KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
08-Jun-2026
According to police records, Punjab’s border districts are witnessing a worrying rise in the involvement of juveniles in cross-border drug and arms smuggling. Over the past 14 months, 54 juveniles have been arrested — 32 in drug-related cases and 22 under the Arms Act — prompting security agencies to raise concerns. The warning came days after Amritsar Police arrested two minors and recovered five Pakistan-origin weapons and heroin from their possession. Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar described the trend as “very alarming,” noting that juveniles had been involved at some stage in many of the cross-border drug and arms trafficking networks dismantled over the past year. He cited a recent case involving six arrests, including an Afghan national, where the investigation began with the apprehension of two juveniles carrying sophisticated pistols. A senior official of the Border Security Force (BSF) said Pakistani traffickers were increasingly directing their Indian associates to recruit teenagers, as they often lack criminal records and attract less scrutiny from security agencies. The official also noted that juveniles are subject to different legal provisions under India’s juvenile justice framework, making them attractive recruits for smuggling networks.
08-Jun-2026
On June 8, Punjab Police, on day 464 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 81 drug smugglers, and seized 373 grams of heroin, 2.2 kilograms of ganja, 256 intoxicant pills, and INR 792000 in drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
08-Jun-2026
The Amritsar Police on June 8 arrested four persons, including an Afghan national, and recovered eight sophisticated pistols and seven live cartridges while dismantling a cross-border drug, arms smuggling, and hawala network in Amritsar district. Preliminary investigations indicate that the accused were in contact with a foreign-based smuggler who supplied illegal weapons through concealed drop locations. Police said the firearms were intended for criminal and gangster networks operating in Punjab and were being distributed through a well-organised supply chain. Investigators suspect the operation was linked to both arms trafficking and hawala transactions, pointing to the involvement of an international criminal syndicate.
08-Jun-2026
According to data compiled by Punjab Police and central security agencies, more than 40 per cent of the 128 Pakistani drug smugglers on a watch list for trafficking narcotics into Punjab are based in Lahore and Kasur districts of Punjab province in Pakistan. A police dossier identifies the two border districts as key hubs for narcotics smuggling into northern India, listing 27 suspected smugglers from Lahore and 26 from Kasur. The assessment indicates that these networks use a combination of drone drops, cross-border land routes, and container shipments to traffic heroin and other contraband into India.
07-Jun-2026
On June 7, the 138th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangstran Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahar— the police conducted 541 raids, arrested 281 persons and recovered 11 weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 74 individuals, while 20 persons were verified and released after questioning. Two proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
07-Jun-2026
On June 7, Punjab Police, on day 463 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 66 drug smugglers, and seized 2.3 kg of heroin, 279 intoxicant pills and INR 3450 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
07-Jun-2026
Punjab Police's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), in a joint operation with the Jammu and Kashmir Police, on June 7 arrested two alleged shooters, identified as Vishnu Kumar and Rahul Mahawar, in connection with the June 1 killing of a shopkeeper in Makhu, Ferozepur district of Punjab and recovered a .30-bore Beretta pistol along with 10 live cartridges from their possession, in Jammu and Kashmir. Preliminary investigations revealed that Vishnu Kumar has a criminal history involving extortion, robbery, theft, and Arms Act violations. He was also carrying a reward of INR 10,000 announced by the Rajasthan Police.
06-Jun-2026
An assailant accused of snatching a self-loading rifle (SLR) from a Punjab Armed Police (PAP) trooper on May 30, identified as Shamsher Singh, was injured in an encounter with Fazilka Police near the Ladhuka seepage drain area in Fazilka district on June 6. The snatched weapon was recovered from his possession. According to official sources, the accused allegedly opened fire when a police team reached the spot. In the ensuing exchange of fire, he sustained a bullet injury to his leg.
06-Jun-2026
Protesters gathered in front of the Akal Takht within the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar and displayed posters of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale while raising pro-Khalistan slogans during the 42nd anniversary of Operation Blue Star.
06-Jun-2026
Speaking on the 42nd anniversary of Operation Blue Star in Amritsar, acting Akal Takht Jathedar Kuldeep Singh Gargaj urged the Sikh community to remain united and stay connected to its roots in Punjab. He also expressed concern over what he described as increasing attempts to target Sikh identity and religious symbols globally.
06-Jun-2026
On June 6, the 137th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangstran Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahar— the police arrested 320 persons and recovered eight weapons from their possession. Seven proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
05-Jun-2026
According to report, a fresh controversy has erupted within Sikh circles over the venue of the annual commemoration of the June 1984 Operation Bluestar, with Shiromani Akali Dal-SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann and Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhuma publicly exchanging sharp remarks. The dispute centres on the annual June 6 observance held at the Damdami Taksal headquarters in Mehta Chowk. Mann argued that the commemoration should be held exclusively at the Akal Takht, where Sikhs from across the world gather to mark the anniversary. He suggested that the Mehta Chowk programme be held on June 7 instead, adding that he would have no objection to such an arrangement. Mann also criticised Dhuma for participating in Hindu religious rituals, including bathing in the Ganges and offering prayers at a Shivling.
05-Jun-2026
On the 42nd anniversary of Operation Blue Star on June 6, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj will felicitate the families of those killed during the operation. With a large number of devotees and visitors expected to gather in the holy city to mark the anniversary, authorities maintained a high level of vigilance and security.
05-Jun-2026
A joint team of the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Punjab Special Task Force (STF) on June 5 arrested a youth, identified as Mohtseem, in connection with the 2021 Punjab bomb blast case during a raid in Bachiti village under the Deoband Kotwali area of Saharanpur district, Uttar Pradesh (UP). Investigators said the accused had emerged in a suspected network linked to the Pakistan-backed terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed, and the ATS reportedly obtained evidence indicating his association with the outfit.
05-Jun-2026
On June 5, the 136th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangstran Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahar— the police conducted 548 raids, arrested 295 persons and recovered one weapon from their possession. Seven proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
05-Jun-2026
On June 5, Punjab Police, on day 461 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 91 drug smugglers, and seized 1.1 kg of heroin, 476 intoxicant pills, and INR 5,100 in drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
05-Jun-2026
Amritsar Police on June 5 busted a cross-border drug and weapons smuggling module and arrested six persons, including an Afghan national, Baz Mohammad, along with Ankush Barthwal, Des Raj alias Vicky, Rajandeep Singh alias Raja, and two juveniles and recovered 1.035 kilograms of heroin, five sophisticated pistols, two live cartridges, and INR 500,000 in suspected drug proceeds during the operation in Amritsar District. Preliminary investigations indicated that the accused were acting in collusion with foreign-based associates and procuring illegal arms and narcotics through contacts established on social media platforms. The consignments were allegedly distributed on the instructions of overseas handlers through a network operating across the Majha and Doaba regions.
04-Jun-2026
On June 4, Police busted an eight-member drug trafficking gang and arrested two members, including Sukhdev Singh alias Kala, during an operation at a closed petrol pump on the old bypass in Tarn Taran district.
04-Jun-2026
On June 4, five prominent temples in Punjab—the Durgiana Temple, Mukteshwar Dham Temple, Devi Talab Mandir, Maisar Khana Temple, and Mata Kali Temple—received bomb threat emails days ahead of the 42nd anniversary of Operation Blue Star. The threats prompted Punjab Police and intelligence agencies to remain on maximum alert amid heightened security arrangements already in place for the anniversary period.
04-Jun-2026
On June 4, a special NIA court in Mohali sentenced three students from Awantipora in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir—Zahid Gulzar, Yasir Rafiq Bhat, and Mohammed Idris Shah—to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in a 2018 case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The court found them guilty of criminal conspiracy, UAPA offences, and violations of the Explosives Act. The three had remained in judicial custody since their arrest on October 10, 2018. According to the prosecution, the accused were associated with the terrorist outfit Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH) and were allegedly planning unlawful activities. Investigators further alleged that they had been receiving funds to advance the organization’s activities and were attempting to recruit other students from the institution into the group. The case originated from the recovery of arms, ammunition, and explosives during a police raid on the hostel of CT Institution’s Shahpur campus in Jalandhar on October 10, 2018. Investigations revealed that Yasir Rafiq Bhat, a relative of slain militant commander Zakir Musa, allegedly played a key role in procuring explosive material and motivating Kashmiri students at the institution to join the outfit and participate in its unlawful activities. The court, however, acquitted Suhail Ahmed Bhat, holding that the prosecution had failed to establish the charges against him.