KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
15-Dec-2020
Two cross border smugglers, identified as – Lakhbir Singh and Bachittar Singh, were arrested in Amritsar District. The duo were members of a module that used drones to smuggle narcotics and weapons into India through Pakistan-based smugglers with links to pro-Khalistan operatives, the Punjab Police said in a statement. A quadcopter drone with a mini receiver and camera support, a .32 bore revolver, a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), cartridges and drugs have been recovered from their possession. Police said that the interrogation of the accused has revealed their alleged association with four other smugglers, who were lodged in the Amritsar jail.
12-Dec-2020
With the arrest of two persons identified as – Jaswinder Singh akaJass and Ramesh Kumar aka Kesa along with a recovery of 4 kilograms heroin in Lohian village of Jalandhar District, the Punjab Police claimed to have busted a major drug cartel linked to international gangsters and terrorists. Besides the heroin, two desi .32 bore pistols and a car bearing registration number JK-012-E-2277 have also been recovered from the accused, who used to bring drugs from Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) on instructions from imprisoned gangsters in Punjab.
09-Dec-2020
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet against 16 foreign-based Khalistanis, who are members of the banned US based secessionist organization - Sikh for Justice (SFJ), before a NIA special court in New Delhi. The chargesheet relates to a case pertaining to an alleged organised conspiracy by the 16 accused to launch a concerted secessionist campaign under the banner of 'Referendum 2020' for the creation of ‘Khalistan’. The charge-sheeted accused are – Gurpatwant Singh Pannun (resident of New York, USA), Avtar Singh Pannun (New York, USA), Gurpreet Singh Baagi (UK) Harpreet Singh alias Rana Singh (New York, USA), Paramjit Singh alias Pamma (UK), Sarabjit Singh Bannur (UK), Amardeep Singh Purewal (California, USA), J S Dhaliwal (Canada), Kulwant Singh Mothada (UK) Dupinderjit Singh (UK), Hardeep Singh Nijjar (Canada), Kulwant Singh alias Kanta (UK), Harjaap Singh alias Japhi Singh (California, USA), Sarabjit Singh aliasSabi Singh (California, USA), Jatinder Singh Grewal, (Canada) and S Himmat Singh (New York, USA). In a statement, the NIA said, “Investigation in the case has revealed that Sikhs for Justice, a secessionist outfit floated in the garb of ‘Human Rights advocacy group’ with its offices in various foreign countries like the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia etc, is a frontal organization of Khalistan terrorist outfits operating from foreign soils including Pakistan. Under this campaign, numerous social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, YouTube Channels and a number of websites have been launched, which are being used to propagate sedition as well as enmity on the grounds of region and religion, to radicalise impressionable youth, to cause disturbance to peace and harmony and to raise funds for terrorist activities.”
08-Dec-2020
Investigative agencies have revealed that Pakistan's Inter-Services International (ISI) is conspiring with Lakhbir Singh Rode, nephew of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and chief of the banned International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) to keep the ‘Khalistan’ movement alive in Punjab. According to the investigating agencies, ISI officials had planned target killing in Punjab through Lakhbir Singh Rode. For this, Lakhbir Singh named the gangster Sukh Bhikhariwal, sitting in Dubai and got him in touch with ISI officials. The Dubai Police, however, had detained Bhikhariwal.
05-Dec-2020
In a letter, addressed to the External Affairs Minister (EAM) Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs Vellamvelly Muraleedharan, the banned Sikh secessionist organization - Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) has conveyed to block Indian Missions in US, Canada, UK and Europe to 'stand in solidarity' with the protesting farmers of Punjab. Further, declaring their support for the Bharat Bandh called on December 8, SFJ alleged that the Indian government was 'unabashedly suppressing and gagging the protesting, criticizing and dissenting voices, with impunity'. SFJ also said that they would protest on December 10 - Human Rights Day - to bring global awareness of the alleged human rights violations made by the NDA government on Punjab's farmers.
05-Dec-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered five packets of heroin weighing 5.360 kilograms along the Indo-Pakistan border at Ferozepur sector of Ferozepur District.
04-Dec-2020
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a supplementary charge-sheet in Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) narco-terror case in the NIA Special Court at Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar District. The agency filed the charge-sheet against “narco-terrorist” Dharminder Singh aka Dhana (32) under various sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. “The accused used to receive Heroin smuggled from Pakistan from accused Jajbir Singh Samra and further distribute/sell it to local traffickers. The proceeds so generated used to be deposited with Jajbir Singh for further strengthening the activities of KLF,” NIA said in a release.
02-Dec-2020
At least five drone sorties carrying arms or contraband were made in the past three days from across the border by Pakistan-based anti-national forces in Kot Razada border village in the Ajnala sector of International Border (IB) in Amritsar District. The first attempt was made on the intervening night of November 30 and December 1, while Border Security Force (BSF) troopers heard buzzing sounds of drones in the area during the next intervening night (December 1-2). They also fired indiscriminately to shoot it down, but they returned to Pakistan. According to sources, the sorties were made between 11.15 pm to 12.30 am on the intervening night of December 1 and 2 and between midnight to 12.40 am on November 30 - December 1.
01-Dec-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) conducted a massive search operation in the Ajnala sector near the Kot Rajada border outpost (BoP) in Amritsar District after an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) was reportedly sighted in the area. The alert troops patrolling near the International Border (IB) fired indiscriminately in the air after they heard the sound of movement of drones at 1 am. However, it managed to return taking the advantage of foggy conditions.
29-Nov-2020
Amid the escalated protests by farmers against the farm laws passed in the parliament, the banned secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has offered support of USD 1 million to the protestors. SFJ’s Chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun released a video, promising aid to the protestors who are injured or whose tractors have been damaged during the protests. In an attempt to hijack the farmers' agitation and provoking the residents of Punjab, Pannun asked the protestors to register their vote for freedom of Punjab from the Union of India. He attempted to mislead the citizens by calling it a “fight between Punjab and Hind”, adding that the solution to it was “Khalistan and Freedom (Azaadi)” and appealed “to support the referendum to free Punjab from India”.
28-Nov-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered seven packets of heroin weighing 6.750 kilograms along with a pistol during the wee hours of November 28 near DT Mall BOP in the Ferozepur sector of Ferozepur District.
28-Nov-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered 1.550 kilograms contraband suspected to be heroin from the river Ravi in Gurdaspur sector along the International Border (IB) in Gurdaspur District.
27-Nov-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered six packets of heroin weighing 1.270 kilograms from near the Jagdish border outpost (BOP) in Ferozepur sector of Ferozepur District.
24-Nov-2020
Security agencies have issued alerts in Delhi to keep strict vigil in the national capital as the banned secessionist organization – Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) in its latest move has given a call to farmers of Punjab and Haryana to raise ‘Khalistan’ flags on November 26 at India Gate. SFJ’s chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in a video message, advised farmers to reach Delhi on November 25 where arrangements for their night stay would be made at Gurudwaras Bangla Sahib; Rakab Ganj Sahib; Sis Ganj Sahib and Majnu Ka Teela and where Khalistan flags would be supplied to them for hoisting on India Gate. Also, SFJ called for the move on November 26 as it would be observed as the 12th anniversary of the terrorist attack in Mumbai.
20-Nov-2020
Two unidentified persons shot dead a prominent dera follower, Manohar Lal, who is a member of 25 members committee of Dera Sacha Sauda and is father of Jatinderbir Singh Jimmy, who is an accused in a sacrilege incident, near the bus stand at Bhagta Bhaika in Bathinda in Bathinda District. Bathinda SSP Bhupinderjit Singh Virk said that police teams have started a probe and are working on all angles, so far, the identity of the accused is not ascertained but hope that soon police would arrest the accused.
18-Nov-2020
The Punjab Police on arrested a Border Security Force (BSF) constable and two others in connection with the recovery of 11 kilograms of heroin smuggled from Pakistan along with INR 1.925 million from four drug smugglers. The BSF Constable – Barinder Singh was arrested from the BSF premises at Ganganagar in Sri Ganganagar District of Rajasthan. A .30 bore foreign-made pistol, a motorcycle and 745 grams of heroin was recovered from him. Following his interrogation, two other accused—Balkar Singh Balli and Jagmohan Singh Jaggu—both residents of Ganganagar were arrested. A .30 bore pistol and Rs 8 lakh in cash were recovered from Balkar Singh. Director General of Police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta said the BSF constable was “instrumental” in transferring drugs from across the Indo-Pak border and handing them over to the other accused.
18-Nov-2020
The Border Security Force(BSF) recovered seven packets of heroin weighing 7.528 kilograms worth INR 380 million in the international market in the Ferozepur sector of Ferozepur District.
17-Nov-2020
Police arrested four drug smugglers and recovered 11 kilograms of heroin worth INR 550 million in the international market from their possession at Malsian in Shahkot in Jalandhar District. The arrestees were identified as – Harjinder Pal alias Kala (27), Sanjit (34) and Ranjit Singh (20), all residents of Ferozepur, and Kishan Singh (32) of Ganganagar.
12-Nov-2020
A drug smuggler identified as Vijay Rajput, a native of Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, was arrested along with two pistols, six cartridges, and 40 grams of heroin from Sector 17 at Chandigarh city in Chandigarh District. The Station House Officer (SHO) Ram Rattan said Rajput was supplying weapons to gangsters. “We have recovered a .30 bore pistol, which was purchased by Vijay from UP, for Rs50,000 and would have been sold for Rs1 lakh. Meanwhile, another 32 bore pistol was purchased for Rs25,000 and was meant to be sold for Rs50,000,” the SHO said adding that “He had come to supply drugs in the city when he was caught”.
08-Nov-2020
According to reports, the latest inputs from intelligence agencies stated that Pakistan's spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) had instructed Pakistan-based pro-Khalistani terrorist groups to utilize and establish smuggling channels on IB of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) to smuggle weapons into Indian territory.
07-Nov-2020
Punjab Police has neutralized a major drug trafficking racket and arrested four smugglers, identified as Gurdeep Singh Rano, Ravej, lqbal Singh and Randeep Singh aka Ranni in Ludhiana District. Police recovered 5.392 kg of heroin, a .315 bore rifle with cartridges, a .12 bore pump action gun, a .32 bore revolver along with cartridges and INR 2.1 million from their possession. Apart from this, luxury cars, including a Toyota Fortuner, an Audi 7, two Toyota Innovas, two BMWs, a Mercedes Benz and a Jaguar were recovered from the smugglers. In a press conference, STF Inspector General (IG) Balkar Singh said, the accused were active members of a high-level international drug network being run from Australia by Tanveer Singh Bedi of Batala.
04-Nov-2020
Delhi Police said that the US-based pro-Khalistan outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) threatened to disrupt two Air India flights which were scheduled to leave for London from Delhi on November 5. The SFJ also called upon the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots to occupy the airport to "internationalize" the issue.
03-Nov-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) foiled a smuggling attempt and recovered four packets of heroin weighing 2.25 kilograms along the International Border (IB) in Ferozepur. “Alert troops from136 Bn BSF negated smuggling attempt and seized 4 pkts (2.250 kg) of heroin. Bordermen constantly thwarting nefarious designs of smugglers to push contraband from across the border,” BSF Punjab said in a tweet.
02-Nov-2020
The Government of India issued orders to block 12 websites linked to pro-Khalistani outfits that were being directly operated by the banned secessionist organisation Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). The banned websites include SFJ4Farmers, pbteam, seva413, pb4u, sadapind, among others with "org" extension.
02-Nov-2020
The Chief Minister of Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Lal Krishna Advani received death threats from the Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). The leader of SFJ, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on November 2, 2020, released posters to kill the Chief Minister and LK Advani after which the Security agencies have become cautious.
22-Oct-2020
The pro-Khalistan outfit, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) released a video offering the students in Punjab free iPhone 12 Mini with pre-installed ‘Punjab Referendum’ apps for raising pro-Khalistan flags on the occasion of the 36th death anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. In the video SFJ had said, “To commemorate the 36th martyrdom year of Beant Singh, the assassin of Indira Gandhi, the secessionist group Sikh For Justice gave a call to the students to raise Khalistan flag in schools, colleges and universities in Punjab on October 31. SFJ General Counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun offered the students free iPhone 12 Mini with pre-installed ‘Punjab Referendum apps’ and VPN to safely connect with SFJ’s Voter Registration database circumventing the Ministry of Home Affairs’ ban.”
21-Oct-2020
The national chairman of Shivsena Shuryavanshi, Sunil Bhasin received a death threat from a WhatsApp group named ‘Khalistan Yodha’ in which the message says that “Get ready, you will also be killed by the bullets, keep as much security as you want. Every such person who will mess with Sikh community will be killed- Khalistan Zindabad.” Basin had mailed the entire threat details to the DGP of Punjab Police and city police commissioner. He had received such threats many times earlier too, where he was threatened to be killed.
20-Oct-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered three packets of heroin weighing 2.435 kilograms worth INR 120 million in the international market along with a pistol, a magazine, and four cartridges near the International Border (IB) at Ferozepur sector in Ferozepur District.
16-Oct-2020
Unidentified assailants shot dead anti-Khalistan activist Balwinder Singh Sandhu, who had fought against terrorism in Punjab for years, at his native Bhikhiwind village in Tarn Taran District. Director General of Police (DGP), Dinkar Gupta, said Sandhu was killed by two unknown assailants at his home in Bhikhiwind, at around 7 am [IST]. Sandhu was awarded the Shaurya Chakra in 1993 for his exemplary courage as he along with his family strongly opposed the Khalistani movement and terrorism for many years.
15-Oct-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered 5 kilograms of heroin, estimated to be worth INR 250 million in the international market, near the International Border (IB) at Ferozepur sector in Ferozepur District
15-Oct-2020
Pro-Khalistan graffiti appeared on the walls of three Government properties in Dirba village in Sangrur District. ‘Referendum 2020 ‘was found painted on the walls as well as gates of the Government Primary School, Committee House and an adjoining building. “The slogans were written by miscreants last night. We reached the spot immediately after receiving the information,” said Jagbir Singh, Station House Officer (SHO) of Dirba Police Station.
14-Oct-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered 9 kilograms heroin worth INR 450 million along the International Border (IB) at the Ferozepur sector in Ferozepur District.
13-Oct-2020
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out searches at six locations in Punjab in connection with a case linked hoisting of Khalistani ‘flag’ by Sikhs for Justice (SJF) cadres at the Deputy Commissioner's Office in Moga on the eve of Independence Day on August 14, 2020. The NIA conducted the searches in Ferozpur, Ludhiana and Moga Districts. The searched premises belonged to accused Akashdeep Singh, Jogwinder Singh, Inderjeet Singh, Jaspal Singh and Ram Tirath, the NIA said. It also searched a cyber cafe belonging to accused Jaspal. During the searches, the NIA seized various electronic items like pen drives, laptops, hard discs and other incriminating documents. The NIA said that the crime was committed by miscreants who were offered cash rewards at the behest of Sikh For Justice (SFJ)'s General Counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
09-Oct-2020
‘Pro-Khalistan’ slogans were raised at the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar District during a function held by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to commemorate the death anniversary of Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) militants – Sukhdev Singh Sukha and Harjinder Singh Jinda, the assassins of former Army Chief General Arun S. Vaidya. Gen. Vaidya was the commander of the Operation Blue Star, launched in June 1984 to flush out Khalistani terrorists from the Golden Temple, and subsequently retired as Chief of Army Staff.
08-Oct-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered four packets of heroin weighing 3.8 kilograms worth INR 180 million in the international market along the International Border (IB) at Ferozepur sector in Ferozepur District. During the current year so far, the BSF has seized 427.784 kilograms of heroin valuing over INR 21.23 billion in the international market.
06-Oct-2020
Police arrested a drug peddler, identified as Krishan along with 300 intoxicant tablets from Rupewali village in Shahkot in Jalandhar district.
06-Oct-2020
Police arrested a drug peddler, identified as Raj Kumar alias Raju and recovered 300 intoxicant tablets from his possession in Rame village in Jalandhar district.
06-Oct-2020
Police arrested a man, identified as Lakhvir Singh along with 500 grams poppy husk in Kohar Kalan village in Shahkot in Jalandhar district.
05-Oct-2020
According to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, 560 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act were registered in Ludhiana commissionerate (Ludhiana CP) in 2019, which placed it at number seven position among the districts and police commissionerates of the state. Jalandhar rural and Sangrur were at number one and two spots with 955 and 807 such cases. In 2018, Ludhiana commissionrate was at ninth place in such cases with 495 being registered under the NDPS Act in that year. Analysis of the sub-categories of the NCRB report of 2019 indicated that Ludhiana CP was at third spot as far as the cases of possession of drugs for personal consumption were concerned with 521 such cases. Sangrur and Patiala were at number one and two spots with 689 and 539 such cases, respectively, in 2019.
04-Oct-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered one kilogram of heroin along the International border (IB) in the Amritsar sector in Amritsar district. During patrol duty, the BSF troops recovered two plastic bottles carrying the drug.
04-Oct-2020
Punjab Police busted a Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) terror module with the arrest of two terrorists, identified as Makhan Singh Gill alias Amli and Davinder Singh alias Happy, from Noorpur Jattan village in Hoshiarpur district. Police also recovered sophisticated arms and ammunition, including an MP5 sub-machine gun (with two magazines and 30 rounds) and a 9mm pistol (with two magazines and 30 rounds), besides an Etios car, four mobile phones and an Internet dongle. The Director General of Police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta said that during preliminary investigations, Makhan disclosed they were in touch with Canada-based Harpreet Singh, who had instigated them to set up a terror module in Punjab to carry out targeted killings. Makhan, who had earlier been a close aide of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) chief Wadhawa Singh Babbar, claimed KZF operative Harpreet was a frequent visitor to Pakistan and was an associate of Pakistan-based KZF chief Ranjeet Singh, alias Neeta. The DGP also said that Makhan was a hardcore pro-Khalistan militant who had earlier been arrested by the Punjab Police for involvement in arms smuggling and various terror-related offences. As many as seven cases had been registered against him. Pakistan-trained Makhan had stayed in the US during the 1980s and 90s. He had also stayed with the BKI chief in Pakistan for over 14 years, added the DGP.
04-Oct-2020
Punjab Police arrested two drug smugglers, identified as Simranjeet Singh alias Simran (26) and Balram Singh (26) from near Kartarpur in Jalandhar district when they were on a heroin delivery mission. The duo were arrested in a follow-up action on the recently busted international drug and weapon smuggling racket operated by former BSF Constable Sumit Kumar alias Noni. A 7.65 mm pistol with Italy marking, heroin, drug proceeds, two mobile phones, two Wi-Fi dongles and a racing bike were recovered from the accused.
03-Oct-2020
The Khalistani secessionist group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) has announced a reward of $10,000 for hoisting Khalistan flag at Shambhu toll plaza at Punjab-Haryana border in Patiala district during farmers rally on October 4. Intelligence aAgencies warned both Punjab and Haryana police to be on alert as the US-based SFJ's General Counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has given the call for raising Khalistan flag at Shambhu border to highlight its agenda that "independence from India is the only permanent solution". During the farmers rally at Shambhu border, SFJ's referendum ambassadors will try to register votes for the outfit's 'Referendum 2020' agenda and will distribute literature to educate farmers about the permanent solution to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's agricultural reform bills, agencies informed.
03-Oct-2020
Police recovered 600-kg poppy husk and 65,000 sedative tablets by intercepting a truck on the Abohar-Sriganganagar highway in Ferozepur district. The driver of the truck, Karamjit Singh Kamma was arrested. Preliminary interrogation reportedly indicated that the consignment was to be delivered in Katora village near Muktsar.
01-Oct-2020
The Indian Army issued a statement rubbishing the claim put out by several Pakistani social media users that Indian Army officer Lieutenant General Taranjit Singh has been arrested on charges of sedition. The Indian Army issued a statement dismissing the claim stating that it categorically rejects such malicious attempts to defame the institution and claimed that a disinformation campaign is being run by Pakistan against the Indian Army and in particular against Lt Gen Taranjit Singh.
30-Sep-2020
The Delhi High Court declined to entertain a PIL seeking action against social media platform Twitter for being allegedly involved in a conspiracy to promote anti-India propaganda such as Khalistan movement, saying that the plea was based on claims and no representation about it was made to the Centre. The bench allowed the petitioner, Sangeeta Sharma, to withdraw the plea to move an appropriate representation before the central government.
29-Sep-2020
According to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report on “Crime in India”, which was released on September 29, as many as 11,536 cases under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act were registered in Punjab in 2019. Out of these 5,609 were registered for possession of drugs for personal use or consumption and 5,927 for possession of drugs for trafficking. A total of 7,2779 cases under NDPS Act were registered across the country. In terms of numbers, maximum such cases were registered in Maharashtra (14,158), followed by Punjab (11,536) and Uttar Pradesh (10,198).
28-Sep-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) personnel recovered 6.5 kg of heroin along the International Border (IB) in Ferozepur sector in Ferozepur district. According to BSF, a search operation was carried out near a Border Out Post (BOP) during which six packets of heroin weighing 6.5 kg were seized.
31-Aug-2020
Pro-Khalistan slogans were raised by radical Sikh outfits, including Dal Khalsa and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) at the Akal Takht in Amritsar on the death anniversary of terrorist Dilawar Singh, an assassin of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh. Prayers were also organized at the Akal Takht in the memory of Dilawar Singh. They also asked the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to install the portrait of Dilawar Singh in the Sikh central museum.
31-Aug-2020
According to reports, two people who were arrested in Punjab for putting up a Khalistani flag on a building, were planning to go to Pakistan with the help of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to receive terror training. According to police, the two arrested persons, Jaspal Singh and Inderjeet Singh Gill were planning to go to Nepal from Delhi. From there, the ISI sleuths would have taken them to Pakistan for terror training. The plot involved luring more youth from Punjab to join them in Pakistan. According to the police, both Singh and Gill used to watch YouTube channels supported by pro-Khalistani outfits and had become members of Sikh For Justice (SFJ) group through WhatsApp.