KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
13-May-2025
Police on May 13 arrested a spy, identified as Raqeeb, who was a tailor employed at the Bathinda Army Cantonment is suspected of operating there, and seized a phone from his possession, in Bathinda in Bathinda district. This marks the second espionage case from the cantonment, following the earlier arrest of a cobbler on similar charges.
13-May-2025
Ludhiana police on May 13 launched a pre-dawn raid in Mohalla Peeru Banda, a known drug hotspot, arresting four drug peddlers—Sahil, Sanjeev Kumar (Sonu), Raju, and Mehakpreet (Vicky Bath)—and seizing 365 grams of heroin in Ludhiana district. Five additional individuals were taken into preventive custody.
13-May-2025
Ludhiana Rural Police on May 13 arrested eleven unidentified individuals and seized 18 grams of heroin, 169 intoxicating pills, and 35 capsules. The operation was carried out across Ramgarh Bhullar, Mandiani, Akalgarh, Bajigar Basti, and Jodhan villages in Ludhiana district, Punjab.
13-May-2025
Punjab Police on May 13 busted a well-organised drug smuggling racket operating from Sangrur Jail and arrested 19 individuals, including the jail’s Deputy Superintendent of Police (Security) Gurpreet Singh, jail employee Parshant, drug smuggler Manpreet Singh, inmate Gurchet’s mother Banto alias Banso, and 15 inmates and seized 12 grams of heroin, 50 grams of opium, 12 mobile phones, four smartwatches, and other contraband from the jail premises in Sangrur district, Punjab.
12-May-2025
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on May 12 warned Pakistan that India has only "paused" military operations, not ended them, declaring Operation Sindoor as the "new normal." His statement signals a tougher stance and India’s resolve to counter cross-border threats decisively.
12-May-2025
On May 12, drone sightings were reported near the Suranussi ammunition dump in Jalandhar district, Punjab, prompting the district administration to order a partial blackout. Power was cut by Punjab State Power Corporation Limited in areas around Suranussi, Jalandhar Cantonment, and nearby localities. Deputy Commissioners of Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur assured the public there was no cause for panic, as Army officials maintained regular vigilance. The sound of explosions in nearby villages was later attributed to miscreants bursting crackers.
12-May-2025
On May 12, a half-burnt missile was found in the generator room of Markfed Canneries at Chuharwali village, Jalandhar district. It had pierced the shed but caused minimal damage, having been intercepted earlier. Markfed employees alerted authorities, and police, along with Army and Air Force teams, safely defused it.
12-May-2025
The Crime Branch of the UT Police on May 12 arrested Harwant Singh alias Harry, a key operative of the banned Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), and seized a pistol along with three cartridges from the Daria village area in Chandigarh. Harwant is linked to the gangster-terrorist nexus involving Happy Passia, Manu Agwan, and Pakistan-based Harwinder Rinda. He had recruited two gangsters who were arrested on May 8 with an improvised explosive device (IED). Acting as a logistics conduit in the terror-crime network, Harwant is now in police custody, with authorities seeking his remand for further investigation into his associates and arms supply links.
12-May-2025
A tussle for control of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) has erupted following the nomination of nine co-opted members, bringing the total strength to 49. Two main factions—one led by Baldev Singh Kaimpuri and the other by Jagdish Jhinda—are vying for dominance. The Jhinda-Daduwal group claims majority support and the backing of the state government, while Kaimpuri’s faction is supported by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). The oath-taking ceremony and the appointment of an officiating president are scheduled for May 13, after which the power struggle is expected to escalate.
12-May-2025
Former Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) S.S. Virk on May 12 praised the Centre’s decision to launch Operation Sindoor in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, calling it “absolutely appropriate.” Emphasising the need for a firm stance, he stated, “A bullet for a bullet — this is the real response,” underscoring that only strong retaliation can deter terrorist outfits. Virk also criticised Pakistan for sheltering and glorifying terrorists and drew parallels with the 2008 Mumbai attacks, asserting that India’s tough response is essential to safeguard Kashmir’s peace and development.
12-May-2025
Fazilka Police on May 12 arrested three unidentified drug smugglers and seized 60,000 tramadol (100mg) tablets along with a vehicle in Jalalabad, Fazilka district. According to the police, further investigation is underway to trace the backward and forward linkages of the drug syndicate.
12-May-2025
Punjab Police on May 12 busted a drug cartel linked to Turkey-based smuggler Navpreet Singh alias Nav Bhullar and arrested three of its operatives, Gurdeep Singh alias Saab, Pardeep Sharma, and Mani Sharma, and seized 1.01 kg of heroin, INR 1.06 crore in hawala money (including INR 84.02 lakh in cash and INR 22 lakh in frozen bank accounts), a cash counting machine, and a car from their possession in Amritsar district. Gurdeep was reportedly operating the cartel under Bhullar’s directions. Further investigation is underway to uncover the broader network.
12-May-2025
In a joint operation with the Counter Intelligence (CI) unit of Punjab Police, Patiala Police on May 12 arrested three members of an international drug syndicate—Amarjit Singh, Harmanjit Singh, and Harpreet Singh—and seized 15.680 kg of opium along with INR 2.30 lakh in cash from their possession in Sangrur district. The accused had reportedly sourced the contraband from Imphal in Manipur and Assam, indicating an active drug supply route from the Northeast to Punjab. Further investigation is underway to trace the full extent of the network.
12-May-2025
On May 12, marking day 72 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” (War against Drugs) campaign, Punjab Police arrested 133 drug smugglers, registered 89 First Information Reports (FIRs) and seized 2.2 kg of heroin, 54 kg of poppy husk, 73,000 intoxicant pills, and INR 13.22 lakh in drug money across Punjab.
12-May-2025
As of May 12, the Punjab Police had completed 72 days of its ongoing anti-narcotics drive 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' (War Against Drugs), during which it registered 6,280 First Information Reports (FIRs), arrested 10,444 drug smugglers, and seized 398 kg of heroin, 186 kg of opium, 117 quintals of poppy husk, 8 kg of charas, 135 kg of ganja, 2.5 kg of ICE, 1.2 kg of cocaine, 23.57 lakh intoxicant pills and tablets, and INR 8.58 crore in drug money across Punjab since March 1.
11-May-2025
Sadar Police on May 11 arrested two individuals, identified as Stalinjit Singh and Varinder Singh, and seized 46 grams of heroin from their possession in Patti, Tarn Taran district.
11-May-2025
The Goindwal Sahib Police on May 11 arrested two individuals, identified as Satnam Singh Sanmo and Sona Singh, and seized 235 intoxicating tablets in Fatehabad, Tarn Taran district.
11-May-2025
Sadar Police on May 11 arrested one individual, identified as Jagjit Singh and seized 10 grams of heroin in Manochahal Kalan in Tarn Taran district.
11-May-2025
The Verowal Police on May 11 arrested an individual, identified as Satinder Singh, and seized 255 intoxicating tablets from his possession in Verowal village, Tarn Taran district. The arrest was part of a district-wide crackdown that led to the apprehension of 17 drug peddlers. Other accused individuals were identified as Nishan Singh, Gursewak Singh, Aseem Kumar, Nirvail Singh, Harpreet Singh alias Kali, and others.
11-May-2025
According to sources, Kashmir Singh Galwaddi, the last fugitive in the 2016 Nabha jailbreak case, was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on May 11 in Bihar's Motihari district after evading capture for over eight years. He had been hiding in Nepal under various aliases, using different identities and altered appearances, and had even served as a sewadar at several religious places. Galwaddi, a radicalised former teacher and granthi, is linked to terror activities, including providing support for the 2022 Mohali RPG attack and an assassination attempt on a Shiv Sena leader. He also formed alliances with Pakistan-based terrorist Harvinder Singh Rinda and Canada-based gangster-turned-terrorist Lakhbir Singh Sandhu alias Landa.
11-May-2025
On May 11, Neeraj Kumar alias Tanu, a member of the Fateh gang, succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained during a gang-related shootout on May 10 in the Shaheed Babu Labh Singh Nagar area of Jalandhar district. A 65-year-old bystander, identified as Sheshnag, was also injured by a stray bullet and remains hospitalised.
11-May-2025
Police on May 11 dismantled a cross-border espionage network and arrested two individuals, identified as Gujala and Yameen Mohammad, and seized two mobiles from their possession in Malerkotla in Malerkotla district. A Pakistani national posted at the Pakistan embassy in New Delhi has been booked in the case.
11-May-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police on May 11, recovered 972 grams of RDX, two .30 bore pistols with four magazines, 30 live cartridges, two hand grenades, two lever detonators, remote control device and charger, a command mechanism, eight batteries and a black box, from fields near Chak Bala village in Ajnala in Amritsar district. Initial probe suggests that the consignment was dropped by a Pakistani drone.
11-May-2025
On May 11, Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, Director General of Air Operations, presented evidence countering China’s denial of arms supply to Pakistan, revealing that a Chinese-made PL-15 long-range missile had landed unexploded in Hoshiarpur, Punjab.
11-May-2025
The World Sikh Chamber of Commerce (WSCC) on May 11 welcomed the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, expressing relief over the de-escalation of hostilities. Emphasising the strategic and economic importance of Amritsar’s Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, WSCC leaders urged Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and senior ministers to resume suspended domestic and international flights. They also called for lifting blackout orders and reopening schools and universities to restore normalcy and ensure uninterrupted education.
11-May-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) in a joint operation with the Punjab Police on May 11 recovered a packet containing 2.7 kg of explosives suspected to be RDX, two detonators, an IED circuit, two hand grenades with accessories, two pistols with four magazines and 30 live rounds, from fields near Sheikh Bhatti village in Ajnala in Amritsar district. The consignment is believed to have been dropped by a Pakistani drone.
11-May-2025
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on May 11 arrested key Khalistani operative Kashmir Singh Galwaddi, the last fugitive from the 2016 Nabha jailbreak, in Motihari district, Bihar. Galwaddi is linked to banned Khalistani outfits Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), and foreign-based terrorist Harwinder Singh Sandhu. He had been on the run in Pakistan, providing logistical support and terror funding to Khalistani terrorists.
11-May-2025
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee President Harmeet Singh Kalka on May 11 rejected Pakistan’s propaganda alleging that Indian forces attacked gurdwaras in India, stating that although Pakistan claims to be a friend of Sikhs, it remains the enemy of both the nation and Punjab.
11-May-2025
On May 11, nine members were co-opted into the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) during a meeting chaired by Justice (Retd) H.S. Bhalla, the Commissioner for Gurdwara Elections, in Panchkula. The new members represent various statutory categories, including Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, Sikh women, Registered Singh Sabhas, and general Sikh tenets. The oath-taking ceremony for the full 49-member committee, including the 40 elected members, is scheduled for May 13 at the PWD Guest House in Panchkula.
11-May-2025
On May 11, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht, welcomed the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, reiterating his firm belief that war must be avoided. He praised national and international leaders for their role in securing peace and highlighted the Sikh community's legacy of defending the nation and resisting oppression. Emphasising the devastating impact of war, he called for dialogue to resolve conflicts and supported public demands to open the borders for trade to boost regional development and agriculture in Punjab.
11-May-2025
On May 11, a day after the India-Pakistan ceasefire announcement, the Golden Temple in Amritsar witnessed a surge in footfall as thousands of devotees gathered to offer prayers. However, full normalcy is yet to return, with noticeably fewer out-of-state pilgrims and foreign tourists.
11-May-2025
On May 11, following the India-Pakistan ceasefire, Pakistan reopened the Kartarpur Corridor for Sikh devotees, while India has yet to reciprocate—keeping the Zero Line Gate at Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district closed.
11-May-2025
Sources in Indian intelligence agencies revealed that several senior Pakistani military and civil officials attended the funerals of top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists killed in India’s Operation Sindoor airstrikes on May 7. Among those killed was LeT commander Mudassar Khadian Khas alias Abu Jundal, whose funeral reportedly included wreaths from Pakistan Army Chief Gen Asim Munir and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, and was attended by key military and civil officials. Intelligence sources said the high-profile presence underscores Pakistan's institutional support for terror networks.
11-May-2025
On May 11, Border Security Force (BSF) troops, in a joint search operation with Punjab Police recovered one packet of heroin weighing 559 grams from a farming field near Rajatal village in Amritsar district.
11-May-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on May 11 recovered a drone from a field near Gola Dola village in Gurdaspur district. The recovered drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
10-May-2025
The Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check Unit on May 10 debunked several false claims circulating on social media, including fabricated allegations of an Indian drone attack on the Nankana Sahib gurdwara in Pakistan. The unit clarified that the video was doctored and aimed at inciting communal tensions. It also dismissed as fake reports of an Indian pilot captured in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), a cyberattack on India’s power grid, flight disruptions on the Mumbai-Delhi route, and explosions near airports in Srinagar and Jaipur. A viral video of young men crying was confirmed to be from a private defence coaching institute, not the Indian Army. Citizens were urged to rely solely on official sources for verified information.
10-May-2025
On May 10, Sikhs staged a protest outside Hall Gate in Amritsar, burning the effigy of Pakistan’s Army Chief Asif Munir and the Pakistani flag. Member of Parliament (MP) Gurjeet Singh Aujla joined the protest, condemning Pakistan’s false propaganda and defending the Sikh community’s role in safeguarding India. He highlighted Sikhs’ historical sacrifices, emphasising their commitment to India’s sovereignty despite past attacks. Aujla underscored India’s secularism and accused Pakistan of supporting terrorism, while asserting that India has never targeted Pakistan with terrorism.
10-May-2025
On May 10, Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj visited villages near the Attari border, including Pakka Dhanoa and Attari, in Amritsar district, Punjab to assess the situation of local residents amid rising tensions. He reviewed the relocation of sacred saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to secure locations and expressed satisfaction with the arrangements. Giani Gargaj prayed for peace in South Asia, urged continued prayers for collective well-being, and promoted Sikh values, encouraging youth to preserve their distinct identity and stay away from drugs.
10-May-2025
Police on May 10 arrested two drug peddlers, identified as Manjindar Singh alias Mani and Sandeep Singh alias Billa and seized 230 intoxicating tablets from their possession, in Nakodar in Jalandhar district.
10-May-2025
Police on May 10 arrested a drug peddler, identified as Kuldeep Kumar alias Sarpanc alias Katta, and seized with158 intoxicating tablets from their possession, in Kang Khurd village in Jalandhar district.
10-May-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police on May 10, recovered a drone, a pistol and a magazine from the agricultural fields near Ganeshe Wale Jhugge village in Ferozepur district.
10-May-2025
On May 10, a suspected drone crashed near Sikri village and missile debris was found near Dhoot Khurd in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district, triggering panic among residents. Villagers reported loud explosions around 5 am, prompting swift action by local police and Army teams. Explosives were recovered and safely defused at the crash site, while missile-like components were seized and are being examined by security officials. The Army has taken possession of the debris for further investigation.
09-May-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), on May 9 recovered a packet of heroin weighing 673 grams from field near Khemkaran in Tarn Taran district.
09-May-2025
The Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, on May 9 approved expanding the Farishtey scheme to include war and terror-affected victims. This ensures immediate, hassle-free medical treatment for these victims at government and empanelled private hospitals. The government aims to reduce mortality and morbidity from such injuries and has introduced cash rewards, commendations, and legal immunity to incentivise public assistance.
09-May-2025
The Punjab government on May 9 approved an INR 51.41 crore proposal to procure anti-drone systems for deployment along the state’s 532-km border with Pakistan, during an emergency meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Chandigarh. The move aims to counter drone attacks targeting Indian military facilities. Other decisions included promoting maize cultivation under the diversification plan, installing V-Kavach jammers in high-security jails, and transferring 135 acres of land for industrial development.
09-May-2025
Mohali Police on May 9 arrested two persons, identified as Manpreet Singh alias Mannu and Jaspreet Singh, and seized 44.16 grams of heroin, INR 4,300 in drug proceeds and a digital weighing scale from their possession, in Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district.
09-May-2025
Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, while speaking to the media, dismissed India’s claims of a Pakistani attack on Amritsar as 'propaganda.' He claimed that 'two crore Sikhs stand with Pakistan,' vowed to raise the Khalistan flag in Delhi, pledged support for Pakistan, and issued threats of violence against India.
09-May-2025
On May 9, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) dispatched teams from Amritsar to Poonch to safely relocate the sacred saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib after a gurdwara was struck during Pakistan’s retaliatory shelling. SGPC officials also visited injured Sikh civilians admitted to a hospital in Amritsar, offering support and aid.
09-May-2025
On May 9, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, while addressing the media in New Delhi, denounced Pakistan’s denial of cross-border attacks as 'blatantly farcical' and part of a deliberate disinformation campaign aimed at communalising India’s counter-terror operations. He confirmed that a gurdwara in Poonch was hit by Pakistani shelling, resulting in the deaths of local Sikh civilians. Misri also condemned Pakistan for targeting Christ School and a Christian convent in Poonch, which led to further civilian casualties and damage to religious infrastructure. Defending India’s strike on Bahawalpur, he described it as a legitimate operation against Jaish-e-Mohammed, the group linked to the murder of journalist Daniel Pearl.
09-May-2025
On May 9, amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) initiated the relocation of the sacred saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib from gurdwaras in border areas such as Dera Baba Nanak and Galarhi to safer locations in Punjab. Additionally, gurdwaras in border districts have been instructed to offer shelter and langar to displaced residents.