KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
17-Mar-2025
The Moga police on March 17 arrested an operative of Bambiha gang, identified as Aman Kumar alias Amna and seized one .32 bore country-made pistol from his possession, near Ramuwala Kalan village in Moga district. Kumar, who had a criminal history of robbery and extortion, had recently fired shots at a Panchayat member’s house. When confronted by the Police, he opened fire but was injured in the leg during the encounter and later taken to Civil Hospital in Moga town, for treatment.
17-Mar-2025
On March 17, Gursiddak alias Siddique, a suspect in the Thakur Dwara temple grenade attack, was killed, and a policeman was injured in an exchange of fire on Airport Road in Amritsar, Punjab. His accomplice, Vishal alias Chui, managed to escape. The encounter occurred when police attempted to stop the suspects, who opened fire while fleeing. Efforts are underway to apprehend Vishal and investigate the broader network behind the attack.
17-Mar-2025
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary Tarun Chugh on March 17, demanded an investigation by a central agency into the series of grenade blasts in Punjab, alleging that a “grenade brigade” had emerged under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, worsening law and order in Punjab.
17-Mar-2025
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, in his meeting with New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon in New Delhi on March 17, raised concerns about "anti-India activities," referring to the Khalistan "referendum" held in Auckland on November 17, 2023. While PM Modi sought cooperation against separatist elements, PM Luxon stated that the Khalistan movement had not violated New Zealand laws and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to free speech. Both leaders also discussed strengthening bilateral ties, including trade negotiations and sports collaboration for the 2036 Olympics.
16-Mar-2025
Amritsar rural police on March 16 busted a narco-terror racket and arrested two hawala operators identified as Sukhjit Singh and Ranbir Singh, and seized INR 17.6 lakh and USD 4,000 (INR 3.47 lakh), along with a laptop containing crucial transaction records, from their possession in Chheherta Sahib in Amritsar district. The arrests followed the interrogation of two drug smugglers identified as Gursahib Singh and Jaswant Singh, who were caught with 561 grams of heroin on March 14 near Hardo Ratan village in Amritsar district. Preliminary investigations revealed the accused were facilitating illegal transactions linked to drug trafficking.
16-Mar-2025
Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema on March 16 while addressing the media in Chandigarh stated that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's anti-drug campaign is yielding significant results, with 1,572 First Information Reports (FIR) registered and 2,364 drug peddlers arrested, leading to the seizure of 90 kg of heroin, 51 kg of opium, 1,128 kg of poppy husk and 13 kg of ganja. And cash amounting to INR 63 lakh, from the possession of the smugglers, across Punjab. He also highlighted the demolition of properties linked to 33 drug traffickers as a strong deterrent.
16-Mar-2025
India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval held bilateral talks with United States (US) Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in New Delhi on March 16. They discussed strengthening intelligence sharing and security cooperation in line with the India-US global strategic partnership. The closed-door discussions focused on intelligence-sharing and countering anti-India elements.
16-Mar-2025
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police (Border Range Amritsar) Satinder Singh on March 16 revealed that the Punjab Police will bring back seven associates of radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, identified as Basant Singh, Bhagwant Singh Bajekhana, Gurmeet Singh Bukkanwal, Daljit Singh Kalsi, Gurinderpal Singh Guri Aujla, Harjit Singh, and Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal, from Dibrugarh jail in Assam to Punjab, as the state government has decided not to extend their detention under the National Security Act (NSA). They will face legal proceedings in the 2023 Ajnala police station attack case. Police stated that the investigation in the case is progressing, and formal arrests will be made upon their return to Punjab.
16-Mar-2025
Amritsar City Police on March 16 rearrested three accomplices of the recently arrested Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) module members—Gurbax Singh, Joban Singh, and Mandeep Singh, alias Bhola—from Amritsar Central Jail in Amritsar district. Their names emerged during the interrogation of Karandeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, and Sajan Singh, who were arrested on March 15 in Bihar while attempting to flee to Nepal. Police revealed that Bhola was the mastermind behind the gang’s cross-border smuggling activities over the past two years.
16-Mar-2025
The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) recently expressed displeasure over the Punjab government's inaction in providing information sought by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for an inquiry into illegal drug sales. The court stated that the state's failure was obstructing the court-mandated investigation and harming public interest. The inquiry was initiated following the HC's directive for coordinated action by the CBI, NCB, and police forces of Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh. The court ordered the Punjab government to submit the requested data, originally sought on December 26, 2024, within 10 days.
16-Mar-2025
The Amritsar district administration on March 16 announced that 715 panchayats have unanimously declared their refusal to support individuals involved in drug smuggling, theft, or other criminal activities. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sakshi Sawhney stated that panchayats have been urged to cooperate with the police and district administration in combating the drug menace. Various blocks, including Ajnala, Attari, Chogawan, and Majitha, have passed resolutions reinforcing their commitment to a drug-free Punjab. The administration has also introduced free treatment for drug addicts in rehabilitation centers and plans to construct large-scale sports stadiums in villages to engage youth in constructive activities.
16-Mar-2025
On March 16, a grenade was hurled at YouTuber Navdeep Sandhu’s house in Raipur Rasoolpur village, Jalandhar district. Pakistan-based gangster Shehzad Bhatti claimed responsibility for the attack, alleging it was in response to Sandhu’s content. The Jalandhar Rural Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Bhatti, stating the incident was linked to a rivalry between YouTubers. No explosion occurred, and the object hurled has been sent for forensic examination. Authorities are investigating the possible involvement of gangsters Zeeshan Akhtar and Happy Passia in the incident.
16-Mar-2025
Punjab Police on March 16 conducted raids at 424 locations across the state as part of the “Yudh Nashian Virudh” drive, resulting in the arrest of 63 drug smugglers, registration of 45 First Information Reports (FIRs), and seized 385 grams of heroin, 19 kg of poppy husk, 2,673 intoxicating pills and injections, besides INR 15,600 drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers, across Punjab.
16-Mar-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) and the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC, in a joint operation on March 16 recovered 10 packets of heroin weighing 5.73 kg from near Natha Singh Wala village in Jalalabad West in Fazilka district.
16-Mar-2025
Ludhiana Crime Branch on March 16 arrested two criminals, after an exchange of fire, identified as Gagandeep Singh alias Gaggu and Mandeep Kumar alias Mithu, and seized an illegal pistol along with live cartridges, a scooter and two mobile phones from their possession in Ludhiana in Ludhiana district. The duo, who had multiple cases related to drug smuggling and snatchings registered against them, attempted to flee when stopped at a naka and fired at the police. In retaliation, the police fired back, injuring them in the legs. They were taken to the Civil Hospital for treatment.
15-Mar-2025
On March 15, two bike-borne assailants hurled a hand grenade at the Thakur Dwara temple in the Khandwala area of Amritsar district. CCTV footage revealed that the attackers arrived on a motorcycle adorned with flags and threw the explosive towards the first floor of the temple complex. This incident marks the 13th grenade blast in Punjab over the past four months, with previous attacks primarily targeting police establishments. Police confirmed that forensic teams have collected samples, and efforts are underway to apprehend the culprits.
15-Mar-2025
According to the police, the grenade attack at a temple in Amritsar on March 15 marks the 13th such incident in Punjab since November 2024, with previous cases revealing the involvement of Pakistan-based elements targeting police installations. So far, eight terror modules have been busted—three linked to Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF), four to Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), and one ISI-backed module operated by foreign-based handlers. The police have arrested 20 individuals, including one juvenile, and recovered arms, grenades, and explosives. Officials suspect that the latest attack was intended to disturb communal harmony in the state.
15-Mar-2025
The Amritsar Commissionerate Police on March 15 busted a narco-terror module of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and arrested three operatives, identified as Karandeep Yadav alias Karan Bhaiya, Mukesh Kumar, and Sajan Singh, and seized three mobile phones and 700 Nepali currency notes from their possession, in Madehpur in Mahbubani district in Bihar. The accused, allegedly working under the directions of Pakistan-based BKI terrorist Harvinder Singh alias Rinda, were attempting to flee to Nepal. Their roles surfaced during the investigation into the March 11 arrest of two other operatives, Joban Singh alias Joban and Gurbaksh Singh alias Lala, who were caught with 290 grams of heroin in Amritsar, Punjab.
15-Mar-2025
The acting jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, on March 15 directed the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to convene a meeting of Sikh scholars to analyze the Centre's New Education Policy and propose necessary reforms specific to the panth (Sikh community) and Punjab, in Sri Anandpur Sahib in Rupnagar district. Expressing concerns over threats to Gurmukhi and Punjabi, he called for serious efforts to preserve them. Emphasizing panthic unity, he announced the launch of a religious awareness campaign on Vaisakhi under the banner of Akal Takht, beginning from the homes of economically disadvantaged Sikhs.
15-Mar-2025
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab president Aman Arora, while addressing the media in Chandigarh on March 15, announced that as part of the ongoing campaign against drugs, 1,488 cases were registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in the last 15 days. This led to the arrest of 2,049 individuals involved in drug peddling and smuggling, along with the seizure of 1,270 kg of various narcotics, 7.16 lakh intoxicant capsules and tablets, and INR 63 lakh in drug money from the arrested smugglers. He also stated that the police demolished 28 drug-related illegal properties built using drug money, sending a strong message to those profiting from the drug trade.