KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
01-Apr-2025
The administration in Amritsar on April 1 demolished the property of a drug peddler, identified as Gurmeet Singh, in the Maqboolpura area of Amritsar district. The action was carried out as part of the Chief Minister’s 'Drug-Free Punjab' initiative. According to police, Gurmeet Singh is a notorious smuggler with three cases registered against him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and is currently lodged in jail.
01-Apr-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police, on April 1 recovered a packet of heroin weighing 492 grams from fields near Dhariwal village in Ajnala, Amritsar district.
01-Apr-2025
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on April 1 issued a strong warning against the growing gangster culture and its glorification in popular media, asserting that the judiciary must ensure those involved in criminal activities face the full force of the law. Justice Harpreet Singh Brar emphasized that such criminality would not be tolerated and that decisive legal action was essential to restore public confidence in the justice system.
31-Mar-2025
The banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) on March 31 claimed responsibility for defacing the protective glass around the statue of B. R. Ambedkar in Phillaur. In a video message, SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun referred to Ambedkar as a 'devil' and accused him of erasing Sikh identity through the Indian Constitution. Experts noted that SFJ appears to be targeting a new front: exploiting caste fault lines in Punjab. They also warn that such actions are part of a broader attempt to polarise the state along caste and religious lines.
31-Mar-2025
The banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) on March 31 defaced the protective glass around a statue of BR Ambedkar, spray-painting pro-Khalistan slogans, in Nangal village in Phillaur, Jalandhar district. Khalistani terrorist and SFJ chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun claimed responsibility, threatening to remove all Ambedkar statues in Punjab before April 14. Heavy security was deployed as Dalit organisations demanded swift police action, warning of further protests. Tensions gripped the region following the incident.
31-Mar-2025
State spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Prof. Sarchand Singh Khiala, has demanded the release of Sikh prisoner Prof. Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar before Khalsa Sajna Diwas in a letter addressed to Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Smt. Rekha Gupta. Bhullar, who has spent 29 years in jail, is currently undergoing treatment in Amritsar Central Jail. Khiala urged the Delhi government to implement the 2019 Central Government notification for his release, citing humanitarian and legal grounds. He emphasized that the issue of Sikh prisoners is both legally complex and emotionally significant for the Sikh community.
31-Mar-2025
According to senior National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials, the Khalistani terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) has been recruiting local youths to target security personnel in Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, and Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). The investigation revealed that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is working to forge an alliance between Khalistani terrorists, Jammu and Kashmir-based terror groups, and fundamentalist organisations. The NIA chargesheet, filed in a special court, highlighted BKI’s role in a September 2024 grenade attack in Chandigarh. Security forces in the affected states have been alerted to counter BKI’s growing subversive activities.
31-Mar-2025
Punjab Minister Aman Arora on March 31 revealed that under Punjab’s ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign, Punjab Police have so far arrested 4,592 individuals, registered 2,721 First Information Reports (FIRs) and seized nearly 2,400 kg of drugs, over 850,000 drug pills and INR 5.87 crore in cash from the possession of the smugglers, across Punjab.
31-Mar-2025
The Police on March 31 arrested one drug smuggler linked to Pakistan and United States (US) based drug syndicates, identified as Harshpreet Singh and seized 15 kg of heroin along with a white Activa scooter (PB 02 CJ 4165) in Sarai Amanat Khan in Tarn Taran district. The Police stated that the consignment was dropped using drones from Pakistan and was part of a larger network operated by US-based smuggler Gurnam Kallowal in coordination with Pakistan-based trafficker Pahalwan. Police are investigating further to trace the network’s backward and forward linkages.
31-Mar-2025
Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria in Chandigarh on March 31 announced a six-day ‘padyatra’ (foot march) in the Majha region starting April 3 to raise awareness against drug abuse. He stated that the march will commence from Dera Baba Nanak and conclude at Jallianwala Bagh on April 8, covering Gurdaspur and Amritsar. Kataria urged Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, cabinet ministers, MPs, MLAs, and political leaders to join the initiative, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to combat Punjab’s drug crisis.
31-Mar-2025
As part of the ongoing "Yudh Nashian Virudh" campaign, Punjab Police on March 31 arrested 48 drug smugglers, registered 35 First Information Reports (FIRs), recovered 16.7 kg of heroin along with INR 34,300 in drug money from the possession of the arrested smugglers, across Punjab.
31-Mar-2025
Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, while interacting with the media in Chandigarh on March 31, announced that the Centre has sanctioned 22 new anti-drone systems for installation along the India-Pakistan International Border (IB) in Punjab to curb the smuggling of weapons and drugs. These systems will complement the nine already in place, strengthening border security measures.
30-Mar-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of Punjab Police on March 30 arrested an unidentified smuggler, and seized a packet of heroin weighing 545 grams, near Kathu Nangal Toll Plaza near Kathu Nangal village in Amritsar district.
30-Mar-2025
Police on March 30 arrested a smuggler, identified as Aakash alias Chotu and seized 8 kg of heroin from his possession, near Mallanwala village in Ferozepur district.
30-Mar-2025
The Punjab Police on March 30 arrested two drug peddlers, identified as Hardeep Singh alias Deep and Harjeet Singh and seized 6 kg of heroin from their possession, in Thathi Sohal village in Tarn Taran district. The Police stated that the duo was in contact with Pakistan-based smugglers Billa and Shah, who had been sending drug consignments via drones across the border.
30-Mar-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police, recovered 535 grams of heroin from the premises of Government Senior Secondary School in Chak Wazida village in Jalalabad in Fazilka district.
30-Mar-2025
Tarsem Singh, father of radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, on March 30 stated that while Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) aims to elect its president on April 13 at Talwandi Sabo, the process may be delayed if district-level committees are not formed in the remaining six districts. He confirmed that preparations for the Baisakhi rally venue are underway. Singh also expressed hope that Amritpal Singh’s detention under the National Security Act (NSA), set to expire on April 22, would not be extended.
30-Mar-2025
Ferozepur police on March 30 arrested two individuals, identified as Sukhpreet Singh alias Captain and Baljinder Singh, and seized one .32 bore pistol with a magazine and three live rounds from their possession, in Ferozepur in Ferozepur district.
30-Mar-2025
Ferozepur police on March 30 arrested two individuals, identified as Lovejot Singh alias Kalu and Akashdeep Singh alias Aakash and seized a pistol and seven live rounds from their possession in Zira in Ferozepur district.
30-Mar-2025
Punjab Police on March 30 arrested 72 drug smugglers, registered 9 First Information Reports (FIRs) and recovered 8.8 kg of heroin, 500 kg of ganja and INR 99410 drug money from their possession, across Punjab.