KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
27-Feb-2024
On February 27, another farmer, Karnail Singh, protesting at the Khanauri border, died from a heart attack at Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala in Patiala district in Punjab, bringing the death toll to six during the ongoing 'Dilli Chalo' protest at the Punjab-Haryana border. Karnail, from Arno Khurd village, suffered a lung infection due to tear gas exposure during a police crackdown on February 21.
27-Feb-2024
Police on February 27 arrested a woman after a video went viral, showing a migrant woman openly selling drugs to addicts in Sanjay Nagar in Faridkot district. The footage depicted the woman handing drugs to individuals on a motorcycle in exchange for money, prompting local families to intervene and urge her to cease the illicit activity.
27-Feb-2024
Police on February 27 arrested one person, identified as Paramjit Singh and seized 35 kg of poppy husk from his mini truck, at the Rajpura barrier near Rajpura village in Fazilka district.
27-Feb-2024
Police on February 27 arrested a man, identified as Gajjan Singh and seized 105 gm of smack from his possession, near Panjawa canal bridge near Panjawa in Fazilka district. Gajjan revealed that he had allegedly purchased the smack from Amarjit Singh. Amarjit was consequently listed as a co-accused.
27-Feb-2024
Police on February 27 arrested one person, identified as Sunny Jassal and seized 85 gm of opium from his possession, in Nathan Wali village in Moga district. Another individual identified as Nitesh Kumar was implicated in the case as Sunny alleged that Nitesh supplied him with the opium at Prabhu Chowk in Sriganganagar district in Rajasthan.
27-Feb-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on February 27 conducted raids at 16 sites across Punjab and Rajasthan, detaining six individuals for questioning as part of their probe into the Khalistan-organized crime nexus. Among those targeted is Gurvinder Singh, alias Neeta, allegedly associated with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The six individuals accused have reportedly participated in terrorist activities and are in close contact with some fugitive designated Khalistani terrorists through social media networks and other means of communication. The action follows discussions between NIA Director General Dinkar Gupta and Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Director Christopher A. Wray regarding the increasing nexus between terrorist groups and organized crime, including cyber-terrorism investigations.
27-Feb-2024
Police on February 27 arrested three persons, identified as Sukhpreet Singh, Akashdeep Singh and Hardeep Singh and seized 302 gm of heroin and four country-made weapons, two.32 pistols and ammunition from their possession in Shahkot in Jalandhar district. All three individuals are history-sheeters with previous cases related to robbery, attempted murder, and violations of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and Arms Act.
27-Feb-2024
Bathinda Police on February 27 arrested a close aide of fugitive gangster Goldy Brar, identified as Navdeep Singh Chatha and seized a 9-mm pistol, 10 cartridges and four mobile phones from his possession, in Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda district. According to the Police, Chatha was involved in criminal activities and procured firearms from Brar, who operates from abroad. His arrest is deemed significant in the fight against organised crime, with expectations of extracting further crime-related information during interrogation.
27-Feb-2024
A team of the Special Task Force (STF) on February 27 arrested a gangster identified as Feroz Khan after a brief exchange of fire, and seized two country-made semi-automatic pistols and around six live rounds from his possession, near the Pipli bus stand in Kurukshetra district in Haryana. Feroz was the sharpshooter involved in the recent Katani Restaurant shootout in Mohali in Punjab. Khan was also linked to the murder of Rajan from Mehra village in Kurukshetra, associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
26-Feb-2024
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, in a letter dated February 26, urged Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Singh Mann to transfer the Khalistani preacher and his associates from Dibrugarh jail in Assam to Punjab jails due to reported harassment and privacy violations. Dhami labelled the situation as a potential conspiracy against the youths and demanded serious consideration from the government to uphold their human rights.
26-Feb-2024
According to reports, India and the United States (US) are set to conduct the Homeland Security Dialogue (HSD) on February 28. The discussions will focus on various issues, including anti-Khalistan elements, immigration, counter-narcotics, and cybersecurity. Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Kristie Canegallo will lead the talks. The HSD, established in 2010, resumed in 2021 under President Joe Biden after being discontinued during Donald Trump's tenure.
26-Feb-2024
Farmers associated with the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on February 26 organized a tractor march in Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib districts in Punjab. They parked their tractors along highways and burned effigies of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to protest against its perceived anti-farmer policies.
26-Feb-2024
The Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM), S. Jaishankar on February 26, while speaking at the What India Thinks Today’ (WITT) Global Summit in New Delhi, delivered a stern message to Canada, urging action against Khalistani activists engaged in violent protests or arson targeting Indian missions, stressing that freedom of speech should not be used to intimidate diplomats. The statement underscores India's stance on protecting diplomatic missions from disruptive actions by extremist groups.
26-Feb-2024
Representatives of the Sikh community met with West Bengal (WB) Chief Secretary B.P. Gopalika on February 26, urging action against Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari and other Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members for allegedly making Khalistani remarks towards Sikh Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Jaspreet Singh. The meeting lasted about 15 minutes, with the chief secretary reportedly assuring the delegation of the state government's commitment to maintaining harmony.
26-Feb-2024
A court in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district in Punjab on February 26 acquitted three men, identified as Satwinder Singh, Gurdial Singh, and Jagroop Singh, accused of being trained by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for terror attacks in India. The court found Gurdial Singh and Jagroop Singh guilty under the Arms Act, sentencing them to one year's imprisonment. However, since they had already served more than three years in jail, they were released. Earlier, on June 4, 2017, with their arrest, the Punjab Police claimed to have busted a terror module with links to the ISI-backed banned outfit International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF).
25-Feb-2024
Police on February 25 dismantled an inter-state weapon smuggling network and arrested three associates of terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa, identified as Kunal, Gurlal, and Parvez and seized twelve .32 bore pistols, five .34 bore pistols, 33 magazines, and 20 live cartridges from their possession in Jalandhar in Jalandhar district. The weapons were confiscated from various locations in Tarn Taran and Ferozepur districts of Punjab.
25-Feb-2024
The CIA-II branch of the Police, on February 25, arrested a member of the notorious Tillu Tajpuriya gang identified as Kunal alias Shati, and seized an illegal country-made pistol and a stolen motorcycle from his possession near Kanaunda village in Jhajjar district of Haryana. The police stated that Kunal is an associate of Chiku Dhankar, who now leads the gang after Tajpuriya's demise.
25-Feb-2024
The Kirti Kisan Union (KKU) on February 25 announced protests scheduled for February 29 at all district headquarters in the state of Haryana. This call to action was prompted by their perception of the Haryana Police's repression of farmers. After investigating the case of Pritpal Singh, a victim of alleged police brutality, the union condemned the actions as fascist. They attribute responsibility for this to Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah and Haryana's Chief Minister (CM) Manohar Lal Khattar. The union deems the police operation entering Punjab's territory as illegal and unconstitutional.
25-Feb-2024
According to sources, a United States (US) government delegation led by Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Kristie Canegallo will visit India for the Homeland Security Dialogue (HSD) with officials from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA). The delegation aims to discuss a range of issues, including the asylum status used by criminals, pro-Khalistan elements carrying out terrorist activities in India, assistance to apprehend the attackers of the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, the extradition status of Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman Tahawwur Rana, terror fugitives, and financial investigations related to terrorism.
24-Feb-2024
Balwinder Kaur, the mother of Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh, in Amritsar on February 24, stated that she will continue her hunger strike despite the suggestion from the Akal Takht Jathedar to end it
24-Feb-2024
Police on February 24 arrested an inter-state drug supplier who had been evading authorities for the past year, identified as Kanwarbir Singh at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in New Delhi as he attempted to flee to Canada. He was identified as the kingpin of an interstate narcotics cartel.
24-Feb-2024
Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) leader Sarwan Singh Pandher stated on February 24 that the farmers will not halt their agitation until their demands are met. Despite clashes and a protester's death, the movement continues at Khanauri and Shambhu barriers on the Punjab-Haryana border. Talks with the government have failed to yield results, and the next course of action will be decided on February 29.
24-Feb-2024
The Bandel Gurudwara Singh Sabha spokesperson Devendra Singh Chawla on February 24 decried the Khalistan remarks by BJP leader referring to a Sikh IPS officer as defamatory and unconstitutional and urged Chief Minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee's intervention while speaking at a protest rally organised in Bandel in West Bengal.
24-Feb-2024
The Ludhiana Police on February 24 busted a gang of snatchers and arrested three of its members identified as Arvinder Singh, Kamaljit Singh and Ajay Kumar and seized 25 mobile phones, a sharp weapon and a motorcycle from their possession, in Ludhiana in Ludhiana district.
23-Feb-2024
On February 23, an elderly farmer, Darshan Singh, passed away due to cardiac arrest at the Khanauri border near Khanauri village in the Sangrur district of Punjab. He had been actively participating in the ongoing farmers' protest demanding various issues, including legal Minimum Support Price (MSP) and debt waiver.
23-Feb-2024
Nihang Sikhs, known for their warrior tradition, have joined the farmers in the ongoing farmers' protest near Delhi, citing a duty to fight against injustice. The Nihangs had previously participated in a similar protest in 2021 and have emphasized their solidarity with the farmers' cause.
23-Feb-2024
The West Bengal (WB) Police, on February 23, filed a First Information Report (FIR) against unknown Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders for calling a Sikh police officer a 'Khalistani' during a BJP march. The officer, Jaspreet Singh, was allegedly targeted by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, as per police claims. The FIR cites sections including outraging religious feelings and promoting enmity between communities. The incident occurred amidst tensions over accusations against a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader in Sandeshkhali in WB.
23-Feb-2024
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami on February 23 met with the families of Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh and his companions who are detained in Dibrugarh Jail in Assam, during their dharna in Amritsar in Punjab. The discussions included the detainees' situation, their hunger strike against government harassment, and the ongoing talks with the Punjab government. Dhami assured support, expressing SGPC's commitment to the cause, and mentioned plans to discuss the issue with Jathedar Sri Akal Takht Sahib for further strategy.
23-Feb-2024
Police on February 23 arrested an operative of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang identified as Guriqbalmeet Singh alias Robin and seized two pistols, 42 live rounds, six magazines, a mobile phone dongle with a SIM card, and an SUV from his possession in Bikaner district in Rajasthan. Police stated that he was involved in cross-border arms smuggling via drones and extortion calls. Robin, wanted in a prior case, formed an extortion gang with accomplices Jagmeet Singh and Gurmehar Singh, with connections to a Portugal-based gangster. Jagmeet was recently arrested, while Gurmehar is at large.
23-Feb-2024
Police on February 23 busted an inter-state opium smuggling gang and arrested three persons identified as Kartar Singh alias Kala, Sanjay Kumar, and Pradeep Kumar and seized 17.5 kg of opium, INR 15 lakh, and an SUV from their possession in Mandi Gobindgarh in Fatehgarh Sahib district in Punjab. The gang sourced opium from Jharkhand and distributed it locally. One suspect, identified as Anil Kumar, is still at large.
23-Feb-2024
The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU - Ugrahan) observed a 'black day' in response to the call by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) to protest against the death of farmer Shubhkaran Singh in Sangrur district, Punjab. They burnt effigies of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah, and Haryana Chief Minister (CM) Manohar Lal Khattar.
23-Feb-2024
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff of the Police on February 23 arrested four persons, identified as David Sidhu, Gagan Sidhu, Anshul Thakur, and Dharminder alias Sunny and seized five illegal .32 bore pistols, ten magazines and 20 live rounds from their possession in Ferozepur in Ferozepur district.
22-Feb-2024
Following an announcement by Balwinder Kaur, the mother of Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh, to stage a dharna on the Beas bridge in Amritsar, a heavy police force was deployed on February 22 to ensure law and order. However, the protest site was later shifted to Heritage Street in Amritsar.
22-Feb-2024
The Central Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (CGPC) in Jharkhand's Kolhan region on February 22 threatened to stage a dharna in West Bengal (WB) if action is not taken against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders who allegedly called a Sikh Indian Police Service (IPS) officer a 'Khalistani'. CGPC demanded immediate action from WB Chief Minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee, condemning the incident and asserting that it has crossed constitutional boundaries.
22-Feb-2024
A Sikh community delegation from seven Gurdwaras submitted a memorandum to West Bengal (WB) Governor C V Ananda Bose in Kolkata on February 22, demanding action against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari for allegedly referring to Sikh Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Jaspreet Singh as a 'Khalistani.' The governor assured that he would write to WB Chief Minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee for appropriate action and announced the establishment of a Punjabi Garden in Bhagat Singh's name.
22-Feb-2024
Criticism arose over the central government's suspension of certain social media accounts amid a broader confrontation, emphasizing the necessity for transparent processes.
22-Feb-2024
The labelling of a Sikh Indian Police Service (IPS) officer as 'Khalistani' in West Bengal raised concerns about profiling and the potential for such slurs to exacerbate tensions, emphasizing the importance of responsible political discourse.
22-Feb-2024
Activists and family members of detained pro-Khalistanis, led by Balwinder Kaur, the mother of Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh, who is the chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD), began an indefinite hunger strike outside Dibrugarh Jail in Assam on February 22. They are demanding the transfer of detainees to Punjab jails, expressing distrust in the government's ability to deliver justice. Despite rumored conflicts with the administration, they emphasize their resolve. The detainees have vowed to continue their hunger strike until being transferred to Punjab.
22-Feb-2024
The police on February 22 two drug peddlers, including a woman identified as Usha Rani and Sona Singh, and seized 15 gm of heroin from their possession, from Tiwana Kalan village in Fazilka district.
22-Feb-2024
The police on February 22 arrested one person, identified as Lakhwinder Singh and seized 10 gm of heroin from his possession, in Fazilka in Fazilka district.
22-Feb-2024
The Delhi Police on February 22 arrested two sharpshooters of the Lawrence Bishnoi and Hashim Baba gang, identified as Amar and Danish, and seized two pistols and nine live cartridges along with a scooter from their possession after a gunfire encounter in Burari in North Delhi district in Delhi. Both Amar and Danish sustained bullet injuries in their legs. Amar has a criminal history with six cases, including robbery and attempted murder, while Danish is involved in two cases related to rioting and Arms Act violations.
22-Feb-2024
Farmers Unions on February 22 demanded INR 1 crore compensation from the Punjab Government for the death of young farmer Shubkaran Singh, while the government offered INR 40 lakh, at Shambhu Border near Shambhu village in Patiala district in Punjab.
21-Feb-2024
The police on February 21 arrested a 30-year-old man identified as Satyadev Tiru and seized 15 kg of opium from his possession at Ludhiana railway station in Ludhiana district. Tiru admitted to intending to deliver the opium to Phagwara in Punjab. He also confessed to having delivered opium in Punjab multiple times before and had previously smuggled over 80 kg of opium into the state.
21-Feb-2024
The Special Task Force (STF) on February 21 arrested two persons, identified as Shubham Kumar and his accomplice, Honey and seized 1.97 kg of heroin from their possession in Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. Shubham, who had been involved in multiple criminal cases before, confessed to being unemployed and a drug addict. This highlights the nexus between unemployment, addiction, and drug trafficking in the region.
21-Feb-2024
On February 21, the Border Security Force (BSF) intercepted a drone and recovered 505 gm of heroin, along with the broken drone, near Changa Rai Hithar village in Ferozepur district. The drone was identified as a Quadcopter of the DJI Mavic 3 Classic model, manufactured in China.
21-Feb-2024
Relatives of Khalistani preacher and the leader of Waris Punjab De (WPD), Amritpal Singh and nine Sikh youth detained under the National Security Act (NSA) in Dibrugarh jail in Assam, demanded their return to Punjab. Their relatives allege severe human rights violations, including the installation of spy cameras by jail authorities in various areas where the detainees reside. The relatives fear that peaceful protests may lead to physical and mental torture by jail authorities. The representation has been submitted to Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann through the Amritsar deputy commissioner.
21-Feb-2024
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann, on February 21, condemned Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders for questioning the patriotism of a Sikh police officer, Jaspreet Singh, in West Bengal, emphasising the Sikh community's well-known patriotism and sacrifices for India's freedom. He highlighted the significant contributions of Sikhs, particularly farmers, toward making India self-reliant in food production. Mann criticized the BJP leaders for overlooking the historical sacrifices and contributions of the Sikh community.
21-Feb-2024
Security has been tightened in Ranchi, Jharkhand on February 21 ahead of the India-England cricket test match due to threats from designated Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Recently, Pannun urged the banned CPI (Maoist) to disrupt the match via social media.
21-Feb-2024
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on February 21 was granted custody of Surender Singh alias Chiku in connection with a money laundering case involving the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and others by a special court in Panchkula in Haryana. Chiku was earlier lodged in Delhi’s Tihar jail. Chiku, known as a close associate of Lawrence Bishnoi, faces accusations in around two dozen criminal cases, including attacks on police personnel.
21-Feb-2024
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann, on February 21, ordered the deployment of all ambulances and Sadak Suraksha Force vehicles at farmer protest borders following the death of Shubhkaran Singh at the Khanauri border, near Khanauri village in Sangrur district of Punjab. Mann also promised exemplary punishment for officers responsible for Singh's death and pledged support to his family. He criticized the Centre for not addressing farmers' demands earlier, emphasizing the need for dialogue to prevent such tragedies.