KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
31-Dec-2022
According to report, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) registered as many as 73 terrorism-related cases in 2022, including 11 in Jammu and Kashmir, and seven related to the outlawed Popular Front of India (PFI). This is about a 20% increase compared to 2021 when the federal anti-terror investigative agency registered 61 cases. Officials said that this is also the highest number of cases registered by the NIA since its inception in 2009 following the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack of 2008. As many as 59 charge sheets were filed in 2022 against 368 people. For 2022, 456 accused persons, including 19 absconders, were arrested. Deportation of gangsters and pro-Khalistani suspects from Malaysia and Austria were also part of this.
31-Dec-2022
According to latest report, the year 2022 witnessed over two hundred drone intrusions from Pakistan in the Indian Punjab even as the Border Security Force (BSF) is yet to install an effective anti-drone technology all along the 553 international borders with Pakistan in Punjab and is currently dependent on troops' alertness in detecting the "bee like" buzzing over Indian skies in the border towns of Punjab which has become a new terror symbol. BSF Inspector General (IG), Punjab Frontier, Asif Jalal informed that during 2022 BSF had downed 22 Pak drones. “This is due to maintaining extremely high level of alertness and vigil by our troops that we have successfully detected and captured 22 drones," said the IG. He further informed that BSF had also seized around 317 kg of heroin besides 67 different types of weapons and 850 rounds. The border guarding force had also killed 2 Pakistani intruders and apprehended 23 Pakistani nationals in different incidents. "Displaying a humanitarian approach BSF has also handed over 9 Pakistani nationals back to Pak Rangers, these Pak nationals had inadvertently crossed the international border to India", he said.
31-Dec-2022
According to sources, while the drone incursions penetrating into the Indian airspace from across the border multiplied three times in Ferozepur sector this year (2022), the amount of heroin seized reduced to almost half as compared to last year (2021). Sources said, 63 drone intrusions were reported this year (2022) along the Indo-Pakistan border in this sector, while 77.78 kg heroin was recovered by the BSF troops. In 2021, only 13 such incidents of drone incursions were reported in this sector; besides 214.955 kg heroin was recovered. This quantity of heroin does not include the contraband seized by other law enforcing agencies operating along the border, including CIA, Narcotics Control Bureau, Punjab Police, Counter Intelligence and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, SSOC and newly formed STG, besides others. Besides heroin, the BSF troops in this sector also recovered 40 firearms (all types), 290 live cartridges, 60 magazines in 2022. “Our forces have thwarted several attempts by anti-national elements to push consignments of contraband and arms inside our border, but we are determined to preserve the sanctity of the borders at all times,” said BSF official, admitting that Pakistani smugglers have been desperate to push drugs into the Indian territory, taking advantage of the standing crops and dense fog during the winter season.
31-Dec-2022
Police on December 31 arrested four more persons, identified as Kuldeep Singh Laddoo, Ashokdeep Singh Arash, Gursewak Singh Sewak Khalli and Harman Singh, in connection with the RPG attack on the Sarhali police station along with illegal weapons. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gurmeet Singh Chauhan said Harman Singh provided shelter to the main accused at his tube well room, while the other three dealt with the money sent by the mastermind of the attack. Two pistols were seized from Kuldeep Singh and Ashokdeep Singh, while parts of an air gun used in the manufacture of illegal revolvers were seized from Gursewak Singh. With the arrest of the four, the count of those involved in the attack has gone up to 14. Seven juveniles, who had a minor role in the attack, had been let off by the police on humanitarian grounds. Canada-based gangster Lakhbir Singh, alias Landa Harike, is the mastermind of the attack.
30-Dec-2022
The Intelligence Agencies issued an alert about a terrorist attack in Punjab on New Year's Eve. According to reports, several terrorist organisations can execute attacks with the aim of spreading terror across Punjab at the behest of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), reports Daily Guardian on December 31. Aside from court complexes, there is information that the Deputy Commissioner (DC) office, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) office, Police stations, and government offices might be targeted. Following the input, security has been tightened in key locations around Punjab.
29-Dec-2022
The separatist organisation Lashkar-e-Khalsa Khalistan on December 29 threatened to kill Abhilakshya Khanna, son of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Jalandhar District Vice-President Vivek Khanna and Councilor Shaili Khanna, through its spokesperson, identified as Sandeep Singh Khalistani. Through a Whatsapp call, the Khalistani supporter demanded that Khanna leave the BJP, join the Congress, and only cast his vote for the Congress party, failing to which he and his family will be killed. The Indian Army and ministers have also been targeted, as per the Whatsapp message delivered by the Khalistani.
28-Dec-2022
According to data compiled by the Border Security Force (BSF), there have been 254 drone activities in Punjab from January 1 to December 28, 2022 as compared to 67 in 2021. This includes 221 activities detected inside Indian territory and 22 inside Pakistan. The activity in Punjab accounts for about 84 per cent of the total drone activities reported along the entire western border in 2022. In 226 out of the 254 incidents in 2022, the spotted drones were fired upon by BSF personnel. The data also shows that nine drones were shot down by the BSF and another 12 may have landed or fallen due to other reasons. Another four drones were recovered by the Punjab Police in 2022. Across the western front running through the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), the number of drone activities has witnessed a three-fold increase, from 100 in 2021 to 304 in 2022.
28-Dec-2022
The Punjab Police on December 28 arrested two people, identified as Jashnpreet Singh and Sarwan Singh alias Sabba, from Gurdaspur District in Punjab and recovered 10 kilograms Heroin along with two pistols, four magazines and 180 live cartridges. “The arrested persons were in contact with Pakistan based operative who pushed the consignment through the fences into India”, the Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab Gaurav Yadav stated.
27-Dec-2022
Punjab Police on December 27 neutralised a sub-module of Canada-based terrorist Lakhbir Landa and arrested three operatives, identified as Kulbir Singh, Hira Singh, and Davinder Singh from Billianwala bridge in Tarn Taran District in Punjab. The Police have also recovered a loaded Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) and a rocket launcher buried along the banks of River Beas at Kiriyan village in Tarn Taran District in Punjab. According to Police, terrorist Lakhbir Landa is the main conspirator of RPG attacks at the Sarhali police station on December 10, 2022 and claimed the neutralised sub-module was being handled by militant Yadwinder Singh operating from Manila in Philippines on Landa’s instructions.
26-Dec-2022
Inspector General of Police (IG) Punjab Sukhchain Singh Gill on December 26 said that during 2022, the Internal Security has neutralised 18 terror modules with the arrest of 119 terrorists/radicals after recovering 43 Rifles, 220 Revolvers/Pistols, 13 Tiffin Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs), 24.5 kilograms Royal Demolition eXplosive (RDX) and other explosives, 37 Hand Grenades, two Sleeves of disposed Rocket Launcher, 22 Drones, and 23 vehicles. He added that the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), since its formation on April 6, 2022, has succeeded in neutralizing 111 gangster/criminal modules after arresting 428 gangsters/criminals and neutralizing two, recovering 411 weapons, 97 vehicles used in criminal activities, 44.21 kilograms heroin and INR 1,30,00,000 money. Giving yearly updates on drugs, the IGP said that from January 1 to December 25, 2022, Punjab Police have arrested 16798 drug smugglers/suppliers, including 2316 big fish after registering 12171 first information reports (FIRs), including 1374 commercials.
25-Dec-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) on December 25 shot down a quadcopter coming from Pakistan side along the International Border (IB) near the Rajatal Village in Amritsar District.
24-Dec-2022
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on December 24 conducted multiple searches at different locations in Punjab pertaining to the case relates to terror activities of chiefs/members of proscribed terrorist organizations, such as Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) etc. NIA said the terror activities include smuggling of terrorist hardware such as arms, ammunition explosives and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) across International Borders (IB) for use by operatives and members of terror outfits and organized criminal gangs operating in various parts of the country for carrying out terrorist acts like bomb explosions, targeted killings etc. Incriminating materials, including digital devices and documents have been recovered during the raids.
23-Dec-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) on December 23 shot down a drone near Mulankot border in Gharinda village in Amritsar District.
20-Dec-2022
'Khalistan Zindabad' was found written on the walls of Government College in Sri Muktsar Sahib District on December 20. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), reportedly claimed responsibility for the incident.
20-Dec-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) on December 20 shot down a drone that had entered India from the Pakistani side along the International Border (IB) in the Amritsar District.
20-Dec-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) on December 20 shot down a drone that entered into the Indian side from Pakistan near the Harbhajan border post in the Ferozepur sector of Ferozepur District. BSF officers identified the drone as a quadcopter MATRICE 300 RTK used by Pakistan-based agencies to drop arms and contraband into Indian territory.
19-Dec-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) on December 19 spotted drones in two BSF posts, in Chandu Wadala and Kassowal at around 10.30 pm in the Gurdaspur District.
19-Dec-2022
The Punjab Police on December 19 arrested two persons in connection with the murder of Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) follower Pardeep Singh, who was accused of 2015 sacrilege cases, at Kotkapura in the Faridkot District of Punjab. The accused have been identified as Parvinder Singh, alias Kala, and Manpreet, who supplied vehicles for the main accused to escape after the crime was committed.
16-Dec-2022
Punjab Police’s State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) on December 16 arrested a suspected spy of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) from Mohali District. The suspect, identified as Tarpinder Singh, has been working with ISI agents for more than three years and provided sensitive documents, locations, photographs and other information about various police buildings and army bases located in Punjab. According to sources, the ISI has chosen gangster Harry Chatha alias Supreet, the mastermind of the 2016-Nabha Jailbreak, to replace the slain Khalistani terrorist, Harvinder Singh Rinda, for carrying out anti-India activities in Punjab.
16-Dec-2022
Punjab Police on December 16 arrested seven persons, including two juveniles who were involved in the December 9 Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) attack at the Sarhali Police Station in Tarn Taran District. Apart from the two juveniles, five others are identified as Ajmeet Singh, who is already lodged in Goindwal jail in a murder case, Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi Numberdar; Gurlal Singh; Surlalpal Singh alias Gurlal, alias Lali; and Jobanpreet Singh alias Joban. Police have also recovered three pistols - two .32 bore and one .30 bore - along with ammunition, one hand grenade and one motorcycle from the arrested persons. Police said the attack was carried out at the directions of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in coordination with a Canada-based terror module run by Lakhbir Singh alias Landa Harike, and his Europe-based accomplices Satbir Singh Satta and Gurdev Singh Jassal.
13-Dec-2022
The Punjab Police on December 13 detained four persons on charges of providing logistic support to the militants who carried out a Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) attack on Sarhali Police Station in Tarn Taran District of Punjab on December 9.
13-Dec-2022
The Punjab police on December 13 arrested four associates of gangster Lakhbir Landa, identified as Gurlal Singh, Rajbir Singh Raja, Armandeep Singh and Gurlal Singh from Vallah Bypass G T Road in Amritsar District. Four country-made weapons, four magazines and nine bullets were recovered from them.
12-Dec-2022
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) along with Punjab police on December 12 recovered the Russian-made Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG-22) which was used to target the Sarhali police station in Tarn Taran District in Punjab on December 9, 2022. According to Gaurav Yadav, the Director-General of Police (DGP) Punjab, who visited the site, the grenade recovered seemed to have been smuggled from across the border and there is a clear indication that "the neighbouring nation's objective is to bleed India by a thousand cuts”.
11-Dec-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) on December 11 recovered a cache of arms and ammunition, including two AK-47 assault rifles, two pistols, and 40 bullets from Chandi Wala village in Ferozepur District in Punjab near the International Border (IB).
10-Dec-2022
A Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) was fired by unidentified individuals at Sarhali police station in Sarhali Kalan in the Patti subdivision of Tarn Taran District on December 10. No casualty was reported.
09-Dec-2022
A drone coming from the Pakistan side was spotted by the Border Security Force (BSF) along the International Border (IB) in the Jalalabad subdivision of Fazilka District. Reportedly, the BSF troops fired almost six rounds towards the drone, which returned to Pakistan. Following this, a search operation, jointly with the Punjab Police, was carried out in the area to check dropping of narcotics by the drone.
08-Dec-2022
Punjab Police on December 8 confirmed that Yuvraj Sabharwal alias Yash and two other individuals identified as Fatehdeep Singh and Bhavneet Micky had received a sum of INR 30,000,00 from terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa in connection with the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) case in Amritsar District in Punjab on August 16, 2022.
07-Dec-2022
Punjab Police on December 7 arrested gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in connection with an extortion case filed in Punjab on March 22, 2021.
07-Dec-2022
Punjab Police on December 7 arrested three gang members, identified as Lovepreet Singh alias Laddi, Gagandeep Singh alias Gagan and Sukhwinder Singh associated with gangster Lakhbir Singh Landa from Apra in Jalandhar District. Seven pistols, 35 live cartridges, one revolver of 32 bore, one pistol of 315 bore and two cartridges and an i20 car have been recovered from them.
06-Dec-2022
Punjab Police on December 6 neutralized an extortion racket run by Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) operatives Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala and Hardeep Singh Nijjar, and arrested four gang members identified as Balwinder Singh, Gurjant Singh, Gurlal Singh and Kamardeep Singh from Moga District. Three live cartridges, one 30-bore pistol, one magazine along with INR 300,000 was recovered from them.
06-Dec-2022
Punjab Police on December 6 arrested two cross-border smugglers identified as Bhagwan Singh alias Bhaga and Harpreet Singh alias Pittu, from an unspecified location in Punjab and recovered drug money worth INR 5,100,000 and two cars from their possession.
05-Dec-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered a broken quadcopter with three kilograms of Heroin near Roranwala Kalan village under Chogawan-2 Tehsil (revenue unit) in Amritsar District, near the India – Pakistan border in Punjab on December 5.
04-Dec-2022
A drone along with 3 kilograms of heroin was recovered near the India-Pakistan border under Valtoha Police limits in Tarn Taran District on December 4.
03-Dec-2022
Border Security Force (BSF) recovered about 25 kilograms of heroin, which was airdropped by a Pakistani drone in the Fazilka District on December 3.
01-Dec-2022
Police arrested two gangsters, identified as Ravi and Robin, suspected to be part of a narco-terror module while three of their accomplices managed to escape in Kapatgarh area falling under the Chheharta police station in Amritsar on December 1. The police confiscated five pistols, including three foreign-made weapons, and 17 live cartridges from their possession. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigations), Mukhwinder Singh Bhullar, said as per the preliminary probe, the suspects were allegedly part of a narco-terror module.
30-Nov-2022
Unknown persons wrote separatist slogans in the office premises of Block Development and Panchayat Officer in Malout in Muktsar district on November 30 night. On December 1 morning, when informed, policemen reached the spot and erased these slogans. At the same time, through a video, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun took responsibility for the incident and threatened Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann to meet the same fate as late former CM Beant Singh. Pannun alleged that Bhagwant Mann's government is forcing the farmers of Punjab to commit suicide. The then CM Beant Singh was killed in an explosion on August 31, 1995.
30-Nov-2022
Police on November 30 arrested Ashish Masih, a terrorist wanted in more than 10 cases and an absconder from a Hospital in Gurdaspur District. Pistols and cartridges have also been recovered from the arrested terrorist. Police said that Ashish Masih, who was arrested in the case of RDX and hand grenade found in Dina Nagar of Gurdaspur last year, was lodged in Gurdaspur jail. On August 28, stating that he was mentally disturbed, he had reached Amritsar's Mental Hospital for treatment, from where he had absconded.
30-Nov-2022
Punjab Police and Border Security Force (BSF) after shot down a drone in Kalas village in Khemkaran border area in Tarn Taran District.
30-Nov-2022
Punjab Police during a joint operation with the Border Security Force (BSF), recovered five AK-47 rifles, five pistols and nine magazines from Ferozepur District.
30-Nov-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF)’s Additional Director General (ADG), Western Command, PV Rama Sastry in Amritsar District of Punjab on November 30, said that the force is effectively responding to the drone threat at the International Border (IB), and in one month, six drones have been shot down by security personnel. While replying to a media query, regarding the movement of drones at the Punjab border, being used for smuggling of arms, ammunition, explosives and drugs, the ADG said, “Drone has become a challenge, but we have been giving an effective response. Recently, two drones were shot down in a single day. Similarly, last month six drones were brought down. So, we are effectively responding to the drone issue.”
29-Nov-2022
In a joint operation, sleuths belonging to Counter Intelligence (CI) wing and troops of the 136th Battalion reportedly found arms and ammunition near the Dona Telu Mal Border Outpost (BOP) in Ferozepur sector in Ferozepur District. During the joint search operation, a cache of arms and ammunition, including five assault rifles, five pistols were found from the fields along the Indo-Pakistan border.
29-Nov-2022
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on November 29, filed a charge sheet against two accused in a case relating to a bomb explosion at Jalalabad in Fazilka District. The NIA in an official statement said those who are named in the supplementary charge sheet in the case include Surat Singh, a resident of Mahatam Nagar village and Gurucharan Singh, a resident of Noore Ke village, in Fazilka district. The case pertains to a bomb explosion in Jalalabad town of Fazilka district on September 15, 2021, in which one person was killed. The case was initially registered by Punjab Police, which was re-registered by NIA on October 1, 2021
28-Nov-2022
Two Pakistani drones were gunned down by the Border Security Force (BSF) on November 28, along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab, foiling the cross-border drugs smuggling bids in Amritsar and Tarn Taran Districts. The two hexacopters were carrying around 10 kilograms of heroin which were recovered by the BSF troops.
26-Nov-2022
A special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) sent Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) terrorist Kulwinderjit Singh alias Khanpuria – who was allegedly involved in attacks on establishments connected to the Dera Sacha Sauda and Punjab Police, to three-day custody on November 26. The NIA sought his custody to probe a case registered against him at the Rajasansi Police Station in Amritsar after a bag with two hand grenades and a mobile phone was recovered from two bike-borne men at a check post in Amritsar in 2019.
25-Nov-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) shot down a drone that entered from Pakistan near Daoke village in Amritsar District. BSF fired at the drone after they noticed it sneaking into the Indian territory near Daoke village, 34 kilometres southwest of Amritsar city, on November 25 evening, the BSF said. During the search, the BSF seized a Quadcopter DJI Matrice 300 RTK (Chinese drone) in a partially-damaged condition, according to officials.
19-Nov-2022
A drone from Pakistan was spotted close to the International Border (IB) between India and Pakistan in the Kassowal area in Gurdaspur District. The drone back to Pakistan after Border Security Force (BSF) troops fired at it on November 19 night, the BSF said, adding that the personnel fired at least 96 rounds at the drone and also used five illumination bombs.
19-Nov-2022
A drone was spotted in the Channa Patan area in Amritsar District. The drone went back after the Border Security Force (BSF) troops fired 10 rounds, the BSF said.
17-Nov-2022
The Police arrested two suspects, identified as Parkash Singh of Barke village in Ferozepur and Angrej Singh of Alike village in Ferozepur, and seized a hand grenade and INR 100,000 from them, at a checkpoint on the Amritsar-Pathankot Road in Daburji under Majitha-3 Tehsil (revenue unit) in Amritsar District of Punjab on November 17. The hand grenade was reportedly smuggled from Pakistan through a drone.
10-Nov-2022
Unidentified gunmen killed Dera Sacha Sauda follower Pardeep Singh at Kot Kapura in Faridkot District in a shootout on November 10. Pardeep Singh was facing the case of sacrilege in the incident of theft of the Bir of Guru Granth Sahib from Burj Jawahar Singh Wala village on June 1, 2015, and was out on bail. The five persons on two bikes are learnt to have fired indiscriminately when Pardeep was opening his milk dairy at Hari Nau Singh Road in Kot Kapura. Pardeep’s gunman and another person sustained injuries in the incident. Meanwhile. hours later, in an alleged Facebook post, gangster Goldy Brar said, " I, Goldy Brar from Lawrence Bishnoi gang, takes the responsibility of murder of 2015 Bargari Beadbi (sacrilege) case."
10-Nov-2022
According to reports, the central government sees an upward trend in Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and pro-Khalistan elements forging close links with terror nodes abroad, mainly in countries like Canada and Germany, to create unrest in Punjab. The report said, for the security agencies who are keeping a close eye on cross-border attempts to vitiate the communal harmony and disturb the law and order in Punjab, the latest sacrilege killing at Kotkapura in Faridkot district on November 10 is a worrying development. The worry has been compounded with Canada-based gangster Satwinder Singh alias Goldy Brar claiming responsibility for the killing of Pradeep Singh. Meanwhile, the Additional Director General (ADG) (law and order) in Punjab Police, Arpit Shukla said, “Six teams have been constituted to investigate the crime. Some motorcycles used by criminals have been seized. It is too early to pinpoint who is behind the murder, but all angles are being investigated.”