KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
03-May-2025
Police on May 3 arrested a key member of the notorious Gopi Lahoria gang, identified as Sumit, and seized an illegal weapon and several live rounds from his possession, in Bagge Kalan village in Ludhiana district.
03-May-2025
The Mohali district court in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar on May 3 issued a production warrant against Jagtar Singh Hawara, a key member of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), for failing to appear in a scheduled hearing related to a 2005 case registered at Kharar police station. The court directed that he be produced via video conferencing on May 8 and warned against further delays. Hawara, currently serving a life sentence for the 1995 assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, is lodged in Mandoli Jail, Delhi.
03-May-2025
Pro-Khalistan slogans were allegedly raised at a rally organised by the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) [SAD(A)] near the cantonment area in Amritsar district on May 3. The party had planned a protest near the International Border but was reportedly denied permission. SAD(A) president Simranjit Singh Mann criticised the Central Government over the Pahalgam terror attack and demanded the opening of border points like Hussainiwala for trade with Pakistan.
02-May-2025
Maharashtra Sikh Association (MSA) on May strongly condemned Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun's remarks and reaffirmed the Sikh community's unwavering commitment to India's unity and democratic values. In response to Pannun's claim that Sikhs in the Indian Army side with Pakistan, the MSA labeled the statement as misleading and divisive. The association emphasized that Sikhs across India, including Maharashtra, stand firmly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and reject all separatist propaganda.
02-May-2025
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on May 2 revealed that in a four-month-long operation, they arrested fifteen unidentified individuals and seized drugs worth INR 547 crore, including over 1.42 crore tablets of Tramadol and Alprazolam, 2.9 kg of Tramadol powder, and more than 9 lakh bottles of Codeine-based cough syrup across Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi. The crackdown uncovered a vast drug diversion racket involving dummy medical setups, fake stockists, and rogue pharmaceutical firms. Specific recoveries included 11,693 bottles of Codeine-based cough syrup and 2.9 kg of Tramadol powder from J R Pharmaceuticals in Haridwar, Uttarakhand; 19.25 lakh tablets from Embit Bio Medix in Himachal Pradesh; and 1.17 crore tablets from Aashi Pharmaceuticals in Delhi.
02-May-2025
The Khanna police on May 2 revealed that they arrested 11 persons, including two women identified as Vanshika Thakur and Tanu, and seized 10 grams of heroin, a country-made .32 bore pistol with a magazine, a black Fortuner (registration no. HP-24E-2355), a Swift car, and INR 2 lakh in drug money from their possession, in Ludhiana in Ludhiana district. The investigation began on April 25, when Jagpreet Singh, Gursewak Singh, Jagrup Singh and Jass Singh were arrested with 10 gm of heroin near Hedon village in Samrala tehsil in Ludhiana district in Punjab, and based on their confession, the police arrested the remaining accused involved in the wider drug trafficking network.
02-May-2025
As Punjab’s anti-drug campaign ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ (War Against Drugs) enters its second phase, the focus has shifted to modernising de-addiction centres and strengthening rehabilitation infrastructure. The state government plans to expand bed capacity, recruit 343 counsellors, and integrate yoga, skill training, and tele-therapy into treatment protocols. Deputy Commissioners (DCs) have been made directly accountable for service quality, while police continue their crackdown on drug trafficking networks. However, persistent staffing shortages and security challenges remain significant obstacles to progress.
02-May-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on May 2 recovered a packet of heroin weighing 580 grams from fields near Mahawa village in Amritsar district.
01-May-2025
Mohali police on May 1 arrested two individuals, identified as Rohit Kumar and Ravinder Singh, and seized 20 grams of heroin and two vehicles from their possession in Mubarikpur village, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. The arrests were made following a complaint received through the anti-drug helpline
01-May-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on May 1 recovered a packet of heroin weighing 575 grams from agricultural fields near Gatti Rajoke village in Ferozepur district.
01-May-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Counter Intelligence (CI) Jalalabad, on May 1 recovered a packet of heroin weighing 568 grams from agricultural fields near Dhani Foola Singh village in Fazilka district.
01-May-2025
The Gharinda police on May 1 arrested a woman drug peddler, identified as Ranjit Kaur alias Rano, and seized 465 grams of heroin from her possession in Rajatal village, Amritsar district.
01-May-2025
The Amritsar police on May 1 recovered 5 kg of heroin and a cash-counting machine from a hideout of absconding cross-border drug and arms smuggler Jodhbir Singh alias Jodha, located at Varindavan Garden Apartments in the Fatehgarh Churian area of Amritsar district. Jodha, an associate of Abhishek Kumar—who was earlier arrested with seven pistols smuggled from Pakistan and ₹1.5 lakh in cash—was reportedly acting on instructions from Australia-based handler Jassa and his associates linked to Pakistan-based smugglers. According to the police, Jodha was also involved in channeling drug money to Pakistan through hawala networks.
01-May-2025
Police on May 1 arrested a key member of the Landa gang, identified as Sumit, and seized a .32 bore pistol along with several live cartridges from his possession in Sahibana village, Ludhiana district. The arrest followed an encounter in which Sumit was critically injured. He is wanted in connection with the April 20 firing incident targeting the house of gangster Puneet Bains.
01-May-2025
On May 1, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted searches at 17 locations across Gurdaspur, Batala, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Tarn Taran, Amritsar, and Faridkot districts in Punjab in connection with a terror conspiracy case linked to gangster Happy Passia and Pakistan-based Khalistani terrorist Harwinder Singh alias Rinda. The agency seized several incriminating materials, including mobile phones, digital devices, and documents.
01-May-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police on May 1 recovered a drone from fields near Shahur Kalan village in Gurdaspur district. The recovered drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
01-May-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), on May 1 recovered a drone from fields near Bhaini Rajputana village in Amritsar district. The recovered drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
01-May-2025
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a designated Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), on May 1 released a provocative video message urging Sikh soldiers in the Indian Army to refrain from participating in any potential conflict between India and Pakistan. Pannun further claimed that Punjabis would serve langar to Pakistani soldiers and described Pakistan as a 'friendly state,' asserting that it would become a neighbour once Punjab is 'liberated'.
01-May-2025
Following the closure of the Attari-Wagah checkpost after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, the Kartarpur Corridor remains the only functional land route between India and Pakistan. However, pilgrim footfall has dropped sharply—by nearly half—amid heightened tensions and security concerns. Despite this, the corridor providing access to Sri Darbar Sahib, the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, continues to operate under the bilateral agreement renewed in 2024.
01-May-2025
On May 1, officiating Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj attended the foundation day event of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) (SAD-A) in Amritsar, where he called for unity among all Akali factions under the spiritual and temporal authority of the Akal Takht.