KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
09-Jul-2024
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh on July 9 issued a strong warning against the exploitation of Sikh religious practices by filmmakers for profit. He highlighted a recent incident in Ghaura village near Chandigarh, where a film shoot involving a replica of the Guru Granth Sahib during an Anand Karaj ceremony was interrupted by the local Sikh community. Singh stressed the importance of filmmakers honoring Sikh maryada and traditions. He announced plans to prepare a report addressing the violation and preventing similar incidents in the future.
09-Jul-2024
Four Sikh leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Punjab, including National General Secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa, along with BJP leaders Tejinder Singh Saran, Parminder Brar, and Srinivasulu, received death threats on July 9 through a letter sent to the BJP's office in Chandigarh. The letter contained inflammatory content and slogans supporting Khalistan and Pakistan, demanding that the leaders either resign from the BJP or face fatal consequences. Describing the leaders as "traitors of Sikhism," the letter has prompted the leaders to report the threat to the Chandigarh Police. It also mentions seeking revenge for deaths of "brothers" in Canada and warns BJP ministers to leave Punjab.
09-Jul-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed another chargesheet on July 9 in the Salaya drug seizure case, naming Manoj Kumar Sharma as the 25th accused in connection with the smuggling of 500 kg of heroin from Pakistan into India via Gujarat, before the NIA Special Court in Ahmedabad in Gujarat.
08-Jul-2024
Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, while speaking to the media in Chandigarh on July 8, stated that external pressures are being applied to Balwinder Kaur, mother of jailed radical Khalistani preacher and Lok Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, concerning her comments denying her son's support for Khalistan. Bittu emphasized that Amritpal, having sworn an oath on the Indian Constitution, is expected to prioritize the welfare of the nation and Punjab. Despite this, Amritpal recently expressed pride in the idea of a Khalsa state, revealing a tension between his constitutional commitments and personal convictions.
08-Jul-2024
The Counter Intelligence (CI) wing of the Jalandhar police on July 8 arrested a key assailant and member of the Khalistani terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), identified as Simranjit Bablu, involved in the fatal shooting of former Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan (BTFK) chief Rattandeep Singh, and seized one .32 Webley revolver, a .32 pistol, along with a magazine and 19 cartridges from his possession on the outskirts of Jalandhar city in Jalandhar district. He was arrested after a brief encounter with the police, during which he sustained bullet injuries to his legs while attempting to flee. The police are investigating links to Pakistan-based terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda and US-based gangster Gopi Nawanshehria, who orchestrated the killing.
08-Jul-2024
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Laxmi Kanta Chawla condemned the sword attack on Punjab Shiv Sena leader Sandeep Thapar in Ludhiana, urging against framing the incident as a Hindu-Sikh conflict. The attack occurred on July 5, and the Ludhiana police have since arrested two suspects, Sarabjit Singh and Harjot Singh, while a third suspect, Tahal Singh, remains at large. Meanwhile, Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar criticized the state's deteriorating law and order under Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann's governance.
08-Jul-2024
Punjab Police, on July 8, busted an interstate organized crime syndicate and arrested the kingpin of the gang, identified as Jai Sharma alias Sukha Pistol Ambarsarya, along with four members - Nikhil Sharma alias Lala, Moni, Arpit Thakur, and Karan Sharma and seized two .32 bore pistols, three magazines, and eight live rounds from their possession in Kharar, SAS Nagar district. This marked the first case registered under the new "organized crime" sections of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), which allows for life imprisonment or the death penalty for crimes resulting in death.
08-Jul-2024
The Police on July 8 arrested a man, who allegedly introduced himself as an aide of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and made extortion calls, identified as Sandeep Singh from Kaoni village in Gidderbaha in Sri Muktsar Sahib district. Singh is accused of making extortion calls on July 3 and 4, demanding INR 1 crore and 30 tolas of gold from a local farmer named Amarjit Singh.
07-Jul-2024
On July 7, a violent clash between two rival groups resulted in four deaths and eight injuries in Vithwan village in Batala, Gurdaspur district. The police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) and are conducting further investigations. BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's handling of law and order in the state, highlighting this incident as a reflection of the deteriorating security environment under Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann's administration.
07-Jul-2024
Border Security Forces (BSF) troops on July 7 recovered a Pakistani drone from fields near Wan village in Tarn Taran district. The recovered drone was a China-made DJI Mavic 3 classic model.
07-Jul-2024
Border Security Forces (BSF) troops on July 7 recovered a packet of heroin weighing 250 grams on the outskirts of Rorawala village in Amritsar district.
07-Jul-2024
Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, Giani Harpreet Singh, met with the family of radical Khalistani preacher and Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, the chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD), on July 7 in Amritsar in Amritsar district.
07-Jul-2024
According to sources, the Indian government is set to extend the ban on the Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) for another five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), based on fresh evidence from ongoing National Investigation Agency (NIA) investigations into the group and its chief, Khalistani terrorist Gurupatwant Singh Pannun.
07-Jul-2024
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal, on July 7, congratulated the 10 Sikh Members of Parliament (MPs) elected to the United Kingdom's (UK) House of Commons, urging them to collaborate on promoting Sikhism and combating hate crimes against the community. He highlighted the significant contributions of Sikhs since the first settlers arrived in the UK in 1911, noting that Sikhism is now the fourth largest religious group in the UK.
07-Jul-2024
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on July 7 issued a statement criticizing the Punjab Police for lacking adequate training to handle hate speech against the Sikh community, despite the recent establishment of 28 new cybercrime police stations across Punjab, as announced by Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav. They expressed concerns over the absence of a robust plan to combat hate speech impacting Sikhs.
07-Jul-2024
The police on July 7 arrested three individuals, including a woman, identified as Kuldeep Singh, Harpal Singh alias Kala, and Paramjit Kaur, and seized 1 kg of heroin along with INR 7 lakh in drug money from their possession in Zira, Ferozepur district.
06-Jul-2024
Four days after being shot by the Border Security Force (BSF) on the night of July 1 and 2 near the Sadiqi Border Outpost (BOP) in the Fazilka sector, a Pakistani intruder was buried on July 6 in the Panjpeer graveyard in Abohar, Fazilka district, Punjab. The burial was conducted according to Muslim rituals in the presence of officials from the concerned department. The intruder, whose body was not claimed by Pakistani Rangers, had been killed after illegally crossing into Indian territory.
06-Jul-2024
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami congratulated the four turbaned Sikhs and five Sikh women elected as the United Kingdom's (UK) new Members of Parliament (MPs). They associated this achievement with Punjabi and Sikh pride, recognizing the community's global reputation for hard work and excellence in politics.
06-Jul-2024
According to reports, in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh and Sheikh Abdul Rashid, both imprisoned on serious charges, won seats from the Khadoor Sahib and Baramulla constituencies, respectively, raising concerns about security risks. Amritpal, under the National Security Act (NSA), and Rashid, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), were given limited parole to take their oaths as Members of Parliament (MPs). Terror accused cannot become Members of Parliament (MPs) in the West, but they can in India. Both face potential disqualification under Section 8(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RPA), if convicted.
06-Jul-2024
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab regarding the release of gangster Daljit Bhana during the Jalandhar West bypoll in Punjab. BJP state office secretary Suneel Dutt Bharadwaj claimed that Bhana, involved in various murder cases, has been creating panic among voters by roaming the area with police officials. Bharadwaj urged the EC to cancel Bhana’s parole, fearing he might be used for booth capturing.
06-Jul-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops recovered a packet of heroin weighing 480 grams from fields near Wazirpur Afgana village in Gurdaspur district on July 6.
06-Jul-2024
The police on July 6 arrested one person, identified as Aniket and seized 6 grams of heroin from his possession, in Sangrur in Sangrur district.
06-Jul-2024
The police on July 6 arrested one person, identified as Jarnail and seized 20 kg of poppy husk from his possession, in Sangrur in Sangrur district.
06-Jul-2024
The police on July 6 arrested one person, identified as Sahil and seized 10 strips of intoxicant pills from his possession, in Sangrur in Sangrur district.
06-Jul-2024
According to senior police sources, the preliminary questioning of two Nihangs, identified as Sarabjit and Harjot, arrested for the attack on Shiv Sena leader Sandeep Thapar, revealed that his statements against Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale on social media and public platforms led to the assault. They also disclosed that the Nihangs had long harbored a grudge against Thapar and acted impulsively upon seeing him at the Civil Hospital in Ludhiana. The suspects' cellphones have been sent for forensic examination, and their call details are being analyzed.
06-Jul-2024
Jalandhar rural police arrested a high-profile absconding criminal, Jobanjeet Singh, who was wanted in two separate heroin consignment cases: a 2,988 kg heroin haul seized at Mundra port in Gujarat in 2021 and a 200 kg heroin haul in 2022, and seized one .32 bore pistol and five live rounds from his possession in Jalandhar district. Jobanjeet, along with two other accomplices, Harjinder Singh alias Jinder and Kulwinder Singh alias Kaka, were involved in an extortion attempt demanding INR 50 lakh from Nakodar resident Manpreet Singh. During the investigation, it was revealed that England-based gangsters Jagdeep Singh alias Jagga and Gala, along with Amrik Singh alias Mika, were also involved in orchestrating the extortion plot.
06-Jul-2024
Radical Khalistani preacher and chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD), Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, issued a statement on July 6 from Dibrugarh jail in Assam, where he is held under the National Security Act (NSA), disapproving of remarks made by his mother, Balwinder Kaur, denying his support for Khalistan. Amritpal emphasised his commitment to Khalistan despite his mother's claims to the contrary. He stressed that promoting Khalsa Raj is a matter of pride, aligned with the historical sacrifices of Sikhs, and warned his family against deviating from this path.
05-Jul-2024
Sandeep Thapar, a prominent figure of the Punjab Shiv Sena, was seriously injured after an attack by at least three men dressed as Nihang Sikhs in Ludhiana on July 5. The attackers used kirpans (swords) and escaped on Thapar’s scooter after the altercation. Two of the three attackers, identified as Sarabjit Singh and Harjot Singh, were arrested by the police, while the third, Tehal Singh, remains at large. According to sources, Sandeep was likely attacked due to his outspoken views against Khalistan, anti-national elements, and various local issues.
05-Jul-2024
On July 5, jailed radical Khalistani preacher and chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD) took his oath as a Member of Parliament (MP) in New Delhi. Singh, who is under arrest under the National Security Act (NSA), was flown from Dibrugarh in Assam to New Delhi for his parliamentary oath. Despite his controversial past and statements declaring himself not an Indian citizen, his mother, Balwinder Kaur, insisted he is not a Khalistan supporter but merely advocating for Punjab's youth and fighting against drug issues. Amritpal’s father, Tarsem Singh, stated that his son, now widely recognized for his political and social activism, has transcended family ties to become a son of Punjab and the Sikh community.
05-Jul-2024
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami expressed solidarity on July 5 with radical Khalistani preacher and Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, criticizing the Central and state governments for discriminatory actions against the Sikh community.
05-Jul-2024
The radical Khalistani preacher and Waris Punjab De (WPD) chief, Amritpal Singh, who was granted a four-day parole for his swearing-in as a Member of Parliament (MP), took his oath before Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in Parliament, New Delhi, on July 5. After the ceremony, he met with his father, Tarsem Singh, and two uncles before returning to Dibrugarh Central Jail, where he is currently held under the National Security Act (NSA). Earlier, he had left the high-security jail at 4 am on July 5 and was flown to New Delhi in a special aircraft for the swearing-in ceremony.
05-Jul-2024
Balwinder Kaur, the mother of Khalistani radical preacher and chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD) Amritpal Singh, asserted on July 5 that her son is not a supporter of Khalistan, after he was sworn in as a Member of Parliament (MP) in New Delhi. Amritpal was taken back to Dibrugarh jail in Dibrugarh, Assam after his oath-taking ceremony. Kaur demanded his immediate release to enable him to fulfill the promises made during his election campaign, which focused on issues such as the drug menace and the welfare of Punjab’s youth.
04-Jul-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops and Punjab Police on July 4 recovered a packet of heroin weighing 550 grams from fields near Roranwala Khurd village in Amritsar district. The heroin was wrapped in yellow adhesive tape, and a metal ring along with an illuminating strip was found attached to the packet, indicating it had been dropped by a drone.
04-Jul-2024
Radical Khalistani preacher, chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD), and Member of Parliament (MP) elect from Khadoor Sahib, Amritpal Singh, is set to be brought to New Delhi on July 5 on parole to take his oath as MP. The conditions of his parole specify that he can meet his family but cannot leave New Delhi or make media statements. An eight-member Punjab Police team arrived in Dibrugarh, Assam, to escort him to Delhi for the swearing-in, with plans to transport him on a military aircraft. Amritpal will be escorted back to Dibrugarh jail on the same day, where he is currently held under the National Security Act (NSA).
04-Jul-2024
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 4 arrested a prominent drug peddler, identified as Saktar Singh alias Laddi, as part of a money-laundering investigation linked to drug trafficking, in Tarn Taran district. Singh was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act following searches at about 10 locations in Sheron, Nausheran Pannuan, and Bugha villages of Tarn Taran district, during which some arms and drugs were recovered. The case is based on First Information Reports (FIRs) registered by the Punjab Police and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), revealing Singh's deep involvement in drug trafficking along the India-Pakistan border. The police stated that Singh's family is also implicated in illicit drug sales.
04-Jul-2024
After a group of Akali rebels submitted a joint written apology to the Akal Takht for their role in the Shiromani Akali Dal's (SAD) mistakes, political observers suggested that the SAD needs a complete overhaul with new, energetic leadership. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh has remained silent on the matter, but according to sources, the issue will be discussed by the Five High Priests. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member Kiranjot Kaur and Global Sikh Council representative Gurpreet Singh emphasized the need for fresh, non-controversial leadership and true remorse from the rebels.
03-Jul-2024
Faridkot Member of Parliament (MP) Sarabjit Singh Khalsa on July 3 revealed that jailed radical Khalistani preacher and MP-elect from the Khadoor Sahib parliamentary constituency, Amritpal Singh, has been granted a four-day parole to take the oath as an MP on July 5. After a meeting with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Sarabjit Singh Khalsa disclosed Amritpal's oath-taking plans. Amritpal is currently held at Dibrugarh jail in Assam under the National Security Act (NSA).
03-Jul-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on July 3 recovered a drone along with two pistols, four magazines, and 40 rounds of Pakistan-made bullets near Nissoke village in Ajnala, Amritsar district. The recovered drone was a China-made DJI Matrice 300 RTK.
03-Jul-2024
Amritsar Rural Police on July 3 arrested a drug peddler identified as Jatin Singh and seized 2.5 kg of heroin from his possession near Maude village in Amritsar district. During the investigation, two more suspects, Sajan Singh and Daler Singh, were identified, and raids are underway to arrest them.
03-Jul-2024
Multiple media outlets on July 3 reported that Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) constable Kulwinder Kaur, who had slapped actress and Member of Parliament (MP) Kangana Ranaut at Chandigarh Airport on June 6, 2023, was reinstated and transferred to Bengaluru in Karnataka. However, CISF sources confirmed she remains suspended pending a departmental inquiry.
03-Jul-2024
According to reports, in the past week, Bathinda district witnessed the deaths of five youths due to drug overdoses.
03-Jul-2024
Senior police officers from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh (HP), and Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), along with the Border Security Force (BSF) and central agencies, held a high-level meeting in Pathankot, Punjab, on July 3. The meeting focused on reviewing and improving security arrangements for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra, which commenced on June 29 and will conclude on August 19. Despite recent hoax reports of suspicious activities near Pathankot, a high alert remains in place.
02-Jul-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on July 2 issued a public notice announcing a cash reward of INR 10 lakh each for designated terrorist Goldy Brar and gangster Gurpreet Singh, both wanted in a case of extortion and firing at a businessman's house in Chandigarh. Goldy Brar, a key accused in the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala and an affiliate of Lawrence Bishnoi's gang, is suspected to be based in Canada or the United States (US). The NIA assured the anonymity of anyone providing information leading to their arrest.
02-Jul-2024
The Counter Intelligence (CI) wing of the police, on July 2, arrested three drug smugglers identified as Rasal Singh, Jaskaran Singh, and Amritpal Singh, and seized 5 kg of heroin from their possession in Amritsar district. The suspects were allegedly in direct contact with Pakistan-based drug smugglers, having retrieved the consignment via drone.
02-Jul-2024
The Amritsar Commissionerate Police on July 2 busted a trans-border narcotic smuggling network and arrested a drug smuggler identified as Lakhwinder Singh alias Lakha, seizing 5 kg of heroin and a motorcycle from his possession near Amritsar in Amritsar district. Acting on reliable inputs, police teams arrested him while he was en route from Khemkaran to deliver the consignment in Amritsar. Lakha was in direct contact with a Pakistan-based drug smuggler named Ali and was actively involved in drug trafficking, using drones to transport drug consignments from Pakistan.
02-Jul-2024
Nurpur Police on July 2 issued an alert after two individuals in Border Security Force (BSF) uniforms were spotted near the Nangal area in Rupnagar district of Punjab, in Nurpur in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh (HP). The alert, issued by Nurpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Ashok Rattan, instructs all district check posts to monitor for the suspects.
02-Jul-2024
The Punjab government has sent an application to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla regarding the swearing-in of Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) elect and Khalistani preacher, and the chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD), Amritpal Singh, who is currently held under the National Security Act (NSA) in Dibrugarh jail in Assam until 2025. An application for parole was initially submitted to the Amritsar District Commissioner (DC) due to the NSA case against Amritpal in Amritsar, Punjab. This application was forwarded to the Punjab Home Department and then to the Lok Sabha Speaker. Amritpal, who won the Lok Sabha seat from jail, must take the oath within 60 days to retain his membership.
01-Jul-2024
A group of dissident leaders from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) approached the Akal Takht Sahib in Amritsar on July 1, seeking atonement for four major 'mistakes' they believe led to the party's decline between 2007 and 2017. These included the mishandling of sacrilege cases and controversial decisions by party president Sukhbir Singh Badal. The party has faced continuous electoral losses since 2017, with recent rifts further weakening its position. Political commentator Harjeshwar Singh cited additional factors, such as the party's stance on farm laws and the rise of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), as contributing to its downfall.
01-Jul-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on July 1 foiled an infiltration attempt by neutralizing a Pakistani intruder near Sadarpura village in Abohar, Fazilka district. The intruder, after being spotted, ignored warnings and continued towards the security fence, prompting BSF troops to fire. The BSF stated that this action thwarted the plans of cross-border terror syndicates, maintaining a high alert at the border.
01-Jul-2024
Radical Khalistani preacher and chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD), Amritpal Singh, who won the Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha seat in Punjab, is set to take his oath as a Member of Parliament (MP) after approval was granted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Singh, currently in Assam’s Dibrugarh Jail, won as an independent candidate by over 4 lakh votes and faces 12 cases, including charges involving illegal weapons. His arrest under the National Security Act (NSA) was extended by one year.