KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
05-Apr-2026
Punjab Police on April 5 foiled an Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-backed module allegedly planning grenade attacks on police establishments across Punjab and other states by arresting three persons—Sarabjit Singh, Bikramjit Singh, and Amandeep Singh—and recovering two hand grenades and a Glock pistol from separate locations in Punjab and Gujarat. Preliminary investigations revealed that the module was involved in systematically targeting police establishments across multiple states. Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said the grenades bore markings of POF (Pakistan Ordnance Factory), indicating cross-border linkages. State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) teams arrested Sarabjit Singh and Amandeep Singh, recovering grenades and a pistol from them. During the probe, Bikramjit Singh—identified as the key operative and primary contact of Pakistan-based intelligence operatives—was traced to Deesa in Gujarat, from where he was operating.
04-Apr-2026
The State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) of Punjab Police on April 4 arrested a man, identified as Sarabjit Singh and recovered two hand grenades, two pistols, and two magazines from his possession, in Amritsar district. Preliminary investigations revealed that the explosives were intended to target police and other vital installations. Police sources said Sarabjit, a former daily wager, came into contact with heroin smugglers around three years ago and gradually became involved in trafficking drugs, illegal arms, and explosives smuggled from Pakistan using drones.
04-Apr-2026
Faridkot Police have named Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) district vice-president Amit Kumar Sharma alias Mishra in a case involving the recovery of a foreign-made pistol and ammunition. The investigation links him to associates of the Goldy Brar gang, and police have launched multiple raids to apprehend him. In response, Sharma filed an anticipatory bail plea in the district court, with the hearing scheduled for April 10. Police officials said the probe has revealed deep-rooted links between the BJP leader and the criminal network.
04-Apr-2026
On April 4, the 74th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 551 raids, arrested 245 persons and recovered four weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 69 individuals, while 72 persons were verified and released after questioning. Three proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
04-Apr-2026
On April 4, Punjab Police, on day 399 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 118 drug smugglers, and seized 3.7 kg of heroin, 3.7 kg of ganja, 934 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 7120 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
04-Apr-2026
Chandigarh Police and the Counter Intelligence wing of Punjab Police on April 4 arrested five accused—Balwinder Lal alias Shami, Jasvir Singh alias Jassi, Charanjit Singh alias Channi, Rubal Chauhan, and Mandeep alias Abhijot Sharma and seized a live hand grenade, a .30 bore Zigana pistol, and 10 cartridges were seized from their possession, in connection with the April 1 grenade blast outside the BJP office in Sector 37, Chandigarh. Two key accused, Gurtej Singh and Amanpreet Singh, remain absconding, with joint police teams conducting raids to apprehend them. According to Chandigarh Director General of Police (DGP) Dr. Sagar Preet Hooda and Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav, preliminary investigations indicate the attack was carried out by an Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-backed module under the direction of foreign-based handlers in Portugal and Germany.
03-Apr-2026
Punjab Police on April 3 busted an illegal arms smuggling network, arresting Suraj Kumar and recovering five pistols and four cartridges from his possession, in Patara, Jalandhar district. Preliminary investigations revealed that he, along with associate Davinderpal Singh alias Deepu and other gang members, procured illegal arms from Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura region and supplied them across Jalandhar and nearby areas.
03-Apr-2026
On April 3, the 73rd day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 483 raids, arrested 198 persons and recovered 13 weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 72 individuals, while 106 persons were verified and released after questioning. Five proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
03-Apr-2026
On April 3, Punjab Police, on day 398 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 98 drug smugglers, and seized 6.3 kg of heroin, 700 grams of opium, 3.5 kg of poppy husk, 421 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 8400 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
03-Apr-2026
Amritsar Rural Police on April 3 foiled a terror plot by arresting a suspect, identified as Harman Singh and recovering a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) from his possession in the Ramdas area of Amritsar district. The device is suspected to have been dropped on the Indian side by Pakistan-based handlers using a drone. Police said the accused is being interrogated to identify his network and handlers, with central intelligence agencies also likely to question him. Preliminary investigations revealed multiple Pakistani mobile numbers on his phone, indicating contact with Pakistan-based operatives through internet-based calling platforms.
03-Apr-2026
The Border Security Force (BSF) on April 3 recovered a drone carrying a suspected heroin packet from fields near the Ravi River in Gurdaspur district. The recovery was made near the BSF Chowki at Bharyal following a specific tip-off, indicating an attempt to smuggle narcotics across the border.
03-Apr-2026
The Counter Intelligence wing of Punjab Police on April 3 raided the houses of two suspects in Rattangarh village in the Morinda area of Ropar district in connection with the April 1 blast outside the BJP office in Chandigarh. While police did not officially confirm any arrests, family members claimed that Amanpreet Singh was detained. The main accused, Gurtej Singh, was not found during the raid.
03-Apr-2026
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charge sheeted two accused, including Pakistani gangster Shehzad Bhatti, in connection with the of March 16, 2025 grenade attack at YouTuber Roger Sandhu’s house in Jalandhar district. Having taken over the case from Punjab Police in December 2025, the NIA named Bhatti as an absconder in a supplementary chargesheet filed before a special court. The second accused, Dipander Pratap Singh alias Deepan Rana, has been arrested.
02-Apr-2026
An alleged member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, Rajpal Singh Chandrawat, surrendered before Madhya Pradesh Police on April 2 in an extortion case carried out in the name of key operative Harry Boxer, in Madhya Pradesh. A resident of Nagda, he surrendered a month after the case was registered at Kasrawad police station in Khargone district on a complaint by cotton trader Dilip Rathore.
02-Apr-2026
On April 2, the 72nd day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 483 raids, arrested 184 persons and recovered five weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 87 individuals, while 125 persons were verified and released after questioning. Five proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
02-Apr-2026
On April 2, Punjab Police, on day 397 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 89 drug smugglers, and seized 1.3 kg of heroin, 2.6 kg of opium, 34 kg of poppy husk, 853 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 3050 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
02-Apr-2026
Patiala Police on April 2 busted an inter-state illegal arms supply module, arresting four alleged gangsters and recovering 10 pistols, including sophisticated self-loading firearms, in Patiala district. Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused sourced country-made weapons from Bihar for supply in Punjab. The probe also indicated gang rivalry, with plans to target a rival linked to the Goldy Dhillon network to assert dominance in the area.
02-Apr-2026
On April 2, unidentified assailants opened fire on a car carrying Timowal village sarpanch Ravinder Kaur, her husband Sukhdev Singh, and three associates in the Jandiala Guru area of Amritsar district. One occupant sustained serious bullet injuries. Around seven motorcycle-borne attackers intercepted the vehicle and fired multiple rounds before fleeing the spot.
01-Apr-2026
Several individuals were detained for questioning after a low-intensity blast outside the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Sector 37 in Chandigarh on April 1.
01-Apr-2026
On the night of April 1, two unidentified assailants fired five rounds at the office of property dealer Sukhdarshan Singh in Hoshiarpur village near Mullanpur Garibdas, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district. He had reportedly received an extortion call of INR 1 crore from a member of the Lucky Patial gang.
01-Apr-2026
On April 1, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the vandalism of Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s statue at Noorpur Jattan village in Hoshiarpur district on March 31. Police have launched an investigation and are examining mobile phone location data to trace the suspects, with multiple teams deployed to apprehend the accused.
01-Apr-2026
A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on April 1 visited the Bhindi Saida police station in Amritsar district, where a blast had occurred on March 30. The team inspected the site and interacted with senior police officials, who stated that the exact nature and cause of the explosion would be determined only after the forensic examination reports are received.
01-Apr-2026
The Delhi Mayor’s office on April 1 received a bomb threat email containing alarming phrases such as “Delhi Banayga Khalistan,” “Bomb Dhamaka yan,” and “Gaddi Aatmaghati Hamla.” The message threatened an explosion at 2:11 pm and named Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar as adversaries of the Khalistan movement, while also referencing the “Khalistan National Army.”
01-Apr-2026
On April 1, a low-intensity explosion was reported outside the Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in Sector 37, Chandigarh. No casualties were reported, but the incident raised security concerns, prompting an investigation by agencies including the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kanwardeep Kaur said that, prima facie, a small crude device appeared to have been thrown towards the building. BJP leader Vineet Joshi, who was inside at the time, said a blast was heard around 5 pm in the parking area. Eyewitnesses indicated that the device was likely meant to be hurled inside the premises but missed its target and landed on a nearby sand stack. Meanwhile, the banned terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) has claimed responsibility for the attack. In a message released in Punjabi, Sukhjinder Singh Babbar warned that violence against Punjab’s youth would be met with retaliation, stating that the blast was carried out in response to the encounter of Ranjit Singh in Gurdaspur. According to Chandigarh Police, a viral video by the same group showing a person pulling the lever of a grenade appears to be authentic, though further clarity will emerge after a detailed investigation.
31-Mar-2026
On March 31, the 70th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 521 raids, arrested 214 persons. Preventive action was taken against 70 individuals, while 126 persons were verified and released after questioning. Three proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
31-Mar-2026
On March 31, Punjab Police, on day 395 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 85 drug smugglers, and seized 3.2 kg of heroin, 586 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 21,780 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
31-Mar-2026
Khalchian Police on March 31 busted an alleged drug trafficking gang by arresting three persons and seizing 2 kg of heroin during a naka near the grain market on the Kaleke–Khalchian road in Amritsar district.
31-Mar-2026
Police on March 31 recovered an abandoned packet wrapped in yellow tape containing 400 grams of heroin from sugarcane fields in Tur village, Amritsar district.
31-Mar-2026
Police on March 31 arrested a youth, identified as Manmeet Singh and recovered 998 grams of heroin along with a mobile phone from his possession in Amritsar district.
31-Mar-2026
Five accused were arrested while attempting to retrieve 20 packets of heroin dropped by a Pakistani drone in Sriganganagar district in Rajasthan on March 31. Interrogation revealed that a previous drop in February involved 12 kg of heroin, which was subsequently delivered to Punjab. Authorities seized 20 packets of heroin weighing 10.83 kg, along with radium sticks, packing tape, and a motorcycle used in the earlier operation.
31-Mar-2026
Punjab Police on March 31 arrested a woman drug peddler, identified as Rajbeer Kaur and seized 3.115 kg of heroin along with INR 11.5 lakh in drug money from her in Zira, Ferozepur district.
31-Mar-2026
A statue of Dr B.R. Ambedkar installed atop a private building was vandalized by unidentified miscreants in Noorpur Jattan village, Hoshiarpur district on March 31. The glass casing was smashed and the bust was damaged with hammers. The statue had earlier been targeted in June 2025, after which it was enclosed in glass for protection. Subsequently, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), released a video claiming responsibility. In the video, he termed the act a “referendum on Ambedkar” and alleged that the Constitution drafted by him erased Sikh identity. He also warned of similar incidents between Ambedkar’s birth anniversary on April 14 and April 29, when he claimed voter registration for a “Khalistan referendum” would begin.
31-Mar-2026
On March 31, a poster went viral on social media claiming responsibility for the March 30 blast inside a police station complex in the Bhindi Saida area of Amritsar district, in the name of a Khalistani outfit, the Khalistan Liberation Army (KLA). The poster, widely circulated on WhatsApp and other platforms, stated that the attack was carried out to avenge the killing of 19-year-old Ranjit Singh, a suspect in the February 22 murder of two policemen in Gurdaspur district. Security officials had earlier said the killings were carried out at the behest of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Ranjit Singh was later killed in a police encounter, which his family alleged was fake.
31-Mar-2026
On the night of March 31, unidentified persons fired multiple rounds outside a house in Sialka village under Mattewal police station in Amritsar district. A case has been registered, but the assailants remain unidentified, triggering panic among the family members.
30-Mar-2026
On March 30, the 69th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 455 raids, arrested 162 persons and recovered one weapon from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 54 individuals, while 107 persons were verified and released after questioning. Four proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
30-Mar-2026
On March 30, Punjab Police, on day 394 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 91 drug smugglers, and seized 837 grams of heroin, 2.6 kg of opium, 198 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 2500 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
30-Mar-2026
On March 30, a day ahead of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s scheduled visit, several institutions received bomb threat emails in Nangal town, Rupnagar district. The emails, allegedly sent in the name of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), threatened to blow up the Nangal court complex and certain banks in the city.
30-Mar-2026
A minor blast occurred inside a police station complex in the Bhindi Saida area under Amritsar (Rural) in Amritsar district on the morning of March 30. According to reports, two unidentified bikers hurled an explosive object into the premises before fleeing. Officials initially denied the incident and cordoned off the premises, restricting access to media persons. Deputy Superintendent of Police Gurinderpal Singh Nagra later stated that the exact nature of the explosion would be determined after a forensic examination, adding that teams had arrived to collect evidence.
29-Mar-2026
On March 29, the 68th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 508 raids, arrested 188 persons and recovered three weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 95 individuals, while 99 persons were verified and released after questioning. Three proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
29-Mar-2026
On March 29, Punjab Police, on day 393 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 112 drug smugglers, and seized 463 grams of heroin, 1.2 kg of opium, 471 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 62,400 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
29-Mar-2026
Commissionerate Police Amritsar on March 29 foiled an illegal arms smuggling attempt, seizing two 9 mm sub-machine guns and an empty magazine during a naka-bandi operation in Amritsar district. The recovery was made during routine checking after suspicious movement led to the interception of the consignment. The accused, however, managed to escape, and a manhunt has been launched. Preliminary investigations suggest links of the recovered weapons to gangster Gurpreet Singh alias Goldy Dhillon, with the consignment allegedly intended for criminal and anti-national activities in Punjab.
29-Mar-2026
The Jalandhar Rural Police on March 29 arrested two persons for allegedly demanding INR 2 crore as extortion from an NRI family while posing as associates of gangster Goldy Brar in Nakodar in Jalandhar district.
29-Mar-2026
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP), Gaurav Yadav on March 29 stated that Punjab Police have seized 2,300 illegal weapons over the past three years, including around 800 smuggled from Pakistan’s Khyber Pass region. In a recent case, Amritsar Commissionerate Police recovered two 9mm sub-machine guns and an empty magazine marked “GHAFFAR SECURITY,” allegedly linked to gangster Gurpreet Singh alias Goldy Dhillon. The weapons were reportedly being supplied through his network for criminal and anti-national activities, and efforts are underway to trace the absconding accused and dismantle the network. Police data further reveals that over 500 pistols smuggled from across the border have been seized since January last year. These weapons are reportedly trafficked via drones by Pakistan-based smugglers, often alongside drug consignments. The smuggling network is concentrated in districts such as Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Fazilka, and Batala, where local handlers retrieve and distribute the consignments. The smuggled pistols are typically sold in the illegal market for INR 1–2 lakh.
28-Mar-2026
According to reports, the recent seizure of fake Indian currency notes (FICN) worth INR 2.5 lakh along the Indo-Pak border in Amritsar has raised concerns about a possible shift from conventional smuggling to calibrated economic sabotage. The counterfeit currency, dropped via a drone from across the border, was recovered in the Gharinda area following intelligence inputs on aerial movement. Though the amount is modest, security experts warn of larger implications, as this is the first known instance of fake currency being smuggled through drones in the region—a method previously used mainly for narcotics and arms trafficking. A senior Punjab Police official noted that it could be a “pilot run” to test a new channel for systematically injecting counterfeit notes into the Indian economy, adding that drone-based delivery enables precise, low-risk drops that are harder to intercept.
28-Mar-2026
Punjab Police, in coordination with Jammu and Kashmir Police, on March 28, arrested two suspected Pakistan-linked terrorists, identified as Abbu Gaba and Usman, from Sherwani Kote village in Malerkotla district. The duo had reportedly been living as tenants in Punjab for a long time. Their presence came to light during the interrogation of a local drug peddler detained under the ongoing ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ anti-drug campaign. Their identities were later found to match those of two wanted terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.
27-Mar-2026
In a joint operation on March 27, the Border Security Force (BSF) and Amritsar Rural Police seized fake Indian currency notes (FICN) worth INR 2.5 lakh, smuggled via a drone along the Indo-Pak border in the Gharinda police station area of Amritsar district. Acting on specific intelligence inputs about drone movement, troops noticed suspicious activity late at night and launched a combing operation. During the search, they recovered a yellow packet containing counterfeit INR 500 notes worth INR 2.5 lakh. Preliminary investigation suggests the consignment was dropped by a drone originating from the Pakistani side.
27-Mar-2026
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on March 27 dismissed Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh’s plea for temporary release to attend the ongoing Budget session of Parliament. The court held that a sitting MP under preventive detention enjoys no higher constitutional privilege than an ordinary citizen, and that individual liberty must yield to concerns of public order and state security.
27-Mar-2026
According to reports, following the killing of two policemen in a check post in Gurdaspur district on February 22, fresh security instructions were issued to battalion commandants during a meeting chaired by the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), State Armed Police, on March 2. The directives include regular inspections to review security arrangements and random video calls to obtain real-time security updates. Commandants and officers have also been instructed to ensure foolproof security of their battalion headquarters to prevent such attacks and safeguard personnel.
27-Mar-2026
On March 27, the 66th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 531 raids, arrested 167 persons. Preventive action was taken against 62 individuals, while 353 persons were verified and released after questioning. Six proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
27-Mar-2026
On March 27, Punjab Police, on day 391 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 137 drug smugglers, and seized 2.9 kg of heroin, 1.5 kg of opium, 77 kg of poppy husk, 11,412 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 22,980 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.