KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
23-Jul-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on July 23 intercepted and neutralised a drone and recovered a packet containing a pistol and two magazines from fields near Attari village in Amritsar district.
22-Jul-2025
The officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj, during a meeting in Amritsar on July 22, directed all members of the Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD) to become Amritdhari (initiated Sikhs) by September 1 or face termination of their membership. Citing violations of Sikh maryada, he declared the requirement “non-negotiable” and warned that non-compliance would not be tolerated. Gargaj also announced that Panj Piaras would be sent to conduct Amrit Sanchar for those willing to undergo initiation. CKD members absent from the meeting have been summoned to appear at the Akal Takht secretariat on August 1.
22-Jul-2025
On July 22, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami accused the Punjab government of creating a confrontational atmosphere by announcing separate events to commemorate Guru Teg Bahadur’s martyrdom. Dhami asserted that only the SGPC is authorised to organise such Panthic commemorations, alleging political interference in Sikh religious affairs. Responding sharply, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann questioned the SGPC’s silence during the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) regime, while Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders accused the SGPC of functioning under SAD's influence. The row has reignited tensions over control of Sikh religious institutions.
22-Jul-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on July 22 recovered two packets of heroin weighing 1.130 kg along with two drones from fields near Dhanoe Kalan village in Amritsar district. The recovered drones were DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
22-Jul-2025
On July 22, Punjab Police, on day 143 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign registered 74 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 103 drug smugglers and seized 544 grams of heroin and INR 11,860 drug money from their possession, across Punjab.
22-Jul-2025
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on July 22 in Amritsar said that security agencies had secured the IP addresses linked to recent bomb threats targeting the Golden Temple and assured that the culprits would be arrested soon. He made the statement after meeting Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami. Mann assured that scientific verification was under way and urged pilgrims to remain calm, adding that Punjab Police were fully alert and capable of handling the situation.
22-Jul-2025
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, during a media briefing in New Delhi on July 22, stated that India had raised the issue of Khalistani extremists with its United Kingdom (UK) counterparts ahead of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s visit to London. Misri described the matter as a concern for both countries, noting that such extremist activities threaten social cohesion and public order. He also confirmed that India and the UK are actively discussing the extradition of fugitives wanted by Indian law enforcement agencies.
22-Jul-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) in a joint operation with Ferozepur police on July 22 recovered 391 grams of heroin hidden near a canal in Pojoke village in Ferozepur district.
22-Jul-2025
On July 22, a police operation to arrest drug peddler Sukhwinder Singh turned violent, leaving two police officers and three villagers injured, in Ghaaia village in Hoshiarpur district in Punjab. Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Sarabjit stated that village sarpanch Kuldeep Kaur, her husband and former sarpanch Bhupinder Singh, along with residents Niranjan Singh and Harwinder Singh, assaulted him, pulled off his turban, and attempted to snatch his service pistol. During the scuffle, four bullets were accidentally discharged, causing splinter injuries to three villagers.
22-Jul-2025
Police on July 22 arrested Charanjit Kaur, mother of inmate Harpreet Singh, and Veerpal Kaur, his wife, and seized 35 grams of heroin from their possession, in Faridkot in Faridkot district. The heroin was found concealed in clothes they brought for Harpreet during a visit to Faridkot Central Jail.
22-Jul-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) in a joint operation with Punjab Police on July 22 arrested two unidentified drug smugglers and seized digital weighing scale and two motorcycles from their possession, near Dona Mattar village in Ferozepur district.
22-Jul-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on July 22 recovered two packets of heroin weighing 525 grams and one drone from near Border Outpost (BOP) Kassoke in Ferozepur district. The recovered drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
22-Jul-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) in a joint operation with Fazilka police on July 22 recovered several packets of heroin weighing 571 grams and a drone from fields near Hazara Ram Singh Wala village in Fazilka district. The drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
22-Jul-2025
A man, identified as Yadvinder Singh, who worked as the driver for Jiwanjot Singh alias Jugnu—recently given a clean chit by police in the Sidhu Moose Wala murder case—was shot dead by three bike-borne assailants at Brahmanwala village in Faridkot on July 22. Police officials suspect it to be a case of mistaken identity. According to officials, the incident occurred after Jugnu attended a bhog ceremony in the village. After the event, Jugnu switched vehicles, leaving his SUV to be driven by Yadvinder. As the SUV left the gurdwara, three motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire on it.
21-Jul-2025
Police on July 21 arrested two individuals, identified as Viney Kumar alias Mithu and Major Singh, and seized 1 kg of heroin, 2 illegal pistols and two cartridges from their possession, near Kot Kalan village in Jalandhar district. Viney Kumar was apprehended first, and subsequent interrogation revealed Major Singh’s involvement in the case.
21-Jul-2025
Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on July 21 announced that under the ongoing anti-drugs campaign ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh,’ the ‘Safe Punjab’ WhatsApp Chatbot (9779100200) achieved a 30% tip conversion rate, resulting in 3,671 First Information Reports (FIRs) and 4,872 arrests, chairing a state-level Law & Order meeting at the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Police Academy (MRS-PPA) in Phillaur, Jalandhar district. Since March 1, 2025, Punjab Police have registered 14,281 FIRs, arrested 22,772 drug smugglers, and seized 940 kg of heroin, 337 kg of opium, 18 tonnes of poppy husk, 14 kg of charas, 325 kg of ganja, 6 kg of ICE, 3.3 kg of cocaine, 29.63 lakh intoxicant tablets, and INR 11.84 crore in drug money across the state.
21-Jul-2025
On July 21, Punjab Police, on day 142 of “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 66 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 82 drug smugglers and seized 2.9 kg of heroin and INR 21,530 drug money from their possession, across Punjab.
21-Jul-2025
On July 21, Amritsar’s Sri Guru Ram Dass Ji International Airport received a bomb threat via a phone call from an unidentified individual. Punjab Police and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) promptly secured the premises, deployed a bomb disposal squad, and intensified surveillance measures.
21-Jul-2025
According to sources, women are playing an increasingly central role in Punjab’s drug trade, with alarming data pointing to a surge in female involvement. In Gurdaspur Central Jail, 95 out of 106 women inmates face charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, while in Ludhiana jail, over 90 percent of the 270-odd female inmates are jailed on drug-related offences. Officials say women have moved from peripheral roles, like packaging drugs, to independently managing drug supply chains, often stepping in after intensified crackdowns under the “Yudh Nashian Virudh”” campaign sidelined male smugglers.
21-Jul-2025
The Mohali police arrested Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) operative Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi along with a weapon on July 21 following an encounter in Mohali, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. Gopi, wanted in an extortion case involving a demand of INR 2 crore from a realtor in Sector 82, opened fire on the police before being injured in retaliatory firing.