KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
27-Apr-2026
Two unidentified youths hurled a grenade at a shop owned by BJP leader Ashok Sharma in the Islamabad area of Gurdaspur district on April 27, but it failed to detonate as the pin was not removed. Sharma’s son, Atal Sharma, also a BJP leader, who was present at the shop at the time, escaped unhurt. “The grenade could have caused immense damage had it detonated. People living in the crowded area and nearby shopkeepers had a providential escape,” a senior police officer said.
27-Apr-2026
A drone was discovered inside the premises of Trident Group’s Dhaula village plant on Mansa Road in Barnala district on April 27. It was spotted around 5:30 am in the paper manufacturing division after workers noticed an unidentified object falling from the sky, which was later confirmed to be a drone.
27-Apr-2026
On April 27, the 97th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 486 raids, arrested 240 persons and recovered six weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 56 individuals, while 51 persons were verified and released after questioning. Six proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
27-Apr-2026
On April 27, Punjab Police, on day 422 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 132 drug smugglers, and seized 4.1 kg of heroin, 23 kg of poppy husk, 704 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 38000 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
27-Apr-2026
Bhindi Saida police station SHO (Station House Officer) Shashpal Singh was arrested for alleged procedural lapses in handling a major drug seizure near the India–Pakistan border in Amritsar district. Amritsar (Rural) Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sohail Qasim Mir said a drone carrying suspected heroin and ammunition crashed in Bhagtupura Bet village and was seized by the SHO. However, the SHO failed to record the seizure or file an FIR, and a preliminary inquiry confirmed negligence by him and his gunman.
27-Apr-2026
Waris Punjab De on April 27 alleged that Sikh inmates were being harassed and their religious sentiments disrespected in Punjab’s prisons, urging immediate action from the state government and the Director General of Police (Prisons). In the statement, Tarsem Singh, father of Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, described reports of mistreatment in jails across the state as serious and disturbing, raising concerns over the treatment of Sikh prisoners.
27-Apr-2026
According to reports, Sikh hardline and separatist organisations have announced a series of events in India and abroad to mark the 40th anniversary of Khalistan Declaration. Programmes are scheduled in Amritsar and in cities across Europe and North America, including Brussels, Belgium; the United Kingdom (UK); the United States (US); and Canada. In Punjab, groups led by Dal Khalsa, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Panch Pardani Jatha and Jathedar Hawara Committee have announced that an 'ardas' will be held at Sri Akal Takht Sahib on April 29. Leaders said a policy document outlining the future course of the Sikh sovereignty movement will also be released outside Takht Secretariat the same day. According to organisers, members of the Sikh diaspora will hold parallel programmes in Brussels and the US on April 29, followed by events in Canada on May 2 and the UK on May 3.
27-Apr-2026
Police on April 27 arrested a man, identified as Hardeep Singh alias Deep, for allegedly vandalising gurdwara property and hurting religious sentiments in Nakodar, Jalandhar district. The complainant alleged that the accused damaged glass panes at Gurdwara Sri Phlai Sahib and used abusive language at the site, thereby hurting the religious sentiments of the local community.
27-Apr-2026
A man, identified as Jagroop Singh, was found dead near the site of a low-intensity blast on a railway track near Bothonia village between Shambu and Rajpura in Patiala district around 10 pm on April 27. His body, torn into pieces, was recovered from the spot. Investigators recovered wires, explosive material, two motorcycles, and a damaged mobile phone from the scene. A senior official said the evidence suggests he may have died while attempting to plant the device, adding that the probe is at an early stage. Authorities suspect the involvement of more than two individuals, with forensic and bomb squads deployed for further investigation.
27-Apr-2026
Two persons, identified as Kashmir Singh and Jugraj Singh, were shot dead while another person was injured after unidentified assailants opened fire at them in Bhoma village in Batala, Gurdaspur district on April 27. According to police, preliminary investigations revealed that the attackers fired indiscriminately at the three youths while they were walking through the village. Two died on the spot, while the third victim, Jugraj Singh sustained serious bullet injuries.
26-Apr-2026
On April 26, the 96th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 557 raids, arrested 291 persons and recovered five weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 93 individuals, while 76 persons were verified and released after questioning. Eight proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
26-Apr-2026
On April 26, Punjab Police, on day 421 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 95 drug smugglers, and seized 6.8 kg of heroin and 306 intoxicant tablets/capsules from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
25-Apr-2026
According to official sources, intelligence agencies have issued a fresh alert about attempts by the banned outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) to revive the Khalistan movement in Punjab through a revised strategy focused on rural radicalisation and low-intensity urban attacks. Officials note that several such plots have been foiled in recent years, forcing the group to recalibrate its approach. Earlier efforts to recruit and radicalise youth in urban areas reportedly met limited success due to increased public awareness and tighter security monitoring. As a result, BKI is now shifting its recruitment focus to rural regions, where misinformation is perceived to spread more easily. The group is believed to be targeting unemployed and less-educated youth considered more vulnerable to propaganda, while planning low-intensity attacks in urban centres, including Chandigarh.
25-Apr-2026
Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, accused in the Ajnala police station violence case, has been remanded to five-day judicial custody after his two-day police remand ended on April 24. He was taken into custody following the lapse of his detention under the National Security Act (NSA). Singh appeared before the Ajnala Sub-Divisional Court via video conference from Dibrugarh. As the police did not seek an extension of remand, the court ordered judicial custody. He will be sent back to Dibrugarh Central Jail and is scheduled to appear again on April 30.
25-Apr-2026
Former Deputy Chief Minister and Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has reportedly received a threat message from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang after opposing the release of the documentary “Lawrence of Punjab.” The message warned that the documentary “will be released at any cost” and told those named to “prepare their shrouds,” adding that the group would no longer seek money and would instead resort to violence using bullets and bombs. Randhawa, who had called for a ban on the series, said he has informed Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav about the threat. Similar WhatsApp messages were also reportedly sent to several prominent figures, including Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia, and Balkaur Singh, among others.
25-Apr-2026
On April 25, the 95th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 577 raids, arrested 309 persons and recovered seven weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 64 individuals, while 79 persons were verified and released after questioning. Five proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
25-Apr-2026
On April 25, Punjab Police, on day 420 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 96 drug smugglers, and seized 6.2 kg of heroin and 415 intoxicant tablets/capsules from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
25-Apr-2026
The Amritsar Rural Police on April 25 arrested four alleged members of an extortion gang—Ram Singh alias Roman, Harpreet Singh alias Happy, Satnam Singh, and Sikander Singh— and seized two .30 bore pistols, four live cartridges, and motorcycles used in the crime, in Amritsar district. The accused are reportedly linked to the notorious Happy Jatt gang, whose members face multiple cases of murder, attempted murder, and extortion. The arrests followed a complaint by Surinder Kumar, a property dealer from Jyotisar Colony in Jandiala Guru, Amritsar district, who reported that on the night of April 19, two unidentified youths on motorcycles opened fire at his residence, discharging around a dozen rounds. No injuries were reported, though several bullets hit the gate and boundary wall.
25-Apr-2026
Punjab Police on April 25 arrested an associate of gangster Arzoo Bishnoi and recovered a .32 bore pistol along with three live cartridges from an undisclosed location in Punjab. The arrested individual, whose identity has not been revealed, is wanted in a murder case in Rajasthan and carries a bounty. Arzoo Bishnoi is linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which has been involved in targeted assassinations and the elimination of rival gang members.
24-Apr-2026
Police on April 24 arrested a man, identified as Bahadur Singh and seized 5.101 kg of heroin from his possession in the border village of Gaggobua in Tarn Taran district. Preliminary investigations suggest he had links with cross-border smugglers and was involved in supplying heroin to various parts of the state.