KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
06-Feb-2025
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Chief Secretary Kulwant Singh Manan on February 6 confirmed that the executive body meeting will be held on February 10 at its headquarters in Amritsar, Punjab. The agenda includes discussions on the inquiry against suspended Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, along with other Panthic and administrative matters.
05-Feb-2025
On February 5, family members and supporters of gangster Sagar Newton blocked the Ferozepur Road highway in Ludhiana, alleging he died under mysterious circumstances while in judicial custody. They placed his body on the road, demanding action against jail officials before cremation. His family rejected claims that he died of a diabetes attack and kidney failure, insisting he was fit during his last court appearance in January. The protest caused heavy traffic congestion in the area.
05-Feb-2025
According to reports, despite harsh conditions abroad, Punjabi youth remain eager to migrate, often risking their lives for the promise of better opportunities in Western countries. The recent deportation of illegal immigrants from the United States (US), including 30 from Punjab, and the return of Indians who served as helpers in the Russian Army underscore this desperation. Experts attribute the large-scale migration to limited job opportunities and security concerns in Punjab, emphasizing that migration should be a last resort. They advocate for skills development and local employment initiatives to address the root causes of this trend.
05-Feb-2025
Amritsar Rural Police on February 5 arrested a serving Army constable and two others on charges of spying and cross-border drug peddling, identified as Amritpal Singh, Mandeep Singh alias Maddy, and Madhav Sharma, along with 500 grams of heroin, a .30 bore pistol, INR 10 lakh in drug money, and a cash counting machine in Amritsar in Amritsar district. They allegedly shared sensitive Army information with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Another Army constable, Rajbir Singh, has been nominated in the case.
05-Feb-2025
On February 5, 2025, a United States (US) military aircraft carrying 104 illegal Indian immigrants landed at Shri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport in Amritsar, Punjab. This marks the first batch of deportations under the US crackdown on illegal immigration. Among the deportees, 30 are from Punjab, while others are from Haryana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh (UP), and Chandigarh. Punjab authorities are verifying their backgrounds before release.
04-Feb-2025
Gangster Sagar Neutron alias Newton died while undergoing treatment at PGIMER, Chandigarh, on February 4. He was lodged in Sangrur jail and was accused in at least 18 cases, including murder. Neutron was arrested in August 2024 for gang violence, weapons smuggling, and links to jailed gangster Boota Khan. His counsel alleged custodial torture and demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe.
04-Feb-2025
The Punjab Government on February 4 opposed former Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Beant Singh’s assassination case convict Jagtar Singh Hawara's petition seeking transfer from Tihar Jail in Delhi to a prison in Punjab. Arguing before a court in New Delhi, the government stated that since he was tried in Chandigarh, he cannot be shifted to Punjab. The Punjab Advocate General asserted that any transfer should be to Chandigarh, not Punjab, citing a similar petition dismissed by the Delhi High Court in 2018.
04-Feb-2025
On February 4, the 39th anniversary of the Nakodar police firing, Baldev Singh and Baldip Kaur, parents of victim Ravinder Singh, stated that justice remained elusive, in Nakodar, Jalandhar district. They criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for inaction despite promises made before coming to power, stating that eight letters had been sent to Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann, the latest on January 8, 2025. The Justice Gurnam Singh Commission report, formed in 1986, was never fully disclosed, with Part II still withheld.
04-Feb-2025
In an interview with The Economic Times, Congress leader Ajay Maken criticized former Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that he is promoting pro-Khalistan forces in Punjab and engaging in anti-national activities. He cited former Punjab Police chief KPS Gill’s 2017 warning about Kejriwal providing space for radical elements, calling it prophetic.
04-Feb-2025
National Commission for Minorities (NCM) chairperson Iqbal Singh Lalpura, in an interview to PTI on February 4, described India as a "heaven" for minorities and said Sikhs regard Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "messiah" for his contributions to the community over the past decade. He criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi for allegedly exploiting Sikhs for votes while doing little for them. Lalpura highlighted Modi’s role in facilitating the Kartarpur Corridor and commemorating Sikh history, asserting that minorities in India have ample opportunities. He also defended India’s record on communal harmony, contrasting it with the declining minority populations in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
04-Feb-2025
According to senior police officials, Punjab Police have compiled the criminal history of nearly 100 wanted criminals, with 20 suspected to be hiding in the United States (US). Officials are hopeful that the US crackdown on illegal immigrants may expedite the deportation or extradition of Punjab-based gangsters, including Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Notable criminals believed to be in the US include Anmol Bishnoi, Happy Passia, and Sarwan Bhola. Punjab Police are coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA), and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on the deportation process.
04-Feb-2025
The Amritsar Police Commissionerate on February 4 arrested three operatives of gangster-turned-terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa, identified as Jagroop Singh Charna, Jugraj Singh alias Gazi, and Shamsher Singh alias Shera, and seized a .32 bore pistol and two live cartridges from their possession in Amritsar in Amritsar district. Jagroop was injured in an encounter while attempting to escape police custody. The police stated that the accused were involved in extortion activities on Landa’s behalf, targeting prominent businessmen in Punjab.
03-Feb-2025
Tarsem Singh, father of jailed radical Khalistani preacher and Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, announced on February 3 that the Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) had formed 10-member district-level panels in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Sangrur districts of Punjab. The party, launched on January 14 while Amritpal remains jailed under the National Security Act (NSA), aims to expand into Gurdaspur and Ferozepur districts.
03-Feb-2025
Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, Gaurav Yadav on February 3 announced the installation of 2,300 CCTV cameras at 703 strategic locations from Pathankot to Fazilka, aimed at strengthening the second line of defence, during the inauguration of a new Cyber Crime Police Station and an upgraded Command and Control Centre in Pathankot, Pathankot district, Punjab. Additionally, Yadav chaired a joint meeting with the Army and Border Security Force (BSF), emphasizing coordination to combat terror and smuggling networks. He also visited the BSF's Shaheed Kamaljeet Singh Border Outpost to assess security arrangements.
03-Feb-2025
Jalandhar Rural Police on February 3 dismantled an interstate drug trafficking network operating between Bihar and Punjab, arresting four individuals identified as Pooja Kumari, Babita Devi, Arnav Kumar Jaiswal, and Mohit Dhanda and seizing 20.2 kg of ganja and 50 grams of heroin from their possession near Bidhipur railway gate in Jalandhar, Jalandhar district. The authorities uncovered the network's strategy of using railway routes and women carriers to evade detection. Further investigations are underway to trace the network’s linkages.
03-Feb-2025
The Police on February 3 arrested three roadways employees, identified as Ajit Singh alias Raju, Deepak Sharma, and Keerat Singh and seized 55 grams of heroin, 20 small empty plastic packets, and a digital weighing scale from their possession in Jalandhar, Jalandhar district. Further investigations are underway to identify any larger network involved in drug trafficking.
03-Feb-2025
On the evening of February 3, a suspected blast was reported near the non-functional Fatehgarh Churian police post on the Amritsar-Attari bypass road in Amritsar district, Punjab. This incident marks the sixth such occurrence in the past two months. Police officials stated that although a noise was heard, no evidence of an explosion was found. A police team stationed nearby also reported hearing the sound. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause and identify those responsible.
03-Feb-2025
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on February 3 affirmed that retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Prabodh Kumar would continue to lead the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the in-custody interview of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, which allegedly glorified crime. The court upheld its constitutional authority to appoint a retired officer for investigations, emphasizing Kumar’s familiarity with the case since January 2023.
03-Feb-2025
According to senior police officers, Punjab Police has identified 46 gangsters wanted for violent crimes and extortion, who are currently incarcerated in jails located in other states and are now working to bring them back to Punjab for investigation and to dismantle their criminal networks. Under the guidance of Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, district police chiefs have been tasked with creating dossiers to request their custody from courts in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Delhi. The goal is to investigate their involvement in Punjab-based cases and dismantle their networks.
03-Feb-2025
A Delhi court on February 3 exempted former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officer Vikash Yadav, accused by the United States (US) Department of Justice (DoJ) of "murder-for-hire" and money laundering in a plot to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, from personal appearance, citing a threat to his life. Yadav had previously sought a similar exemption in November 2024. Arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell in December 2023 for alleged extortion and kidnapping, Yadav was granted regular bail in April 2024. The court will next hear the case on March 24, with the presence of the investigating officer requested.
02-Feb-2025
On February 2, two accomplices of gangster Jeevan Fauji, identified as Sarbjeet Singh and Sunil Masih, were injured in a police encounter during a weapons recovery operation, when the two suspects opened fire on the police after being led to a location near Shahpur Jajjan village in Gurdaspur district, where weapons were hidden. They were later referred to an Amritsar hospital, and their condition is reported to be stable.
02-Feb-2025
The Delhi Police Special Cell and Haryana Police, in a joint operation on February 2, arrested wanted gangster Joginder Geong at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport after his deportation from the Philippines. Geong had been residing in the Philippines while engaging in criminal activities and was detained in Bacolod City by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) in July 2024. Philippine authorities described him as a key figure in an organised crime syndicate with suspected links to Khalistani separatists.
01-Feb-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on February 1 arrested two unidentified drug smugglers and seized a packet of heroin weighing 550 grams, which had been dropped by a Pakistani drone, near Chanduwadala village in Gurdaspur district.
31-Jan-2025
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on January 31 in New Delhi stated that the separatist and extremist threat from the United Kingdom (UK) is well known and should not be condoned or falsely equated. His remarks followed a leaked UK Home Office report, which listed "pro-Khalistan extremism" and "Hindu nationalist extremism" as threats to "understand." The report, authored by Andrew Gilligan and Dr. Paul Scott for Policy Exchange, marked the first mention of Hindu nationalist extremism in such a review. UK Security Minister Dan Jarvis clarified that the leaked document does not represent government policy.
31-Jan-2025
The banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), led by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, was upheld as an “unlawful association” by a Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) tribunal in its January 2024 verdict. The Indian government’s submission detailed SFJ’s threats to top leaders, incitement of violence, attempts to radicalize Indian Army soldiers, and efforts to provoke separatism among Christians in Manipur, Muslims, and Tamils. SFJ has also endangered diplomats and politicians by issuing threats and promoting anti-India activities globally. With 104 cases registered against it, SFJ recently threatened Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta for upholding the ban, calling his ruling “judicial tyranny.”
31-Jan-2025
According to a report, a Delhi court is set to deliver its verdict on February 7 in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots murder case against former Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Sajjan Kumar. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja reserved the judgment after the prosecution concluded its arguments regarding the killings of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh in Saraswati Vihar on November 1, 1984. The case, initially registered at Punjabi Bagh police station, was later taken over by a special investigation team (SIT). The prosecution alleged that Kumar led a mob that looted, burned properties, and killed Sikhs in retaliation for Indira Gandhi’s assassination.
31-Jan-2025
The Police on January 31 arrested a policeman, identified as senior constable Tasbir Singh, for allegedly supplying heroin inside Bathinda jail and seized 15 grams of heroin from his possession in Bathinda district. The investigation is ongoing to identify his sources and the recipients of the drugs.
31-Jan-2025
The Police on January 31 arrested three individuals, identified as Viren Rai, Pankaj Puri, and Gurpreet Singh alias Raju, and seized 21 grams of heroin and a car from their possession in Chabbewal, Hoshiarpur district, Punjab.
31-Jan-2025
The Police on January 31 arrested a woman, identified as Reena, and seized a large quantity of banned pills from her possession in Tanda town, Hoshiarpur district, Punjab.
31-Jan-2025
A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on January 31 held two former police officers, Parshotam Singh and Gurbhinder Singh, guilty in a 1992 fake encounter case involving two youths, including an Army sepoy, Baldev Singh, in Mohali, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. The court acquitted former Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Chaman Lal and former Superintendent of Police (SP) SS Sidhu, giving them the benefit of doubt. The quantum of punishment for the convicted officers will be pronounced on February 4.
31-Jan-2025
Punjab Police, on January 31, arrested four unidentified operatives linked to United States (US) and Canada-based terrorists and gangsters following a brief encounter and seized four hand grenades and three pistols with bullets from their possession in Tarn Taran district. Two operatives were initially arrested in Tarn Taran, and based on information obtained during their interrogation, two more gang members were apprehended from Gurdaspur district.
30-Jan-2025
A Mohali court on January 30 acquitted two men, including an accomplice of Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, identified as Gurpreet Singh and Harpuneet Singh alias Honey, in a case of pasting of posters regarding Khalistan referendum in Mohali in 2017, in Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. The prosecution alleged that the posters, linked to the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), were printed at Gurpreet Singh’s press and could incite communal hostility. However, the court found no credible evidence, citing lack of CCTV footage, failure to verify electronic evidence, and unreliable sanctioning testimony, leading to the acquittal.
30-Jan-2025
The Police on January 30 busted a module linked to foreign-based terrorist Lakhbir Singh alias Landa and arrested four individuals identified as Robinjeet Singh alias Robin, Harpreet Singh alias Happy, Navjot Singh alias Nav and Jagdeep Singh alias Jagga, and seized two hand grenades, two sophisticated .30 bore pistols, ammunition and three magazines from their possession, near Thathian Mahantan village in Tarn Taran district. The accused were allegedly being operated by United States (US) based gangster Gurdev Singh alias Jaisal Chambhal and Canada-based Satbir alias Satta Naushehra. Further investigations are underway to establish backward and forward linkages in the case.
30-Jan-2025
Una Police on January 30 arrested two gangsters, identified as Rakesh Kaushal and Rajiv Kaushal, with possible links to Punjab-based criminals involved in making ransom calls to businessmen in Una district and seized 367 grams of opium and INR 2 lakh in drug money from their possession in Una, Himachal Pradesh (HP). According to officials, the two have been involved in ransom activities, illegal mining, and drug smuggling. Further investigations are ongoing, with police probing Rajiv Kaushal's potential links to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
29-Jan-2025
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of the banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), on January 29 issued a statement threatening to target Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta and raise the Khalistan flag at his Delhi residence after the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) tribunal upheld the government's five-year ban on SFJ. Pannun accused the judge of "judicial oppression" and warned of consequences for rulings against the Khalistan referendum. Following the threat, Delhi Police was put on high alert.
29-Jan-2025
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA), in its note to a tribunal on January 29 in New Delhi, revealed that the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) is allegedly inciting Christians in Manipur to secede from India. The note, part of the tribunal order upholding the five-year ban on SFJ under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, also highlighted the organisation’s operations from offices in New York and California in the United States (US).
29-Jan-2025
The Patiala House Court in New Delhi on January 29 granted bail to United Kingdom (UK) national Inderpal Singh Gaba, accused in the 2023 attack on the Indian High Commission in London, citing a lack of evidence linking him to the vandalism or secessionist activities. The court observed that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) failed to establish his involvement in organizing the protest or providing logistical support.
29-Jan-2025
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on January 29 issued a statement rejecting the report accusing India of interference in Canadian affairs. The MEA strongly dismissed the claims, accusing Canada of consistently interfering in India’s internal matters. The statement also highlighted Canada’s role in enabling illegal migration and organized criminal activities.
29-Jan-2025
The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) on January 29 called for a full public inquiry into the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and alleged transnational repression by India, following the Foreign Interference Commission’s final report. While the report found “no definitive link” between Nijjar’s murder and a ‘foreign state’, it accused India of targeting Sikhs in Canada through intimidation, surveillance, and disinformation. It also alleged Indian electoral interference and illicit financial support to politicians. WSO urged the Canadian government to take decisive action against India’s alleged activities.
29-Jan-2025
A tribunal of the Delhi High Court on January 29 upheld the extension of the five-year ban on the Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), led by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, citing its subversive activities. The tribunal noted SFJ’s threats to Indian leaders, incitement of Sikh soldiers, and collusion with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
29-Jan-2025
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) on January 29 informed a tribunal in New Delhi that the Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) was spreading anti-India propaganda through protests and baseless legal cases against Indian dignitaries in Europe, Canada, and the United States (US). The UMHA highlighted SFJ’s threats, including a recorded voice note received on the landline of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s residence, warning Members of Parliament (MPs) about the Khalistan referendum. A total of 141 First Information Reports (FIRs)—96 by state/Union Territory (UT) police and 8 by the National Investigation Agency (NIA)—have been registered against SFJ.
29-Jan-2025
The police on January 29 arrested a member of the Jeevan Fauji gang, identified as Sunil Maseeh, near Inorbit Mall in Vadodara, Gujarat. Maseeh was wanted by Punjab Police in an attempt to murder case and under the Arms Act, with authorities stating that the gang is involved in multiple crimes in Punjab. The police confirmed that Maseeh will be handed over to Punjab Police for further investigation.
29-Jan-2025
The court of the Judicial Magistrate in Faridkot on January 29 acquitted gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in an extortion case due to a lack of evidence. The case involved a demand for INR 50 lakh from a textile businessman in Kotkapura via a WhatsApp call, allegedly made by Bishnoi’s associate Goldy Brar, who is absconding. The complainant failed to provide evidence to support the allegations. Bishnoi, who appeared in court via video conferencing, continues to face other charges, while Brar remains wanted in several criminal cases, including the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala.
29-Jan-2025
The police on January 29 busted a gang involved in drug smuggling by arresting two of its members, identified as Nitin Gogna and Harpreet Kashyap, and seized 3,200 intoxicant tablets from their possession in Jalandhar district.
28-Jan-2025
Police on January 28 arrested a peddler, identified as Gaurav Makkar alias Sunny and seized 14 grams of heroin and 20 pouches from his possession, from Kundanpuri area in Ludhiana in Ludhiana district.
28-Jan-2025
Police on January 28, based on information from arrested drug peddler Gaurav Makkar alias Sunny, uncovered a 13-year-long drug smuggling racket run by Sonia alias Naachi and her two daughters, from Mohalla Peeru Banda area in Ludhiana in Ludhiana district in Punjab. Police arrested Sonia, and seized 4 grams of heroin and INR 2.9 lakh in alleged drug money from her possession.
28-Jan-2025
A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on January 28 recorded the evidence of a senior scientific assistant who had taken a voice sample of former minister Jagdish Tytler at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in April 2023, in New Delhi. Tytler is facing trial for the killing of three Sikhs near Gurdwara Pul Bangash on November 1, 1984. The court played an audio clip containing his voice sample and scheduled the cross-examination of the scientific officer for February 7.
28-Jan-2025
The Punjab Police on January 28 arrested two operatives of United States (US) based terrorist Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passian and US-based drug smuggler Sarwan Bhola, identified as Bagga Singh and Puskaran Singh alias Sagar, and seized a hand grenade and two sophisticated pistols along with ammunition from their possession, from Amritsar in Amritsar district. Bagga Singh was arrested from Sirsa in Haryana and Pushkaran Singh from Amritsar. The two were involved in the hand grenade attack outside the Gumtala police post in Amritsar in December 2024.
28-Jan-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on January 28 recovered a packet of heroin weighing 500 grams from fields near Lakha Singh Wala village in Ferozepur district.
27-Jan-2025
All India Congress Committee Treasurer and Member of Parliament (MP) Ajay Maken, along with former Deputy Chief Minister and former Home Minister of AAP-ruled Punjab, on January 27, stated that Khalistani sentiments and radicalism are on the rise. They criticized the AAP government for its inaction on 11 grenade attacks in the state and accused it of fostering a dangerous governance model. The Congress also linked AAP to radical elements, including alleged connections with Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. They warned voters in Delhi and Punjab against supporting AAP, calling the party a threat to national security.