KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
12-Mar-2025
Punjab Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state president Aman Arora on March 12 stated that as part of the ongoing campaign against drugs, the Punjab government had registered 1,163 First Information Reports (FIRs) under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act since March 1, leading to the arrest of 1,615 alleged drug peddlers and the seizure of 1,115 kilograms of narcotics, seven lakh pills and capsules, and approximately INR 60 lakh in drug money across Punjab, while addressing the media in Chandigarh.
11-Mar-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police on March 11, recovered a 523-gram packet of heroin from fields near Wan village in Patti in Tarn Taran district.
11-Mar-2025
Police on March 11 arrested two individuals, Neeraj Kumar alias Bobby and his wife Komal Ghahi, and seized 6 grams of heroin from their possession in Sherpur Bet village in Ludhiana district. The raid turned violent when Neeraj attacked Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Sukhwinder Singh, biting his arm and striking him with a metal spring. Neeraj’s father, Kulwant Kumar, attempted to obstruct the police and locked them inside the house before fleeing. While Neeraj and Komal were arrested, a manhunt has been launched to apprehend Kulwant.
11-Mar-2025
Punjab Police on March 11 raided 580 locations across the state, arresting 110 drug smugglers and seizing 2.8 kg of heroin, 500 grams of opium, 10,904 intoxicant tablets/pills/injections, and INR 2.88 lakh in drug money. A total of 68 First Information Reports (FIRs) were also registered.
11-Mar-2025
Punjab Police on March 11 demolished a building owned by drug smuggler Budh Singh Budha in Udham Singh Wala in Sangrur district.
11-Mar-2025
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on March 11 stated that the conviction rate in drug cases had risen to 86% in the past three years, underscoring the government’s commitment to eradicating drugs while addressing a press conference in Chandigarh. He revealed that under the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign, police have registered 1,072 First Information Reports (FIRs) and arrested 1,485 drug peddlers in 11 days, seizing 76 kg of heroin, 50 kg of opium, INR 50 lakh in cash, around seven lakh drug tablets, 4.5 kg of drug powder, and 950 kg of poppy husk, along with other synthetic drugs, from smugglers across Punjab.
11-Mar-2025
Acting Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, while speaking in Agwan village in Gurdaspur district on March 11, advocated for the release of jailed radical Khalistani preacher and Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, along with other Sikh prisoners, including Jagtar Singh Hawara and Balwant Singh Rajoana. He also criticized the government for imprisoning Sikh youth instead of addressing the long-pending demand for their release.
11-Mar-2025
Giani Raghbir Singh, who was recently sacked as Akal Takht Jathedar by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), criticized the ‘hasty’ installation of Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj as Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib and Acting Jathedar of Akal Takht in Amritsar on March 11, calling it a violation of maryada. He pointed out the absence of traditional ceremonies, including the formal announcement and ceremonial turban presentation.
11-Mar-2025
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mohali, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district, on March 11 sentenced six terrorists linked to the proscribed Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF)—identified as Akashdeep Singh, Balwant Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Balbir Singh, Maan Singh, and Gurudev Singh—to life imprisonment for smuggling explosives and arms via drones in Punjab for a planned terror attack in 2019. Three other convicts, identified as Shubhdeep Singh, Sajanpreet Singh, and Romandeep Singh, were sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for their roles in the same case. The NIA investigation revealed that they coordinated with Germany-based Gurmeet Singh alias Bagga and Pakistan-based Ranjeet Singh alias Neeta to transport weapons into Tarn Taran district, Punjab.
11-Mar-2025
Damdami Taksal leader Harnam Singh Dhuma on March 11 intensified his criticism of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and announced a major Panthic gathering at Anandpur Sahib in Rupnagar district during Hola Mohalla on March 14 to oppose the SGPC’s recent decision to replace the jathedars.
10-Mar-2025
Police on March 10 arrested Tejinder Singh, a drug peddler associated with the Bambiha gang, after a brief encounter, seizing a cache of narcotic tablets and an unlicensed firearm from his possession, in Rajpura in Patiala district.
10-Mar-2025
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee’s (SGPC) removal of two Takht jathedars has triggered outrage within the Sikh community. On March 7, the SGPC dismissed Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh and Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Sultan Singh, citing inefficiency in addressing Sikh concerns. Many view this move as a ‘black day’ in contemporary Sikh history, further eroding the SGPC’s credibility. Growing calls demand separating the Akal Takht from the SGPC and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to restore its independent authority.
10-Mar-2025
The Delhi High Court on March 10 admitted an appeal by the Delhi Police challenging a 2022 trial court order acquitting an individual in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. The case pertains to the murder of Sher Singh in Mangolpuri, where Babu Lal and Shiv Shankar were accused. While the lower court acquitted Babu Lal due to a lack of witness identification, the High Court found grounds for an appeal. The move follows Supreme Court scrutiny over delays in riot-related cases, urging expedited appeals against past acquittals.
10-Mar-2025
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) installed Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj as the Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib at 2:45 am on March 10, seven hours ahead of schedule, amid threats from Nihang outfits and a boycott by Sikh organisations in Anandpur Sahib, Rupnagar district, Punjab. Later that afternoon, he assumed additional charge as acting Jathedar of Akal Takht in Amritsar without any ceremony—a historic first. The installation sparked controversy over alleged violations of Sikh Maryada, with critics questioning the absence of key rituals and opposition from several Sikh groups.
10-Mar-2025
Pro-Khalistani slogans were found on a wall in Jhumba village, Bathinda district, on March 10, a day before President Droupadi Murmu’s scheduled visit. The banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) claimed responsibility, with its leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun releasing a video calling the President an 'Indian terrorist' and urging university protests. Bathinda police have registered a case and assured swift action. Murmu is set to attend convocation ceremonies in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh from March 10 to 12.
10-Mar-2025
Punjab Police arrested international drug trafficker Shehnaz Singh alias Shawn in Ludhiana, Ludhiana district on March 10. Wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Shawn was allegedly smuggling cocaine from Colombia to the United States (US) and Canada under the guise of a trucking business. He was linked to a massive drug bust in the US on February 26, 2025, involving 391 kg of methamphetamine and 109 kg of cocaine.
10-Mar-2025
Amritsar Police dismantled a drug cartel on March 10, arresting four smugglers—Tarsem Singh alias Sema, Amrit Singh alias Abhi, Ramanjit Singh alias Raman, and a juvenile— and seizing 4.01 kg of heroin, INR 20,000 in drug money, and three motorcycles, in Chheharta, Amritsar district. he accused were linked to Pakistan-based smugglers using the Ferozepur sector for cross-border drug trafficking. The juvenile played a key role, using boats to retrieve drug consignments near the International Border (IB).
10-Mar-2025
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state president Aman Arora, while addressing a press conference in Chandigarh on March 10, claimed significant progress in the state government’s 10-day-old anti-drug campaign, Yudh Nashian Virudh. He stated that Punjab Police had registered 988 First Information Reports (FIRs) under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, arrested 1,360 drug traffickers, and seized 1,035 kg of heroin, opium, and synthetic drugs, along with 6.81 lakh drug pills and INR 36 lakh in drug money across the state. Arora highlighted the demolition of 24 drug traffickers’ properties and warned smugglers to either quit or leave Punjab. A Cabinet Committee has been formed to oversee the campaign, with efforts also focused on rehabilitation.
10-Mar-2025
Police arrested a woman, identified as Paramjit Kaur, and seized 80 grams of heroin from her possession in Abohar, Fazilka district, on March 10.
10-Mar-2025
Police on March 10 arrested two individuals, identified as Rohit Kumar Rinki and Sonu and seized 40 grams of heroin from their possession, in Abohar in Fazilka district.