13-May-2024
According to sources, the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was likely due to gang rivalry among Khalistani groups, rather than Indian involvement. This conflict involved Khalistani terror outfits such as the Khalistani Tiger Force (KTF), Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), and Dashmesh Gurudwara Surrey, all reportedly receiving support from Pakistan. Sources also suggest that Pakistani groups spread false propaganda blaming India for Nijjar's death.
12-May-2024
In Canada, Punjabi gangs have become intertwined with pro-Khalistan groups, collaborating to eliminate opponents and seize control of Gurdwaras. This alliance, rooted in the 1990s, saw figures like Bhupinder Singh Johal, alias Bindy, rise to prominence, triggering violent conflicts within the Sikh community. Law enforcement passivity has allowed pro-Khalistan groups to leverage Punjabi organized crime syndicates effectively. Gangs like Los Diablos, led by the Dosanjh brothers, have provided disaffected youth with empowerment, rooted in protest cultures. Meanwhile, neo-fundamentalists, spearheaded by Talwinder Singh Parmar, targeted liberal opponents, fueling further violence. Moderates' attempts to reclaim Gurdwaras often escalated tensions, with gangsters recruited to support various factions. Recent assassinations in Canada highlight the enduring challenge of gang violence and its deep-seated presence in the Punjabi community. The still unresolved assassinations of Tara Singh Hayer and Tarsem Singh Purewal, connected to the Air India Flight 182 bombing, underscore the intricate nexus between gangs and political violence.
11-May-2024
On May 11, members of the Sikh community held the annual Nagar Kirtan Parade to celebrate Vaisakhi, drawing over 100,000 attendees in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The event witnessed a notable presence of Khalistani separatist elements, who waved Khalistan flags in the presence of Calgary police.
11-May-2024
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team of Canada's British Columbia (BC) province on May 11 arrested a fourth suspect, identified as Amandeep Singh, in connection with the June 2023 killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Peel, Ontario province, Canada. Amandeep, an Indian national, was apprehended while already in custody of Peel Regional Police in Ontario on unrelated firearms charges.
09-May-2024
According to a report, one of the suspects in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Karan Brar, reportedly entered Canada on a 'study permit' obtained within days through EthicWorks Immigration Services in Bathinda in Punjab.
08-May-2024
Canada's former Defence Minister and current Minister of Emergency Preparedness, Harjit Singh Sajjan, in an interview with CPAC in Toronto on May 8, dismissed recent allegations suggesting that Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau was coerced to meet Sikh activists during his 2018 trip to Punjab, India, as "not accurate." He emphasized the prevalence of misinformation and disinformation concerning individuals in Canada, including himself and his family.
07-May-2024
On May 7, three Indian nationals, Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karanpreet Singh, accused of killing Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, appeared in a Canadian court for the first time via video, facing homicide charges in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. The court appearance drew hundreds of Khalistan supporters.
07-May-2024
A report by Al Jazeera suggests that the recent arrests in the killing of Canadian Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar have been welcomed by Sikh leaders in North America, but concerns persist over allegations of Indian government involvement. While there is some relief over the arrests, questions regarding India's role continue to unsettle the Sikh community, which represents the largest Sikh diaspora outside India.
07-May-2024
Indian envoy to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma, speaking at the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations (MCFR) in Canada on May 7, stated that Khalistani advocates for separation from India are crossing a crucial red line, marking it as a national security concern. Verma emphasized that India's destiny is to be decided by its citizens, not by foreigners, in his address.
05-May-2024
On May 5, pro-Khalistan elements in Canada sparked controversy by organizing a 6-km parade in Malton, Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Ontario, featuring separatist slogans targeting India. The parade included a float depicting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi behind bars. Inflammatory speeches were reportedly delivered by individuals such as Paramjit Mand of the Dal Khalsa and Avtar Singh Pannun, identified as a terrorist by Indian security agencies. Ontario Premier Doug Ford also attended the event.