KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
09-Nov-2024
Police on November 8 busted a seven-member ring of gangsters and arrested four members identified as Yadwinder Singh Akash, Harmandeep Singh, Tejbir Singh and Harpreet Singh alias Happy Baba, from Amritsar in Amristar district. The three gang members who absconded have been identified as Karanbir Singh, Jarmandeep Singh alias Arman Mana, and Yodhbir Singh Yodha. The gang, involved in multiple looting and extortion incidents, used threats and fired at residences to intimidate victims into paying extortion money.
09-Nov-2024
Police on November 9 arrested one individual, identified as Gurjeet Singh alias Jeeta and seized two country-made pistols and eight live cartridges from his possession, in Abohar in Fazilka district.
08-Nov-2024
On November 8, the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) two-day Anti-Terror Conference concluded in New Delhi, with Home Secretary Govind Mohan urging states to enhance capacity building by deputing skilled officers to the NIA, thereby strengthening both the agency and state-level anti-terror efforts. Participants emphasized the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) as a vital legal tool for countering terrorism, underscoring the need for its careful and judicious application to prevent misuse.
08-Nov-2024
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal, speaking at a function in Dhanansu village, Ludhiana, on November 8, acknowledged drug abuse as Punjab's most pressing issue, emphasizing the need for public support to combat it. He urged newly elected sarpanches to report drug-related cases and assured strict action against police personnel failing to address such complaints.
08-Nov-2024
A young shoe trader, identified as Prinkle, was shot multiple times by 4-5 masked assailants in a gang-related attack in Ludhiana district on November 8, leaving him critically injured, while his female companion sustained a gunshot wound to her back.
08-Nov-2024
National Commission for Minorities (NCM) Chairperson Iqbal Singh Lalpura recently disclosed to The Tribune that in the 40 years since the anti-Sikh violence, only 14 victims' relatives have secured jobs, while numerous families in Tilak Vihar, New Delhi, continue to lack ownership rights. Lalpura vowed to prioritize the matter, requesting a detailed status report on rehabilitation efforts, which remain incomplete in several regions, including Haryana.
08-Nov-2024
The Counter Intelligence (CI) wing of Punjab Police on November 8 dismantled an illegal arms smuggling network with the arrest of Aditya Kapoor alias Makhan and Ravinder Singh and seizing one 9MM Glock pistol, two foreign-made .30 bore pistols, one .32 bore pistol, five magazines, and 14 live cartridges from their possession in Amritsar district. The accused were connected to US-based gangsters Balwinder Singh alias Dony Bal and Prabh Dasuwal, as well as Portugal-based criminal Manpreet Singh alias Mannu Ghanshampuria, and were involved in a rivalry with a syndicate led by gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria.
07-Nov-2024
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on November 7 criticised Canada’s decision to ban the Australian media outlet Australia Today, highlighting Ottawa's hypocrisy on free speech. He also expressed concerns over the surveillance of Indian diplomats, baseless allegations against India, and Canada’s tolerance of anti-India elements within its borders, following remarks by External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Khalistani extremism.
07-Nov-2024
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on November 7 condemned the recent attack by Khalistani extremists on Hindu temples in Canada, stating that such acts hurt the sentiments of over 1.2 billion Hindus and insult the teachings of the ten Sikh Gurus.
07-Nov-2024
Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah, speaking at the inaugural session of the Anti-Terror Conference in New Delhi on November 7, announced that the Centre would soon introduce a National Counter-Terrorism Policy and Strategy to strengthen efforts against terrorism across the country. Shah stressed the need for equipping young officers with advanced technology and called for the effective application of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in terrorism-related cases. He also highlighted the critical role of leveraging data from the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) to combat crime and terrorism.
07-Nov-2024
Bajrang Dal Hindustan activists gathered at Shaheed Chowk in Abohar, Fazilka district, on November 7 to protest against recent attacks on Hindu temples in Canada and the perceived anti-Hindu stance of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
06-Nov-2024
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, speaking in Amritsar on November 6, condemned the recent violence in Canada, describing it as a conspiracy to defame the Sikh community and disrupt peace. He emphasized that Sikhs have never attacked the temples of any other faith and criticized efforts to portray the community negatively.
06-Nov-2024
Amritsar City Police on November 6 busted a trans-border drug smuggling racket and arrested three persons identified as Karandeep Singh, Jeevan Singh and Manjinder Singh, and seized 1 kg of heroin and 1 kg of ‘ICE (methamphetamine) from their possession, in Amritsar in Amritsar district. According to the Police, Karandeep had established contacts with Pakistan-based smugglers and was involved in trafficking drugs into Punjab, and the drugs were smuggled from Pakistan using drones and were linked to foreign-based gangster Gurdev Jaisal. The police are investigating the network's broader connections.
06-Nov-2024
Dal Khalsa's Secretary for Political Affairs, Kanwar Pal Singh, condemned the circumstances leading to clashes between pro-Khalistani and pro-Indian activists outside a Hindu temple in Brampton, Canada, calling media reports and statements by Indian leaders exaggerated. He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of exploiting such incidents to deepen Hindu-Sikh divisions in Canada and India.
06-Nov-2024
Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, speaking in Amritsar on November 6, condemned the recent violence in Canada, describing it as a deep-rooted conspiracy against Sikhs aimed at disrupting peace. He asserted that Sikhs would never target the religious sites of other faiths and criticized social media for exaggerating a minor altercation outside a Hindu temple as an orchestrated attack.
06-Nov-2024
Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Shashi Tharoor on November 6 criticized Canada for permitting extremists to operate freely, attributing the recent attack on the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton to radical elements advocating violence and terror. Tharoor described the incident as a "shameful reminder" of Canada's declining standards driven by short-term political interests, despite historically strong ties between the two nations.
06-Nov-2024
On November 7, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the ‘Anti-Terror Conference-2024,’ organized by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in New Delhi. The two-day conference aims to enhance inter-agency coordination to bolster India’s security, focusing on legal frameworks, emerging technologies, and international cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts.
05-Nov-2024
The Police on November 5 arrested two individuals, identified as Ajay Singh and Sahil, and seized 30 grams of heroin and a car from their possession near Abohar in Fazilka district.
05-Nov-2024
The District Crime Cell (DCC) of UT Police on November 5 arrested a man associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, identified as Brahm Dutt Mishra and seized a country-made pistol and live cartridges near ISBT-43 in Chandigarh. Mishra had been previously booked in a firing case outside a liquor baron's house in 2020 and has been involved in multiple criminal activities, including extortion, attempted murder, and assault. He was booked in eight cases across various police stations in the city.
05-Nov-2024
The Jalandhar Commissionerate Police on November 5 arrested two gangsters associated with the Kaushal-Bambiha gang, identified as Rajeshwar Kumar and Deepak Vaid alias Babu and seized two pistols and five live cartridges from their possession after an encounter near Jalandhar Cantonment in Jalandhar district.
05-Nov-2024
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami, on November 5, urged the state government to address Sikh youth Gurjit Singh Khalsa’s ongoing protest atop a tower in Samana, demanding a law to tackle sacrilege incidents. Dhami expressed the SGPC’s support for Khalsa’s cause and reiterated the committee’s long-standing demand for strict action against those involved in sacrilege.
05-Nov-2024
The Punjab Police's Counter Intelligence (CI) and Ludhiana Police, in a joint operation on November 5 dismantled a Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) module operated by two foreign-based individuals- Harjit Singh alias Laddi and Sabi, and arrested four of its operatives identified as Jaswinder Singh alias Binder, Ravinder Pal Singh alias Ravi, Manish Sahid alias Sanju and Anil Kumar alias Honey, and seized a motorcycle and two mobile phones used for reconnaissance and tracking from their possession, in Ludhiana district. The operatives were linked to recent petrol bomb attacks targeting Shiv Sena leaders in Ludhiana.
05-Nov-2024
According to sources in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA), despite an extradition treaty with the United States (US), India has been unable to extradite Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), due to his strategic exploitation of legal grey areas. Pannun crafts his threats—such as recent warnings targeting Air India flights and statements against Indian leaders—to avoid explicit admissions of terrorism.
05-Nov-2024
The Ferozepur Counter Intelligence (CI) on November 5 arrested a smuggler, Charanjeet Singh alias Channu, in connection with a case involving the recovery of 77.8 kg of heroin, from Bare Ke village in Ferozepur district. Investigations are ongoing to identify further links.
04-Nov-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on November 4 recovered one packet of heroin weighing 550 grams from fields near Gulgarh village in Ajnala in Amritsar district.
04-Nov-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on November 4 recovered one packet of heroin weighing 540 grams from a field adjacent to Dhanoe Kalan village in Amritsar district.
04-Nov-2024
Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, via social media platform X on November 4, condemned the attack on the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Canada and the “cowardly attempts to intimidate Indian diplomats.” He urged the Canadian government to ensure justice, uphold the rule of law, and reaffirmed India’s resolve against such acts.
04-Nov-2024
Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in a media briefing in New Delhi on November 4, strongly condemned the violence outside the Hindu Sabha Temple. He urged Canada to protect places of worship, prosecute those responsible, and reaffirmed that such incidents would not hinder consular services.
04-Nov-2024
The Supreme Court (SC) on November 4 deferred the plea of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Balwant Singh Rajoana, seeking commutation of his death sentence due to a delay of over a year in his pending mercy petition before the President. The bench stated that relief would be considered only after hearing responses from the Punjab government and the Centre.
04-Nov-2024
Punjab Police’s Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) on November 4 arrested Sub-Inspector Gurmeet Singh in Ludhiana for allegedly detaining two drug suspects, Charanjeet Singh and Ranbir Singh, illegally and falsifying details of an opium seizure. Police stated that Gurmeet reported the arrests and the recovery of 600 grams of opium as occurring in Ludhiana, though the suspects were initially detained in Patiala. Authorities are investigating charges of wrongful confinement, criminal conspiracy, and violations under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
04-Nov-2024
The Gharinda police on November 4 arrested two drug peddlers, Ravinder Singh alias Kalari and Amit, and seized 1 kg of heroin along with a motorcycle from their possession near Bhakna Kalan village in Amritsar district.
04-Nov-2024
Former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, on November 4, condemned Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for supporting Khalistani radical elements for electoral gains. He recalled his earlier warnings to Trudeau about Canada’s leniency toward extremists threatening Punjab’s stability.
04-Nov-2024
The Jalandhar (Rural) police on November 4 arrested Jagdeep Singh Gill alias Tholu, a key associate of Canada-based gangster Amritpal Singh Bath, and seized a .32 bore pistol and a car from his possession near Phillaur in Jalandhar district. Gill was wanted in connection with the January murder of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sunny Cheema. During interrogation, he revealed that he had acted on Bath's instructions and was involved in orchestrating the crime and the subsequent escape plan.
03-Nov-2024
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff of Punjab Police on November 3 arrested three smugglers, Harshdeep Singh Jassal, Sharma, and Gur Pratap Singh Sidhu and seized 60 grams of heroin and INR 50,000 in drug money from their possession near Khuian Sarwar in Fazilka district.
03-Nov-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on November 3 recovered a packet of heroin weighing 426 grams from fields near Wan village in Patti in Tarn Taran district.
03-Nov-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on November 3 recovered a drone from fields near Akhwara village in Pathankot district in Punjab. The recovered drone was a China made DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
03-Nov-2024
Police on November 3 arrested gangster Sukhwinder Singh alias Kaka alias Shally, following a brief encounter near Tarn Taran in Tarn Taran district. He was wanted for the recent daylight murder of Gurdeep Singh Gokha, a commission agent, and is an associate of gangster-turned-terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa.
03-Nov-2024
According to sources, investigators are focusing on approximately 100 members of the Bambiha gang, mapping their areas of operation and activities. Recent criminal incidents, including a shooting in northwest Delhi linked to a demand for protection money, have underscored the syndicate's reach, with Kaushal Chaudhary orchestrating operations in Haryana while maintaining connections with overseas operatives. Key overseas operatives of the Bambiha syndicate include Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dalla, based in Canada, and Lucky Patial, who operates from the United States (US).
03-Nov-2024
On November 3, a day after a petrol bomb was thrown at the residence of Harkirat Singh Khurana, president of the Shiv Sena Hind Sikh Sangat wing, the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack via email to several journalists. However, Ludhiana police expressed scepticism regarding the claim, stating that they would only take action once the authenticity of the email is verified.
03-Nov-2024
On November 4, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a petition filed by Balwant Singh Rajoana, a convict in the Beant Singh assassination case, seeking to commutate his death sentence to life imprisonment in New Delhi. Rajoana, a former Punjab Police constable, has been in jail for 28 years and argues that the "inordinate delay" of over 12 years in deciding his mercy petition constitutes sufficient grounds for relief. The Supreme Court previously refused to commute his sentence in May 2023 but agreed to re-examine the issue after Rajoana's fresh petition highlighted the ongoing uncertainty regarding his fate.
03-Nov-2024
The Ludhiana rural police on November 3 arrested a drug peddler, identified as Baljeet Singh alias Meeta, and seized 20 kg of poppy husk and INR 2.15 lakh drug money from his possession near Dakha village in Ludhiana district.
02-Nov-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on November 2 recovered a drone from fields near Kamirpura village in Amritsar district. The recovered drone was a China-made DJI MAVIC 3 Classic model.
02-Nov-2024
Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, on November 2 in New Delhi, denounced Canada’s inclusion of India in its list of "cyber threat adversaries" as baseless and part of an ongoing strategy to malign India. Jaiswal criticized the National Cyber Threat Assessment 2025-2026 report by Canada's Centre for Cyber Security (CCS), which accused Indian state-sponsored actors of espionage against Canada without evidence. Citing similar past allegations, Jaiswal emphasized India's rejection of such "absurd categorisations," noting that this comes amid escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
02-Nov-2024
On November 2, a Bhog of Akhand Path was held at Gurdwara Jhanda Bunga Sahib within the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, Punjab, to honour those killed in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Addressing the gathering, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami criticized the prolonged denial of justice to affected Sikh families, highlighting the lasting trauma caused by the Congress-led violence. Tributes were paid, with leaders calling for justice and acknowledging the deep hurt inflicted on the Sikh community.
02-Nov-2024
Dal Khalsa on November 2 announced a two-day event to mark 40 years since the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, featuring a seminar at Fatehgarh Sahib in Fatehgarh Sahib district and a Sikh congregation at Mullanpur Dhaka in Ludhiana district, Punjab. The group’s leaders expressed ongoing grievances over the lack of justice, alleging extrajudicial actions against Sikhs with backing from Indian leadership, and conveyed gratitude to Canada for acknowledging these claims. Dal Khalsa leaders criticized both India’s legal system and the United Nations (UN) for failing to hold those responsible accountable for crimes against humanity.
02-Nov-2024
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, on November 2 in New Delhi, criticized Congress for its “failure to apologise meaningfully” for the 1984 anti-Sikh violence, describing it as a “genocide” rather than mere “riots” and accusing the party of targeting Sikhs. Puri emphasized the lack of justice over the past 40 years, pointing out that individuals responsible, like Jagdish Tytler, remain in party leadership.
02-Nov-2024
Three unidentified individuals threw a petrol bomb at the residence of Harjot Singh Khurana, a leader of Shiv Sena (Hind)’s Sikh wing, in Model Town in Ludhiana district on November 2. CCTV footage showed the motorcycle-borne attackers throwing a bottle filled with an inflammable liquid, which initially sounded like a Diwali firecracker to Khurana, until he noticed damage to a neighbour’s car. Police found broken glass near Khurana's house and are working to identify the suspects.
02-Nov-2024
The Police on November 2 arrested one individual, identified as Gurdeep Singh and seized .32 bore country-made pistol from his possession, near Bughipura village in Moga district.
02-Nov-2024
The Police on November 2 arrested one individual, identified as Gursimran Singh and seized .32 bore pistol from his possession, near Bhinder Kalan village in Moga district.
02-Nov-2024
The Bihar Police on November 2 arrested an individual identified as Mahesh Pandey, who had made a threatening call to Independent Member of Parliament Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, impersonating an associate of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, from New Delhi. The police clarified that there were no established links between Pandey and the Bishnoi gang. Pandey confessed to contacting Yadav via WhatsApp using a borrowed SIM card from his wife’s sister in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after discovering Yadav's contact details online.