KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
25-Sep-2023
Around 100 Khalistan supporters demonstrated outside the Indian High Commissioner's office in Ottawa, Canada, where they displayed yellow flags emblazoned with the term ‘Khalistan’ on September 25.
25-Sep-2023
On September 25, Indian diplomatic missions in Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver, Canada, were barricaded and security was increased due to calls for protests by the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). SFJ called for the protests to raise awareness about India's alleged involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and demanded the expulsion of the Indian ambassador to Canada.
25-Sep-2023
According to reports, rivalries among pro-Khalistan gangs in Canada have intensified, resulting in violent clashes and killings, including the recent murder of Sukhdool Singh alias Sukha Duneke. These gangsters often collaborate with pro-Khalistan operatives in Canada, allegedly funded by the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikh For Justice (SFJ), engaging in illegal activities like money laundering, drug trade, and extortion. Despite Indian concerns, the Canadian government has been criticized for not taking substantial action against these elements, with Canada being a safe haven for wanted criminals and sympathizers of the Khalistan movement.
25-Sep-2023
According to sources, Pro-Khalistan elements in Canada, including Hardeep Singh Nijjar, have allegedly been recruiting Punjabi youths through visa sponsorship for low-skilled jobs and religious duties in the gurdwaras they control. Once these youths are in Canada, they are reportedly influenced to support the separatist movement, organize anti-India protests, and participate in radical religious congregations. This human trafficking channel is viewed as an effort to bolster Khalistani support in Canada and has raised concerns about how Canadian agencies handle these pro-Khalistan elements on their soil.
25-Sep-2023
According to a 2018 Canadian report by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP), the Canadian government had been investigating the alleged involvement of Indian intelligence agencies in the country for several years before the death of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. This revelation comes amid the ongoing diplomatic dispute between India and Canada, which was triggered by Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau's claim of a 'potential link' between the Indian government and Nijjar's killing. The report also highlights the strained relations between India and Canada due to the presence of Khalistan movement supporters and the increasing acceptance of anti-India elements under Trudeau's government.
25-Sep-2023
According to a source from an Indian intelligence agency, there are approximately 250 gurdwaras in Canada, with eight reportedly controlled by Khalistani groups, primarily located in Surrey, British Columbia, Brampton, Abbotsford, and certain areas in Toronto. These groups have an estimated 10,000 Sikhs with Khalistani sympathies, including 5,000 hardcore supporters. The Khalistani presence in Canada has been a source of tension in India-Canada relations, with allegations and counter-allegations regarding support for anti-India activities. In Canada, there are several gurdwaras with reported Khalistani influences, including: Guru Nanak Sikh Temple Gurudwara in Surrey, British Columbia Province; Sikh Gurdwaras Council and Dixie Gurudwara in Ontario Province of Canada. Additionally, there are Sikh organizations like the World Sikh Organisation (WSO), which are seen as promoting the Khalistani narrative in Canada and have influential members in various fields, including politics and the judiciary. International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Khalistani Zindabad Force (KZF), Khalistani Liberation Force (KLF), Khalistani Commando Force (KCF), Khalistani Tiger Force (KTF), and Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) are various Khalistani organizations with operatives in Western countries, including Canada.
25-Sep-2023
According to sources, posters threatening harm to Indian diplomats outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, where Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed, have reportedly been removed due to pressure from local authorities. The removal is seen as a gesture to convey a positive message to India amid escalating tensions between Ottawa and New Delhi over Nijjar's murder and allegations made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trudeau alleged a link between Nijjar's killing and the expulsion of an Indian diplomat, leading to diplomatic actions, including expulsions and downsizing of missions by both countries.
25-Sep-2023
According to reports, Khalistani supporters on September 25 shouted anti-India slogans, tore the Indian flag, and even struck a cut-out of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi with shoes during their protest demonstrations, which took place outside the Indian High Commission in Ottawa and the consulates in Toronto and Vancouver, Canada.
25-Sep-2023
A Washington Post report on September 25 featured statements from various witnesses and security camera footage from the gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. The footage revealed that Hardeep Singh Nijjar was targeted with approximately 50 bullets, 34 of which hit him. According to the report, the murder involved a group of at least six individuals and two vehicles. The security footage, spanning 90 seconds, shows Nijjar's gray truck being pursued by a white sedan, which ultimately blocked his path. Two hooded men emerged from the sedan, pointed firearms at Nijjar, and fled the scene after the shooting. Malkit Singh, a Gurdwara committee member, pursued the assailants through a park, describing them as wearing Sikh attire and fleeing in a silver car with three other individuals.
24-Sep-2023
The banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) planned to protest at Indian diplomatic missions in Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver on September 25, denouncing what they perceive as India's involvement in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The protest is expected to be peaceful but could lead to increased security measures and local disruptions near the protest sites.
24-Sep-2023
A joint statement by the Ontario Gurdwaras Committee and the British Columbia Gurdwaras Council urged political parties in Canada to unite against possible foreign interference related to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau's announcement of a potential link between Nijjar's death and the Indian government has sparked investigations and debates. Various political leaders have expressed concerns and called for more information regarding the case.
24-Sep-2023
According to sources, the United States (US) has reportedly provided intelligence assistance to Canada regarding the death of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. However, Canada independently gathered the core intelligence that connects Nijjar's killing to India, specifically intercepting communications of Indian diplomats and officials. This situation places the US in a delicate position as it navigates its relations with its treaty ally, Canada, and its key partner, India, amid diplomatic tensions.
24-Sep-2023
Ujjal Dosanjh, a former Canadian Member of Parliament (MP) and the former Premier of British Columbia, in an interview, expressed concerns about the strained India-Canada relationship. He attributed these tensions to Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau's alleged support for Sikh extremists. Dosanjh also expressed doubts about the Khalistani movement in Canada spilling over into India and emphasized the importance of distinguishing between the Sikh community and separatist elements in Canadian politics.
23-Sep-2023
According to reports, British Columbia (BC) Premier David Eby expressed suspicions that the Canadian federal government is withholding crucial information related to the alleged link between the Indian government and the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He noted frustration after a briefing with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) director due to a lack of concrete information, emphasizing the need for better information sharing between federal and provincial governments.
23-Sep-2023
According to sources, Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was involved in running terrorist training camps, funding terror acts, and engaging in illegal activities such as drug smuggling and extortion in Canada. Nijjar was a close associate of Gurdeep Singh, alias Deepa Heranwala, who was involved in the killing of around 200 people in Punjab during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Nijjar reportedly trained youths at a terror camp in the British Columbia province of Canada and operated as the 'Operation Chief' of the Khalistani terror outfit Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). In 2012, Nijjar visited Pakistan and collaborated with Jagtar Singh Tara, the leader of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), a banned Khalistani terror outfit. Tara provided Nijjar with arms training and instructions on assembling Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) over two years. Nijjar also sent PKR 1 million to Tara during their association.
22-Sep-2023
Canada's Public Safety Minister, Dominic LeBlanc, and Emergency Preparedness Minister, Harjit Sajjan, on September 22 condemned the offensive and hateful video created by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is the chief of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). The video targeted Hindu Canadians, and they both emphasized the importance of safety and inclusion for all.
22-Sep-2023
The Hindu Community of Canada has urged Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau to take strict action against the video's creators and has petitioned the government to recognize Hinduphobia in the Human Rights Code.
22-Sep-2023
Canada-based Punjabi singer AP Dhillon, in a post on Instagram on September 22, criticized the use of social media messages by various political groups to promote divisive agendas. This follows the cancellation of Canada-based Punjabi singer Shubneet Singh’s music concerts in India due to his social media posts displaying a distorted map of India and his alleged support for Khalistan.
22-Sep-2023
According to a recent Ipsos poll, Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau's popularity has declined, with 40 percent of Canadians expressing a preference for opposition leader Pierre Poilievre as Prime Minister. If elections were held today, Poilievre's Conservatives would secure 39 percent of the votes, potentially forming a majority government and displacing Trudeau's Liberal minority government. Trudeau has faced criticism for his handling of Khalistani elements in Canada, which may have contributed to his declining popularity.
21-Sep-2023
Public Safety Canada, the official department responsible for public safety matters, on September 21 condemned an online video in which Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), tells Hindu Canadians to leave the country, deeming it offensive and hateful.
21-Sep-2023
A Canadian official on September 21 revealed that the allegation of India's involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist and the chief of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), Hardeep Singh Nijjar, is based on surveillance of Indian diplomats in Canada and includes intelligence shared by a member of the 'Five Eyes' intelligence-sharing alliance, which comprises the United States (US), Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. However, the Canadian official did not disclose which ally provided the intelligence or offer specific details about the content or source of the communications.
21-Sep-2023
Winnipeg Police Service on September 21 confirmed the death of gangster turned Khalistani terrorist Sukhdool Singh Gill alias Sukha Duneke in Winnipeg in Manitoba province in Canada. According to sources, the murder appears to be a retaliatory act in response to the killing of Gurlal Brar, who was a cousin of the gangster Goldy Brar. Earlier, Punjab gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi-Goldy Brar’s gang had claimed responsibility for the murder.
21-Sep-2023
Gangster Sukhdool Singh alias Sukha Duneke, who was wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his suspected links with pro-Khalistan terrorists, was killed on September 21 in an inter-gang rivalry in Winnipeg, Manitoba province in Canada. He had escaped to Canada in 2017 using forged documents and had a long criminal record with at least 18 cases, including murder and extortion. Duneke was actively involved in managing his gang's activities from abroad, running an extortion racket, and orchestrating targeted killings of rival gang members in Punjab. His name was on the NIA's wanted list, and he had connections to other criminal figures both in Canada and abroad.
21-Sep-2023
Canadian Member of Parliament (MP) Chandra Arya on September 21 condemned targeted attacks on the Hindu community in Canada amid growing diplomatic tensions with India. He also expressed concern about the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikh For Justice’s (SFJ) attempt to provoke Hindu-Canadians and divide communities. Arya emphasized that the majority of the Sikh community in Canada does not support the Khalistan movement. He also criticized the glorification of terrorism and hate crimes in the name of freedom of expression, calling for a strong response against such actions.
20-Sep-2023
Amidst strained diplomatic relations between India and Canada, reports suggest a link between the Khalistan movement and Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). These reports allege that ISI has provided funds in recent months to intensify Khalistani activities in Canada, including financing protests, banners, and inciting anti-India sentiment.