KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
24-Mar-2026
Bathinda police have recovered the stolen pistol of slain kabaddi promoter Kanwar Digvijay Singh alias Rana Balachauria, who was shot dead during a tournament in Sohana, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district, on December 15, 2025. The accused, Gurmel Singh alias Jassa, a resident of Hamirgarh village and currently living in Jandanwala village in Bathinda, was arrested in connection with a robbery case in which a youngster was allegedly robbed of his motorcycle and mobile phone at gunpoint on March 22 evening. His accomplice is yet to be identified and arrested.
24-Mar-2026
As Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh’s absence from Parliament reached 59 sittings, the Punjab and Haryana High Court was informed on March 24 that there was “no immediate threat” to his membership, as he could still apply for leave, which is ordinarily condoned by the competent parliamentary committee.
23-Mar-2026
The Counter Intelligence wing of Punjab Police on March 23 arrested two members of a narcotics smuggling module, identified as Maninder Singh and Gurjant Singh and seized 5 kg of heroin from them in Amritsar district. Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused were in contact with a Pakistan-based smuggler and a foreign-based handler, allegedly coordinating cross-border consignments. Officials suspect the module to be part of a larger international drug syndicate.
23-Mar-2026
An accused, identified as Harmandeep Singh alias Harman, was arrested for allegedly executing “TTH” graffiti at multiple locations in Talwara, Hoshiarpur, Punjab, while being in contact with Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti, from New Delhi on March 23. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Narra Chaitanya said Harman was in direct communication with Bhatti and his foreign associates via social media platforms. Police recovered incriminating chats, along with photos and videos related to the activities of the terror module, from his mobile phone. The officer added that the operation was part of broader surveillance on Pakistan-based handlers suspected of planning terror activities in India.
23-Mar-2026
Police on March 23 arrested a drug smuggler, identified as Prince Mehta and seized 100 grams of heroin, a .32 bore pistol, and two cartridges from his possession, near Ladhowal toll plaza in Ludhiana district.
23-Mar-2026
On March 23, the 62nd day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 447 raids, arrested 186 persons. Preventive action was taken against 52 individuals, while 74 persons were verified and released after questioning. Three proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
23-Mar-2026
On March 23, Punjab Police, on day 387 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 102 drug smugglers, and seized 6.2 kg of heroin, 10 kg of poppy husk, 2162 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 17,113 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
22-Mar-2026
Police on March 22 arrested three associates of the Goldy Brar gang, Jagdeep Kumar alias Deepu, Sunny Singh, and Chetan Gharu alias Chetu and seized a Glock 9 mm pistol, a magazine, and five live cartridges from their possession in Faridkot district. During interrogation, the accused revealed that the illegal weapon had been supplied to them for further distribution. Police have also nominated two more suspects and are probing backward and forward links to dismantle the entire network.
22-Mar-2026
A Sarpanch (village head) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, Dr Jaswinder Singh, and his servant were attacked by five unidentified assailants at his private clinic in Shahpur village, Amloh subdivision, Fatehgarh Sahib district, on March 22. The attackers, with their faces covered, barged into the clinic armed with kirpans and iron rods, assaulted both victims, and fled the spot, leaving them seriously injured.
22-Mar-2026
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police’s Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), in a joint operation on March 22, arrested three persons, Jagjit Singh alias Rana, Manpreet Singh alias Preet, and Roshan Singh and seized 24.5 kg of heroin, INR 21 lakh drug money, a multi-copter drone, and two vehicles, including an SUV, in Amritsar district. Preliminary investigations revealed their direct links with handlers based in Pakistan.
21-Mar-2026
Police on March 21 arrested two persons, Akashdeep Singh alias Mintu and Balraj Singh for allegedly spying for Pakistan in Sri Muktsar Sahib district. The accused are alleged to have leaked sensitive information related to the Army and cantonment areas to Pakistan-based handlers, including photographs and videos from the “SwaRaksha Mahotsav 2025” held in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
21-Mar-2026
The Counter Intelligence wing of Punjab Police, in coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF), on March 21 recovered 6.5 kg of heroin from agricultural fields near a border outpost at Mahatam Nagar village in Fazilka district.
21-Mar-2026
Police on March 21 arrested two persons, identified as Swarn Singh alias Kaka and Sukhdev Singh alias Sassi and seized 1.052 kg of heroin from their possession in Ferozepur district.
21-Mar-2026
Police on March 21 arrested a man, identified as Sukhdev Singh and recovered 2.72 kg of heroin from his possession in Ferozepur district.
21-Mar-2026
On March 21, police recovered 1.9 kg of heroin near Lanegana village in Ferozepur district.
21-Mar-2026
Punjab Police’s investigation into the murder of property dealer Charanpreet Singh Chinni—shot dead in broad daylight in Sector 9, Chandigarh on March 18—has revealed that the main accused, Rajan alias Piyush Pehalwan, was involved in multiple killings and extortion-related attacks across Punjab after returning from Malaysia. Pehalwan and another shooter, Pritam Shah, were arrested during a joint operation by the Punjab Police Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) and Haryana Police Special Task Force (STF), on March 19 in Kaithal, Haryana,
21-Mar-2026
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) on March 21 arrested two persons, identified as Jacky Kumar and Vikas Arora, and recovered two illegal country-made .32 bore pistols, magazines, and four live cartridges from them in Bathinda district.
21-Mar-2026
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on March 21 blamed opposition parties for fostering gangsterism in the state, alleging that some leaders may have had prior knowledge of certain criminal incidents. He claimed that gangster culture thrived under previous regimes due to political patronage, allowing criminals to operate with impunity. Mann also referred to the Nabha jailbreak, noting that Sukhbir Singh Badal commented on the incident within half an hour of it becoming public.
21-Mar-2026
Delhi Police on March 21 arrested a suspected sharpshooter and an alleged arms supplier linked to the Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu gang, recovering two country-made pistols and five live cartridges in two separate incidents. The main accused, Sumit Punia, a resident of Mahendergarh, Haryana, was arrested along with a country-made semi-automatic pistol and five live rounds, in Dwarka, Delhi. Based on his disclosure, police also arrested the alleged arms supplier, Badar Islam and recovered a country-made pistol from his possession, from Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh.
20-Mar-2026
On March 20, the 59th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 599 raids, arrested 225 persons. Preventive action was taken against 59 individuals and five proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.