KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
20-Nov-2018
With the probability of role of local Sikh youths in the Nirankari Bhawan grenade attack, the Police raided and detained Sikh activists [unspecified counts with identities undisclosed], without any concrete evidences of their involvement. The Police must have investigated the matter and not jump to the conclusion based on the 1978 clash between Sikhs and Nirankaris, said Spokesperson of Dal Khalsa—Kanwar Pal Singh Bittu. Among the activists, Dal Khalsa member—Gurjant Singh, and senior ‘Vice-President’ of Sikh Youth Federation (Bhindranwale) [SYF-B]— Ranjit Singh Damdami were also detained but released in the evening of November 20 [same day].
19-Nov-2018
The Chief Minister of Punjab (Capt.) Amarinder Singh, said that the grenade explosion inside the prayer hall of Nirankari Bhawan in Adliwal village in Amritsar, has Pakistan’s ‘signature’ as the grenade used (HG-84) in the attack was similar to the grenades being manufactured by the Pakistan’s Army Ordinance Factory (AOF),. As per the initial investigations, the explosion at Nirankari Bhawan had no religious linking, says CM Singh.
19-Nov-2018
The Sangrur district Police arrested, Jatinder Singh (28), an alleged member of Khalistan Gadar Force (KGF) from Dirba in Sangrur district of Punjab. Jatinder Singh was wanted by the Patiala Police under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A] and the Explosive Substances Act (ESA). A team of the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) arrested him from the main market of Dirba. He [Jatinder Singh] is a native of Patiala and had been hiding at the house of his relative in Dirba, said SSP of Sangrur—Sandeep Garg.
18-Nov-2018
At least three people were killed and 20 others injured in a grenade blast at a religious congregation at Nirankari Satsang Bhawan at Adliwal village in Amritsar District. The blast took place near Amritsar’s Rajasansi, close to the international airport. Amritsar police commissioner, S Srivastva said, “It is suspected to be a terrorist attack. We have been probing. No arrest has been made so far. Two unidentified men attacked the congregation.” Punjab Director General of Police Suresh Arora said, “It (this incident) appears to have a terror angle. Because it is against a group (of people) and it is not against any individual. There is no reason to throw a hand grenade on a group of people, so we will take it as a terrorist act. Till proven otherwise, prima facie we will take it as that.” The DGP also said there was no specific input about any possible attack on Nirankari Bhavan. “There was no issue with this group as such… There was no specific input on (Nirankari Bhavan),” he said.
09-Nov-2018
Acting upon intelligence inputs, the BSF and Anti-Narcotics Cell recovered three packets of heroin weigh 4.30 kg worth INR 22 crore in the international market, from Border Outpost of Shameke of India-Pakistan Border in Ferozepur Sector of Ferozepur district in Punjab. The packets were kept inside the hollow space in a tree.
05-Nov-2018
The BSF officials observed some suspicious activity and recovered three kilograms of heroin near the International Border (IB) at Ranian village of Ludhiana district in Punjab.
04-Nov-2018
Regarding the efforts of pro-Khalistan elements to revive insurgency in Punjab, the Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said that general public shall remain alert during the festival season as there are possibilities of attempt to disrupt the state of peace in Punjab. One of our neighbouring countries [referred to Pakistan] keeps trying to create disturbance as they don’t want India to progress. Punjab is a State which is rising and progressing at a very fast pace. I have been reading in media about the Referendum 2020 and going through these reports too. I have come to the conclusion that some attempts are being made to revive insurgency. In Punjab, the ‘Mission 2020’ has been announced, however it cannot be ruled out that this mission cannot extend to North-Eastern States,” said General Rawat. General Rawat was invited at the Foundation Day of a School in Nabha of Patiala District in Punjab.
01-Nov-2018
The Punjab Police raided a Khalistani terror module—Khalistan Gadar Force (KGF), supported by Pakistan’s ISI, and arrested the KGF operative—Shabnamdeep Singh, from Patiala. The Police team also recovered a hand grenade, and other arms from the possession of Shabnamdeep Singh. Reportedly, Shabnamdeep Singh conspired to attack in crowded places, included Police Stations, and he was promised to get INR 10 lakh for each attack, from abroad [unspecified location]. The police also seized a pistol, six bullets, a cellular phone, and a motorcycle from his possession. Shabnamdeep Singh was produced before a local Court and given five-day Police remand.
24-Oct-2018
After five days of interrogation of Jerman/German Singh—the mastermind to plot assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, the Punjab Police arrested Jerman’s close relative—Ishwar Singh, from Balongi village of Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district in Punjab. Also, from the information obtained during Jerman’s interrogation, the Police have recovered the dump of arms including .315 bore rifle, .32 bore pistol, and two .315 bore pistols from Jerman’s Maternal Grandparents’ residence in Bijalpur village in Samana city of Patiala district in Punjab.
10-Oct-2018
Police arrested three Kashmiri students—Mir Junaib Khalid, Sejal Mohamed, and Adnan Farooq Dar from Kharar town in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar District and recovered 30gms of heroin from their possession. All three were produced before the Kharar Court and sent to a day of Police remand. The accused were coming from Chandigarh and were staying at rented homes in two separate societies located on Kharar-Landran Road, said an unnamed official. Likely, these students were taking drugs from Delhi and supplying to other Kashmiri students of private colleges in Mohali District of Chandigarh.
01-Oct-2018
The UMHA received a detailed proposal from the NIA claiming that the pro-Khalistan outfit— Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) is behind the killings of RSS leaders and trying to revive militancy in Punjab with support from Pakistan’s ISI agency; therefore, the outfit shall be proscribed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UAPA]. A decision on banning KLF would be taken soon. The ban was essential to choke funding, training and further recruitment activities of the KLF group, said an unnamed UMHA official.
25-Sep-2018
In an attempt to kill, five unspecified Khalistan sympathisers attacked Nishant Sharma— ‘President’ of Right-Wing outfit Shiv Sena Hind who was sentenced to four years in prison in a fraud case in Ropar sub-jail in Punjab. Nishant has been on hit-list of Khalistan sympathisers for his speeches against Sikh radicals and attacking Jagtar Singh Hawara—assassin of former Punjab’s Chief Minister Beant Singh. Nishant was stabbed in the early hours of September 25 after attackers broke the lock of his barrack.
14-Sep-2018
Four ‘low-intensity’ blasts took place at Maqsudan Police Station in Jalandhar District of Punjab, injuring two Policemen, Station Head Officer (SHO) Ramandeep Singh, and Constable Parminder Singh aka Pala. The low-intensity blasts could be the handiwork of mischief-mongers, however, the probe in on-going, said DGP Suresh Arora
14-Sep-2018
The Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan (BTFK)—a pro-Khalistan militant group has claimed the responsibility of the ‘low-intensity’ blasts at the Maqsudan Police Station in Jalandhar District of Punjab on September 14 night. Reportedly, a letter with the letter-head stated ‘Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan’ (BTFK) went viral on the social-media platforms, claimed the responsibility of the attack. The letter also warned the Police personnel not to unnecessarily harass the people. However, the authenticity of the letter is yet to be ascertained.
21-Aug-2018
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC)’s President Manjit Singh G.K. has claimed that he and his family members were attacked in New York, US by few alleged Khalistani supporters. The Government of India is closely cooperating with the governments of different countries to address the concerns of anti-India activities undertaken by such elements in those countries, said Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir. Manjit Singh had tweeted the incident to the Minister of External Affairs (MEA) Sushma Swaraj.
19-Aug-2018
The BSF recovered six plastic bottles filled with heroin weighing six kg in total, from river Sutlej near Joginder Border Outpost in Abohar Sector in Fazilka District in Punjab. The bottles flowed-in from Pakistan with the current of river. The recovered heroin is worth INR 30 Crore in the international market.
17-Aug-2018
The BSF officials recovered two Pakistan-based SIM cards, and 330 grams of heroin nearby the Old Mohamddi Wala Border Outpost in Ferozepur Sector in Punjab.
12-Aug-2018
The Sikhs for Justice (SFJ)— a United States (US) based Human Rights advocacy group with pro-Khalistan ideology, held a “London Declaration” on an independence referendum for the Indian state of Punjab at Trafalgar Square in London on August 12, 2018.
24-Jul-2018
The Dal Khalsa and ShrimoniAkali Dal (SAD) (Amritsar) inquired the Sikhs For Justice (SFJ)—a pro-Khalistan organisation, to clarify the doubts in its Sikh Referendum 2020 proposal. The ‘president’ of Dal Khalsa—Harpal Singh Cheema and ‘president’ of SAD-Amritsar—Simranjit Singh Mann expected that the SFJ leadership would announce their thoughts to the people of Punjab regarding the practicality of their ‘Referendum 2020’ proposal during an upcoming event on August 12, 2018 in London, UK. However, Punjab’s Chief Minister (CM) Captain Amarinder Singh has stated that the organisation such as SFJ are seeking to divide the State with its campaign—Referendum 2020, and there is a need to counter this propaganda more aggressively.
23-Jul-2018
Depicting itself as a ‘biggest victim’ of Pakistan-sponsored Narco-terrorism, the State of Punjab has approached the Central government to seek a special category status under the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) that provides financial support to the families of victims.Punjab has emerged as the biggest victim of a proxy war waged against it by Pakistan, for which Pakistan has used Narcotics as its silent weapon, wrote Punjab’s Health Minister Brahm Mohindra in a letter addressing Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda.
18-Jul-2018
As per the inputs from Intelligence agencies, two Khalistani militants—Lakhwinder Singh and Parminder Singh, are likely to execute an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack on the Parliament House in New Delhi around India’s Independence Day in August. Considering the input, Delhi’s security has been elevated under ‘multi-layered’ security parameters. The militants shall arrive in Delhi in an explosives-laden Toyota-make Innova car with Uttar Pradesh vehicle registration number. The names given by the informer—Iqbal matches with the terrorists ran away in Nabha jail break incident in Punjab in November 2016, said an unnamed official.
12-Jul-2018
In a joint operation conducted by the BSF, Ferozepur District Police and the STF, 2.77 kilogram of heroin and 50 Pakistan-made rounds of .30 calibre pistol were recovered from the Border Outpost of Jagdish Sector along with the India-Pakistan border. The STF also arrested Baldev Singh who is resident of Nihalewala village of Ferozepur District and alleged cross-border drug peddler.
12-Jul-2018
The pro-Khalistan campaign—Referendum 2020 was launched in London, UK, to determine if Sikhs shall have an independent State—Khalistan. The announcement of the campaign made by the Sikhs For Justice (SFJ)—a pro-Khalistan organisation was welcomed with a ‘sharp reaction’ from the Indian government. The Indian government has seen the reports regarding this and the matter has been taken up with the UK government. We [Indian government] have also issued a demarche to them. In response, we expect that the UK government would not allow any group whose intentions is to spread hatred and to impact the bilateral relations of India and UK, said the Ministry of External Affairs’ Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.
10-Jul-2018
The pro-separatist Sikh organisation—Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) - offered the Sponsor category Visa of the UK to youth and political activists from Punjab to attend a gathering regarding the pro-Khalistani campaign of “Referendum 2020” which is scheduled on August 12, 2018, in London, UK. SFJ is organising the free stay for the visitors from Punjab (India) from August 10 to 14 for the pro-Khalistani activities in London, said the New York-based legal advisor of SFJ Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
11-Jun-2018
Punjab Police officers investigating the alleged role of the British citizen—Jagtar Singh Johal for his involvement in the death of RSS activist Ravinder Gosain, received death threats targeting them and their family members. Jagtar Singh Johal was arrested in November 2017, a fortnight after his wedding, for the murder of RSS member Ravinder Gosain in Ludhiana District, Punjab. The arrest of Johal had become a rallying point for Sikh groups based in the UK, during the visit of Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi to UK in April 2018, several members of the Sikh community protested at Parliament Square against the arrest, said an unnamed senior government official. The British PM Theresa May raised the arrest of Johal with PM Modi.
10-Jun-2018
The Member of Parliament (MP) from Ludhiana Constituency—Ravneet Bittu received a threat on his twitter handle, from Sikh radicals during an event - ‘Referendum 2020 Khalistan’ organised in California State, US. Ravneet Bittu is trying to label US and Canada based campaigners as terrorists. Bittu’s attempts to thwart the legal process will be answered with equal force, read the tweet posted by the Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). Punjab’s Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s twitter handle was also ‘tagged’ in the tweet. I have brought it to the notice of the concerned authorities, said Bittu.
02-Jun-2018
The BSF and the Punjab Police carried out a joint operation in which a drug smuggler, Jiwan Singh, resident of Gajni wala village in Ferozepur District, Punjab was arrested and 12.7 Kg of heroin worth INR 65 crore was recovered from nearby India-Pakistan border in the Abohar Sector in Fazilka District in Punjab. Jiwan Singh was involved in cross-border drug peddling and had connection with smugglers in Pakistan. A cellular phone with Pakistani SIM card was also recovered from Jiwan Singh.
02-Jun-2018
The Punjab Police on June 2 arrested two Sikh radicals, Dharminder Singh aka Commando Singh and Kirpal Singh from Batala Tehsil, Gurdaspur District in Punjab. Both, Dharminder Singh and Kirpal Singh were planning to create unrest in Punjab ahead of 34th anniversary of the 1984 Operation Blue Star on June 6. Reportedly, Dharminder Singh has been serving in the Territorial Army—105 TA Rajputana Rifles in New Delhi. The Police has recovered a .30 calibre revolver, a .30 calibre pistol, stencils of ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ slogans, posters of the Sikh referendum 2020, and some spray paint bottles from Dharminder Singh’s possession, said IG (Border Range- Amritsar) S.P.S Parmar, and SSP of Batala—Opinderjit Singh Ghumman. Acting on specific information, a Police team arrested Dharminder Singh from his residence in Harpura Village, Batala Tehsil, Gurdaspur District in Punjab. Later, Kirpal Singh was arrested from his village upon confession of Dharminder Singh. In their confession, the accused revealed that they were radicalised and were being funded by their foreign-based Khalistani handlers, including Gurpatwant Singh Pannun who is a legal adviser of the Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) organisation, Paramjit Singh Pamma from United Kingdom (UK), Mann Singh from UK, and Deep Kaur from Malaysia, to promote the propaganda of ‘Liberation of Punjab’—funded by Pakistan’s ISI, said IG Parmar and SSP Ghumman during a press conference. A case under Sections 307, 438, 427, 148, 149 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered at the Ranger Nangal Police Station.
30-May-2018
In the case of anti-National activities, the main accused of assassination of Punjab’s former Chief Minister Beant Singh, Jagtar Singh Tara was produced in the court of Additional Session Judge Kanwaljeet Singh Bajwa but due to non-appearance of the statements of witnesses in the court, the hearing in the case was adjourned till June 14. On the next hearing, Jagtar Singh Tara would be attending the court proceedings via video conferencing facility.
23-May-2018
The Chargesheet filed by the NIA against 15 people in the case of targeted killing of RSS leader Ravinder Gosain in Punjab, has revealed the modus operandi including recruitment, training and funding of the killings. It revealed that how accused Hardeep Singh aka Shera and Ramandeep Singh aka Canadian were radicalised into executing the killing.
19-May-2018
The NIA filed Chargesheet against 15 people, including British citizen Jagtar Singh Johal, in connection to the targeted killings in Punjab. Along with JagtarSingh Johal, the Chargesheet was filed against— Hardeep Singh Shera, Ramandeep Singh Canadian, Dharminder Singh Guggni, Anil Kumar aka Kala, Amaninder Singh aka Mindu, Manpreet Singh aka Mani, Ravipal Singh aka Bhunda, Pahad Singh, Parvez aka Farru, Malook Tomar, Harmeet Singh aka Happy aka PhD aka Doctor (suspected to be in Pakistan), Gurjinder Singh aka Shastri (suspected to be in Italy), Gursharanbir Singh akaGurusharan Singh Wahiwala aka Pehalwan (suspected to be in the UK), and Gurjant Singh Dhillon (suspected to be in Australia).The Investigation has revealed that the killings of Satpal Sharma and his son—Ramesh Sharma of Dera Sacha Sauda, and Durga Gupta—Punjab wing leader of Shiv Sena, were part of transnational conspiracy executed by senior leadership of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF). The people who were targeted belong to specific community or organisation. It is clear that the objective behind these killings is to destabilise the law and order situation and revival of terrorism in Punjab, claimed the NIA. The Chargesheet was filed under Sections 302, 34, 379, 416, and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Sections 16, 17, 18, 18-A, 18-B, 20, 21 and 23 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A] and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act.
14-May-2018
The Intelligence Bureau (IB) has submitted a report to the UMHA which states that pro-Khalistan groups are hiring local criminals to conduct terrorist activities and revive militancy in Punjab. The Police officers, District Magistrates (DMs), senior IAS and IPS officers shall be alerted about the ‘covert’ activities, suggests the report. The IB report also suggested the State government to make a list and keep an eye on the local criminals. The Intelligence inputs have revealed that a pro-Khalistan group based in the UK has started a campaign through social media urging the people of Punjab to join the Khalistan struggle.
14-May-2018
The NIA filed chargesheet in the murder cases of Amit Sharma and Pastor Sultan Masih in the Special NIA court in Mohali, Chandigarh. The NIA has chargesheeted 11 people including British-citizen Jagtar Singh Johal under Sections 302, 34, 379, 416, and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Sections 16, 17, 18, 18-A, 18-B, 20, 21, and 23 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A], and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act. Along with Jagtar Singh Johal, 10 people who have been named in the Chargesheet include, Hardeep Singh Shera, Ramandeep Singh Bagga, Pahar Singh, Dharminder Singh Gugni, Anil Kala, Parvez, Malook, Amaninder Singh, Ravipal Singh, and Manpreet Singh. The NIA claimed that four other people, Harmeet Singh alias PhD, Gursharanbir Singh, Gurjinder Singh Shastri, and Gurjant Singh be declared proclaimed offenders in the case.
10-May-2018
The Punjab Police arrested Sandeep Singh and Amar Singh, an alleged Khalistani radicals supported by an Australia-based Khalistani outfit—International Sikh Federation (ISF), from Kotkapura of Faridkot District and recovered two .30 bore pistols, and 40 live ammunitions from their possession. The Police had received a call that a motorbike has collided with a SUV on the NH between Faridkot and Kotkapura. When the Police approached the location, the duo were trying to escape from the location on their motorbike. However, the Police team managed to arrest them, said Faridkot SSP Nanak Singh. During the interrogation, they claimed to be in contact with Gurjant Singh—resident in Australia and ‘Head’ of ISF who indulged them into radicalisation over the Facebook. The members of the terror module that was busted by Punjab Police on May 29, 2017, had come together to form a sub-group called Khalistan Zindabad (KZ). This outfit is linked to the website of Gurjant’s ISF.
07-May-2018
The NIA has registered a FIR against Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a resident in Canada and Khalistani militant, for allegedly planning terrorist attacks in Punjab. Against Nijjar, a case was registered under Sections 120-B, 124-A, and 153-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Sections 10, 16 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A], and Section 25 of the Arms Act after the recommendations from the UMHA. According to the FIR, Nijjar and other members of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) planned to promote disharmony among different groups on the basis of religion and to revive terrorism in Punjab. The FIR also linked Nijjar’s associates with the conspiracy to target the members of RSS.
06-May-2018
The founding member of new Sikh youth group—Sikh Liberation Front (SLF), Moninder Singh has claimed that in “Khalsa tradition”, use of force is permissible and justified as the last resort in the situation. The group—SLF comprises of Sikh youth from the groups based in Canada, the US and the UK. However, the Khalistan movement does not necessarily to be associated with violence every time. Self-resistance, resistance against the State, and Self defence—these modes sometimes require people to resist in many different ways which also includes armed struggle, said Moninder Singh. Reacting to Moninder Singh’s statement, an unnamed senior Indian government official has said that such blatant exhortation to violence aimed at India cannot be tolerated.
04-May-2018
The NIA filed chargesheet in the Special NIA court in Mohali, Chandigarh against 15 people in connection with the killing of RSS leader Ravinder Gosain on October 17, 2017, in Ludhiana District of Punjab. The investigation revealed that killing of Ravinder Gosain was a part of transnational conspiracy executed by the senior leadership of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF). The objective of the conspiracy is to destabilise the law and order and revival of terrorism in Punjab. As part of the conspiracy, a large sum of funds was supplied through Italy, Australia and the UK to the perpetrators of the killings or attempted killings, by Hardeep Singh and Ramandeep Singh. These funds were used by the duo to purchase weapons for executing the killings and other logistics.
24-Apr-2018
Two months after the ‘controversial’ trip of the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to India, the Canadian authorities acted on the list of alleged ‘terrorists’ given by the Punjab’s CM Captain Amarinder Singh and arrested Hardeep Singh Nijjar—resident of Surrey, Canada last week. Hardeep Singh Nijjar was an accused of three terror cases—2010 bomb explosion in Patiala, 2015 alleged involvement in killing Hindu leaders, and 2016 alleged for conspiracy and financial support to Mandeep Dhaliwal for killing of Hindu leaders in Ludhiana. All three cases are registered in Punjab. In 2015, a Look-Out-Circular (LOC) was issued against Nijjar and in 2016 a Red Corner Notice (RCN) was issued and finally executed in April 2018. The alleged list handed-over by Punjab CM consists of nine people, most of them alleged for their links to International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) and Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). Reportedly, Nijjar is accused of grooming a module of KTF consisting of five members in 2014. In 2009, he was also accused of murdering Rulda Singh, the then-head of the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat (RSS), an affiliate of the Hindutva ideology organisation— Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
19-Apr-2018
Punjab’s Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh met the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed a comprehensive strategy to tackle the terrorism or re-emergence of extremism in the State. There is a need to strengthen the Intelligence sharing on the terrorists’ handlers based in Canada, UK, US, Italy and Germany, who are actively involved in the efforts for the revival of Sikh militancy in Punjab, said CM Amarinder Singh. CM Amarinder Singh also urged for assistance from the Central Government regarding Punjab Police modernisation and the UHM Rajnath Singh agreed to look for the demand under the ‘Modernisation of Police Forces’ scheme.
18-Apr-2018
Khalistan Liberation Force’s (KLF) ‘Chief’ Harminder Singh Mintoo died on April 18, in the Nabha Central Jail in Patiala District of Punjab. Harminder Singh Mintoo played major role in conspiracy of revival of terrorism in Punjab. He was an alleged mastermind behind terror killings, fund-raise for terror activities, organising terror modules and backing the agenda of Khalistan in Punjab and elsewhere. Mintoo almost succeeded in establishing connection among gangsters, narco-smugglers, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and proscribed pro-Khalistan outfits, said an unnamed official.
16-Apr-2018
Photographs of Pakistan-based LeT ‘chief’ Hafiz Saeed and Sikh separatist Gopal Singh Chawla, has emerged in Lahore city of Pakistan. On April 14, Gopal Singh Chawla, followed the instructions of Pakistan authorities and denied the entry of Indian officials into the premises of Gurdwara Panja Sahib Ji in Hasan Abdal in Pakistan, on the occasion of Baisakhi Day. Members of Sikh extremist group also placed posters and banners of ‘Khalistan Referendum 2020’ in the Parikrama path of Gurdwara Panja Sahib Ji. The Indian High Commissioner to the Pakistan Ajay Bisaria was also ‘forced’ to return due to unspecified Security reasons when he approached the Gurdwara to meet and greet the pilgrims on the occasion of Baisakhi Day.
09-Apr-2018
In an arms recovery case, including AK-56, on December 30, 1995, extremist Jagtar Singh Hawara held guilty by a local court in Ludhiana District of Punjab. The Judicial Magistrate Varinder Kumar referred the case to the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Jaapinder Singh for pronouncing the sentence, as the CJM could grant imprisonment maximum of seven years. The matter would appear for hearing on April 13.
04-Apr-2018
The Bathinda Police, imposed charges on Dal Khalsa leader Baba Hardeep Singh Khalsa and former gangster Lakhbir Singh aka Lakha Sidana, in four different cases of damaging signboards placed outside the District administrative complex, Income Tax office, PN) and the Post Office located in the Civil Lines area in Bathinda District. Both of them were charged under Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act of 1984, and Section 5 of the Punjab Defacement of Property Ordinance Act (PDPO) of 1997.
02-Apr-2018
The Punjab Police’s Counter Intelligence Wing, spoiled an alleged attempt of Pakistan’s ISI to highlight the pro-Khalistan campaign of ‘Referendum 2020’ by setting buses and liquor vends afire at Banga-Mukandpur road and arrested four persons—Manvir Singh, Jaspreet Singh, Sukhwinder Singh, and Randhir Singh from Gunachaur village in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar District in Punjab. All accused were radicalised by an unknown ISI agent through social-media. The ‘Referendum 2020’ is a project initiated by the US based Sikh radical group—Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and supports the ideology of Khalistan—a separate nation of Sikhs. The accused were conspiring to showcase the ‘Referendum 2020’ posters during the upcoming cricket match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Mohali (Chandigarh) in a bid to gather the attention of international visitors, said Assistant Inspector-General (IG) of Counterintelligence H.P.S Khakh. All accused are in their early twenties of age and were lured by the offer of lucrative jobs. The accused were frequent visitors to the Facebook page and came in contact with a Malaysia-based woman—Deep Kaur. Through a group on WhatsApp, Deep Kaur introduced all four accused to her leader—Fateh Singh, who instructed them to create chaos by setting up liquor shops and public transport buses on fire. Because, ‘Referendum 2020’ is not popular among Punjab’s youth, they [accused] wanted to highlight the issue through criminal means, said Khakh. Initially, the accused were paid INR 70,000 as funds, some of which was used to buy a motorbike, whereas rest of the money was given to an Amritsar resident—Asis, for buying illegal weapons.
31-Mar-2018
The experts based in Jammu and Chandigarh believes that the pro-Khalistani groups based in the UK and other foreign countries are discredited bunches and working on support from Pakistan. A group of radical Sikhs based in UK, including Wadhwa Singh of Sikh militant outfit—Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) are completely supported by Pakistan-based terrorist outfits, with an objective to conducts act of terrorism in India, claimed experts. Recently, a group of British-Sikhs and Kashmiri separatists based in the UK, held a meeting to organise an anti-India campaign during Indian PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the UK to attend the Commonwealth Summit on April 18.
20-Mar-2018
The NIA, which is probing the killings of the workers of RSS and a Pastor, has revealed a network of conspirators of Khalistani Liberation Force (KLF) and supported by Pakistan’s ISI with further connections through Dubai, France, the UK, Italy and Pakistan. As per the probing, the KLF ‘Chief’ Harminder Singh Mintoo, who is currently in Patiala Jail and his associated based in Pakistan—Harmeet Singh had masterminded the killings of RSS workers with intentions to disturb the law and order situation and revival of Khalistan militancy in Punjab. Harmeet Singh, suspected to mastermind the killings of RSS preacher Ravinder Gosain in October 2017, Shiv Sena leader Durga Das Gupta, and a Pastor, Sultan Masih. A UK resident, Jagtar Singh Johal, reportedly had connections with KLF financier and arranged finances to purchase murder weapons, execution of the killings and for the personal expenses of two hitmen hired for the killings. The NIA has traced the financial transactions to Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, UK, Italy and Dubai.
20-Mar-2018
2018 March 20 Former militant of Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) and Babbar Khalsa International (BKI)—Ranjit Singh alias Rana (55) on March 20 was produced before the Judicial Magistrate of Phagwara and sent to Police remand till March 21 for further interrogation. He had been absconding for 19 years and living as a Granthi (Sikh priest) at a Gurdwara in Kohar Kalan village, near Shahkot for past 14 years. In preliminary interrogation, Ranjit Singh confessed to have connections with other Sikh terrorist Satnam Singh alias Satta and Gurlal Singh.
19-Mar-2018
The Punjab Police on March 19 has arrested an absconded militant, Ranjit Singh alias Rana (55) who belongs to the Bhindranwala Tigers Force (BTF), from a religious shrine at the village Kohar Kalan in Jalandhar District in Punjab. Ranjit Singh, resident of Jagatpur Jattan in Hoshiarpur District in Punjab, was working as a Granthi (Sikh priest) to conceal his identity for the past one year. He was on absconding status from 19 years, said an unnamed Police official. Rana was involved in five cases of murder and had served two years of sentence in a case, but was absconded in two other cases. Primarily, Rana was involved with BTF but did not ruled out his links with other Khalistani militant outfits such as Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) and Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), said Kapurthala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sandip Sharma
19-Mar-2018
With expressing its concern over the ‘developments’ in Sikh militancy, the UMHA claimed that Pakistan’s ISI is encouraging the Sikh youth based in the Europe and the United States (US) against India. Reportedly, ‘Commanders’ of Sikh militancy outfits based in Pakistan are under pressure from ISI to further expand their terror plans and activities not only targeting Punjab but also other regions of India. Sikh youth are getting training in Pakistan, read a report titled ‘Central Armed Police Forces and Internet Security Challenges—Evaluation and Response Mechanism’. The report was presented by Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha (the Lower House of the Indian Parliament) and released to the media on Wednesday in a press conference held by Dr Joshi.
17-Mar-2018
Jagtar Singh Tara, a Khalistani militant and assassin of former Punjab CM Beant Singh was sentenced to life imprisonment. If killing a cruel person could save lives of thousands of innocents, then there is nothing wrong in it, said Jagtar Singh through his counsel Simranjit Singh, while chants of pro-Khalistan slogans were on high. Jagtar Singh Tara urged the Court to consider him as a ‘Prisoner of War’ (PoW) as he was a Sikh nationalist fighting for the freedom of the occupied Sikh state.