KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
11-May-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) in a joint operation with the Punjab Police on May 11 recovered a packet containing 2.7 kg of explosives suspected to be RDX, two detonators, an IED circuit, two hand grenades with accessories, two pistols with four magazines and 30 live rounds, from fields near Sheikh Bhatti village in Ajnala in Amritsar district. The consignment is believed to have been dropped by a Pakistani drone.
11-May-2025
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on May 11 arrested key Khalistani operative Kashmir Singh Galwaddi, the last fugitive from the 2016 Nabha jailbreak, in Motihari district, Bihar. Galwaddi is linked to banned Khalistani outfits Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), and foreign-based terrorist Harwinder Singh Sandhu. He had been on the run in Pakistan, providing logistical support and terror funding to Khalistani terrorists.
11-May-2025
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee President Harmeet Singh Kalka on May 11 rejected Pakistan’s propaganda alleging that Indian forces attacked gurdwaras in India, stating that although Pakistan claims to be a friend of Sikhs, it remains the enemy of both the nation and Punjab.
11-May-2025
On May 11, nine members were co-opted into the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) during a meeting chaired by Justice (Retd) H.S. Bhalla, the Commissioner for Gurdwara Elections, in Panchkula. The new members represent various statutory categories, including Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, Sikh women, Registered Singh Sabhas, and general Sikh tenets. The oath-taking ceremony for the full 49-member committee, including the 40 elected members, is scheduled for May 13 at the PWD Guest House in Panchkula.
11-May-2025
On May 11, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht, welcomed the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, reiterating his firm belief that war must be avoided. He praised national and international leaders for their role in securing peace and highlighted the Sikh community's legacy of defending the nation and resisting oppression. Emphasising the devastating impact of war, he called for dialogue to resolve conflicts and supported public demands to open the borders for trade to boost regional development and agriculture in Punjab.
11-May-2025
On May 11, a day after the India-Pakistan ceasefire announcement, the Golden Temple in Amritsar witnessed a surge in footfall as thousands of devotees gathered to offer prayers. However, full normalcy is yet to return, with noticeably fewer out-of-state pilgrims and foreign tourists.
11-May-2025
On May 11, following the India-Pakistan ceasefire, Pakistan reopened the Kartarpur Corridor for Sikh devotees, while India has yet to reciprocate—keeping the Zero Line Gate at Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district closed.
11-May-2025
Sources in Indian intelligence agencies revealed that several senior Pakistani military and civil officials attended the funerals of top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists killed in India’s Operation Sindoor airstrikes on May 7. Among those killed was LeT commander Mudassar Khadian Khas alias Abu Jundal, whose funeral reportedly included wreaths from Pakistan Army Chief Gen Asim Munir and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, and was attended by key military and civil officials. Intelligence sources said the high-profile presence underscores Pakistan's institutional support for terror networks.
11-May-2025
On May 11, Border Security Force (BSF) troops, in a joint search operation with Punjab Police recovered one packet of heroin weighing 559 grams from a farming field near Rajatal village in Amritsar district.
11-May-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on May 11 recovered a drone from a field near Gola Dola village in Gurdaspur district. The recovered drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
10-May-2025
The Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check Unit on May 10 debunked several false claims circulating on social media, including fabricated allegations of an Indian drone attack on the Nankana Sahib gurdwara in Pakistan. The unit clarified that the video was doctored and aimed at inciting communal tensions. It also dismissed as fake reports of an Indian pilot captured in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), a cyberattack on India’s power grid, flight disruptions on the Mumbai-Delhi route, and explosions near airports in Srinagar and Jaipur. A viral video of young men crying was confirmed to be from a private defence coaching institute, not the Indian Army. Citizens were urged to rely solely on official sources for verified information.
10-May-2025
On May 10, Sikhs staged a protest outside Hall Gate in Amritsar, burning the effigy of Pakistan’s Army Chief Asif Munir and the Pakistani flag. Member of Parliament (MP) Gurjeet Singh Aujla joined the protest, condemning Pakistan’s false propaganda and defending the Sikh community’s role in safeguarding India. He highlighted Sikhs’ historical sacrifices, emphasising their commitment to India’s sovereignty despite past attacks. Aujla underscored India’s secularism and accused Pakistan of supporting terrorism, while asserting that India has never targeted Pakistan with terrorism.
10-May-2025
On May 10, Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj visited villages near the Attari border, including Pakka Dhanoa and Attari, in Amritsar district, Punjab to assess the situation of local residents amid rising tensions. He reviewed the relocation of sacred saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to secure locations and expressed satisfaction with the arrangements. Giani Gargaj prayed for peace in South Asia, urged continued prayers for collective well-being, and promoted Sikh values, encouraging youth to preserve their distinct identity and stay away from drugs.
10-May-2025
Police on May 10 arrested two drug peddlers, identified as Manjindar Singh alias Mani and Sandeep Singh alias Billa and seized 230 intoxicating tablets from their possession, in Nakodar in Jalandhar district.
10-May-2025
Police on May 10 arrested a drug peddler, identified as Kuldeep Kumar alias Sarpanc alias Katta, and seized with158 intoxicating tablets from their possession, in Kang Khurd village in Jalandhar district.
10-May-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police on May 10, recovered a drone, a pistol and a magazine from the agricultural fields near Ganeshe Wale Jhugge village in Ferozepur district.
10-May-2025
On May 10, a suspected drone crashed near Sikri village and missile debris was found near Dhoot Khurd in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district, triggering panic among residents. Villagers reported loud explosions around 5 am, prompting swift action by local police and Army teams. Explosives were recovered and safely defused at the crash site, while missile-like components were seized and are being examined by security officials. The Army has taken possession of the debris for further investigation.
09-May-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), on May 9 recovered a packet of heroin weighing 673 grams from field near Khemkaran in Tarn Taran district.
09-May-2025
The Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, on May 9 approved expanding the Farishtey scheme to include war and terror-affected victims. This ensures immediate, hassle-free medical treatment for these victims at government and empanelled private hospitals. The government aims to reduce mortality and morbidity from such injuries and has introduced cash rewards, commendations, and legal immunity to incentivise public assistance.
09-May-2025
The Punjab government on May 9 approved an INR 51.41 crore proposal to procure anti-drone systems for deployment along the state’s 532-km border with Pakistan, during an emergency meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Chandigarh. The move aims to counter drone attacks targeting Indian military facilities. Other decisions included promoting maize cultivation under the diversification plan, installing V-Kavach jammers in high-security jails, and transferring 135 acres of land for industrial development.