KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
29-Aug-2024
Fazilka police on August 29 arrested a person, identified as Gurpreet Singh alias Gogi and seized 530 grams of heroin, three live cartridges, and three mobile phones from his possession in Jalalabad, Fazilka district. His accomplice, identified as Sukhwinder Singh, managed to flee.
29-Aug-2024
The Jalandhar Police Commissionerate on August 29 arrested four smugglers, identified as Sunny Vehmi, Honey Kalyan, Money Sabharwal, and Neeraj and seized 250 grams of heroin from their possession near Dass Pura in Jalandhar district.
29-Aug-2024
The Tarn Taran police, in a joint operation with central agencies, on August 29, arrested two operatives, Harpreet Singh alias Happy and Lovepreet Singh, busting a Pakistan-backed arms smuggling module and seizing four sophisticated Glock-19 pistols (including one marked 'Made for NATO army'), four magazines, seven live cartridges, INR 4.8 lakhs in hawala money, and a Maruti Swift car from their possession near Sheron village in Tarn Taran district.
29-Aug-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on August 29 lodged a protest with Pakistan after a poster of Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was put up at the Wagah border, visible from the Indian side. BSF Inspector General Dr. Atul Fulzele stated that they objected to the poster's provocative political nature and requested its removal from the ceremonial area, but Pakistan has yet to comply.
29-Aug-2024
The Punjab Police on August 29 informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the renewed detention of Khalistani radical preacher and jailed Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh was based on new grounds and strictly in accordance with the law. The Police stated that Amritpal's detention in Dibrugarh, Assam, was due to the sensitivity of the case and denied that it was a response to his vocal criticism. The affidavit emphasized that Amritpal's activities posed a threat to state security and public order.
29-Aug-2024
Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) chief and former Member of Parliament (MP) Simranjit Singh Mann on August 29 made derogatory remarks about Kangana Ranaut, referencing 'rape' in response to her comments on the farmers' protest. When asked about Ranaut's claim that bodies were hanging and rapes were occurring during the protests, Mann mockingly suggested that if such incidents had occurred, Ranaut herself should have been the victim. Mann faced backlash for trivializing the crime against women, with political figures and women's commissions condemning his statement as disrespectful and shameful.
29-Aug-2024
According to reports, the Indian government issued a formal notice dated August 29 to the Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), extending its ban for five more years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The registered letter was sent from India’s High Commission in Ottawa and was received at SFJ’s office in Toronto, Canada. SFJ has 30 days to respond. Following the receipt of the notice, SFJ’s chief, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, wrote to Canada’s Minister of Public Safety, Dominic LeBlanc, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, urging them to 'appropriately respond to India’s extraterritorial move against a Canadian organization and its interference in Canada’s internal affairs.
28-Aug-2024
The Amritsar rural police on August 28 arrested a person identified as Angrej Singh and seized 507 grams of heroin from his possession in Bhindi Saida village, Ajnala, Amritsar district. Angrej was involved in cross-border drug peddling, utilizing methods such as drones. He had previously been convicted in 2018 for smuggling 3 kg of heroin and a pistol but was out on bail. He is also suspected of involvement in another drug case from earlier this year. Following his arrest, he was remanded for further interrogation.
28-Aug-2024
Gharinda police on August 28 arrested an individual, identified as Manpreet Singh and seized 155 grams of ICE (methamphetamine) and INR 29,000 in drug money from his possession in Kiralgarh village, Amritsar district. During interrogation, Manpreet revealed that he had bought the drugs from Sonu of Naraingarh, who is currently being pursued by the police.
28-Aug-2024
Khalra police on August 28 arrested a drug peddler with cross-border contacts, identified as Kuljit Singh, and seized 255 grams of heroin from his possession in Khalra village, Patti, Tarn Taran district. The police discovered that he had smuggled the consignment across the border using contacts made via his mobile phone.
28-Aug-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on August 28 held its first-ever discussion on organized crime with police officials from Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi at the Delhi Police Headquarters in New Delhi. The focus was on gangsters' connections with pro-Khalistan elements (PKEs), Pakistan-based terrorists, and drug smuggling networks. Presentations were made on extortion calls, cyberspace usage by criminals, and key arrests by each state. Collaborative action plans and best practices to combat organized crime were also discussed.
28-Aug-2024
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Singh Mann on August 28 inaugurated the office of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) and launched an anti-drug helpline and WhatsApp chatbot in Sector 79, Mohali, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. He announced that the unit has been renamed from Special Task Force (STF) to ANTF, with its manpower being doubled and INR 12 crore allocated for its modernization. Additionally, a new headquarters will be established in Mohali, with INR 10 crore sanctioned for the state's Enforcement-De-Addiction-Prevention strategy.
28-Aug-2024
Police on August 28 arrested a gangster identified as James and seized two illegal .32 bore weapons and 10 cartridges from his possession at a checkpoint near Tarkhanmajra village in Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib district. The police stated that James had been involved in multiple extortion cases in Fatehgarh Sahib and Ludhiana.
28-Aug-2024
Police on August 28 arrested three members of an interstate smuggling gang, identified as Rajnesh, Satvir, and Dharambir, and seized 5 kg of opium from their possession in Fatehgarh Sahib in Fatehgarh Sahib district. The police stated that the smugglers were linked to Jharkhand-based operations, which involved shipping contraband into Punjab via couriers.
28-Aug-2024
Police on August 28 arrested two drug smugglers, identified as Soma Singh and Amarjit Singh, and seized 300 grams of heroin from their possession in Fatehgarh Sahib in Fatehgarh Sahib district. The police stated that further investigation based on their interrogation will help trace their forward and backward links.
27-Aug-2024
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on August 27 issued a legal notice to the makers of the film Emergency for allegedly misrepresenting Sikhs and promoting anti-Sikh sentiments. Additionally, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking a ban on the film's release, accusing it of portraying erroneous historical facts and fostering hatred towards Sikhs. The SGPC also demanded a written apology and the removal of objectionable scenes from the movie.
27-Aug-2024
Police officials Additional Inspector General (AIG) G.S. Chauhan, AIG Harvinder Virk, and Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Bikramjit Singh Brar, in an interview with The Tribune’s Deputy Editor Jupinderjit Singh, disclosed that while there are no active gangsters operating within Punjab, these criminal elements are coordinating their activities from abroad instead.
27-Aug-2024
Tarsem Singh, father of radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, on August 27 sent a letter urging Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh to take 'exemplary' action against Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal. In the letter, Singh highlighted alleged 'anti-Panthic' actions and mistakes made during the SAD regime, including the 2015 sacrilege cases and other controversial decisions. Singh has called for Sukhbir to be removed from SAD leadership and banned from any political or religious platforms.
26-Aug-2024
A group of former leaders of the All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) on August 26 sent a letter urging Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh to withdraw his instructions to install Parmjit Panjwar’s portrait at the Central Sikh Museum in Amritsar. They argued that displaying Panjwar, a designated terrorist and chief of the Khalistani terror outfit Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), would promote violence within the Sikh community, citing his role in fratricidal bloodshed and orchestrating the killings of Panthic leaders. The letter requested that the Jathedar reconsider his directive.
26-Aug-2024
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi, Kangana Ranaut, on August 26 received death threats over her portrayal of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the upcoming film Emergency and sought police assistance. A viral video on social media shows individuals threatening violence against Kangana if the film depicts Sikhs as terrorists. In the video, one person can be heard saying, “History cannot be changed. If they portray Sikhs as terrorists in the film, remember what happened to the person making the movie. Remember who Satwant Singh and Beant Singh were. Those who challenge us face consequences. If we can cut off heads, we can also behead.”
26-Aug-2024
Leaders of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC), dissatisfied with the government's formation of a new ad hoc panel, have begun organizing meetings to unite the community and plan a major agitation in Kurukshetra, Haryana. The previous committee's tenure ended in May, and community leaders have been demanding elections. Despite the government's nomination of a new 41-member ad hoc HSGMC on August 14, the new members have not yet been administered the oath of office. Leaders are calling for the Haryana Governor to disband the new committee and are planning protests if elections are not declared by November 1.
26-Aug-2024
A delegation of Sikh leaders met Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh on August 26 to request a review of his directive to install a portrait of slain Khalistani militant Parmjit Singh Panjwar in the Central Sikh Museum in Amritsar, Punjab. While they supported the portraits of Khalistani terrorists Hardeep Singh Nijjar and Gajinder Singh, they opposed Panjwar's inclusion, citing his controversial role in the assassination of Sikh leaders and his involvement in the boycott of the 1992 Punjab assembly elections, which led to significant violence. The issue has divided Sikh hardliners.
26-Aug-2024
The upcoming film Emergency, starring Kangana Ranaut as former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, has sparked controversy. Faridkot Member of Parliament (MP) Sarabjit Singh Khalsa, son of Beant Singh (one of the two bodyguards who assassinated PM Gandhi), and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) have objected to its portrayal of Sikhs. Concerns have been raised that the film could fuel hatred towards the Sikh community and misrepresent their sacrifices during the Emergency.
26-Aug-2024
According to reports, pro-Khalistani protests in recent months in countries like the United States (US), Canada, and the United Kingdom (UK) have dwindled, with many Sikhs in these nations growing increasingly weary of such actions. Demonstrations that once attracted large crowds now see minimal turnout, sometimes as few as 20-30 activists. Clashes between pro-Khalistani and pro-India groups have erupted, such as in Mississauga and Surrey in Canada, prompting police intervention. The declining participation suggests that pro-Khalistani strategies are losing effectiveness and alienating support rather than rallying it.
26-Aug-2024
The Jalandhar Police Commissionerate on August 26 busted an interstate drug peddling racket, arresting two peddlers identified as Captain Singh and Mann Singh and seized 10.5 kg of opium and INR 4 lakh in drug money from their possession at Dakoha Fatak in Jalandhar district. Captain Singh had been arrested on July 23 with 3.5 kg of opium, and based on information provided by him during interrogation, Mann Singh was arrested on August 26 on the Jalandhar-Panipat highway with an additional 7 kg of opium. Both men were involved in transporting opium from Jharkhand to Jalandhar and have been remanded in police custody for five days.
26-Aug-2024
Police on August 26 arrested two individuals, identified as Kaushal Lalla and Sunny Kumar, and seized 45 grams of heroin from their possession near Indira Nagari in Abohar, Fazilka district.
26-Aug-2024
A City-1 police team on August 26 arrested an individual, identified as Nishan Singh and seized 52.79 grams of heroin and a bike from his possession near Seed Farm Colony in Abohar in Fazilka district.
26-Aug-2024
Khuian Sarwar Police on August 26 arrested one person, identified as Balwinder Singh and seized 1.2 kg of opium from his possession, near Telupura village in Fazilka district.
26-Aug-2024
During a weapons recovery operation on August 26, two shooters involved in the case of Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Sukhchain Singh, identified as Sukhwinder and Gurkirat Singh, opened fire on the police near Vallah Canal in Amritsar, Punjab. They were injured in the leg when the police returned fire and were subsequently arrested. According to the police, the case involves the murder of NRI Sukhchain Singh, orchestrated by his ex-brother-in-law, Sukhwinder Singh, who is based in the United States. This act was reportedly done to avenge his sister’s death, who had died by suicide in 2022. So far, eight individuals, including Sukhwinder Singh, Gurkirat Singh, US-based Sukhwinder Singh, Sarvan Singh, Jagjit Singh, Chamkaur Singh, Digambar Atri, and Abhilaksh Bhaskar, have been arrested in connection with the case.
25-Aug-2024
Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu on August 25 flagged off the first-of-its-kind '5 Takht' special pilgrim train, to five holy Sikh shrines from Sri Hazur Sahib in Nanded in Maharashtra.
25-Aug-2024
According to sources, the Border Security Force (BSF) has requested an additional battalion to address the increasing threat of cross-border drones transporting drugs and ammunition along the India-Pakistan Punjab border. Currently, 18 out of 20 battalions are actively deployed, with drone activity being particularly prevalent in Amritsar and Tarn Taran. Enhanced security measures, including culverts and a mounted unit of women troops, are being implemented. Additionally, local cooperation has facilitated the recovery of over 120 drones this year (2024).
25-Aug-2024
Union Minister for Home Affairs (UMHA) Amit Shah emphasized on August 25 that narcotics pose a significant threat to national security, with drug profits fuelling terrorism and Naxalism, while virtually inaugurating the regional office of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Shah also highlighted the need for scientific investigations and a bottom-up approach to combat the illegal narcotics trade. He called for coordinated efforts to dismantle drug networks and urged officials to use legal powers to seize drug traffickers' properties without hesitation.
25-Aug-2024
The Crime Investigation Agency II (CIA) of Ludhiana Police Commissionerate, on August 25, following a tip-off, arrested an air-conditioner mechanic identified as Sooraj for drug peddling and seized 500 grams of heroin from his possession in Khasi Kalan village in Ludhiana East, Ludhiana district.
25-Aug-2024
On August 25, the second meeting between Punjab and Haryana police officials and the agitating farmer unions ended in a stalemate at the Shambhu border near Shambhu village in Patiala district, Punjab. Although the farmers expressed willingness to lift the six-month blockade, they stated that the Haryana Government's placement of boulders was obstructing movement. Both sides indicated they are open to further discussions, with the farmers maintaining that they have not blocked the highway and remain committed to resolving the issue.
25-Aug-2024
Ahead of Janmashtami celebrations on August 25, security was tightened across Malerkotla district in Punjab, with organizers urged to take preventive measures against mishaps and anti-social elements. Vigilance was increased at event venues, railway stations, bus stops, and markets, while anti-sabotage teams were deployed to enhance security. Combing operations were conducted under the supervision of senior police officials to monitor the situation.
24-Aug-2024
On August 24, Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Sukhchain Singh was shot at by two unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants who barged into his house in Daburji village, Amritsar district. A bullet pierced his head, narrowly missing his brain, while another struck his arm. Recently returned from the US to start a business, Sukhchain survived due to a malfunctioning pistol.
24-Aug-2024
More than 10 Sikh organisations, including Waris Punjab De (WPD), Kendri Sri Guru Singh Sabha Chandigarh and Panthic outfits from Doaba and Malwa on August 24 approached Akal Takht in Amritsar, demanding that jathedars, politicians, religious figures and organisations should not try to shield political leaders. They handed over a memorandum to Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh’s secretary, Sukhdev Singh, urging the restoration of the Panthic-political arrangement according to Sikh traditions.
24-Aug-2024
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami on August 24 urged Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar and Ambassador to Qatar Vipul to clarify the situation regarding the holy swaroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib confiscated by Doha Police in Qatar. Dhami claimed that while the MEA stated that one swaroop had been returned and efforts were ongoing for the other, the SGPC has information indicating that both swaroops are still under the confiscation of Doha Police. He called for complete transparency and a serious effort from the Indian government to resolve the issue and return the swaroops.
23-Aug-2024
The Jalandhar (Rural) police on August 23 arrested three drug peddlers, identified as Gurcharan Singh alias Raju, Balwinder Singh alias Mota, and Gurpreet Singh alias Guri, and seized 225 grams of heroin, INR 1 lakh in drug money, along with their car (PB10-GL-4080) at a checkpoint near Adda village in Jalandhar district.
23-Aug-2024
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on August 23 stated that India has raised concerns with Qatar regarding the confiscation of two holy swaroops of Guru Granth Sahib and is working to ensure their respectful return. One swaroop has been returned, while efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the second.
23-Aug-2024
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on August 23 called for strong measures to combat drone-assisted smuggling and narco-terrorism, noting that weapons and drugs from across the border are destroying an entire generation. Justice Jasjit Singh Bedi denied bail to an accused involved in multiple narcotics and arms cases, labelling the matter as narco-terrorism, and emphasized the need to address such offenses with an iron hand.
23-Aug-2024
Police on August 23 posted public notices to confiscate the properties of two drug traffickers identified as Vipan Batra and Sukhwinder Singh, located in Waryam Nagar and Patrewala village, respectively, in Abohar, Fazilka district. Batra's property, worth INR 25 lakh, in Waryam Nagar was attached, along with Singh's house and 14.5 marla of land in Patrewala village. According to the police, these assets were acquired through illegal drug sales.
23-Aug-2024
The Amritsar rural police on August 23 froze properties worth INR 37.72 crore belonging to drug smugglers Jatin Singh and Ajaypal Singh, located in Mode village and on Kale Ghanupur Road, respectively, in Amritsar district. Ajaypal Singh’s assets, valued at INR 37.66 crore, and Jatin Singh’s assets, worth INR 5.85 lakh, were targeted following their arrest in July 2024 with 500 grams of heroin and a .32 bore pistol.
23-Aug-2024
On August 23, the mastermind of the 2016 Nabha jailbreak, Ramanjit Singh alias Romi, was remanded in two weeks of judicial custody by a duty magistrate in Patiala in Patiala district. Romi was extradited from Hong Kong on August 22. His advocate confirmed that Romi has agreed to face trial without interrogation.
22-Aug-2024
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on August 22 facilitated the return of Ramanjit Singh, wanted for his involvement in the 2016 Nabha jailbreak, from Hong Kong. The Punjab Police had issued a Red Corner Notice (RCN) through Interpol, leading to his extradition after his location was traced in 2018. Singh was linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Khalistani terror outfit Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and was a key conspirator in the jailbreak that freed six notorious criminals, including terrorists.
22-Aug-2024
Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and Bathinda Member of Parliament (MP) Harsimrat Kaur Badal, on August 22, appealed to External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar via a letter to secure the release of two ‘swaroops’ of Sri Guru Granth Sahib seized by police in Qatar eight months ago. She urged Dr. Jaishankar to intervene, facilitate the establishment of gurdwaras in Qatar, and direct the Indian Embassy to address the concerns of Sikhs practicing their faith freely in the country.
22-Aug-2024
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on August 22 overturned the 2002 acquittal of a 56-year-old man in a 1999 case involving 70 bags of poppy husk. The court convicted the accused under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, sentencing him to life imprisonment and imposing a fine of INR 1 lakh. The court found that the accused had knowingly and voluntarily possessed a commercial quantity of poppy husk, justifying the stringent sentence under the NDPS Act.
22-Aug-2024
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on August 22 directed the Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, to instruct Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) to closely monitor drug-related investigations within their jurisdictions. The court also ordered the DGP to submit an affidavit detailing all Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act cases where accused individuals have remained unarrested for more than six months and whether they have been declared proclaimed offenders. This ruling followed revelations that 97 accused in 83 NDPS cases in Bathinda had not been arrested, prompting the court to demand stricter supervision and action against the unarrested individuals.
21-Aug-2024
The Akal Takht and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), on August 21 in Amritsar, demanded an immediate ban on Kangana Ranaut's film Emergency, accusing it of character assassination of Sikhs and misrepresentation of Sikh martyrs. SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami also called for the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Kangana Ranaut, the film's writer, director, producer, and lead actor. Giani Raghbir Singh, the Jathedar, condemned the film, accusing it of portraying Sikhs as separatists and disrespecting Sikh martyrs, including Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who is regarded by some as a martyr of the community.
21-Aug-2024
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on August 21 dismissed the bail plea of Bittu, a Ferozepur resident accused of narco-terrorism and illegal weapon trade involving drugs and weapons smuggled via drones from Pakistan. Justice Jasjit Singh Bedi emphasised the severe impact of such crimes on youth and noted Bittu's history of multiple offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) and Excise Acts, ruling that he poses a continuing threat.