KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
09-May-2025
Mohali Police on May 9 arrested two persons, identified as Manpreet Singh alias Mannu and Jaspreet Singh, and seized 44.16 grams of heroin, INR 4,300 in drug proceeds and a digital weighing scale from their possession, in Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district.
09-May-2025
Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, while speaking to the media, dismissed India’s claims of a Pakistani attack on Amritsar as 'propaganda.' He claimed that 'two crore Sikhs stand with Pakistan,' vowed to raise the Khalistan flag in Delhi, pledged support for Pakistan, and issued threats of violence against India.
09-May-2025
On May 9, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) dispatched teams from Amritsar to Poonch to safely relocate the sacred saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib after a gurdwara was struck during Pakistan’s retaliatory shelling. SGPC officials also visited injured Sikh civilians admitted to a hospital in Amritsar, offering support and aid.
09-May-2025
On May 9, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, while addressing the media in New Delhi, denounced Pakistan’s denial of cross-border attacks as 'blatantly farcical' and part of a deliberate disinformation campaign aimed at communalising India’s counter-terror operations. He confirmed that a gurdwara in Poonch was hit by Pakistani shelling, resulting in the deaths of local Sikh civilians. Misri also condemned Pakistan for targeting Christ School and a Christian convent in Poonch, which led to further civilian casualties and damage to religious infrastructure. Defending India’s strike on Bahawalpur, he described it as a legitimate operation against Jaish-e-Mohammed, the group linked to the murder of journalist Daniel Pearl.
09-May-2025
On May 9, amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) initiated the relocation of the sacred saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib from gurdwaras in border areas such as Dera Baba Nanak and Galarhi to safer locations in Punjab. Additionally, gurdwaras in border districts have been instructed to offer shelter and langar to displaced residents.
09-May-2025
On May 9, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht and Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, led a special ardas at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Sri Anandpur Sahib, Rupnagar district, for sarbat da bhalla amid rising India-Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack. He urged both governments to pursue dialogue, warning that war brings only devastation, especially to communities in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir.
09-May-2025
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Chandigarh Kanwardeep Kaur, speaking in Chandigarh on May 9, urged the public not to trust rumours circulating on social media amid rising India-Pakistan tensions following Operation Sindoor. She advised residents to rely on official social media channels for accurate information, emphasising that the situation in the city remained normal with all markets open. Kaur also assured that contingency reserves and quick reaction teams were on standby, and vital installations were secured with police deployment.
09-May-2025
On May 9, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann announced the approval of a INR 51.4 crore budget for the purchase and installation of anti-drone systems to strengthen border security, following an emergency cabinet meeting in Chandigarh. The technology is intended to prevent drone take-offs and neutralise those entering the state, supporting the Border Security Force's efforts against drug and weapon smuggling. Mann urged the public to remain calm and ignore rumours, reaffirming Punjab’s commitment to national security.
09-May-2025
On May 9, three people—including a woman—identified as Lakhwinder Singh, Monu Singh, and Sukhwinder Kaur, were injured in Khai Pheme Ke village, Ferozepur district, Punjab, following a swarm drone attack launched by Pakistan. A drone intercepted by the Army's air defence system crashed into a house, triggering an explosion due to a CNG car parked outside. The blast caused the house to catch fire.
09-May-2025
On May 9, residents of the Khasa area in Amritsar district, about 16 km from the International Border, reported seeing multiple drones being neutralised mid-air by the air defence system. Explosions were heard around 5 a.m., with local resident Rajinder Singh describing red streaks in the sky followed by bursts and blasts. The district administration advised residents to stay indoors, while officials declined to comment. Similar explosions were also reported in the nearby Chheharta area.
08-May-2025
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force of Punjab Police on May 8 neutralised a drug trafficker, identified as Raju, and seized two kg of heroin, INR 15 lakh drug money and one pistol from his possession, after a brief encounter in Jagraon in Ludhiana district. His accomplice managed to flee the scene.
08-May-2025
Pro-Khalistan and 'SFJ Zindabad' slogans were found painted on an Indian Railways wall near Dashmesh Public School in Faridkot district on May 8. The graffiti, allegedly the work of supporters of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), prompted swift police action. A case was registered under Sections 196 (using evidence known to be false), 197 (issuing or signing false certificates), and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with Section 3 of the Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1985. Police have intensified surveillance, and a forensic analysis of the graffiti is underway.
08-May-2025
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, while addressing the press in New Delhi on May 8, stated that Pakistan had repeatedly violated the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) by creating deliberate legal obstacles. He emphasized that India had shown considerable restraint by adhering to the treaty for 65 years despite such provocations. Misri noted that India had issued multiple notices over the past two and a half years seeking discussions to modify the treaty. He cited demographic shifts, climate change, and terrorism as key factors undermining India’s treaty rights. India has now placed the treaty in abeyance, demanding that Pakistan irrevocably cease support for cross-border terrorism.
08-May-2025
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, while addressing the press in New Delhi on May 8, stated that Pakistan had deliberately targeted the Sikh community in Jammu and Kashmir by attacking a gurdwara in Poonch and killing 16 civilians, including women and children. Misri described the Pahalgam terror attack as the 'original escalation' and emphasized that India’s response was precise, controlled, and non-escalatory. He reiterated that India’s intent is not to escalate tensions but to respond proportionately to acts of terror.
08-May-2025
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on May 8 accused the Union and Haryana governments of attempting to 'steal' Punjab’s waters through the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and stated that Punjab is fighting twin battles—against Pakistan on its borders and Delhi over water rights—while staging a sit-in at Nangal in Rupnagar district. Mann held the sit-in to protest the alleged diversion of water to Haryana by the BBMB, calling it a 'nefarious design,' and vowed to challenge the High Court’s decision in the Supreme Court.
08-May-2025
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on May 8 accused the Union and Haryana governments of attempting to 'steal' Punjab’s waters through the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and stated that Punjab is fighting twin battles—against Pakistan on its borders and Delhi over water rights—while staging a sit-in at Nangal in Rupnagar district. Mann held the sit-in to protest the alleged diversion of water to Haryana by the BBMB, calling it a 'nefarious design,' and vowed to challenge the High Court’s decision in the Supreme Court.
08-May-2025
The Amritsar Counter Intelligence (CI) unit on May 8 arrested two operatives of foreign-based smuggler Jassa, identified as Gurpinder Singh and Sajan, and seized 10 kg of heroin along with INR 1 lakh in drug money from their possession in Amritsar district.
08-May-2025
Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) and Police on May 8 arrested a key associate of foreign-based gangster Rajesh Kumar alias Sonu Khatri, identified as Harjinder Singh and seized two .32 bore and one .30 bore along with 14 carriages from his possession, in Kharar in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district.
08-May-2025
On May 8, missile debris was found in agricultural fields across three villages—Jethuwal, Makhanwindi, and Pandher—with fragments even scattered inside homes in Jethuwal in Amritsar district. No casualties or property damage were reported. Authorities confirmed that the debris belonged to missiles launched by Pakistan in an attempt to target military installations in northern and western India. Security forces, including the Army and the Indian Air Force, secured the area and advised residents to stay away from the debris.
08-May-2025
On May 8, in response to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, blackouts were ordered in several border districts, including Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Jalandhar, and Hoshiarpur in Punjab, as well as in border areas of Rajasthan and Jammu in Jammu and Kashmir. The Chandigarh Administration also imposed a blackout following air raid sirens, affecting nearby areas such as Zirakpur, Mohali, and Panchkula. In Gurdaspur, the blackout is enforced from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily, with exemptions for central jails and hospitals, where windows must remain closed during these hours. Authorities have urged residents to keep their lights off and stay indoors, while emphasizing that there is no need for panic.