KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
27-May-2025
An unidentified suspected terrorist died in an explosion near the Majitha Road area of Amritsar district, Punjab, on May 27. Police stated that the blast occurred while he was attempting to retrieve explosive material and linked the deceased to the banned Khalistani terrorist outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). Forensic teams have collected samples from the site as investigations continue.
27-May-2025
Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Member of Parliament (MP) from Amritsar, on May 27 criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government over the deteriorating law and order situation. Citing three consecutive incidents—a councillor’s murder, the killing of a money exchanger, and a grenade blast—Aujla questioned the effectiveness of Punjab’s intelligence agencies.
27-May-2025
Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president Shwait Malik, on May 27, condemned the worsening security situation in Punjab and demanded a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), along with a public statement from Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann, following the grenade blast near Majitha Road in Amritsar district.
27-May-2025
On May 27, an extortion attempt linked to gangster Goldy Brar’s gang resurfaced when unidentified assailants opened fire outside businessman Raju Kathodiya’s residence in Jawahar Nagar, Sri Ganganagar district, Rajasthan. The incident followed earlier threats demanding INR 4 crore, allegedly made in Brar’s name. Police recovered empty cartridges and bullet marks at the scene and are reviewing CCTV footage. The firing is believed to be part of a wider extortion campaign targeting wealthy individuals in Rajasthan’s border districts.
26-May-2025
Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Rekha Gupta and Cabinet Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, on May 26 distributed government job appointment letters to family members of the 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims, in New Delhi. A total of 19 individuals received appointment letters during the ceremony, with 125 riot-affected persons expected to be offered jobs in total.
26-May-2025
On May 26, the officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh, met with the parallel officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht appointed by the Sarbat Khalsa Bhai Dhian Singh Mand, in Ferozepur in Ferozepur district. The meeting stirred speculation in Panthic and political circles, and was interpreted by many as a political overture amid reports that Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is seeking to re-engage hardline Sikh factions to regain relevance. The meeting is seen as a strategic move to prevent Mand’s alignment with Waris Punjab De (WPD).
26-May-2025
On May 26, a consultative Committee of Parliament on External Affairs chaired by External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar, several Members of Parliament (MPs) raised the issue of over two lakh lives lost to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Punjab. MPs argued that cross-border drug trafficking should also be treated as an "act of war" and urged greater support for affected border districts. Dr Jaishankar hinted at a forthcoming outcome following India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) after the Pahalgam terror attack, possibly benefiting Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh (HP).
26-May-2025
Counter Intelligence (CI) Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur Police with the support of Gujarat Police on May 26 arrested a close associate of foreign-based terrorist Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dala and Jindi Mehandipuria, identified as Lavish from Usmanpura area in Ahmedabad in Gujarat. According to the Police, Lavish was acting on direct instructions from Arsh Dalla and was involved in extortion and gunfire intimidation. He was also planning a major crime in Punjab.
26-May-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police on May 26 recovered one packet of heroin weighing 550.18 grams, from fields near Mehdipur village in Tarn Taran district.
26-May-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), on May 26 recovered one drone from fields near Machhiwara village in Ferozepur district. The drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
26-May-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), on May 26 recovered two packets of heroin weighing 957 grams from fields near Tibbi village in Amritsar district.
26-May-2025
The Counter Intelligence (CI) wing of Amritsar Police on May 26 arrested three operatives of Canada-based drug smuggler Sonu, identified as Ajaypal Singh, Hardeep Singh and Milap Singh, and seized 2.5 kg of heroin and INR 42 lakh drug money along with a motorcycle and a car from their possession, in Amritsar in Amritsar district.
26-May-2025
On May 26, Punjab Police, on day 86 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 104 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 142 drug smugglers, recovered 4.4 kg of heroin and INR 57.4 lakhs of drug money from their possession across Punjab.
26-May-2025
On May 26, Amritsar Commissionerate Police dismantled an organised crime network linked to the foreign-based Kishan gang and arrested four operatives, identified as Jobanjit Singh alias Joban, Amit, Gurpreet Singh, Gopi Singh, in Amritsar in Amritsar district in Punjab. Amit and Gurpreet were arrested from a hotel in Amritsar city, while Gopi, who opened fire on police, was injured and arrested near Fatehpur in Amritsar district, and Joban was arrested from Dhunda village in Tarn Taran. The arrests came within eight hours of the murder of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) councillor Harjinder Singh in Amritsar.
25-May-2025
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on May 25 appealed to the public to actively join the fight against drugs and corruption, calling it a crucial battle for the future of Punjab’s youth, while speaking at a function organised by the Aggarwal Sabha in Patiala district. He emphasised that the government’s anti-drug campaign “Yudh Nashian Virudh” requires collective responsibility and public cooperation to succeed.
25-May-2025
A Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) councillor, Harjinder Singh Bahman, was shot dead by three unidentified masked assailants in Chheharta area in Amritsar in Amritsar district on May 25. The family alleged prior threats and earlier attacks on his residence had been ignored by authorities. The incident sparked political outrage, with SAD leaders blaming the Punjab government for negligence and demanding accountability.
25-May-2025
On May 25, Punjab Police, on day 85 of their “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 104 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 158 drug smugglers and recovered 10.1 kg of heroin, 1.3 kg of opium and INR 19040 drug money from their possession, across Punjab.
25-May-2025
The Jalandhar Commissionerate police on May 25 arrested an individual, identified as Barinder Singh alias Babbu, and seized 1 kg of heroin along with two illegal .32 bore weapons, six live cartridges and three luxury vehicles and INR 22,000 drug money from his possession, in Jalandhar in Jalandhar district.
25-May-2025
The Jalandhar Commissionerate police on May 25 recovered an additional 7 kg of heroin, following the interrogation of Shivam Sodhi, who was arrested on May 21 with 5.5 kg of heroin, in Jalandhar in Jalandhar district.
25-May-2025
Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar, on May 25, revealed that he spoke to his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand and described the call as productive. The interaction marks the first high-level diplomatic engagement since Canada’s new Prime Minister (PM) Mark Carney took office. The conversation has raised hopes of a thaw in bilateral ties, which soured after the 2023 killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Reports suggest both nations may restore their High Commissioners by June 2025.