KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
20-Mar-2023
Punjab Police on March 20 revealed that Amritpal Singh, fugitive pro-Khalistan leader, was attempting to establish a militia known as the Anandpur Khalsa Fauj (AKF) and noted that it had a very strong suspicion that he is being financially backed by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Sukhchain Singh Gill disclosed that, “The bulletproof jackets and rifles that have been recovered and the gate (of the house) of the chief (Amritpal Singh) had AKF written on them. There was an attempt to form a Jathebandi called ‘Anandpur Khalsa Fauj.” “We have a very strong suspicion of an ISI angle, based on the facts and circumstances that have come to light so far. We also have a very strong suspicion of foreign funding. Going by the circumstances, it seems that ISI is involved and there is foreign funding as well,” he added.
20-Mar-2023
According to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab, Sukhchain Singh Gill, 114 individuals have attempted to disturb peace and harmony, of whom 78 were arrested on the first day, 34 on the second day, and two more were apprehended the previous night. Ten weapons were recovered in the operation. Four of the detainees, identified as Daljit Singh Kalsi, Bhagwant Singh, Gurmeet Singh, and Pradhanmantri' Bajeke, have been transferred to the Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam, where the National Security Act (NSA) has been invoked against them. "Harjeet Singh - the uncle of Amritpal Singh - is also en route to Dibrugarh. He is being taken there," the IGP said.
20-Mar-2023
According to official sources, Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has encouraged supporters of Khalistan living overseas to stage demonstrations and protests in cities such as London, San Francisco, and Canberra. These actions are part of a larger plan orchestrated by the ISI, which includes recent protests by Khalistan supporters outside the Australian parliament in Canberra, pro-Khalistan activists vandalizing the Indian High Commission in London, and the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. According to official sources, ISI agents are operating in various countries and are responsible for coordinating these acts by pro-Khalistan elements. Recent incidents suggest that ISI agents have been actively working to organize protests and acts of vandalism against places of Indian interest by exploiting the religious sentiments of Khalistani elements.
20-Mar-2023
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a statement said that during a meeting with the United States (US) Charge d' Affaires in New Delhi on March 20, India strongly objected to the damage caused to the property of the Consulate General of India in San Francisco and conveyed its protest. The MEA reminded the US government of its fundamental responsibility to safeguard and secure diplomatic representation and urged it to take suitable actions to prevent any future such occurrences. Furthermore, the Indian Embassy in Washington DC also communicated similar concerns to the US State Department.
19-Mar-2023
The Haryana Police on March 19 arrested a woman, identified Baljit Kaur for reportedly providing shelter to Amritpal Singh, the leader of Waris Punjab De (WPD), and his associate Papalpreet Singh at her residence in Shahabad in Kurukshetra district of Haryana. The police believe that this arrest implies that Amritpal may have left Punjab.
19-Mar-2023
Punjab police arrested the gunman of Amritpal Singh, identified as Tejinder Singh alias Gorkha Baba, from Mangewal village in Ludhiana district.
19-Mar-2023
According to reports, Pakistan's external spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has been the driving force behind Amritpal Singh's back to India with the aim of reviving Khalistani terrorism in Punjab. According to the officials, Amritpal Singh was a truck driver in Dubai before the ISI, with the help of Khalistan supporters based outside India, radicalized him so that he could plunge Punjab again into the dark days of terrorism. Amritpal had been openly making statements about declaring secession from India and forming Khalistan. He tried to incite the Sikh youths to resort to armed revolt against the democratically elected government in order to oppose the supposedly discriminatory treatment being mete to achieve the 'ultimate goal' of the formation of 'Khalistan', the officials said.
19-Mar-2023
Indian counterterrorism officials on March 19 claimed that Amritpal Singh, the leader of Waris Punjab De (WPD), was trained by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in Georgia before returning to India from Dubai, UAE. They further alleged that Amritpal maintained close connections with the pro-Khalistani outfit, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and received funding as part of a broader plan to revive militancy in Punjab. According to an official, “Amritpal Singh was given money as part of a well-orchestrated scheme to resurrect militancy in Punjab while he was living in Dubai, which is a hub for ISI agents. Before his flight to India, ISI sent him to Georgia for training’’. "Amritpal Singh also has ties to SFJ and has even campaigned for its social media activities. Besides, he has links with drug smugglers across the border identified by their pseudo names – Billa, Bilal and Rana,” the official added.
19-Mar-2023
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in a statement on March 19, said that India summoned the most senior United Kingdom (UK) diplomat in Delhi after vandalism happened at the Indian High Commission in London and expressed India's strong protest at the activities committed by separatist and extremist forces. The MEA statement said, 'An explanation was demanded for the complete absence of British security that allowed these elements to enter the High Commission premises. In this context, she was reminded of the fundamental responsibilities the UK Government has under the Vienna Convention.’
19-Mar-2023
Security agencies raised a red flag on March 19 after they found that Amritpal Singh was stockpiling weapons and training young people to carry out suicide attacks using drug rehabilitation centres and a gurdwara. According to an intelligence dossier, Amritpal Singh was indoctrinating youths to become "khadkoos," or human bombs. Police sources indicated that numerous drug rehabilitation centers run by Waris Punjab De (WPD) and a gurudwara in Amritsar were involved in illegal firearms storage. According to the police sources, several drug rehabilitation centres operated by the WPD and a gurudwara in Amritsar which are involved in the illegal stockpiling of firearms. Young people admitted to the drug rehabilitation centers were reportedly subjected to brainwashing and pressured into the "gun culture." They were being directed to follow the example of slain terrorist Dilawar Singh and act as a human bomb.
19-Mar-2023
At least 21 supporters of Waris Punjab De (WPD) leader Amritpal Singh were arrested for trying to hold a "dharna" (protest) against the police crackdown on Amritpal near Boparai Klan town in Ludhiana on March 19. According to the police, flag marches were also held in Nawanshahr, Dakha, and Sidhwan in Ludhiana.
19-Mar-2023
On March 19, the police arrested 17 persons as part of a crackdown against the members of Waris Punjab De (WPD) in the Malwa region of Patiala district. Meanwhile, police dispersed a group of Amritpal's supporters gathered near the Shambhu barrier to block the national highway.
19-Mar-2023
Police, during the massive search operation on March 19, recovered weapons, uniforms and bulletproof jackets marked with the abbreviation ‘AKF’ from pro-Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh’s native village, Jallupur Khera near Rayya in Amritsar district. According to sources, "AKF" supposedly stands for ‘Anandpur Khalsa Force’. The weapons seized from his supporters also bore the same abbreviation. According to Amritsar (Rural) Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Satinder Singh, this was part of the investigation about the motive behind creating the ‘AKF’. Additionally, it was observed that the entrance gate of Amritpal's residence also had "AKF" written on it.
19-Mar-2023
Akal Takht acting Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on March 19, said that the governments should desist from instilling fear in Punjab for political interests, taking a strong note of the state-wide crackdown by the Punjab Police and central agencies against Waris Punjab De (WPD) head Amritpal Singh and his supporters.
19-Mar-2023
Punjab police on March 19 recovered a black SUV (ISUZU) from Salema village in Mehatpur in Jalandhar district, which was being used by Waris Punjab De (WPD) leader Amritpal Singh and his aides. Police recovered a 15-bore rifle, 57 rounds, a sword, and two number plates from inside the impounded car. Police claimed that this was the same car from which a video had gone viral on March 18. Police have seized three vehicles so far during the search operation and registered two additional First Information Reports (FIRs) in this connection.
19-Mar-2023
Intelligence agencies claimed that while Waris Punjab De (WDP) leader Amritpal Singh was in Dubai, he was in regular contact with Khalistani militant Paramjit Singh Pamma and Lakhbir Singh Rode's brother Jaswant Singh Rode, who is a banned Khalistani operator stationed in Pakistan. The agencies have also obtained information about funds that the treasurer of Amritpal, identified as Basant Singh Daulatpura, received from Pakistan. An intelligence officer said, “The financial analysis revealed that his associate, John Singh, is a prominent member of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and actively participated in the activities of Referendum 2020 in the US. Another suspected financier, who is Canada-based, recently sent Rs 1 lakh for Waris Punjab De.” Before returning to India on August 20, 2022, Amritpal spent one-and-a-half months in Georgia, a senior officer said.
18-Mar-2023
On March 18, several members of the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha (Community Justice Front) staged a sit-in at the Sohana chowk in Mohali on the Airport Road in response to police action taken against pro-Khalistan activist Amritpal Singh and his supporters. Some of the youths taking part in the protest had covered their faces and were armed with traditional weapons, swords, and sticks.
18-Mar-2023
The hearing in the 2005 sedition case filed against Jagtar Singh Hawara, the chief of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) who is currently serving a life sentence for the assassination of former Chief Minister (CM) Beant Singh, has been postponed until April 1. The court in Chandigarh was set to hear arguments regarding the charges on March 18, with Hawara scheduled to appear through a video link. However, it was discovered that he had been relocated to Delhi's Mandoli jail, while the video link created connected with Tihar Jail. The court attempted unsuccessfully to connect with the new facility, leading to the adjournment of the hearing to April 1.
18-Mar-2023
Punjab police on March 18 launched a “massive state-wide cordon and search operation” against Amritpal Singh, and arrested a total of 78 members of Waris Punjab De (WPD) from different locations in Punjab. Police also suspended Internet and SMS services across the state till March 19. However, Amritpal Singh managed to escape the police dragnet when his cavalcade was intercepted in the Jalandhar district. According to media reports, police officers from seven different districts chased Amritpal and his accomplices, and surrounded them in the Mehatpur village of the Jalandhar district. Punjab police have also blocked off the route, placed barriers, and are checking all vehicles for Amritpal Singh near the Dharamkot area in Moga district. Later, Punjab police in a statement, said that small arms and ammunition, including a revolver, seven 12-bore rifles, a. 315-bore rifle, and 373 live rounds, were recovered during the crackdown. It also said that WPD members faced four cases for “spreading disharmony among classes, attempt to murder, attack on police persons and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duties of public servants”.
18-Mar-2023
Meanwhile, several police and paramilitary force were deployed outside of Amritpal's native village Jallupur Khaira in Amritsar district. Notably, this police action comes a day ahead of the start of Amritpal’s “Khalsa Wahir” (a religious procession) from Muktsar district. According to official sources, internet access was shut down as Amritpal’s supporters started spreading inflammatory messages on social media.
18-Mar-2023
During Punjab police’s massive crackdown against self-styled Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh and his outfit Waris Punjab De (WPD) on March 18, in a Facebook Live video, Amritpal Singh's aide claimed that over 100 Punjab Police officials were chasing him out for arrest. In the video that was shared, Amritpal was seen sitting in a vehicle, and one of his aides could be heard saying that police were looking for "Bhai saab" (Amritpal).
18-Mar-2023
According to Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA), which is closely monitoring the situation in Punjab, some of the funding and logistical support for Amritpal Singh and his outfit Waris Punjab De (WDP) is coming from the terror-gangster-drug smuggling network and, to a certain extent, from Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) through Pakistan-based Pro-Khalistan Entities (PKEs). As per the UMHA officials, “the main source for terror and radical funding in Punjab is foreign-based PKEs and donors who are collecting and channelising donation from Indian diaspora”. The officials said, "they mostly target places like Gurudwaras where large gatherings of devotees congregate on weekends and on auspicious occasions," adding that some organizations that assert to be fighting for community justice and the rights of convicts are soliciting significant donations in this regard. A high-ranking official in the Punjab state administration stated that funds raised from the Indian diaspora in the name of aiding the underprivileged are being diverted towards assisting jailed terrorists, those acquitted or released on bail or parole for various terrorist crimes, and family members of terrorists, as well as sleeper cells and other anti-national elements. This, according to the official, is a deliberate attempt to revive Sikh militancy and support terrorist and anti-India activities.
18-Mar-2023
Pro-Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh’s father, Tarsem Singh on March 18 accused that his son is being targeted by police due to political pressure because he is actively working to eradicate drug use in Punjab. “This action against Amritpal is unjustified. There are drugs in every home. But there is no focus on that issue. If someone is trying to end the drug menace, he is being stopped," he said.
17-Mar-2023
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the head of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), in an audio message on March 17 threatened to teach the big leaders of the country a lesson and also threw a challenge to Gujarat police. The message, which was pre-recorded and directed to numerous mobile users in Gujarat, contained Pannun's allegation that the Union government's leaders were accountable for the fatalities of Sikh farmers who demonstrated against the new agricultural policies in 2020-2021. The audio message went on to caution that the SFJ would not pardon the government for those casualties.
17-Mar-2023
The founder of Dal Khalsa and former pro-Khalistan leader, Jaswant Singh Thekedar exposed Amritpal Singh by saying that he does not know anything about Khalistan and that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan is using him as a tool. He also, stated, "He is not a Khalistani, but it is certain that he has earned a lot in the name of Khalistan. His plans will not succeed further."
17-Mar-2023
Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, during the second part of his interview which was broadcasted on a television network on March 17, allegedly threatened to kill Bollywood actor Salman Khan by calling it ‘his main goal’. “I will be a big ‘goonda’ (as you call me) when I kill Salman (for shooting a blackbuck in Rajasthan),” he said. He also claimed that Bishnoi community worships blackbucks. Meanwhile, it was officially declared by the in-charge Director General of Punjab (DGP) Gaurav Yadav that Bishnoi's controversial interview with a TV channel was not conducted from the Bathinda jail's high-security area or any other jail in Punjab.
17-Mar-2023
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president, Harjinder Singh Dhami, organized a special event to welcome G20 representatives at the Golden Temple in Amritsar where the delegates were honored. Meanwhile, the delegates were also apprised of the Sikh history and the maryada (code of conduct) of the Golden Temple that conveys the message of universal communion.
16-Mar-2023
Three members of Lawrence Bishnoi's gang, identified as Sonu, Sachin, and Harish were arrested after a brief encounter in Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan on March 16. According to police sources, the gang had been trying to extort money from a businessman. Anmol Bishnoi, Lawrence Bishnoi's brother, purportedly threatened the businessman over the phone before sending two of his aides to his house to extort money. All three were reportedly acting on Anmol Bishnoi's orders.
16-Mar-2023
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that the disturbance caused by supporters of Khalistani at the Indian consulate in Brisbane has been brought to the attention of the Australian authorities, and they are expected to take necessary measures in response. He stated, "Consulate was halted for little while. Australian authorities were informed of the issue, and they would need to take appropriate action. Prime Minister (PM) Modi already raised concerns on such issues in their meeting on March 10 when with his counterpart Australian PM. Our teams are in touch".
16-Mar-2023
The Border Security Force's (BSF) new Inspector General (IG) for the Punjab frontier, Dr. Atul Fulzele, on March 16, stated that his aim is to check human and drone infiltration from Pakistan to halt the inflow of drugs and weapons.
16-Mar-2023
During an interview, Jaswant Singh Thekedar, the Dal Khalsa founder, asserted that the ‘Khalistan referendum’ is a scheme orchestrated by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and is an effort to deceive the public. He emphasized that the so-called referendum has no connection to the Sikh community in India. He said that Pakistan is the real enemy of Khalistan and "some Sikhs are working as tools" in hands of Pakistan government. He also said the people of Punjab are not demanding any referendum. "The referendum you are talking about, those in Punjab do not demand it. It's an organisation 2020, they talk of referendum on the instructions of ISI. Referendum does not mean... if Indian passport holders or Indian citizens want it then it is understandable, but it is not that Canadian, American or British people vote. They do not have any right," he said answering queries. "It is 'pakhand' (sham) to mislead people. People are understanding it a source of income for them," he added. He also stated that he admires the effort done by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi for the Sikh community. He added, “The government has worked on major demands, and only a few demands and left to be fulfilled. All will be good if they agree to meet these demands”.
15-Mar-2023
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on March 15 stated that the state is not experiencing a surge in radicalisation. "In Punjab, social ties are very strong. The current problems Punjab is facing are related to employment, industry, higher education, and health”, said the CM.
15-Mar-2023
Police arrested four members of the Davinder Bambiha gang, identified as Mannu Batta, Aman Kumar, Sanjeev, and Kamaldeep, and recovered three .32 bore pistols, a revolver, and 23 live cartridges from them in Chandigarh on March 15. The suspects used to extort money from club and hotel owners at the behest of Gaurav Patiala alias Lucky and Prince, who are based in Canada.
15-Mar-2023
The Punjab government on March 15 claimed that there has been a significant improvement in the law-and-order situation in the border state one year after the government, led by Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann, took office. The Punjab government’s spokesperson stated that the law-and-order situation in the border state has witnessed a considerable improvement as majority of criminals and gangsters have been put behind the bar, while, many of them chose to leave the state amidst the strict vigil maintained by Punjab Police on the movement of anti-social elements. According to the official data from March 16, 2022, to March 15, 2023, the Punjab Police have dismantled 26 terror modules with the arrest of 168 terrorists/radicals after recovering 31 rifles, 201 revolvers/pistols, 9 tiffin Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs), 8.72 kg of RDX and other explosives, 11 hand grenades, two sleeves of disposed rocket launchers, 30 drones, and one loaded rocket propelled grenade. Similarly, the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), since its formation on April 6, 2022, has succeeded in busting 162 gangster/criminal modules after arresting 582 gangsters/criminals and neutralising five, after recovering 586 weapons, 131 vehicles used in criminal activities. The Punjab Police had also waged a decisive war against drugs which resulted in the arrest of as many as 17568 drug smugglers after registering 13094 FIRs since March 16, 2022, against them. Punjab Police have effectively recovered a record 863.9Kg heroin in just one year.
15-Mar-2023
The Punjab Prisons Department claimed that the gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s interview that was broadcasted on a television channel on March 14 was not shot inside any prison in the state. Bishnoi, who was arrested in connection with the murder of Punjabi singer-politician Sidhu Moose Wala, is currently lodged in Bathinda jail in Punjab. Punjab Police said, "It has come to notice that a private TV news channel has aired an interview with prisoner Lawrence Bishnoi allegedly from within a jail. There are rumors circulating that the interview was recorded from Bathinda Jail. To be very clear, neither Bathinda jail, where the prisoner is currently kept nor any other jail in Punjab is where this video is from, confirming that all the rumors are baseless.”
14-Mar-2023
The Amritsar Commissionerate Police on March 14 prohibited the use of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles throughout the region from March 14–21 due to the presence of VIPs and international delegates associated with the G20 Summit and their mobility. The places where the delegates would be staying and the relevant routes have been declared as red zones, and the flying of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles has been prohibited to increase security and prevent any untoward incident from airborne entities. This prohibition also encompasses the sites where the G20 Education Working Group gatherings will take place.
14-Mar-2023
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Headquarters Sukhchain Singh Gill on March 14 stated that the Punjab Police had arrested 11,360 drug traffickers, including 1,628 ‘big fish’ since July 5, 2022. Additionally, the Police have registered 8458 first information reports (FIR) of which 962 are connected to commercial quantity. The police teams have recovered 612.78 Kg of heroin from across the state after carrying out cordon and search operations in drug-affected areas across the state. Furthermore, 147.5 kg of heroin were seized at Gujarat and Maharashtra seaports, bringing the total amount of heroin recovered in just eight months to 760.28 kgs. Along with a large quantity of heroin, the IGP stated that, police also seized a massive haul of opium, 586 kg of ganja, 270 quintals of poppy husk, and 53.73 lakh tablets, capsules, injections, vials of pharmaceutical opioids and INR 10.36 lakh drug money from different parts of the state. The IGP further said that in the last week, the police had arrested 234 drug smugglers and suppliers after registering 189 FIRs, including 22 commercials, and recovered 7.60-Kg heroin, 10.30-Kg opium, 13.87-Kg Ganja, 2.80 quintals of poppy husk, and 59271 tablets, capsules, injections and vials of Pharma opioids besides recovering INR 1.47 lakh drug money from their possession. He added that with 25 more proclaimed offenders (POs) and absconders in the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) cases arrested in the last one week, the total number of arrests reached 749 since the special drive was started on July 5, 2022.
14-Mar-2023
The Dal Khalsa decided to hold a Punjab Summit in Amritsar on March 19 parallel to the G20 summit in order to present Punjab's perspective on social, economic, educational, agricultural, human rights, and political matters to the G20 nations. Paramjit Singh Mand, the spokesperson for Dal Khalsa, announced that speakers from diverse Sikh organizations, institutions, farmers' groups, as well as experts on the subject, will be invited to participate in the summit.
14-Mar-2023
The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) alleged that the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) used the Guru Granth Sahib as a "shield" to aid the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in taking over a section of the Gurdwara Rakab Ganj in Delhi.
14-Mar-2023
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) has enquired with the Punjab Government regarding the absence of a qualified panel to facilitate the appointment of a permanent Director General of Police (DGP) as the head of the state police. Official sources state that the state government did not provide a response to the MHA's correspondence on the matter.
14-Mar-2023
In the wake of a video clip released by the Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) of damaging the railway track leading towards Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant at Lehra Mohabbat ahead of the G20 Summit, Punjab police on March 14 carried out a special cordon and search operation in all 28 police districts of the state and conducted searches at various locations and hideouts connected to foreign-based gangsters and their allies. According to the police, more than 300 houses and other shelters were checked during these raids, which included nearly 100 police parties and more than 1,000 police officers.
13-Mar-2023
The Valmiki Sevak Sangh (VSS) on March 13 organized a protest march from Bharat Nagar Chowk to the Police Commissioner's office in Ludhiana, demonstrating against the drug epidemic and gang violence prevalent in Punjab.
13-Mar-2023
Dal Khalsa sent letters to heads of missions of all 19 countries in Delhi prior to their delegates' visit to Amritsar as part of the G20 summit.
13-Mar-2023
Punjab police on March 13 conducted an operation called "OPS Seal-II" as part of the new security arrangements in the state in the wake of the G20 Summit. The operation was executed on the orders of the Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, and targeted ten inter-state borders in the state, where all vehicles entering were thoroughly inspected. The primary objective of the operation was to curb the influx of illegal substances, such as drugs, alcohol, weapons, and ammunition, while also monitoring for gang-related and other disruptive activities.
13-Mar-2023
The Crime Investigating Agency (CIA) arrested two alleged drug peddlers along with 6 kg of opium in two separate cases in Jagraon in Ludhiana district on March 13. The accused were identified as Gurjit Singh alias Geeti, who was found to be carrying 5 kg of opium, and Mann Singh, who had 1 kg of opium in his possession.
13-Mar-2023
Police on March 13 arrested an alleged aide of pro-Khalistan activist Amritpal Singh, identified as Sukhmander Singh in connection with an attempt to murder and robbery case from Amritsar. Karanjit Singh alias Vicky was assaulted and robbed by armed persons on March 5. Police also booked Gurinder Singh Ghali of Moga along with his unknown accomplices in this case.
12-Mar-2023
Gujarat Police on March 12 arrested two accused, identified as Rahul Kumar Dwivedi and Narendra Kushwaha for allegedly making threats to disrupt a cricket match at the behest of the pro-Khalistan organization Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) from Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh. During the search, police also seized 11 sim boxes, each of which could hold 300 sim cards, and four routers. Prior to the India-Australia cricket match, which was attended by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese, a mass message which warned that a pro-Khalistan group planned to storm the cricket stadium and raise its flag was sent out widely.
12-Mar-2023
A panel formed by the Akal Takht to decide whether the "saroop" (copy) of the Guru Granth Sahib can be brought to protest sites submitted its report on March 12. A spokesperson from the Akal Takht secretariat stated that a decision on the matter will be made public after the meeting of the "Panj Singh Sahiban," or five Sikh high priests, on March 14 at the Gurdwara Manji Sahib Diwan Hall in the Golden Temple complex.
11-Mar-2023
Panthic bodies and activists, led by former militant leader and All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) president Daljit Singh Bittu, on March 11 announced to call a World Sikh Convention on June 28, to liberate the Akal Takht, the highest Sikh temporal seat, from the influence of electoral bodies and revive old Sikh traditions. Bittu said, “The international gathering will be hosted at Anandpur Sahib on Miri-Piri Divas (June 28) this year. The intention is to address the current challenges facing Sikhs around the world today, with a primary focus on coming to a collective resolution on re-establishing panch pardhani (collective) leadership and gurmatta-based decision-making at Akal Takht Sahib”. “Sikh organisations, institutions and representatives will be invited from all over the world to participate in the effort to liberate Akal Takht Sahib from the influence of electoral parties and shift its governance processes in line with panthic tradition and collective decision-making,” he said.
11-Mar-2023
Australia's Prime Minister (PM) Anthony Albanese during his visit to New Delhi on March 11 stated that Australia will not tolerate any extremist activities or attacks on places of worship, particularly Hindu temples in Australia. He further assured that "we will take every measure through our security agencies and police to make sure that whoever is guilty of this faces the full force of the law. Australia is a tolerant, multicultural country, thus this activity has no place there”.