KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
08-Jun-2026
On June 8, Punjab Police, on day 464 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 81 drug smugglers, and seized 373 grams of heroin, 2.2 kilograms of ganja, 256 intoxicant pills, and INR 792000 in drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
08-Jun-2026
The Amritsar Police on June 8 arrested four persons, including an Afghan national, and recovered eight sophisticated pistols and seven live cartridges while dismantling a cross-border drug, arms smuggling, and hawala network in Amritsar district. Preliminary investigations indicate that the accused were in contact with a foreign-based smuggler who supplied illegal weapons through concealed drop locations. Police said the firearms were intended for criminal and gangster networks operating in Punjab and were being distributed through a well-organised supply chain. Investigators suspect the operation was linked to both arms trafficking and hawala transactions, pointing to the involvement of an international criminal syndicate.
08-Jun-2026
According to data compiled by Punjab Police and central security agencies, more than 40 per cent of the 128 Pakistani drug smugglers on a watch list for trafficking narcotics into Punjab are based in Lahore and Kasur districts of Punjab province in Pakistan. A police dossier identifies the two border districts as key hubs for narcotics smuggling into northern India, listing 27 suspected smugglers from Lahore and 26 from Kasur. The assessment indicates that these networks use a combination of drone drops, cross-border land routes, and container shipments to traffic heroin and other contraband into India.
08-Jun-2026
On June 8, the 139th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangstran Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahar— the police conducted 469 raids, arrested 263 persons and recovered one weapon from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 69 individuals, while 24 persons were verified and released after questioning. Two proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
08-Jun-2026
Police on June 8 arrested two persons, identified as Karan Arora alias Laddu and Vicky Kumar Ravani alias Buvan, and recovered a .30 bore pistol, 10 live cartridges, and a motorcycle from the accused, in connection with the May 30 firing incident at Shri Ganesh Scan Centre in Nurpur Bedi, in Rupnagar district. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Maninder Singh said the suspects had allegedly opened fire at the scan centre during the intervening night of May 30 after its owners failed to comply with an extortion demand. Police described the arrests as a significant breakthrough in the ongoing crackdown on gangsters and anti-social elements in the district.
07-Jun-2026
On June 7, the 138th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangstran Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahar— the police conducted 541 raids, arrested 281 persons and recovered 11 weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 74 individuals, while 20 persons were verified and released after questioning. Two proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
07-Jun-2026
On June 7, Punjab Police, on day 463 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 66 drug smugglers, and seized 2.3 kg of heroin, 279 intoxicant pills and INR 3450 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
07-Jun-2026
Punjab Police's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), in a joint operation with the Jammu and Kashmir Police, on June 7 arrested two alleged shooters, identified as Vishnu Kumar and Rahul Mahawar, in connection with the June 1 killing of a shopkeeper in Makhu, Ferozepur district of Punjab and recovered a .30-bore Beretta pistol along with 10 live cartridges from their possession, in Jammu and Kashmir. Preliminary investigations revealed that Vishnu Kumar has a criminal history involving extortion, robbery, theft, and Arms Act violations. He was also carrying a reward of INR 10,000 announced by the Rajasthan Police.
06-Jun-2026
Two unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants shot and critically injured village sarpanch and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Gurbindar Singh in Qadian Rajputa village, Gurdaspur district on June 9. According to reports, Gurbindar Singh had just stepped out of his uncle's house and was about to enter his vehicle when the attackers opened fire. Three rounds were fired, with two bullets striking his legs. The assailants fled the scene immediately after the attack. Meanwhile, unverified claims circulating on social media suggest that a gangster group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Police, however, stated that they are verifying the authenticity of these claims.
06-Jun-2026
On June 6, the 137th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangstran Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahar— the police arrested 320 persons and recovered eight weapons from their possession. Seven proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
06-Jun-2026
An assailant accused of snatching a self-loading rifle (SLR) from a Punjab Armed Police (PAP) trooper on May 30, identified as Shamsher Singh, was injured in an encounter with Fazilka Police near the Ladhuka seepage drain area in Fazilka district on June 6. The snatched weapon was recovered from his possession. According to official sources, the accused allegedly opened fire when a police team reached the spot. In the ensuing exchange of fire, he sustained a bullet injury to his leg.
06-Jun-2026
Protesters gathered in front of the Akal Takht within the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar and displayed posters of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale while raising pro-Khalistan slogans during the 42nd anniversary of Operation Blue Star.
06-Jun-2026
Speaking on the 42nd anniversary of Operation Blue Star in Amritsar, acting Akal Takht Jathedar Kuldeep Singh Gargaj urged the Sikh community to remain united and stay connected to its roots in Punjab. He also expressed concern over what he described as increasing attempts to target Sikh identity and religious symbols globally.
05-Jun-2026
On June 5, the 136th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangstran Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahar— the police conducted 548 raids, arrested 295 persons and recovered one weapon from their possession. Seven proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
05-Jun-2026
On June 5, Punjab Police, on day 461 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 91 drug smugglers, and seized 1.1 kg of heroin, 476 intoxicant pills, and INR 5,100 in drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
05-Jun-2026
Amritsar Police on June 5 busted a cross-border drug and weapons smuggling module and arrested six persons, including an Afghan national, Baz Mohammad, along with Ankush Barthwal, Des Raj alias Vicky, Rajandeep Singh alias Raja, and two juveniles and recovered 1.035 kilograms of heroin, five sophisticated pistols, two live cartridges, and INR 500,000 in suspected drug proceeds during the operation in Amritsar District. Preliminary investigations indicated that the accused were acting in collusion with foreign-based associates and procuring illegal arms and narcotics through contacts established on social media platforms. The consignments were allegedly distributed on the instructions of overseas handlers through a network operating across the Majha and Doaba regions.
05-Jun-2026
According to report, a fresh controversy has erupted within Sikh circles over the venue of the annual commemoration of the June 1984 Operation Bluestar, with Shiromani Akali Dal-SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann and Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhuma publicly exchanging sharp remarks. The dispute centres on the annual June 6 observance held at the Damdami Taksal headquarters in Mehta Chowk. Mann argued that the commemoration should be held exclusively at the Akal Takht, where Sikhs from across the world gather to mark the anniversary. He suggested that the Mehta Chowk programme be held on June 7 instead, adding that he would have no objection to such an arrangement. Mann also criticised Dhuma for participating in Hindu religious rituals, including bathing in the Ganges and offering prayers at a Shivling.
05-Jun-2026
On the 42nd anniversary of Operation Blue Star on June 6, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj will felicitate the families of those killed during the operation. With a large number of devotees and visitors expected to gather in the holy city to mark the anniversary, authorities maintained a high level of vigilance and security.
05-Jun-2026
A joint team of the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Punjab Special Task Force (STF) on June 5 arrested a youth, identified as Mohtseem, in connection with the 2021 Punjab bomb blast case during a raid in Bachiti village under the Deoband Kotwali area of Saharanpur district, Uttar Pradesh (UP). Investigators said the accused had emerged in a suspected network linked to the Pakistan-backed terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed, and the ATS reportedly obtained evidence indicating his association with the outfit.
04-Jun-2026
On June 4, Police busted an eight-member drug trafficking gang and arrested two members, including Sukhdev Singh alias Kala, during an operation at a closed petrol pump on the old bypass in Tarn Taran district.
04-Jun-2026
On June 4, five prominent temples in Punjab—the Durgiana Temple, Mukteshwar Dham Temple, Devi Talab Mandir, Maisar Khana Temple, and Mata Kali Temple—received bomb threat emails days ahead of the 42nd anniversary of Operation Blue Star. The threats prompted Punjab Police and intelligence agencies to remain on maximum alert amid heightened security arrangements already in place for the anniversary period.
04-Jun-2026
On June 4, a special NIA court in Mohali sentenced three students from Awantipora in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir—Zahid Gulzar, Yasir Rafiq Bhat, and Mohammed Idris Shah—to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in a 2018 case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The court found them guilty of criminal conspiracy, UAPA offences, and violations of the Explosives Act. The three had remained in judicial custody since their arrest on October 10, 2018. According to the prosecution, the accused were associated with the terrorist outfit Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH) and were allegedly planning unlawful activities. Investigators further alleged that they had been receiving funds to advance the organization’s activities and were attempting to recruit other students from the institution into the group. The case originated from the recovery of arms, ammunition, and explosives during a police raid on the hostel of CT Institution’s Shahpur campus in Jalandhar on October 10, 2018. Investigations revealed that Yasir Rafiq Bhat, a relative of slain militant commander Zakir Musa, allegedly played a key role in procuring explosive material and motivating Kashmiri students at the institution to join the outfit and participate in its unlawful activities. The court, however, acquitted Suhail Ahmed Bhat, holding that the prosecution had failed to establish the charges against him.
04-Jun-2026
In the early hours of June 4, Rattan Lubana, a club owner and relative of a BJP councillor, was shot and injured in an alleged attack by members of the Rohit Godara gang in Panchkula district, Haryana. Another individual, identified as Lalit, was also injured in the firing. The two assailants were subsequently arrested following a police chase and an exchange of fire with security personnel.
04-Jun-2026
On June 4, Punjab Police, on day 460 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 100 drug smugglers, and seized 1.6 kg of heroin, 1,110 intoxicant pills, and INR 16,500 in drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
03-Jun-2026
On June 3, the 134th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangstran Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahar— the police conducted 526 raids, arrested 272 persons and recovered seven weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 65 individuals, while 20 persons were verified and released after questioning. Three proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
03-Jun-2026
On June 3, Punjab Police, on day 459 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 71 drug smugglers, and seized 18.4 kg of heroin, 570 intoxicant pills and INR 11,487 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
03-Jun-2026
The Border Security Force (BSF) personnel on June 3 recovered 11 kg of heroin concealed in multiple packets scattered near Border Outpost (BOP) Ramkot in Fazilka district.
03-Jun-2026
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on June 3 recovered 6 kg of heroin near Border Outpost (BOP) Kakkar in Amritsar district. Preliminary investigations indicated that the consignment had been dropped by drones from across the border and was intended for collection by local smugglers.
03-Jun-2026
Amritsar police on June 3 arrested a drug smuggler, identified as Sukhdev Singh alias Sukh and recovered 2.225 kilograms of heroin from his possession, in Chicha village under Gharinda in Amritsar district. Preliminary investigations revealed that he was actively involved in narcotics trafficking and had procured the consignment for further distribution. During interrogation, police uncovered links to a Pakistan-based smuggler, identified as Maula, who allegedly used drones to deliver consignments of heroin and weapons across the International Border for distribution through local operatives to criminal elements in Punjab.
03-Jun-2026
Police on June 3 arrested a arms smuggler, Harjinder Singh alias Jinder and recovered four sophisticated pistols—one China-made .30 bore pistol, two Austria-made Glock 9mm pistols, one US-made Glock 9mm pistol—and eight live cartridges, in Lopoke, Ajnala in Amritsar district. Acting on Harjinder's disclosure, police subsequently recovered two additional Turkey-made .30 bore pistols and four live cartridges. Both accused belong to border villages and have previous criminal records.
03-Jun-2026
An unidentified caller allegedly made multiple extortion calls demanding INR 5 million from immigration agent Karanpreet Singh of JS Immigration Centre at Gill Chowk in Ludhiana district. The caller claimed to be based in England and originally from Tarn Taran, and identified himself as gangster Ghanshyam Puria.
03-Jun-2026
A bomb threat email received by the District and Sessions Court in Mohali on June 3 triggered a major security alert, leading to the temporary suspension of court proceedings and extensive search operations across judicial complexes in Mohali, Kharar, and Dera Bassi in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district. Authorities conducted thorough checks of the premises, while investigations were launched to trace the source of the threat.
03-Jun-2026
The agitation against the Himachal Pradesh Government’s entry tax on out-of-state vehicles intensified on June 3 when a group of Nihang Sikhs imposed a symbolic “Khalsa tax” on Himachal Pradesh-registered vehicles entering Punjab via the Kiratpur Sahib–Manali highway in Rupnagar district. The levy was collected for one hour, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., as a protest against Himachal Pradesh’s entry tax.
03-Jun-2026
Ahead of the 42nd anniversary of Operation Blue Star on June 6, Punjab Police implemented extensive security measures across the border belt, deploying around 4,000 personnel and 11 companies of Central Paramilitary Forces to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incidents. Reviewing the arrangements in Amritsar on June 3, Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) PK Sinha said a comprehensive security grid had been established covering Amritsar city and the adjoining districts of Amritsar Rural, Batala, Gurdaspur, and Tarn Taran. The coordinated mechanism is intended to facilitate seamless intelligence sharing and ensure a swift response to any potential security threats during the sensitive period.
03-Jun-2026
The State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Mohali, on June 3 arrested two associates of a foreign-based terror operative, identified as Mani Singh and Abhishek Kumar and recovered a fully assembled RDX-based improvised explosive device (IED) weighing approximately 2.5 kilograms, near a park opposite YPS Chowk in Mohali, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district. According to Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, the IED was ready for use, and the operation successfully foiled a plot to target critical public infrastructure in Mohali, averting a potentially catastrophic threat to public safety and security.
03-Jun-2026
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vijay Soni, convener of the party’s district trade cell in Gurdaspur, on June 4 said he narrowly escaped a shooting attack at his petrol pump in Gurdaspur district on the evening of June 3. According to Soni, two motorcycle-borne assailants with covered faces opened fire at the premises, with several bullets striking his nearby vehicle and one hitting a wall. He escaped unhurt and allegedly returned fire with his licensed weapon, prompting the attackers to flee. Soni further claimed that prior to the incident, he had received an audio message from a foreign number demanding INR 20 million in extortion money and giving him 10 days to comply.
03-Jun-2026
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vijay Soni, convener of the party’s district trade cell in Gurdaspur, on June 4 said he narrowly escaped a shooting attack at his petrol pump in Gurdaspur district on the evening of June 3. According to Soni, two motorcycle-borne assailants with covered faces opened fire at the premises, with several bullets striking his nearby vehicle and one hitting a wall. He escaped unhurt and allegedly returned fire with his licensed weapon, prompting the attackers to flee. Soni further claimed that prior to the incident, he had received an audio message from a foreign number demanding INR 20 million in extortion money and giving him 10 days to comply.
02-Jun-2026
Sriganganagar police on June 2 arrested two Punjab-based suspects, Harmanpreet and Rohit Sahota, allegedly linked to the Rohit Godara gang, further expanding an investigation into a network accused of supplying firearms to gang operatives across Rajasthan, from Punjab. Both the arrested were wanted in separate firing cases. Investigators suspect Harmanpreet of involvement in gang-related shooting operations, while Sahota allegedly played a key role in procuring and supplying weapons to criminal networks.
02-Jun-2026
On June 2, the 133rd day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangstran Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahar— the police conducted 499 raids, arrested 221 persons and recovered two weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 81 individuals, while 10 persons were verified and released after questioning. Three proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
02-Jun-2026
On June 2, Punjab Police, on day 458 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 91 drug smugglers, and seized 910 grams of heroin, 285 intoxicating tablets, and INR 5,07,000 lakh drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
02-Jun-2026
A grenade attack targeted Multani Hospital, a private hospital near the bus stand in Kalanaur, Gurdaspur district, on June 2, shattering windowpanes and the glass door of the emergency ward. No one was injured in the incident. Police subsequently arrested the main perpetrator, who is reportedly linked to a foreign-based handler. Investigations are ongoing, with authorities examining both forward and backward linkages to identify and dismantle the entire network behind the attack.
02-Jun-2026
Police on June 2 took Shiv Sena Hind leader Ajay Gupta into preventive custody over alleged inflammatory and provocative social media posts ahead of the June 6 anniversary of Operation Blue Star, in Punjab. Gupta had been provided security cover by two Punjab Armed Police/India Reserve Battalion personnel about eight months ago, but the protection was recently withdrawn. According to police, he allegedly began posting provocative content on social media in an attempt to have his security cover restored. Authorities stated that the posts created tensions between two communities, prompting preventive action to maintain law and order.
02-Jun-2026
On June 2, authorities at the Bathinda District Court received an email threatening to blow up the court complex in Bathinda district. Following the threat, police launched a security alert, intensified checks, and tightened security across the court premises while investigations were initiated to trace the source of the email.
02-Jun-2026
According to reports, with the anniversary of Operation Blue Star falling on June 6, the Amritsar police intensified security measures and conducted a large-scale flag march across all three police zones of the city to maintain peace, communal harmony, and law and order, in Amritsar district. The march covered several sensitive areas of the city as part of heightened security arrangements ahead of the anniversary.
01-Jun-2026
A grocery store owner, identified as Gurcharan Singh alias Kala Gaba, was shot dead by two unidentified assailants in the busy Makhu market area of Ferozepur district on June 1. According to eyewitnesses, one attacker remained on a motorcycle outside the shop while the other entered and opened fire before fleeing the scene. Gaba was rushed to a hospital in Moga, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment. The incident triggered panic in the market, with residents and shopkeepers rushing to the spot after hearing gunshots.
01-Jun-2026
A social media post purportedly issued by members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang on June 1 claimed responsibility for the killing of Kala Gaba in Ferozepur district and issued fresh threats against doctors and producers associated with the Punjabi entertainment industry. The post, attributed to individuals identifying themselves as R.D. Dhaliwal, Harman Sandhu, and Tyson Bishnoi, alleged that the victim had committed “unforgivable” acts, including ruining the life of a person from a poor family and harassing a woman. The authors claimed they had attempted to contact Gaba but that their calls had been blocked. They further stated that they had waited two years before carrying out the attack and sought to justify the killing on religious grounds. However, these allegations and claims of responsibility remain unverified.
31-May-2026
According to official sources, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, during a video conference on May 31, directed senior officers to ensure that personnel adopt preventive and proactive measures to safeguard their lives. Police personnel were advised not to travel alone and to remain armed while on duty. The advisory followed an incident on May 30 in which unidentified assailants attacked Punjab Armed Police (PAP) constable Sukhwinder Singh, posted at Harike Pattan in Tarn Taran district, and snatched his Self-Loading Rifle (SLR). The injured constable was shifted to a hospital in Faridkot for treatment. The incident prompted heightened concerns over potential threats to the life and property of police personnel across the state.
31-May-2026
On May 31, the 131th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangstran Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahar— the police conducted 433 raids, arrested 139 persons and recovered five weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 86 individuals, while 12 persons were verified and released after questioning. Two proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
31-May-2026
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on May 31 announced that the Punjab Police's anti-drug campaign, Yudh Nashian Virudh (War Against Drugs), has completed 15 months. According to official data, police have registered 46,937 cases under the NDPS Act and arrested 65,884 accused persons during the campaign. Recoveries include 2,950 kg of heroin, 792 kg of opium, 666 quintals of poppy husk, 71 kg of charas, 986 kg of ganja, 56 kg of ICE, and more than 5.5 million intoxicant pills and tablets. Police have also seized INR 200 million in drug-related cash and frozen assets worth approximately INR 3000 million belonging to around 750 alleged drug smugglers. The DGP stated that Punjab Police has moved beyond routine drug seizures to target the financial networks sustaining organized drug trafficking and cross-border smuggling. Since the launch of the campaign on March 1, 2025, coordinated anti-drug operations have been conducted daily across all 28 police districts of the state.
30-May-2026
On May 30, the 130th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangstran Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahar— the police conducted 513 raids, arrested 235 persons and recovered one weapon from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 64 individuals, while 16 persons were verified and released after questioning. Two proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.