KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
28-Feb-2022
According to reports, Ulsoor Gurdwara in Karnataka has written to the Karnataka government to issue a government order (GO) to protect the five Kakkar’s (articles of faith) and the constitutional rights of the Sikh minority community of Karnataka.
26-Feb-2022
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) termed the alleged denial of admission to a six-year-old Sikh boy by a private school in Karnataka’s Mangaluru as an attack on religious freedom of the community. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami has also reportedly written to the Karnataka Chief Minister (CM), seeking an appointment to discuss the issue.
26-Feb-2022
The Focal Point police arrested a factory worker, identified as Sone Lal Mahato and recovered 1.05-kg opium from him in Gobindgarh village in Ludhiana district. Sone Lal Mahato, who hails from Bihar, had procured the drug from Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.
25-Feb-2022
The Nurmahal police arrested two drug peddlers, identified as Jaskaran Singh alias Raju and Jagtar Ram alias Sunny and recovered 470 intoxicant tablets in Jalandhar district.
25-Feb-2022
According to reports, at a time when drug addiction is on the rise, the residents of Kaljharani village in Bathinda district have literally waged a war against “chitta”, a highly addictive synthetic drug. Many youngsters have died due to drug overdose in the district in the recent past and the issue had been raked up by various political parties during the recently concluded Assembly elections.
25-Feb-2022
After a teenager allegedly died of drug overdose at Gurusar village in Gidderbaha in Muktsar district, the panchayat decided not to help anyone secure bail if found selling drugs. The decision was taken after villagers assembled in protest.
24-Feb-2022
Taking note of drug peddling and use in their area, the residents of Kaljharani village in Bathinda district threatened people in the illicit trade with dire consequences if they are caught. The local villagers threatened to take the law in their hands, saying that they would “break the legs” of anyone found selling drugs.
24-Feb-2022
The ‘bhog’ ceremony of actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu, who had died in an accident in Haryana’s Sonipat district, was held at the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) run Gurdwara at Fatehgarh Sahib in Fatehgarh Sahib district. A large number of followers of Sidhu, including leaders like Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann, paid tributes to Sidhu. Youth carrying posters of Deep Sidhu on way to the Gurudwara raised pro-Khalistan and Deep Sidhu “amar rahey” slogans. “Saadi majboori hai, Khalistan zaroori hai”, they said raising the slogans. During the bhog ceremony too, some youth raised “Khalistan Zindabad” slogans several times.
24-Feb-2022
The Delhi Police arrested 13 terrorists, including two of Pakistan-trained Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Module, in 2021, officials said. In 2020, 32 terrorists were arrested, the highest since 2016. A total of five terrorists were arrested in 2019, eight in 2018, 11 in 2017 and 16 in 2016. Police said that 13 terrorists belonging to different terrorist organisations like the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Pak-trained ISI module, Kuki National Front (KNF) and Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) were arrested and their plans to execute terror strikes in Delhi were foiled. A sizeable quantity of explosives, arms, ammunition and other incriminating material were recovered along with these arrests, they said.
24-Feb-2022
A new report by Chandigarh-based Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) revealed that one in seven (15%) in Punjab are currently dependent on addictive substances, both licit and illicit. In absolute numbers, it translates into 40 lakh people. The major concern, as observed by the report, is that among those consuming opioids or chitta (as it’s called in colloquial Punjabi), the number of injecting drug users (IDUs) has gone up considerably.
23-Feb-2022
Police arrested three persons, identified as Prem Singh, Paramjit Singh and Bittu Singh and recovered 160-kg poppy husk from their car in Fazilka district. According to police, they were trying to smuggle poppy husk from Rajasthan to Jalalabad. Police claimed that the accused brought poppy husk from Bikampur Bikaner for delivery in Rattewala village of Jalalabad.
23-Feb-2022
A biker, identified as Naresh Odh was arrested for carrying 400 intoxicating tablets in Abohar in Fazilka district.
22-Feb-2022
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting took down several mobile applications, social media accounts and websites of foreign-based news outlet Punjab Politics TV for having links with proscribed organization, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), after reviewing “intelligence inputs that the channel was attempting to use online media to disturb public order during the ongoing state assembly elections”. The I&B Ministry’s statement said that, “The ministry of information and broadcasting has ordered blocking of apps, website, and social media accounts of foreign-based Punjab Politics TV for having close links with Sikhs For Justice, an organisation that has been declared unlawful under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA).” It added that the contents of the blocked apps, website, and social media accounts had the “potential to incite communal disharmony and separatism”. “[They] were found to be detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the state, and public order. It was also observed that the launch of new apps and social media accounts was timed to gain traction during the ongoing elections,” it said.
21-Feb-2022
More than 30 lakh people in Punjab are currently consuming one or the other kind of drug, mainly among the men, revealed a survey conducted by PGIMER. Alcohol is the maximally abused substance by more than 20 lakh people, followed by tobacco consumed by more than 15 lakh people. The second edition of ‘Roadmap for Prevention and Control of Substance Abuse’ in Punjab edited by Dr J S Thakur, professor of community medicine at PGIMER, was released by Punjab governor and Chandigarh administrator Banwarilal Purohit.
20-Feb-2022
Amid polling in Punjab for 2022 Assembly polls, the Border Security Force (BSF) recovered three packets of contraband suspected to be heroin weighing 3 Kgs in the Abohar sector in Fazilka district on February 20. According to the official statement, observing suspicious movement ahead of the Border Security Fence in AOR of Abohar Sector, the troops fired to stop 'further misadventure' and the smuggler managed to flee away to Pakistan territory.
20-Feb-2022
According to reports, with the arrest of four youths on February 19, the Sonepat police claimed to have busted a gang which was involved in ‘contract killings’ in Punjab on the directions of banned terrorist group handlers of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). Sources said that prima facie, it was revealed that the accused were in contact with the banned terrorist groups for the past three or four months and they were searching for youths who have criminal records in Haryana but not in Punjab. They were preparing such criminals for contract killings in Punjab on the directions of their handlers in Canada and Australia. The CIA unit of the district police also recovered an AK-47 rifle, 49 rounds of cartridges of AK-47, three foreign-made automated pistols and cartridges from the possession of the accused. Besides, teams of Punjab Police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA), along with other intelligence agencies, arrived at Sonepat to interrogate the accused.
20-Feb-2022
Remembering the sacrifice of over 150 Sikhs who laid down their lives during the Saka Nankana Sahib on February 20, 1921, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandak Committee (SGPC) organized a function to pay homage to the martyrs.
19-Feb-2022
Four persons who are allegedly associated with Khalistani terrorist groups, identified as Sunil, Jatin, Sagar and Surendra, were arrested with a cache of illegal weapons in Sonipat in Sonipat district of Haryana on February 19. An automatic AK-47, four foreign pistols, one country made pistol, and 56 cartridges were recovered from their possession. Sonipat Superintendent of Police (SP) Rahul Sharma said that primary probe revealed that the illegal weapons had been provided by Khalistani terrorists, who had deposited lakhs in the accused’s bank accounts as well. “The accused were connected to the main leaders of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) through social media,” SP said. The arrested accused also admitted to killing one Avtar Singh in Udhampur Kalan village of Punjab on the behest of Khalistani leaders, Sharma added.
19-Feb-2022
Just hours before the Punjab Polls the Khalistani secessionist organization, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) made some revelations regarding the Punjab Assembly Elections that are due for February 20. SFJ claimed that around 20 thousand Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in Punjab who are on election duty are in constant contact with the SFJ and they will also be conducting polling on the Khalistan referendum. "Thousands of BLOs have assured their support to SFJ ion Campaigning for Khalistan on 20th February and also pledged to organise the Khalistan referendum voting in Punjab," said Gurupatwant Singh Pannun, in a video message. Pannun also launched an attack on Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu asking if he is a "terrorist" or an "ISI" agent citing his contacts with Pakistan PM Imran Khan and General Bajwa.
19-Feb-2022
The intelligence agencies issued a nationwide security alert after pro-Khalistan outfit, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) call for a bandh. As Punjab is set to go for polling on February 20 Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is the founder of SFJ, issued a video and called for a ‘Rail-Punjab Bandh’ on February 19. In the video, Pannun has also asked his followers to install "Kesri Khalistan" flags at polling stations in Punjab and shout slogans of "Khalistan Zindabad" on the day of the election.
19-Feb-2022
The Ludhiana Commissionerate Police claimed that Rs 2.02 crore, a huge cache of arms, ammunition, liquor and drugs were seized during the Model Code of Conduct enforced in Ludhiana district since January 8. Besides, 546 anti-social elements, troublemakers, law-breakers and proclaimed offenders have been arrested while 19,112 licensed arms have been deposited with the police, the officials said. The Commissioner of Police, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, said that cash amounting to Rs 2,02,45,835, which is a record seizure so far, was recovered during the search and seizure operations during the poll code. While Rs 1,71,25,655 were released after verification, the remaining cash of Rs 29.96 lakh is still under investigation. He disclosed that nine illegal arms, 33 cartridges, 6,000 litres of licit liquor, 120 litres of illicit liquor, 1,99,920 litres of lahan, 82 kg of poppy husk, 128.5 gram heroin, 480 intoxicating tablets, 2.2 kg of opium, 2 kg of charas, and 14,950 kg of ganja have been seized during the poll code.
18-Feb-2022
Intelligence agencies have sounded a nationwide alert after Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun released a video on Facebook where he issued a call for 'Rail-Punjab Bandh' on February 19. Voting for Punjab's 117-member assembly is set to take place in a single phase on February 20. Pannun has also asked his followers to install "Kesri Khalistan" flags at polling stations in Punjab and shout slogans of "Khalistan Zindabad" on the day of the election. In the video, Pannun also termed the recent death of Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu as a "political murder". Blaming the Government of India for his death, he also asked his followers to avenge the actor-turned-activist's death. Pannun also said that Deep Sidhu was a "true follower" of Jarnail Singh Bhrindanwale and always supported the demand for a separate Khalistan.
17-Feb-2022
The Counter Intelligence wing of the Punjab Police arrested a former militant, Harjant Singh alias DC, along with 3 kg of heroin smuggled from across the International Border. Police recovered the contraband allegedly smuggled via a drone at Ghonewala village, falling under the Dera Baba Nanak police station in Gurdaspur district. Later it was found that the heroin was smuggled by a Pakistan-based smuggler.
17-Feb-2022
Three men, identified as Jagtar Singh, Harjinder Singh and Daljit Singh were arrested with 13kg of opium at a checkpoint on the Sidhwan-Swaddi Kalan Link Road in Ludhiana district. Police also recovered ₹12,900, allegedly earned from the sale of drugs, from them.
17-Feb-2022
The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC), in connection with the drug menace in the state, has made it clear that Punjab — once known as one of the prosperous states — was on the brink. The assertion came as the HC called for dealing stringently with the accused even at the stage of granting a bail in drug cases involving commercial quantity.
17-Feb-2022
According to officials, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has been asked by various states to investigate 25 important drug cases to unearth a larger pan-India conspiracy. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had recently urged states to work jointly with the NCB to unearth the larger conspiracy of drug rackets having national and international links. NCB Director Satya Narayan Pradhan had written a letter to various states in November last year, requesting them to hand over important cases to the agency.
17-Feb-2022
According to top Intelligence sources, the current Hijab controversy in Karnataka seems to be fuelled by Pakistan as more than 100 Twitter accounts in the name of Muskan Khan have been created since February 9, after her video went viral on the Internet where she is seen chanting ‘Allah Hu Akbar’ when allegedly heckled by a group of miscreants. One of the multiple fake accounts has nearly 5,000 followers with earlier location traced to Pakistan, the sources said.
17-Feb-2022
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), alleged that the top leaders of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had fudged the letter “of him supporting AAP” to garner support of radicals. This comes after the letter was circulated on social media which read that Pannun has announced that he will be supporting the Aam Aadmi Party as Punjab goes to polls on February 20.
16-Feb-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered some bottles containing 3.950 kg heroin worth Rs 20 crore along with Chinese pistols, besides two magazines and 26 live rounds, in Tarn Taran in Tarn Taran district. According to the report, the BSF jawans observed some suspicious movement and heard a thumping sound during the wee hours following which a search operation was carried out.
16-Feb-2022
Police arrested a drug peddler, identified as Gurjeet Singh alias Jeeta and recovered 10 kg of opium from him in Kapurthala in Kapurthala district.
16-Feb-2022
Few youths from Ambala and nearby Punjab village areas gathered to pay homage to actor-turned-activist Sandeep Singh Sidhu alias Deep Sidhu and raised slogans including "Deep Sidhu Zindabad" (long live Deep Sidhu), "Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akal", "Deep Sidhu amar rahe", "Deep Sidhu teri soch te pehra devange thok ke" (Deep Sidhu will stand firm on your vision), "Raj Karega Khalsa", and "Khalistan Zindabad". Some of the youths also raised the slogan "Shaheed Deep Sidhu Zindabad", while terming him as a martyr.
15-Feb-2022
Actor Deep Sidhu, the prime accused in last year’s Republic Day violence case, was killed in a road mishap on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) expressway. Sidhu was facing a criminal trial for spearheading the Red Fort violence.
15-Feb-2022
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Director General SN Pradhan revealed that India has witnessed an exponential increase of 300 percent in heroin seizures -- from 2146 kg in 2017 to 7282 kg in 2021 -- in the last five years. Similarly, there is an increase of 172 percent in the seizure of opium - from 2551 kg in 2017 to 4386 kg in 2021 - and a 191 percent increase in the seizure of cannabis from 3, 52, 539 kg in 2017 to 6, 75, 631 kg in 2021.
15-Feb-2022
The Digital Forensics, Research and Analytics Center (DFRAC) reported that Pakistan is using the digital medium to fulfill their 'wicked agenda' and defame India on the ongoing Hijab row controversy. This "dirty trick" is being played by Pakistan to disturb India's internal peace and distract common people from the problems in their own country, the report said.
15-Feb-2022
According to reports, separatist Sikh body, Dal Khalsa decided to boycott the February 20 Punjab assembly polls, stating that it believes that the resolution to the state’s problems lies in referendum under the United Nations (UN) and not elections under the Indian dispensation. The president of Dal Khalsa, Harpal Singh Cheema said that despite Sikhs forming governments in Punjab and sending members to the Parliament, the Punjab problem has remained the same even after 40 years. Party leaders also urged the people to think before casting their vote, saying Punjab does not have its own capital city, the waters of Punjab unabatedly flow to Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan without royalty to the riparian state.
14-Feb-2022
According to reports, amid threats from Khalistani and Pakistan supported terror outfits, the Union Government has decided to deploy a large number of security forces in Punjab for the forthcoming Assembly elections scheduled on February 20. Sources revealed that around 455 companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) will be deployed in the border state, and the process of deployment has already begun. This would be in addition to Punjab police personnel who will be responsible for managing the law-and-order situation in the state. The sources also said that over 200 companies have already reached Punjab for election duty, while the rest of the forces will be deployed in the state latest by February 16.
14-Feb-2022
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested three persons, identified as Sarbjeet Singh, Shamsher Singh and Baldev Singh, allegedly involved in the smuggling of 33kg heroin recovered by the Border Security Force (BSF) along the India-Pakistan border in Tarn Taran in December 2021. According to NCB, all the three smugglers were detained from Khemkaran area of the Tarn Taran district.
13-Feb-2022
Issuing a warning to concerned judges of the Karnataka High Court (HC) that have prescribed a student dress code, the chief of the banned extremist group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) threatened that it would start a 'hijab referendum' similar to the 'Khalistan referendum'. In the audio message, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said, "This message is for Karnataka High Court judges... do not ban the hijab. this message is from Sikhs For Justice general counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, from Washington DC." After Pannun warned against bad consequences, the pro-Khalistan terror group referred to the reaction of Rashad Hussain, US Ambassador of Advance Religious Freedom worldwide. Referring to Hussain's tweet, the SFJ chief said, "The Biden administration has also condemned the ban on hijab." Further, he said, "Karnataka High Court judges, remember! Do not ban the hijab. It is against the freedom of the Muslim community. If you do ban hijab, like Khalistan referendum which we are doing to liberate Punjab. We will start the hijab referendum for Muslim states. Do not ban the hijab."
12-Feb-2022
Intel inputs warned that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is trying to fuel the hijab controversy in India, through banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SJF). The Intel note said, "ISI is pushing the concept of hijab referendum in India." The Intelligence Bureau (IB) has also warned police forces and law enforcement agencies to keep a close watch on the 'Hijab Refrendum' being pushed by the ISI through terror group SFJ. "Some anti-India elements might join the chorus of Sikhs for Justice chief Gurupatwanr Singh Pannun in organising the hijab referendum and celebrating the concept of urduistan," the intel inputs warned. It also said that the SFJ has called upon Muslims in India to start a 'Hijab Refrendum' movement to carve out 'Urduistan' in areas of Rajasthan, Delhi, UP, Bihar and West Bengal.
12-Feb-2022
According to reports, there has been a huge recovery of narcotics in the run-up to the Punjab elections, beating the 2012 record when drugs emerged as a major issue for the first time. Since the imposition of the model code of conduct in the state, security forces under the command of the Election Commission have seized 33 kg of heroin and 4,707 kg of poppy husk. During the 2017 elections, 11.92 kg of heroin and 2,342 kg of poppy husk were seized and in 2012, the quantity was 23.54 kg and 2,707 kg.
11-Feb-2022
Using the ongoing Hijab controversy as an opportunity, the banned pro-Khalistan outfit, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) provoked the Muslim community in India and appealed them to protest. SFJ, in its message, asked the people of India to ‘learn from Pakistan’ that created a Muslim country. SFJ led by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun asks Muslims in the country to use the row as an opportunity for the Balkanisation of India. Furthermore, the group has also stated that the group will fund the movement for Hijabs and fight for creating a separate country. The pro-Khalistan terror group has allegedly provoked the people of the Muslim community over Hijab row and said that the Modi government will ban Aazan and Quran after Hijabs.
11-Feb-2022
The state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Dr S Karuna Raju said that various Enforcement Agencies have recovered 1.18 lakh litre of licit liquor, 34,650 litre of illicit liquor, 15.53 lakh litre of lahan (raw material used to make liquor), 4170 kg of poppy husk, 32.70 kg of opium, 164 kg ganja, 33,141 grams of heroin, 263 grams of smack, 7456 grams of charas, 10,784 capsules, 479 vials of syrup, and 4,73,733 tablets till February 11.
10-Feb-2022
During the fourth India- United Kingdom (UK) home affairs dialogue held via virtual mode, India raised concerns with the UK on anti-India activities being carried out by certain extremist and radical elements from its soil, and urged the UK authorities to keep vigil over such activities and take appropriate proactive action. The home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla led the Indian side and UK permanent secretary, home office, Mathey Rycroft, headed the UK delegation.
10-Feb-2022
The Election Commission of India (ECI) told Punjab and Haryana high court that drugs worth Rs 312.8 crore (3,999 kg) have been seized in Punjab since poll code was enforced on January 8, 2022.
10-Feb-2022
Punjab Police’s special task force (STF) busted an international drug racket with the arrest of three people, including a former deputy superintendent of police, an NRI kabaddi player and an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) in Mohali in SAS Nagar district. The key accused, NRI kabaddi player Ranjeet Singh, alias Jeeta Maur, was allegedly running the drug racket in connivance with police officials and politicians and was parking the drug money in the real estate business. STF also recovered 100-gram heroin and a weapon from Ranjeet. Besides Ranjeet Singh, other accused are his wife Rajinder Kaur, former DSP Vimal Kant, Canada-based NRI Davinder Singh, two ASIs Munish Kumar and Jagdish Singh, Gurjant Singh and Bhupinder Singh of Tarn Taran, Simranjit Singh of Phagwara, Jalandhar-based chartered accountants (CAs) Dinesh Sarna and Manoj Sarna and Arendeep Singh of Kapurthala.
09-Feb-2022
According to reports, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has requested concerned agencies to issue a lookout circular and blue corner notice against Jaswinder Singh Multani, an alleged Khalistani operative linked to the recent bomb blast in a Ludhiana court and for attempts to “foment trouble” in poll-bound Punjab. NIA sources revealed that it has requested Interpol to issue a ‘blue corner’ notice against Multani, who is allegedly a close aide of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun wanted in multiple cases registered by central agencies and Punjab Police. Central agencies request Interpol to issue ‘blue corner’ notice to collect additional information about a person’s identity, location or activities with relation to a crime. Similarly, a Look Out Circular (LOC) will help NIA to track Multani’s movement in case he visits India through his passport. The agencies deployed at the airport will alert NIA and stop him from travelling further. The NIA has also announced Rs 10-lakh reward on the Germany-based Multani.
09-Feb-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) on February 9 recovered over 4 kg of RDX, a pistol and bomb-making items dropped in two packets by a drone that flew from Pakistan into an Indian farm along the border in Ajnala sub-division of Amritsar district of Punjab. According to BSF spokesperson, troops fired after they heard a "buzzing sound of a suspected flying object coming from the Pakistani side to the Indian side" around 1 am in the Panjgrain area of Gurdaspur sector. A search was later conducted and the BSF party recovered two yellow-coloured packets, lying about 20 m apart embedded in the wet soil, which contained about 4.7 kg RDX, a China-made pistol, two magazines with 22 bullets, three electronic detonators, timer device, detonating cord (cordtex wire), splinters, cells, steel container, nylon thread, plastic pipe, packing material and ₹ 1 lakh cash. The drone that dropped the packets about 2.7 km into the Indian side from the border fence is suspected to have escaped to the Pakistani side.
08-Feb-2022
The Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai on February 8 informed the Lok Sabha that as many as 47 terror modules related to Khalistani separatist activities were busted in Punjab in the last three years. The Minister also said that eight people died in Khalistani related terror incidents in 2019, 2020 and 2021. “As regards the Khalistani separatist activities, in the year 2019, seven terror or radical modules were busted in Punjab as against 15 such modules in 2020 and 25 modules in 2021. No loss of property was reported during the period,” he said replying to a written question. Rai said two persons died in Punjab during 2019 in Khalistani related terror incidents, as against three persons in 2020 and three persons (one victim and two perpetrators) in 2021.
08-Feb-2022
According to official sources, the Delhi Police’s special cell, which is investigating the role of seven men arrested from Delhi, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh in September last year for allegedly plotting terror attacks across North India, has already prepared a charge-sheet in the case and is likely to submit it before city court this week. In addition to the alleged roles of the arrested terror suspects, the charge-sheet is expected to contain details on how the RDX, allegedly recovered from them, was smuggled into the country from Pakistan through the Punjab border.
08-Feb-2022
Police recovered narcotics, sharp-edged weapons and mobile phones, from gangsters lodged at Bathinda Central Jail in Bathinda district during a special search operation. Bathinda SSP Amneet Kaundal said that “a smartphone was recovered from gangster Baljinder Singh Billa. Ganja and tobacco were recovered from gangster Kirpal Singh. Apart from this, some iron material was recovered.”