KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
15-Apr-2025
Mumbai Police on April 15 identified Mayank Pandya as the man behind the April 13 death threat to Bollywood actor Salman Khan. Traced to a village in Waghodia of Vadodara district, Gujarat, Pandya was found to be mentally unstable. The threat, sent via WhatsApp to the Worli Transport Department, came nearly a year after shots were fired outside Khan’s Bandra residence, prompting a security upgrade.
14-Apr-2025
Amid threats from the banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers on April 14 stood guard at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s statues across Punjab to safeguard his legacy. AAP leaders reaffirmed Ambedkar’s vision of equality and justice, while BJP leader Vijay Sampla led similar efforts in Phillaur, Ludhiana district. Both parties strongly condemned SFJ’s divisive rhetoric and insults against icons like Dr. Ambedkar and Guru Ravidass.
14-Apr-2025
Uttar Pradesh (UP) Police on April 14 launched a probe after the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust received a threat email targeting the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The sender, traced to Tamil Nadu, triggered heightened security and intensified patrolling in the city. The temple has previously faced threats from the banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ).
14-Apr-2025
Punjab Police on April 14 arrested three agents of Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun—Bir Sukhpal Singh, Karthik, and Tejpal Singh—in Jalandhar district in connection with Khalistani posters and slogans found in Nakodar. Three others, including Pannun, Balkaran Singh, and Jaskaranpreet Singh, have also been booked in the case.
14-Apr-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) on April 14 recovered one drone along with one Pistol, one Magazine and four live rounds, from farming fields near Dhanoe Kalan in Amritsar district.
14-Apr-2025
Punjab Police on April 14, on day 45 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign arrested 48 drug smugglers and recovered 3.7 kg of heroin and INR 604200 drug money from their possession across Punjab. Since the launch of the campaign, the Police recovered 243 kg of heroin, 109 kg of opium, 75.5 quintals of poppy husk, 6 kg of charas, 63 kg of ganja, 2.2 kg of ICE, 1.2 kg of cocaine, 9.50 lakh intoxicant pills/tablets and INR 6.1 crores drug money from their possession.
14-Apr-2025
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang on April 14 issued a statement disavowing any links with Zeeshan Akhtar, Happy Passia, and Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti—accused in the recent grenade attack on senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manoranjan Kalia’s residence. The gang labelled them "enemies of the country" and warned its members against maintaining any contact with them.
14-Apr-2025
Bollywood actor Salman Khan received a fresh death threat on April 14 via a message sent to the official WhatsApp number of the Worli Transport Department in Mumbai in Maharashtra. The message warned of an attack on his Galaxy Apartments residence or his car using explosives. Worli Police registered a case and heightened security at his house. This comes exactly a year after gunshots were fired at his Bandra residence by unidentified assailants.
14-Apr-2025
Gurpartap Singh Wadala, a member of the Akal Takht panel constituted to conduct a membership drive for the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), stated in Amritsar on April 14 that it was necessary to float a new Akali Dal to counter the Sukhbir Singh Badal-led party. However, he clarified that this was his personal viewpoint and that the final decision would be taken collectively by all panel members.
14-Apr-2025
The Nakodar Sadar police on April 14 booked a Non-Resident Indian (NRI), identified as Lovpreet Singh, on charges of firing, endangering life, and criminal conspiracy in Nakodar, Jalandhar district. Currently settled in Canada, Lovpreet allegedly hired gangsters to open fire at the residence of Amarjit Singh in Kullar village, Nakodar tehsil, causing bullet damage to the main gate and a parked vehicle.
14-Apr-2025
According to police sources, stringent security measures have been implemented across rural areas of Jalandhar district as several Dalit organisations and political parties plan protest marches and rallies on April 14 to commemorate the 134th birth anniversary of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. The security has been intensified in response to threats issued by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
13-Apr-2025
Punjab Police on April 13 averted a major terror attack in the border state by busting a terror module being operated by Germany-based Gurpreet Singh alias Goldy Dhillon, and arrested two key operatives identified as Jagga Singh and Manjinder Singh and seized 2.8 kg of improvised explosive device (IED), containing 1.6 kg RDX, along with a remote control and a Hyundai Venue car from their possession, in Sirhind in Fatehgarh Sahib district. Police stated that the module was part of a larger plan backed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to destabilise Punjab.
13-Apr-2025
Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath, on April 13, extended greetings on Khalsa Panth Foundation Day and Baisakhi while addressing a programme at Gurudwara Yahiyaganj in Lucknow. He paid homage to Guru Gobind Singh Ji, hailing his unmatched legacy and the founding of the Khalsa Panth in 1699 as a historic stand for dharma and national protection.
13-Apr-2025
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) (SAD-A) former Member of Parliament (MP) Simranjit Singh Mann on April 13 led the “Miri Piri” conference and raised concerns over long-standing grievances of the Sikh community, including the unresolved cases of sacrilege, denial of Punjabi-speaking areas to Punjab, and the non-release of Sikh political prisoners, in Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda district.
13-Apr-2025
Akal Takht's officiating Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj on April 13 in Amritsar urged Punjab Minister Harjot Singh Bains to refrain from interfering in Sikh internal affairs and instead support efforts to address the community’s longstanding issues. His statement came in response to Bains raising the issue of the removal of three jathedars by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in the Punjab Assembly.
13-Apr-2025
According to Punjab Police, the grenade attack outside BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia’s residence has uncovered a nexus between the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and the banned Khalistani terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). The primary conspirators have been identified as gangster Zeeshan Akhtar and Pakistani national Shahzad Bhatti. Intelligence sources indicate that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is facilitating cooperation between terror outfits and organised crime networks. Punjab Police solved the case within 12 hours and have initiated a state-wide Night Domination Operation to bolster security ahead of Baisakhi.
13-Apr-2025
On April 13, Punjab Police, on day 44 of the “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 61 drug smugglers and recovered 1.3 kg of heroin and drug money amounting to INR 91.3 lakh from their possession across Punjab.
13-Apr-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police on April 13, recovered a packet of heroin weighing 554 grams from fields near Wan village in Patti, Tarn Taran district.
13-Apr-2025
Police on April 13 arrested three individuals—Kuljit Singh alias Babbu, Harjinder Singh alias Sabi, and Amandeep Singh alias Raja—and seized 20 grams of heroin, 124 intoxicating tablets, an Activa scooter, a motorcycle, and an electronic weighing machine from their possession in Mehatpur village, Nakodar, Jalandhar district.
13-Apr-2025
Punjab’s Leader of Opposition, Partap Singh Bajwa, was booked by the Mohali Cybercrime Police in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district on April 13 under Sections 197(1)(D) and 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for allegedly spreading misinformation about the smuggling of 50 bombs into Punjab, potentially compromising national security. Bajwa’s claims prompted swift action from intelligence agencies, after which he reportedly went incommunicado.
13-Apr-2025
The Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) on April 13 projected jailed Khalistani radical and Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh as its Chief Ministerial candidate for the 2027 Assembly elections during a Baisakhi conference in Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda district. Faridkot MP Sarabjit Singh Khalsa urged party workers to propagate Amritpal’s ideology and work towards his elevation as CM. Amritpal’s father, Tarsem Singh, also addressed the gathering, advocating greater autonomy for Punjab to effectively address regional issues.
12-Apr-2025
Sukhbir Singh Badal was re-elected as president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on April 12 in Amritsar, marking his return to the party’s leadership after a brief resignation. His comeback comes amid ongoing political turbulence and follows his recent declaration as 'tankhaiya' by the Akal Takht for religious misconduct during the SAD’s 2007–2017 tenure.
12-Apr-2025
Police on April 12 arrested the prime accused in Jalandhar grenade blast incident that targeted Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manoranjan Kalia's residence, identified as Saidul Ameen, in Delhi. The attack is believed to be part of a plot orchestrated by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, aimed at inciting communal unrest in Punjab.
12-Apr-2025
On April 12, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) secured five-day police custody of Hira Singh, arrested with 18 kg of heroin in Amritsar district. Investigations revealed Hira’s links to a Pakistan-based smuggler, Billa, who allegedly used a hexacopter drone for cross-border drug drops. A manhunt is underway for Hira’s absconding accomplice, Kulwinder Singh.
12-Apr-2025
Police on April 12 arrested two drug and weapon smugglers, identified as Palwinder Singh alias Pala and Baljinder Singh alias Balraj and seized one 30-bore calibre pistol from their possession in Ghonewal village in Ajnala in Amritsar district. During interrogation, Palwinder Singh confessed to hiding a heroin consignment at Kassowal village, and was injured when he fired at the police while attempting to escape.
12-Apr-2025
The Dabwali region in Sirsa, Haryana, has been placed on high alert following a grenade attack threat from the Khalistani terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). In response, security has been significantly heightened in border areas adjoining Punjab and Rajasthan. Police posts are now under 24/7 surveillance, with additional forces equipped with advanced weaponry deployed across the region. Intelligence agencies have been put on high alert, and the public is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately.
12-Apr-2025
Ludhiana police initiated "Operation Satark" on April 12 in response to threats from Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who sought to disrupt Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations in the district. The operation aims to ensure public safety and prevent any untoward incidents.
12-Apr-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) on April 12 arrested two unidentified smugglers and seized INR 1,00,260 along with two mobile phones and one motorcycle from their possession, near Bhaini Rajputana village in Amritsar district.
11-Apr-2025
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav, on April 11, conducted a night domination operation with senior district officials in Jalandhar district following the grenade attack at former BJP minister Manoranjan Kalia’s residence. The DGP inspected vulnerable locations and reviewed preparedness at police stations to ensure enhanced security and vigilance across the district.
11-Apr-2025
According to sources, following the extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, India is intensifying efforts to bring back seven high-profile fugitives, including gangsters and economic offenders: Satinderjit Singh alias Goldy Brar, Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dala, Anmol Bishnoi, Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, and Sanjay Bhandari. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has made 178 extradition requests since 2019, of which 23 have been successful. India is leveraging its global diplomatic network to ensure these individuals face justice.
11-Apr-2025
According to a police source, the key accused in the grenade attack on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manoranjan Kalia’s residence used a stolen mobile phone and spent nearly two hours at Jalandhar City railway station after the April 8 incident. CCTV footage captured his face, aiding identification, although his full identity remains unknown. The phone was registered to a man from Budaun district in Uttar Pradesh (UP), who had filed a First Information Report (FIR) after it was stolen. The accused also made a Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transaction of INR 3,500, which led to the arrest of an e-rickshaw driver and his cousin who helped withdraw the cash.
11-Apr-2025
The Ajnala Subdivisional Court on April 11 remanded Papalpreet Singh, a close aide of radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, to four days of police custody in Ajnala, Amritsar district. He was arrested by Amritsar Rural Police following his release from Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam, where he had been detained under the National Security Act (NSA) for two years. Papalpreet is accused of being a key perpetrator in the February 2023 Ajnala police station attack.
11-Apr-2025
Family members of Papalpreet Singh, a close aide of radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, have recently defended him, claiming he was focused solely on combating drug abuse in Punjab and did not promote violence. His mother described him as a devout follower of Sikh teachings, while his uncle criticised the application of the National Security Act (NSA), calling it a reflection of a one-sided narrative.
11-Apr-2025
According to sources, fractures have begun to emerge within the once tightly-knit inner circle of radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, as his close aides are gradually being transferred from Dibrugarh Jail in Assam to Punjab. On April 11, Papalpreet Singh—Amritpal’s closest confidant—was remanded to four-day police custody by the Ajnala Court in connection with the 2023 Ajnala police station attack. With his detention under the National Security Act (NSA) set to expire on April 22, Amritpal remains the sole detainee in Dibrugarh.
11-Apr-2025
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has intensified its hunt for Kulveer Singh Siddhu, a wanted Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) militant with a INR 10-lakh bounty, by posting wanted posters across Puranpur in Pilibhit district, Uttar Pradesh. Siddhu is accused of involvement in the April 2024 murder of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Vikas Prabhakar in Punjab and is believed to have lived covertly in Puranpur for over three years before fleeing to Greece. According to the NIA, Siddhu provided shelter to three Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) militants killed in a December 2024 police encounter and maintained contact with local youth. He is currently believed to be in the United Kingdom and remains in touch with pro-Khalistan operatives abroad.
11-Apr-2025
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Kulwant Singh Pandori, on April 11, strongly condemned the derogatory remarks made by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun against Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, while addressing the media in Barnala, Barnala district. He stated that instead of making derogatory statements against Dr. Ambedkar, Pannun should study his history to understand his struggles and achievements.
11-Apr-2025
Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Punjab minister Manoranjan Kalia, on April 11, criticised the state police for what he described as “premature conclusions” in the investigation into the grenade attack at his residence, even as a purported audio confession surfaced in which a man identifying himself as Zeeshan Akhtar claimed responsibility. Kalia questioned the credibility of the police narrative, emphasising that the attacker has yet to be identified. He dismissed the audio confession as “concocted” and reiterated that only the arrest of the actual perpetrator would uncover the full truth.
11-Apr-2025
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of the Punjab Police, on April 11, arrested a drug peddler identified as Hira Singh and seized 18.227 kg of heroin in Amritsar district. Singh and his accomplice, Kulwinder Singh, are believed to have links with a Pakistan-based smuggler, Billa, and are allegedly involved in smuggling drugs via drones across the International Border. Police are continuing efforts to apprehend Kulwinder Singh, who remains at large.
11-Apr-2025
Punjab Police, on April 11—Day 42 of the “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign—arrested 109 drug smugglers and recovered 2.9 kg of heroin, 1.6 kg of opium, 350 kg of poppy husk, and INR 26,220 in drug money from their possession across Punjab.
11-Apr-2025
Rajasthan Police’s Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) on April 11 arrested Ilyas Khan, a key aide of the Lawrence Bishnoi–Rohit Godara gang, in Ramgarh, Sikar district in Rajasthan. Khan, reportedly involved in multiple criminal activities linked to the gang, was apprehended following a detailed investigation. His arrest is considered a significant step in dismantling the gang’s operations in the region.
10-Apr-2025
Pro-Khalistani slogans were found painted on the wall of Ambedkar Housing Society in Sector 76, Mohali, in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district on April 10, with Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, claiming responsibility via a video message.
10-Apr-2025
Gippy Grewal’s film Akaal: The Unconquered recently sparked controversy, drawing sharp backlash from sections of the Sikh community over the alleged misrepresentation of revered historical figures. Protests erupted in Patiala and Ludhiana, led by Baba Bakshish Singh—a staunch advocate for the respectful portrayal of Sikh history and traditions—who condemned scenes depicting drinking, tobacco use, and shaven-headed characters as deeply offensive to Sikh values.
10-Apr-2025
Lok Sabha member Dr. Raj Kumar Chabbewal, on April 10, condemned Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, for his derogatory remarks about Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, calling them a deliberate ploy to incite unrest in Punjab. Speaking in Jalandhar, he asserted that anti-Punjab forces like Pannun are threatened by the state’s progress, but the government will not allow their agenda to succeed.
10-Apr-2025
Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, on April 10 issued a warning to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, demanding the cancellation of all Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations in the state, through a public letter circulated to the media. Pannun also announced a reward of INR 11 lakh for hoisting the Khalistan flag at the Ambedkar statue in Chaura Maidan, Shimla. Additionally, he condemned Dr. B. R. Ambedkar for allegedly enabling the marginalisation of Sikhs through Article 25(b) of the Constitution.
10-Apr-2025
According to a senior officer, the Border Security Force (BSF) will launch a large-scale anti–improvised explosive device (IED) sanitisation drive along the India–Pakistan border in Punjab, following the recovery of two such devices from a farming field in Gurdaspur on April 9, which injured one jawan. This marks the first instance of IED recovery in the region, prompting heightened security measures. The area where the explosives were found lies ahead of the border fence, and officials suspect cross-border involvement due to the military-grade nature of the devices. Additional detection equipment and sniffer dogs will be deployed to secure cultivable land frequently accessed by farmers and civilians.
10-Apr-2025
On April 10, Punjab Police, on Day 41 of the 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' campaign, arrested 84 drug smugglers and recovered 2.5 kg of heroin, 86 kg of poppy husk, and INR 70,400 in drug money from their possession across Punjab.
09-Apr-2025
Police on April 9 arrested three individuals, identified as Ranjit Singh alias Rana, Gurdev Singh alias Gedi, and Shailendra Singh alias Selu, and seized 500 grams of heroin, one Glock 9mm pistol along with two magazines, and INR 33 lakh hawala money from their possession, in Lopoke village in Ajnala in Amritsar district.
09-Apr-2025
Punjab Police, on April 9, on Day 40 of its ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ (War Against Drugs) campaign, arrested 111 drug smugglers and recovered 3.7 kg of heroin, 253 kg of poppy husk, and INR 98,800 in drug money from their possession across Punjab.
09-Apr-2025
Punjab Police on April 9 arrested Papalpreet Singh, a close aide of radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, following the completion of his year-long detention under the National Security Act (NSA) at Dibrugarh Jail in Assam. He was immediately taken into custody in connection with the 2023 Ajnala police station attack case and brought to Amritsar for further proceedings.
09-Apr-2025
On April 9, a drug peddler identified as Raj Singh alias Raju died after his motorcycle crashed into a wall at Sadiq village in Faridkot district. While his family claimed he was being pursued by the police, leading to the fatal accident, local officials and villagers refuted the allegation, asserting that Raju lost control due to high speed.