KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
09-May-2025
On May 9, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht and Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, led a special ardas at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Sri Anandpur Sahib, Rupnagar district, for sarbat da bhalla amid rising India-Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack. He urged both governments to pursue dialogue, warning that war brings only devastation, especially to communities in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir.
09-May-2025
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Chandigarh Kanwardeep Kaur, speaking in Chandigarh on May 9, urged the public not to trust rumours circulating on social media amid rising India-Pakistan tensions following Operation Sindoor. She advised residents to rely on official social media channels for accurate information, emphasising that the situation in the city remained normal with all markets open. Kaur also assured that contingency reserves and quick reaction teams were on standby, and vital installations were secured with police deployment.
09-May-2025
On May 9, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann announced the approval of a INR 51.4 crore budget for the purchase and installation of anti-drone systems to strengthen border security, following an emergency cabinet meeting in Chandigarh. The technology is intended to prevent drone take-offs and neutralise those entering the state, supporting the Border Security Force's efforts against drug and weapon smuggling. Mann urged the public to remain calm and ignore rumours, reaffirming Punjab’s commitment to national security.
09-May-2025
On May 9, three people—including a woman—identified as Lakhwinder Singh, Monu Singh, and Sukhwinder Kaur, were injured in Khai Pheme Ke village, Ferozepur district, Punjab, following a swarm drone attack launched by Pakistan. A drone intercepted by the Army's air defence system crashed into a house, triggering an explosion due to a CNG car parked outside. The blast caused the house to catch fire.
09-May-2025
On May 9, residents of the Khasa area in Amritsar district, about 16 km from the International Border, reported seeing multiple drones being neutralised mid-air by the air defence system. Explosions were heard around 5 a.m., with local resident Rajinder Singh describing red streaks in the sky followed by bursts and blasts. The district administration advised residents to stay indoors, while officials declined to comment. Similar explosions were also reported in the nearby Chheharta area.
08-May-2025
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force of Punjab Police on May 8 neutralised a drug trafficker, identified as Raju, and seized two kg of heroin, INR 15 lakh drug money and one pistol from his possession, after a brief encounter in Jagraon in Ludhiana district. His accomplice managed to flee the scene.
08-May-2025
Pro-Khalistan and 'SFJ Zindabad' slogans were found painted on an Indian Railways wall near Dashmesh Public School in Faridkot district on May 8. The graffiti, allegedly the work of supporters of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), prompted swift police action. A case was registered under Sections 196 (using evidence known to be false), 197 (issuing or signing false certificates), and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with Section 3 of the Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1985. Police have intensified surveillance, and a forensic analysis of the graffiti is underway.
08-May-2025
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, while addressing the press in New Delhi on May 8, stated that Pakistan had repeatedly violated the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) by creating deliberate legal obstacles. He emphasized that India had shown considerable restraint by adhering to the treaty for 65 years despite such provocations. Misri noted that India had issued multiple notices over the past two and a half years seeking discussions to modify the treaty. He cited demographic shifts, climate change, and terrorism as key factors undermining India’s treaty rights. India has now placed the treaty in abeyance, demanding that Pakistan irrevocably cease support for cross-border terrorism.
08-May-2025
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, while addressing the press in New Delhi on May 8, stated that Pakistan had deliberately targeted the Sikh community in Jammu and Kashmir by attacking a gurdwara in Poonch and killing 16 civilians, including women and children. Misri described the Pahalgam terror attack as the 'original escalation' and emphasized that India’s response was precise, controlled, and non-escalatory. He reiterated that India’s intent is not to escalate tensions but to respond proportionately to acts of terror.
08-May-2025
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on May 8 accused the Union and Haryana governments of attempting to 'steal' Punjab’s waters through the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and stated that Punjab is fighting twin battles—against Pakistan on its borders and Delhi over water rights—while staging a sit-in at Nangal in Rupnagar district. Mann held the sit-in to protest the alleged diversion of water to Haryana by the BBMB, calling it a 'nefarious design,' and vowed to challenge the High Court’s decision in the Supreme Court.
08-May-2025
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on May 8 accused the Union and Haryana governments of attempting to 'steal' Punjab’s waters through the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and stated that Punjab is fighting twin battles—against Pakistan on its borders and Delhi over water rights—while staging a sit-in at Nangal in Rupnagar district. Mann held the sit-in to protest the alleged diversion of water to Haryana by the BBMB, calling it a 'nefarious design,' and vowed to challenge the High Court’s decision in the Supreme Court.
08-May-2025
The Amritsar Counter Intelligence (CI) unit on May 8 arrested two operatives of foreign-based smuggler Jassa, identified as Gurpinder Singh and Sajan, and seized 10 kg of heroin along with INR 1 lakh in drug money from their possession in Amritsar district.
08-May-2025
Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) and Police on May 8 arrested a key associate of foreign-based gangster Rajesh Kumar alias Sonu Khatri, identified as Harjinder Singh and seized two .32 bore and one .30 bore along with 14 carriages from his possession, in Kharar in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district.
08-May-2025
On May 8, missile debris was found in agricultural fields across three villages—Jethuwal, Makhanwindi, and Pandher—with fragments even scattered inside homes in Jethuwal in Amritsar district. No casualties or property damage were reported. Authorities confirmed that the debris belonged to missiles launched by Pakistan in an attempt to target military installations in northern and western India. Security forces, including the Army and the Indian Air Force, secured the area and advised residents to stay away from the debris.
08-May-2025
On May 8, in response to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, blackouts were ordered in several border districts, including Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Jalandhar, and Hoshiarpur in Punjab, as well as in border areas of Rajasthan and Jammu in Jammu and Kashmir. The Chandigarh Administration also imposed a blackout following air raid sirens, affecting nearby areas such as Zirakpur, Mohali, and Panchkula. In Gurdaspur, the blackout is enforced from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily, with exemptions for central jails and hospitals, where windows must remain closed during these hours. Authorities have urged residents to keep their lights off and stay indoors, while emphasizing that there is no need for panic.
08-May-2025
On May 8, in response to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, blackouts were ordered in several border districts, including Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Jalandhar, and Hoshiarpur in Punjab, as well as in border areas of Rajasthan and Jammu in Jammu and Kashmir. The Chandigarh Administration also imposed a blackout following air raid sirens, affecting nearby areas such as Zirakpur, Mohali, and Panchkula. In Gurdaspur, the blackout is enforced from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily, with exemptions for central jails and hospitals, where windows must remain closed during these hours. Authorities have urged residents to keep their lights off and stay indoors, while emphasizing that there is no need for panic.
08-May-2025
On May 8, flight operations at Sri Guru Ram Dass Ji International Airport in Amritsar were temporarily suspended, resulting in the cancellation of 22 flights, including international services such as a Qatar Airways flight, which was diverted to Muscat, and a SpiceJet flight from Sharjah. Although passengers were informed of the suspension in advance, many were left stranded, including individuals with urgent travel plans. Security at the airport was heightened, with senior police officials deployed to manage the situation.
08-May-2025
Police on May 8 busted an international narco-terror smuggling with the arrest its two operatives identified as Lovepreet Singh alias Love and Jagroop Singh, and seized 5 kg of heroin along with four .30 bore Beretta, two PX5 and one .30 bore Star Mark pistols, INR 7.20 lakh drug money and currency counting machine and a Hyundai i20 car, from their possession, near Kakka Kandiala village in Tarn Taran district.
07-May-2025
Akal Takht’s officiating Jathedar, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, on May 7 strongly condemned the recent attack in the Poonch region of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), which resulted in civilian casualties, including three Sikhs, and significant damage to the Central Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha. Expressing sorrow over the loss of lives, the Jathedar called for sincere efforts from both nations to restore peace, emphasizing the devastating impact of war on humanity.
07-May-2025
On the intervening night of May 7–8, the Border Security Force (BSF) neutralized a Pakistani intruder attempting to cross into Indian territory along the International Border (IB) in the Ferozepur sector of Ferozepur district. The intruder, who was moving toward the security fence under the cover of darkness, was fired upon by BSF personnel. After daybreak, the body was handed over to the police. In response to escalating security concerns, both Punjab and Rajasthan have been placed on high alert, with stringent security measures in place.
07-May-2025
On May 7, 2025, the Indian Armed Forces launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, striking nine terrorist infrastructure sites, including camps linked to banned groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed, in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. In retaliation, Pakistan shelled forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch and Rajouri districts in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The Union Home Secretary reviewed civil defence measures, while the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) discussed the situation in closed-door consultations.
07-May-2025
Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of the banned terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), claimed in a video statement on May 7 that Sikh soldiers in the Indian Army have begun rebelling against the Indian state. He alleged that Sikh troops raised the Pakistani flag at Dashmesh College and painted pro-Pakistan slogans on its walls in Zirakpur, Punjab. Pannun further claimed that the Indian government had confiscated the soldiers’ phones and threatened their families. He urged Sikh soldiers to side with Pakistan to establish Khalistan and march on Delhi.
07-May-2025
On May 7, four members of the local Sikh community—identified as ex-army man Amarjeet Singh, shopkeepers Amreek Singh and Ranjit Singh, and homemaker Ruby Kaur—were killed, and a gurdwara wall was damaged when Pakistan launched heavy shelling in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
07-May-2025
On May 7, the Kartarpur Corridor, the only open surface link between India and Pakistan, was closed following the launch of Operation Sindoor. Around 150 Indian Sikh pilgrims who had arrived to visit the Sri Darbar Sahib gurdwara in Narowal were asked to return after waiting for over an hour at Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district, Punjab. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) announced the closure 'till further orders,' without specifying when it would reopen.
07-May-2025
Punjab Cabinet Minister Aman Arora on May 7 announced that all border districts in Punjab had been placed on high alert, with public events cancelled, following missile strikes by the Indian armed forces on terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Arora praised the army’s actions under Operation Sindoor, emphasizing Punjab’s strong support for national security. He confirmed that the Punjab Police is fully prepared to support the Indian Army. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also postponed his anti-drug events in light of the rising tensions.
07-May-2025
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, speaking in Chandigarh on May 7, hailed the Indian defence forces’ precision strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. He praised the forces for targeting only terrorist camps while avoiding civilian and military installations, underscoring India’s intent to prevent escalation. Amarinder condemned Pakistan’s response, which involved heavy shelling in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), resulting in civilian casualties.
07-May-2025
Counter-Intelligence (CI) unit of Ferozepur Police on May 7 dismantled a cross-border narco-smuggling network and arrested two smugglers, identified as Sandeep Singh and Judge Singh and seized 465 grams of heroin, two Chinese-made pistols (7.65mm) with four magazines, a pistol slide along with a motorcycle near Kotwal village in Ferozepur district.
07-May-2025
Police on May 7 arrested a smuggler, identified as Babbu Singh alias Babbu and seized 5 kg of heroin from his agricultural field in Bhakhra village in Ferozepur district.
07-May-2025
On May 7, as the Border Security Force (BSF) remained on high alert following recent military strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the Punjab Police intensified security in border villages of Amritsar district. Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney, accompanied by senior police officials, visited several villages near the Indo-Pakistan border and reassured residents that the situation was under control. Punjab Police officials emphasized their preparedness to prevent any disturbances, maintaining close surveillance on potential threats while ensuring law and order in the border areas.
06-May-2025
On May 6, a Special Task Force (STF) team was attacked while attempting to apprehend drug traffickers in Teona Pujariyan village in Bathinda district. The six suspects tried to break through the police cordon and assaulted the team with sticks and bricks. A case has been registered, and the police are currently searching for the suspects
06-May-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops, in a joint operation with Punjab Police on May 6 arrested three unidentified smugglers and seized 25 grams of heroin along with one pistol, a magazine, four live rounds, INR 2,000 as drug money, four smart phones, a motorcycle and a tractor from their possession, in Awanbasu village in Amritsar district.
06-May-2025
The Supreme Court (SC) on May 6 issued a notice in appeals filed by the Delhi Police challenging the Delhi High Court’s acquittal of 14 accused in six cases related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The Court directed the accused to respond by July 21 and ordered the production of trial court records. The appeals stem from a 2018 petition seeking implementation of the Dhingra Committee’s recommendations to address botched investigations.
06-May-2025
The State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), Amritsar, in coordination with a central intelligence agency, recovered two rocket-propelled grenades, two improvised explosive devices, five P-86 hand grenades, and a wireless communication set from a forested area near the Tibba Nangal–Kular road in Shaheed Bhagat Singh (SBS) Nagar district on May 6. Officials suspect the cache was part of a larger terror plot backed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) aimed at destabilising the region, adding that preliminary investigations point to attempts to revive sleeper cells.
06-May-2025
Police on May 6 arrested an unidentified woman, a member of a drug peddling gang, and seized 110 grams of heroin near Hussainpura village in Ludhiana district.
06-May-2025
Police on May 6 shot dead an unidentified gangster and arrested two of his unidentified associates in Shekhchak village, Tarn Taran district. Preliminary reports suggest the trio had gone to extort money from a local family but were intercepted by the police. When the gangsters opened fire, the police retaliated, resulting in the death of one gangster and the arrest of the other two.
06-May-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops, in a joint search operation with Punjab Police on May 6 arrested three unidentified smugglers and seized 25 grams of heroin along with one pistol, one magazine, four live rounds, INR 2000 in drug money, four smartphones, one motorcycle, one tractor from their possession, in Ajnala in Amritsar district.
05-May-2025
On May 5, Bhagwant Singh alias 'Pradhan Mantri Bajeke', a close aide of jailed Khalistani radical preacher and Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, cautioned the youth of Punjab against Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia while speaking to the media in Bathinda district. Bajeke alleged that Majithia was misleading the youth about Amritpal Singh and suggested that Majithia should seek medical treatment, even offering financial assistance if needed.
05-May-2025
On May 5, India lodged a strong protest with the Canadian High Commission over a pro-Khalistan rally held in Toronto on May 4, which featured derogatory imagery of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah, and External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar. The Indian government expressed deep concern over slogans promoting extremism and targeting Indian-origin Canadians. This was the first diplomatic communication since Mark Carney assumed office as Canada’s PM.
05-May-2025
Executive Chairman of the Maharashtra State Punjabi Sahitya Academy and Convenor of the Maharashtra Sikh Association Bal Malkit Singh, on May 5 strongly condemned Khalistani terrorist and the chief of banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikh For Justice (SFJ) Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s recent anti-India remarks where he claimed that two crore Sikhs, including those serving in the Indian armed forces, would side with Pakistan in the event of a war between India and Pakistan, calling them baseless and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) driven. He asserted that the Sikh community firmly rejects such propaganda and stands united with India and Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi. Singh emphasised that Sikhs are rooted in nationalism, sacrifice, and service, and will not be swayed by foreign agendas.
04-May-2025
According to sources, Punjab is witnessing a troubling rise in the involvement of women in drug trafficking and consumption, with over 400 women arrested since March 2025 under the state’s anti-drug campaign. Data indicates that women are increasingly being used as couriers, operatives, and even cartel leaders—often driven by poverty, addiction, or coercion. High-profile arrests and forensic investigations suggest systemic exploitation, while the lack of gender-specific rehabilitation services exacerbate the crisis. Authorities have pledged a decisive crackdown, setting a May 31 deadline to reduce narcotics on the streets.
04-May-2025
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson RP Singh on May 4 responded to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, asserting that if Gandhi truly meant what he said and was ready to take responsibility, he should expel Jagdish Tytler, Kamal Nath, and Sam Pitroda from the Congress party. Singh stressed that mere acknowledgment of past mistakes was insufficient, and only concrete actions—such as removing those linked to the riots—would demonstrate genuine repentance.
04-May-2025
On May 4, hundreds gathered in Phagwara, Kapurthala district, Punjab, to pay tribute to the great Sikh warrior and founder of the Kapurthala state, Nawab Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, on his 307th birth anniversary. The royal family, led by Brigadier (Retd) Sukhjit Singh Ahluwalia and his son Tikka Raja Shatrujit Singh Ahluwalia, organised an Akhand Path, which was attended by people from all walks of life.
04-May-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) on May 4 recovered a packet of heroin weighing 550 grams from fields near Mahawa village in Amritsar district.
04-May-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police on May 4 recovered a drone from fields near Mehdipur village in Tarn Taran district. The recovered drone was a DJI Air 3S model.
04-May-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) on May 4 recovered a packet containing parts of a pistol with two magazines from a field adjacent to Lakha Singh Wala village in Ferozepur district.
04-May-2025
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh on May 4 led anti-drug awareness events in Patiala under the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign, as part of a state-wide initiative by cabinet ministers. They emphasized that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s government had dismantled drug networks and demolished smugglers’ assets, unlike previous administrations. Meanwhile, other ministers addressed similar gatherings across Punjab.
04-May-2025
Police on May 4 arrested an individual, identified as Honey Kumar and seized 41.83 grams of heroin from his possession, near cremation ground in Phase 1 Industrial Area in Chandigarh.
04-May-2025
On May 4, security agencies conducted a half-hour blackout drill in the border town of Ferozepur, turning off all lights from 9:00 to 9:30 p.m. as per an advisory issued by the Cantonment Board. While officials, including Deputy Commissioner Deepshikha Sharma, described it as a routine exercise, residents expressed anxiety amid heightened border tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack.
03-May-2025
Punjab Police on May 3 arrested two men who were allegedly leaking sensitive information about Indian military installations in Amritsar to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), identified as Palak Sher Masih and Suraj Masih and seized a mobile phone which allegedly contained images of Army movements and the Air Force base, in Amritsar in Amritsar district. The Police revealed that duo were in contact with ISI through Harpreet Singh alias Pittu alias Happy, who is an inmate at Amritsar Central Jail. The accused were paid INR 5,000 for small information and INR 10,000 for more sensitive details about troop movements and military installations.
03-May-2025
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, speaking in Mansa on May 3, claimed that the drug menace in the state was on the verge of elimination and urged addicts to rebuild their lives. His remarks came in the wake of Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav’s announcement of a May 31 deadline to apprehend all drug traffickers. Cheema credited the progress to public participation and the role of village defence committees, while criticising previous governments for their inaction. He also called on citizens to support rehabilitation efforts through active coordination with district administrations and the police.