KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
05-Aug-2023
Punjab Police on August 5 arrested a member of the Shubham Mota gang, identified as Kunal Sharma alias Kembi and recovered two pistols, 32 bore and a .315 bore guns, along with five live cartridges from his possession from New Kundan Puri in Ludhiana district.
05-Aug-2023
Deceased United Kingdom (UK) based head of Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) Avtar Singh Khanda's sister, Jaspreet Kaur on August 5 presented documents, including an expired passport, driving license, and Class XII certificate, to establish his Indian citizenship before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The central government had previously informed the court that it possessed no documents to establish Khanda's citizenship. The case is scheduled for its next hearing on August 18.
05-Aug-2023
The President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Harjinder Singh Dhami on August 5 welcomed the Queensland High Court's ruling in Australia, which favoured Sikhs' right to wear the 'kirpan' as part of their religious faith.
05-Aug-2023
Former Congress leader Jagdish Tytler on August 5 appeared before a court as an accused in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, where a supplementary charge sheet included witnesses' statements which claimed that Tytler had urged the mob to "kill the Sikhs," leading to deaths and a gurdwara being set on fire. The charge sheet also states he violated prohibitory orders, incited the mob, and promoted enmity between religious groups.
05-Aug-2023
Gangster Vikramjeet Singh, an associate of Lawrence Bishnoi, was remanded in three days' police custody by a Faridkot court on August 5 for an INR 50 lakh extortion case. He was brought from the UAE (United Arab Emirates) to New Delhi by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and then to Faridkot on a day’s transit remand on August 4. Singh is accused of making extortion calls on Bishnoi's orders and is also linked to an attempt on the life of a Dera Sacha Sauda follower, as well as the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala.
05-Aug-2023
Punjab Police on August 5 recovered an additional four kilograms of heroin from Bute Dian Chhana village in Jalandhar District of Punjab in a follow-up operation after arresting Shinder Singh on August 3 with six kilograms of heroin and INR 1.50 lakh cash. Singh had hidden the drugs under a road being constructed in his village, which was located and retrieved by the police. The total seizure now stands at 10 kg.
05-Aug-2023
According to sources, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) is considering deploying advanced anti-drone systems along the International Border (IB) in Punjab to counter rogue drones from Pakistan, which are often used to transport contraband. Systems such as SkyWall 100, DroneGun Tactical CHIMERA, and anti-drone radar from Bharat Electrical Limited are currently under evaluation. These systems would possess enhanced night-vision, laser, and jamming capabilities, with a range of up to 400 meters, enabling them to jam signals from rogue UAVs and even capture them using a net. The primary focus is on countering Pakistani drug smugglers and terrorist activities, and there are plans for establishing an advanced drone forensic lab and collaborating with start-ups.
05-Aug-2023
Punjab Police on August 5 revealed that they had on August 1 arrested two arms suppliers identified as Harpal Singh and Kishore Singh Rathore and recovered 17 pistols of .32 bore along with 35 magazines from their possession from Khargone and Bharwani districts Madhya Pradesh (MP). The weapons were intended for criminal gangs associated with Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and Ravi Balachauria, according to Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav.
05-Aug-2023
The Police of August 5 arrested two persons, identified as Rohit and Daljinder and recovered two pistols and nine live cartridges from their possession, in Hoshiarpur in Hoshiarpur district.
05-Aug-2023
Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Prem Singh Chandumajra on August 5 expressed concern over the recent National Investigation Agency (NIA) raids in Punjab, targeting Khalsa Aid's office and the manager's house. He also condemned the alleged harassment of Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, a Sikh Member of Parliament (MP) from the United Kingdom (UK), at the international airport in Amritsar. Chandumajra drew parallels between these incidents and past instances of targeting Sikhs during Congress rule, comparing the current events to historical anti-Sikh actions.
03-Aug-2023
A report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment, tabled in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) on August 3, revealed that Punjab, with a population of approximately three crores, has 66 lakh drug users. The report highlights that 21.36 lakh people are consuming various types of opioids, 30.68 lakh are regular cannabis users, 9.93 lakh are using sedatives, 1.87 lakh are using inhalants, 1.5 lakh are using cocaine, and 1.36 lakh are using stimulants.
03-Aug-2023
The State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) of Punjab Police on August 3 arrested Harjeet Singh, an Indian national based in Spain, on charges of terror financing and facilitating target killings in Punjab, at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in New Delhi. His associate, identified as Amrinder Singh alias Bunty, was also arrested in Khanna, in Ludhiana district of Punjab. Harjeet funded and assisted Bunty in carrying out the target killings, and investigations revealed their connection with foreign entities linked to Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), according to Additional Inspector General (AIG) SSOC, Mohali, Ashwani Kapur. Harjeet also used fake Facebook accounts to promote radical content and activities of banned separatist group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ).
03-Aug-2023
Immigration officials at the Guru Ramdas Jee International Airport in Amritsar, Punjab on August 3 detained Tanmanjit Singh Dhesi, a Sikh Member of Parliament (MP) in the United Kingdom (UK), due to the lack of necessary travel documents before eventually releasing him after two hours. Dhesi is known for being the first Sikh MP to wear a turban in Britain and has been in the headlines in Punjab politics, with controversies surrounding his alleged support for Khalistan and criticism of the Indian government's actions in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
03-Aug-2023
Sikh organizations, Panth Sewak and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on August 3 strongly criticized the Narendra Modi government, in the wake of a raid conducted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Khalsa Aid, claiming it is an attempt to target those actively working for the betterment of the Panth.
03-Aug-2023
Punjab Police on August 3 arrested a gang of robbers who were planning to strike at a grocery store in Ludhiana and a jewellery shop in Mohali, identified as Kulwant Singh alias Guddu, Narinder Singh alias Nandi, Amarinder Singh alias Captain, Lovish Kumar alias Lovi and Parampratap Singh and recovered two illegal country made pistols and eight live cartridges from their possession. Their accomplice, Yadwinder Singh managed to escape. Kulwant Singh is also associated with the Khalistani terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).
03-Aug-2023
Minister of State for Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA), Nityanand Rai in his reply to a question put by Congress Member of Parliament (MP) KC Venugopal informed the Rajya Sabha that Punjab ranks third among states with the highest number of First Information Reports (FIRs) registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between 2019 and 2021. Uttar Pradesh leads the list with 31,482 FIRs, followed by Maharashtra with 28,959, and Punjab with 28,417. The UMHA shared various measures taken by the Union and state governments to combat the drug menace, including the approval of new regional and zonal offices for the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and strengthening the organizational structure.
03-Aug-2023
A report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment, which was tabled in the Lok Sabha on August 3 revealed a shocking rise in drug addiction among children, young adults, and adults in India. According to the report, in Punjab alone, 6.97 lakh children between 10-17 years are addicted to drugs, with opioids, cocaine, and inhalants being widely prevalent. The situation is equally alarming in other states like Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, with millions of drug users reported among adults. The committee expressed distress over the exorbitant numbers and called for urgent measures to address the drug menace.
03-Aug-2023
Punjab Police on August 3 arrested a person, identified as Shinder Singh and recovered six kilograms of heroin and INR 1.50 lakh cash from his possession, near Amritsar.
02-Aug-2023
The Police on August 2 arrested a smuggler, identified as Gurlal Singh and seized 1kg heroin and a 30 bore China-made pistol with five rounds of ammunition from his possession in Manawala village in Amritsar district. The accused had shot at a police team during a checkpoint operation in Sukhewal village in Nabha tehsil of Patiala district in Punjab and fled towards Amritsar. He was finally nabbed near Manawala village, according to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP-rural) Satinder Singh.
02-Aug-2023
Punjab Police on August 2 sought information on the whereabouts of Sukhpal Singh, who went missing 29 years ago in Fatehgarh Churian in Gurdaspur district, amid allegations from his family that he was killed in a fake encounter by the suspended Punjab Police Inspector General (IG), Parmraj Singh Umranangal. Sukhpal Singh's wife claims that Umranangal killed him and falsely presented his body as that of a wanted militant, Gurnam Singh Bandala, who is still alive. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is probing the case, and Umranangal has been questioned in connection with the alleged disappearance.
02-Aug-2023
According to senior officials, security agencies are concerned about the ‘reverse drone’ operations by smugglers at the India-Pakistan border, especially the Punjab region. Some senior officials said that the forensic analysis of downed drones revealed that some originated from the Indian side, particularly in Punjab, indicating a trend that could increase. Smugglers dispatch drones from India to Pakistan, where they are loaded with drugs and weapons before being called back to India, avoiding the risk of getting caught while dropping items in Indian territory. Anti-drone systems have been installed at the border to address the issue.
02-Aug-2023
Police on August 2 arrested two persons, identified as Sahil Bhatia and Taranjeet Singh, and seized 153 kg of poppy husk and a mini truck from them, in Kandrodi Morr Nangal village in Pathankot district of Punjab. According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Harkamal Preet Singh, two notorious gangsters, Preet Sekhon and Sonu Roadmajra, were assisting the smugglers with logistical support. The authorities are currently investigating their connections in the matter.
02-Aug-2023
Punjab Police on August 2 conducted a statewide search operation in all 26 prisons in Punjab, called "Operation Satark," to prevent the entry of narcotics, cell phones, and prohibited items into the jails. According to Special Director General of Police (DGP-Law and Order) Arpit Shukla, Police, during the operation, recovered 21 mobile phones, SIM cards, chargers, knives, nails, and 8.7 grams of opium.
02-Aug-2023
Punjab Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh on August 2 directed officials to identify and act against errant officials in the prisons department to tackle the drug menace in jails.
01-Aug-2023
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on August 1 conducted raids at 31 locations in Punjab and Haryana to uncover the conspiracy behind the attack on the Indian High Commission in London on March 19 and seized incriminating digital data, documents, and other evidence. The attack occurred during a pro-Khalistan protest where around 50 individuals committed trespass, injured officials, and damaged public property. The NIA's searches targeted an office of United Kingdom (UK) based NGO Khalsa Aid and the residence of its Managing Director (MD), Amarpreet Singh, in Patiala, Punjab and the residence of Paramjit Singh Pamma, a wanted Khalistan Terrorist Force (KTF) militant, in Mohali, Punjab.
01-Aug-2023
A National Investigation Agency (NIA) special court on August 1 declared six gangster-turned-terrorists, identified as Canada-based Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala, Ramandeep Singh alias Raman Judge, Lakhbir Sandhu alias Landa, and Pakistan-based Harvinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, Lakhbir Rode and Wadhawa Babbar as Proclaimed Offenders (PO). The NIA had on July 22 filed a chargesheet against nine accused, including Dala, Landa and Rinda, in a case registered by the agency on August 20, 2022. According to the NIA, they were involved in a criminal conspiracy to smuggle arms and ammunition across international borders to support terrorist acts in India, linked to pro-Khalistan organizations such as Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). The accused were engaged in smuggling arms, explosives, IEDs, drugs, and other contraband into India with the support of terror outfits and organized criminal gangs.
01-Aug-2023
Senior Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, on August 1 filed an application seeking anticipatory bail in a case related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots at Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi.
01-Aug-2023
Gangster Sachin Bishnoi, involved in the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, was extradited on August 1 from Baku, Azerbaijan to New Delhi, India, and produced in Delhi’s Patiala House court, which remanded him in police custody for ten days. He is the cousin of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, another suspect in Moosewala's murder. His arrest is part of a series of arrests breaking the backbone of foreign-based criminal networks in Punjab.
01-Aug-2023
The Union Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs, Nisith Pramanik in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on August 1 stated that anti-national elements and smugglers are using drones to smuggle arms and narcotics across the India-Pakistan border in Punjab and in the last three years till June 30, 2023, 53 such incidents have been detected. According to him, the government has taken various measures, including increased border surveillance by the Border Security Force (BSF), laying of nakas in suspected dropping zones, and sensitizing the public in border areas to report any drone activities to the authorities. The Home Ministry has also established an Anti-Rogue Drone Technology Committee (ARDTC) to counter rogue drones effectively.
01-Aug-2023
Rupnagar Police on August 1 arrested six persons and seized 2,000 litres of 'lahan' (raw liquor), 322 grams of heroin, and INR 7,600 in drug money, in Rupnagar district of Punjab.
01-Aug-2023
On August 1, Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Jagtar Singh Hawara, linked to the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Beant Singh, appeared in a district court through video conferencing for a trial related to his alleged escape from the Model Burail jail in Chandigarh. The court scheduled the next hearing for August 11. Hawara is currently held in Delhi's Tihar Jail.
31-Jul-2023
A graffiti carrying a pro-Khalistani slogan “Haryana will become Khalistan” was spotted on July 31 outside the Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s (SDM) office in Mandi Dabwali in Sirsa district of Haryana. Later, the banned Khalistani organization Sikhs For Justice’s (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in a video message, claimed responsibility for the act, and issued a warning to the Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah, and Haryana Chief Minister (CM) Manohar Lal Khattar, stating that India will cease to exist on August 15, and Haryana will transform into Khalistan.
31-Jul-2023
The Police on July 31 arrested two high-profile gangsters, identified as Jatinder alias Jindi and Puneet Bains alias Mani, and recovered nine illegal weapons from them, in Ludhiana district.
31-Jul-2023
Fatehgarh Sahib Police on July 31 initiated a special campaign to educate school children about the harmful effects of narcotics and drug abuse, following Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann's directives in Fatehgarh Sahib.
31-Jul-2023
The Punjab Police on July 31 conducted a cordon-and-search operation (CASO) and arrested 12 persons and seized 40 grams of heroin, 12 kg ganja, and 1 kg poppy husk and INR 2.50 lakh in drug money from their possession, in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar and Fatehgarh Sahib districts in Rupnagar Range in Punjab. The operation was conducted under the direction of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav and overall supervision of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Rupnagar Range Gurpreet Singh Bhullar.
31-Jul-2023
Police on July 31 arrested two drug peddlers, identified as Roop Chand and Jaswinder Singh, and recovered 211 intoxicant tablets from their possession in Phagwara in Kapurthala district.
30-Jul-2023
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on July 30 urged for compulsory registration of drones to curb drug and weapon smuggling from across the border. He highlighted incidents where drones from Punjab went to Pakistan and returned with consignments. Mann has already requested the Union government to enforce drone registration to identify owners involved in illegal activities.
30-Jul-2023
Rupnagar police on July 30 arrested four inter-state drug peddlers, identified as Sohan Lal alias Kala, Poonam alias Mona, Baljit Singh alias Beeta and Veer Singh alias Veeru and recovered 1kg of heroin, 143 grams of gold ornaments, INR 1 lakh drug money and a Fortuner SUV from them, near Jot Palace at Bunga Sahib in Rupnagar district.
30-Jul-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on July 30 shot down a Pakistani drone and recovered 3 kg of heroin near Kalash village in Tarn Taran district of Punjab. On July 31 morning, in a joint search operation, Punjab Police and the BSF recovered heroin and the hexacopter from near Khemkaran village in Patti tehsil, Tarn Taran district.
30-Jul-2023
The makers of the biopic on human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra unveiled a new poster of the film with a changed title, "Punjab 95," on July 30. Initially titled "Ghallughara," the film faced delays with the Censor Board requesting a title change and content modification. The makers have approached the Bombay High Court against the Censor Board, which demanded 21 cuts and modifications to some dialogues. Actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh, who plays the lead role, had earlier revealed that the film has been selected to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
30-Jul-2023
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh on July 30 criticized the denial of a visa to United Kingdom (UK) based chief of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) to Avtar Singh Khanda's mother Charanjit Kaur and sister Jaspreet Kaur to attend his last rites in the UK on August 5. Khanda, who was under scrutiny for alleged anti-India activities, had political asylum in the UK and passed away on June 15. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Delhi Unit chief Paramjit Singh Sarna also urged the British High Commission to issue visas to Khanda's family, citing universal human rights.
29-Jul-2023
The Punjab Police, in a joint operation with the State Special Operation (SSOC) Cell, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar, on July 29 busted a foreign-based terror module of Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and arrested five yet to be identified individuals and recovered two illegal weapons and live ammunition from them in SAS Nagar district. According to the Director-General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, the KLF module, backed by foreign-based handlers, aimed to target minority leaders, police officials, and prominent individuals to disturb harmony. They were also recruiting foot soldiers through jailed individuals operating under the fake name, Ranjodh Singh, using social media to propagate false narratives and providing monetary incentives for carrying out targeted killings in Punjab.
29-Jul-2023
Police on July 29 busted a narco-crime syndicate operated by gangster Sandeep Kumar alias Ravi Balachauria and arrested Akashdeep Singh and Akashdeep Singh alias Billa and recovered 1.2 kg of heroin, 3 pistols, 260 live cartridges and INR 1.4 lakh drug money and a weighing machine from their possession in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district.
29-Jul-2023
A former pro-Khalistan leader and Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) member, Avtar Singh Sanghera during his visit to India, was alarmed by the widespread drug addiction among Punjabi youth and calls on them to focus on education and nation-building instead of falling prey to false propaganda and money-driven political leaders. He urged pro-Khalistan elements abroad to avoid actions that could harm Sikhs, especially the youth in India. Sanghera leads a quiet life in the United Kingdom (UK) and distances himself from Khalistani events.
29-Jul-2023
Maninderjeet Singh Bitta, former President of Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and chairman of the All-India Anti-Terrorist Front (AITF), blamed the politicians accountable for the rise of terrorism in Punjab during the 1980s and 1990s. He advocated for united efforts to combat extremist elements attempting to revive militancy in Punjab with Khalistan sentiments. Bitta urged the Union government to publish a White Paper on Operation Blue Star and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots to clarify misconceptions.
29-Jul-2023
The Punjab Cabinet on July 29 approved an increase in the monthly maintenance grant for Sikh soldiers who deserted their barracks during Operation Blue Star in 1984. The grant will be raised from INR 10,000 to INR 12,000 for 76 "Operation Blue Star-affected" soldiers to meet their increased daily needs and cope with market inflation, according to a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office.
29-Jul-2023
The Ludhiana police on July 29 arrested two gangsters, identified as Boota Khan and Manish Prabhakar in Haibowal, Ludhiana in Punjab, in connection with a complaint filed by Retired Punjab Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Sandeep Sharma, regarding him and his wife receiving calls threatening to harm their children. Sharma stated that his family was receiving threats due to his past actions against drug peddlers and gangsters during his service with the anti-drug Special Task Force (STF).
28-Jul-2023
The Mohali district court on July 28 directed the physical production of Jagtar Singh Hawara, a convict in former Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Beant Singh's assassination, on August 10 in connection with an 18-year-old terror-related case. Hawara, currently in Tihar Jail, was booked in 2005 under the Explosive Act and Arms Act. The court ordered the issuance of production warrants and a letter to Tihar Jail's superintendent for his appearance in the case.
28-Jul-2023
The police on July 28 arrested a woman drug peddler, identified as Rekha and recovered heroin from her possession in Phagwara in Kapurthala district.
28-Jul-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on July 28 recovered a bottle containing around 425 grams of heroin on the outskirts of Mode village in Amritsar district.