KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
26-Sep-2024
Punjab Police and the Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation on September 26, recovered over 501 grams of heroin near Dal village in Tarn Taran district. The drugs are suspected to have been smuggled via drone from across the border. While four suspects fled the scene, two have been identified, and investigations are ongoing.
25-Sep-2024
The Supreme Court (SC) on September 25 agreed to reassess a petition by Balwant Singh Rajoana, seeking to commute his death sentence to life imprisonment for his role in the 1995 assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Beant Singh. Rajoana cited his 28 years of incarceration and the delays in deciding his mercy plea. The court issued notices to the Centre and Punjab, requesting responses within three weeks, while acknowledging the significant political and security implications of his potential release.
25-Sep-2024
The Punjab Government on September 25 transferred twenty-two police officials ahead of the local bodies' elections and the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct. Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) SPS Parmar, who led the investigation into sacrilege cases, was appointed as ADGP Law and Order, while Inspector General (IG) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar was reinstated as Commissioner of Police (CP) in Amritsar. Mandeep Singh Sidhu was assigned as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Patiala Range, and Ranjit Singh Dhillon and Harcharan Singh Bhulla were posted as DIGs for the Ferozepur and Bathinda ranges, respectively.
25-Sep-2024
On September 25, the Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) was informed that show-cause notices had been issued to four police officers, including Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Vivek Sheel Soni, for their supervisory role during Lawrence Bishnoi’s in-custody interview that glorified crime. The Punjab Department of Home Affairs and Justice issued notices to Punjab Police Service (PPS) officers Amandeep Singh Brar and Gursher Singh, as well as Inspector Shiv Kumar. The court had earlier emphasized that accountability should extend to higher-ranking officers involved in the incident.
25-Sep-2024
The Kendri Singh Sabha on September 25 voiced support for Rahul Gandhi's remarks on the treatment of Sikhs in India, praising his stance against hate politics. They endorsed his acknowledgment of the Sikh community's inalienable rights to religious and cultural freedom, while opposing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) vision of a homogenous nation. The Sabha also condemned efforts by certain Sikh leaders allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to misinterpret Gandhi's statements.
25-Sep-2024
In a renewed fight against drug trafficking, the Punjab Police invoked the Prevention of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act for the first time since its enactment in 1988. The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) utilized the Act to detain 17 alleged traffickers, aiming to prevent repeat offenders from continuing their activities while out on bail. Additionally, India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) detained three traffickers, including Balwinder Singh, alias Billa Havellian, and transferred them to Dibrugarh jail in Assam, marking a significant step in curbing jail-based drug operations.
25-Sep-2024
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) 1 of the Ludhiana Police Commissionerate on September 25 arrested a drug peddler, identified as Pardeep Singh alias Rajvir, and seized 320 grams of heroin from his possession in Ludhiana district.
24-Sep-2024
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of the Punjab Police detained the owner of a poultry feed factory on September 24 on suspicion of possessing drug money, seizing INR 70 lakh in cash from his residence in Shastri Nagar, Ludhiana. This raid was linked to the recent arrest of seven individuals and the seizure of 1 kg of heroin, INR 48 lakh, weapons, and other items. The factory owner was taken to Jalandhar for questioning regarding his involvement in the drug racket.
24-Sep-2024
Police on September 24 booked three individuals identified as Monu, his brother Happy and Sajan, in connection to the death of Suraj who died of a drug overdose, in Sultanwind village in Amritsar district.
24-Sep-2024
The spectre of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a controversial Khalistani militant separatist leader, has resurfaced in Punjab politics following Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Som Parkash's reference to him as 'Sant' while criticizing actress Kangana Ranaut's comments on Bhindranwale. This has sparked controversy, as Bhindranwale, who was killed in 1984 during Operation Blue Star, remains a divisive figure, particularly among BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders who have historically opposed him due to his role in promoting violence and separatism. Parkash’s remarks have drawn attention to the BJP’s delicate position in Punjab, where it seeks to expand its voter base.
24-Sep-2024
A court on September 24 sentenced drug smuggler Karnail Singh to eight years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of INR 80,000 for possession of 100 grams of intoxicant powder, in Ludhiana in Ludhiana district. Despite his claims of false implication, the court upheld the conviction, noting the absence of a complaint to higher authorities and citing a ruling that independent witnesses often refuse to cooperate with the police.
24-Sep-2024
The Jalandhar Rural Police on September 24 arrested two smugglers, identified as Roshan Lal and Narinder Singh, and seized 1.2 kg of opium from their possession near Kamalpur village in Jalandhar district. The accused had procured the opium from Jharkhand, with Narinder acting as the courier, transporting the drugs via train for delivery to Roshan’s customers.
24-Sep-2024
Police on September 24 arrested two individuals, identified as Pargat Singh and Kamalpreet Singh alias Babbu, and seized 4 kg of opium along with a truck and a car from their possession near Panjgrain village in Faridkot district.
23-Sep-2024
The Fazilka police, in coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF), on September 23, held a meeting with border area villagers and members of village defence committees (VDCs) aiming to curb narcotics smuggling and enhance safety among farmers, especially as infiltration attempts increase during winter at the Joint Check Post Sadiqi, near the International Border (IB) in Fazilka district.
23-Sep-2024
The Jalandhar Rural Police on September 23 busted a drug racket being operated from within jail and arrested two individuals for drug smuggling, identified as Amandeep Singh and Mandeep Singh, and seized 3 kg of opium from their possession, near Alawalpur in Jalandhar district. During interrogation, the accused revealed that the drug operation was being coordinated by ringleaders from within the jail.
23-Sep-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) and the Punjab Police, in a joint operation on September 23, recovered a packet of heroin weighing 570 grams along with a drone from near Nestha village in Amritsar district. The recovered drone was a China-made DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
23-Sep-2024
Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah, while addressing a rally in Tohana in Haryana on September 23, criticised Rahul Gandhi for his remarks suggesting Sikhs were not allowed to wear turbans or Kada in India, and reminded Gandhi of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots under Congress rule and urged him to apologise to the Sikh community.
23-Sep-2024
On September 23, an inter-state coordination meeting was held between Kaithal and Punjab police to ensure smooth elections and curb cross-border criminal activities, at Cheeka police station in Kaithal in Haryana. The meeting focused on joint efforts to prevent drug, liquor, and arms smuggling, with plans for coordinated patrolling and security checks. Lists of wanted criminals were exchanged, and locals were urged to report any suspicious activities confidentially.
22-Sep-2024
The Sadar police on September 22 arrested a drug peddler, identified as Lovepreet Singh alias Labbu and seized INR 53,000 drug money and a mobile phone from his possession, in Kalasia Khurd village in Tarn Taran district in Punjab. The suspect, linked to Pakistan-based smugglers, reportedly smuggled contraband into India using drones. The police are investigating his network and have sent his mobile phone for forensic examination.
22-Sep-2024
Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on September 22, in an interview to Times of India, endorsed Rahul Gandhi's comments on the Sikh community as "correct," but pointed out that worse had occurred under Congress-led governments. He stated that despite changes in government, Sikhs have faced continuous persecution and hate propaganda.
22-Sep-2024
According to officials, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval remained in India to address security concerns related to the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir elections and other domestic issues, dismissing speculation regarding a New York court summons. The summons, issued due to a civil suit by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, coincided with the introduction of the Transnational Repression Reporting Act in the United States (US) Congress, which accuses India of targeting diaspora members.
22-Sep-2024
According to sources, the Punjab Police have stated in an affidavit filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court in Chandigarh that radical preacher Amritpal Singh and his associates, detained under the National Security Act (NSA), pose a serious threat to law and order, as well as to the life of Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann. The police referenced video clips in which Amritpal Singh allegedly insinuates that CM Mann could meet the same fate as former CM Beant Singh, who was assassinated. They argued that such inflammatory remarks could incite violence and disrupt public order, justifying the detention of Amritpal Singh and his associates in Dibrugarh jail in Assam.
22-Sep-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police, in a joint search operation on September 22, recovered five large packets of suspected heroin weighing 2.840 kg along with a drone near Machharala village in Gurdaspur district. The drone was a China-made DJI Matrice 350 RTK model.
22-Sep-2024
On September 22, a man identified as Surinder Singh was brutally attacked after confronting drug peddlers openly selling heroin in the Tobri Mohalla area in Jalandhar in Jalandhar district. He claimed that those who opposed the illegal activities faced severe repercussions and revealed that he had previously reported the issue to senior officials, but no action was taken. Surinder, along with his mother and sister-in-law, was injured during the attack.
22-Sep-2024
In a two-week operation, the Jalandhar Commissionerate Police dismantled an interstate cartel involved in the illegal trade of weapons and arrested 17 criminals, including gangster Kannu Gujjar, a close associate of gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuriya and seized 1.1 kg of heroin along with 18 weapons and 66 cartridges from their possession, in Jalandhar in Jalandhar district.
22-Sep-2024
Fazilka police on September 22 arrested an unidentified woman wanted in a five-year-old drug smuggling case near Kamalwala village in Fazilka district. The woman was en route to deliver 10 kg of ganja to Goma Bai, a resident of Kamalwala village, when she was apprehended.
21-Sep-2024
The CIA-2 of the Police Commissionerate on September 21 arrested two persons, identified as Jatin Sidhu and his juvenile accomplice, and seized 100 grams of heroin from their possession, in Ludhiana in Ludhiana district. Jatin was reportedly supplying heroin to clients in the city, with the teenager assisting in retail distribution.
21-Sep-2024
The Anti-Narcotics Cell of Ludhiana Police on September 21 arrested a woman, identified as Janki Kanojia and seized 30 kg of poppy husk from her possession in Ludhiana in Ludhiana district.
21-Sep-2024
Rahul Gandhi defended his remarks made in the United States (US) regarding the Sikh community on September 21 via the social media site X, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of spreading lies and attempting to silence him. He questioned whether there was anything wrong in advocating for every Sikh's right to practice their religion freely and without fear.
21-Sep-2024
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shehzad Poonawalla criticized Gandhi on September 21, accusing him of defending his comments instead of apologizing and claiming that he was trying to gain support from the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). The BJP also cited a joint statement from several Sikh organizations asking Gandhi to withdraw his comments, which they claimed had created an atmosphere of fear.
21-Sep-2024
A delegation of Sikh committees and organizations met with Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai on September 21 in New Delhi, demanding that Rahul Gandhi retract his recent remarks suggesting that Sikhs are restricted in practicing their faith in India. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa also criticized Gandhi's statements, warning that they were creating fear and recalling similar rhetoric used before the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
21-Sep-2024
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of the Punjab Police, in a joint operation with a central agency on September 21, busted a major drug-trafficking syndicate, arresting 10 individuals and seizing 1 kg of heroin, 381 grams of charas, three pistols (including one sophisticated Glock pistol), 62 live cartridges, two empty shells, INR 48.7 lakh in drug money, 262 grams of gold, and electronic devices in Chandigarh. The police revealed that the suspects were operating the drug network in the Jalandhar, Amritsar, and Ludhiana districts of Punjab and were sending money to Pakistan-based smugglers via hawala after smuggling drugs across the border.
20-Sep-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF), in an intelligence-based operation on September 20, recovered a large hexacopter drone near Bharopal village in Amritsar district. Authorities received inputs about the drone's movement near the international border, prompting an intensive search operation that led to the recovery.
20-Sep-2024
A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team on September 20 raided the residence of a factory worker identified as Kulwant Singh, who shared pro-Khalistan content on social media, and questioned him about the material he read and listened to in Bilaspur village, Moga district. He was not served any notice.
20-Sep-2024
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and vice-president of the BJP's Varanasi Mahanagar unit, Ashok Kumar, filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for allegedly hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community during his recent visit to the United States (US), at the Sigra police station in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (UP). Kumar accused Gandhi of making comments that undermine the country's integrity and of making remarks about reservation.
20-Sep-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on September 20 conducted searches related to a case involving Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of the banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), and seized incriminating materials, including digital devices, from four locations: one in Moga, two in Bathinda, and one in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district, Punjab.
20-Sep-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF), in collaboration with the Punjab Police, conducted a search operation on September 20, recovering five small packets of heroin weighing 2.838 kg and one motorcycle from the outskirts of Dal village in Tarn Taran district. The operation was initiated after two individuals on a motorcycle fled when signaled to stop by BSF troops at a checkpoint.
20-Sep-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) recently revealed the extensive criminal network of Satwinder Singh alias Goldy Brar through a chargesheet filed in Chandigarh. Brar, designated as an "Individual Terrorist" by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA), currently faces 54 cases in Punjab and Haryana. The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently emphasized the societal threat posed by gangster culture, particularly extortion rackets, while rejecting the bail plea of an accused member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
19-Sep-2024
According to sources in the Punjab Police, the hand grenade and RDX used in the September 11 explosion in Chandigarh were military-grade equipment smuggled from Pakistan using a drone. This has raised concerns about the persistent use of drones by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and terrorist operatives to smuggle arms and drugs across the Punjab border. The attack was masterminded by ISI-backed terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda and United States (US)-based gangster Happy Passia, who utilized drones to drop the weapons. Despite efforts to combat this threat, Punjab has witnessed around 1,100 drone sightings since March 2022, with the Border Security Force (BSF) shooting down 150 drones.
19-Sep-2024
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated in New Delhi on September 19 that during the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and United States (US) President Joe Biden, all issues of mutual concern would be discussed. While he did not confirm whether the Khalistan issue would be specifically raised, he emphasized that a wide range of topics would be covered in the talks.
19-Sep-2024
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, in New Delhi on September 19, strongly rejected the lawsuit filed by Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the United States (US), labelling it as 'unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations' against the Indian government. Misri reaffirmed India’s position on Pannun, highlighting his links to the banned Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) organization, which is designated as a terrorist group under Indian law. He emphasized that the lawsuit does not alter India’s stance on Pannun or his activities.
19-Sep-2024
The Akal Takht, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) recently condemned actor and Member of Parliament (MP) Kangana Ranaut’s remarks against Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, labelling her upcoming film “Emergency” as anti-Sikh. Kangana Ranaut stated, 'Ninety-nine percent of the people of Punjab don’t consider Bhindranwale a saint; he was a terrorist… sitting with an AK-47 in a temple.'
19-Sep-2024
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravneet Singh Bittu stated in New Delhi on September 19 that he would not apologize for calling Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi a 'number 1 terrorist,' asserting that the Gandhi family was responsible for burning Punjab and causing the loss of generations. He expressed his pain as a Sikh and claimed that Gandhi's comments on the Sikh community were supported by Khalistani separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who has been designated a terrorist in India.
19-Sep-2024
The global anti-terror watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on September 19 awarded India the highest rating in its Mutual Evaluation Report, recognizing the country’s strong anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT) framework. The report highlighted serious terrorism and terrorist financing threats from groups like ISIL and Al-Qaeda, urging India to conclude prosecutions and appropriately sanction terrorist financiers. It also commended India’s financial inclusion efforts while advising improvements in addressing money laundering cases and implementing preventive measures in certain sectors.
19-Sep-2024
The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) emphasized the urgent need to address the escalating gangster culture in Punjab, highlighting the threats posed by extortion rackets and the erosion of public trust in the justice system. The court noted a spike in extortion cases following a controversial interview with Bishnoi, urging swift action against gang activities to restore societal order. It also condemned the media's portrayal of gangsters, warning that it fosters a dangerous sense of impunity among youth, and called for stringent law enforcement to dismantle criminal enterprises.
19-Sep-2024
Sources in the Delhi police on September 19 revealed that gangster Lawrence Bishnoi has launched online gaming apps operated from Dubai, enlisting the help of major bookies in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Delhi. Bishnoi, an accused in the 2022 murder of singer Sidhu Moose Wala, is using the gaming business to invest black money and has delegated various operational responsibilities to close associates. A businessman based in Dubai is running the app under Bishnoi's instructions, while Goldy Brar and Rohit Godara handle its promotion. Bishnoi is currently imprisoned in Sabarmati jail in Gujarat, and his younger brother Anmol is managing gang-related matters abroad.
18-Sep-2024
According to reports, Punjab's heroin crisis is worsening, driven by the increasing use of drones for smuggling, often with support from Pakistani state actors. Independent analyst Antariksh Singh highlighted the scale and sophistication of these operations, with drones now playing a major role in narcotics drops near the International Border. Despite efforts such as forming Village Defence Committees (VDCs) and deploying a Drone Emergency Response System (DERS), the crisis persists, with smugglers using encrypted communication and hawala transactions to evade authorities. Singh emphasized that until security agencies target the middlemen, the heroin epidemic will continue to devastate Punjab.
18-Sep-2024
The Ludhiana police on September 18 busted a gang of robbers, arresting seven of its members and seizing 68 mobile phones, one toy pistol, two motorcycles, two sharp weapons, and five baseball bats from their possession in Ludhiana district. The arrests followed a police complaint by Manpreet Singh, who reported being attacked and robbed by a group of around 15 youths armed with sharp weapons. The police are actively working to identify and apprehend the remaining gang members.
18-Sep-2024
Punjab Police on September 18 arrested one person, identified as Jagroop Singh, and seized 5 kg of heroin, two phones, and his motorcycle from his possession in Vaniye Ke village, Ajnala, in Amritsar district. Acting on a tip-off, police teams apprehended Jagroop, who was allegedly en route to deliver the drugs.
18-Sep-2024
Punjab Police on September 18 recovered 5 kg of heroin and a hexacopter from fields near Manjh village in Ajnala, Amritsar district.