KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
12-May-2024
Indian-American oncologist Dr. Bharat Barai, in an interview to PTI on May 12, criticized Western misinformation about Indian democracy during an election cycle, accusing some in the West of harbouring a colonial mentality. He also condemned Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau for not taking action against Khalistani separatists who support violence in India. Dr. Barai emphasized that the Khalistan issue is primarily confined to Canada and a small fraction of foreign-born Sikhs. He defended India's vibrant democracy and progress, dismissing Western criticisms as grounded in misinformation and false narratives.
12-May-2024
Dr. Dharamvira Gandhi, Congress candidate from Patiala in Punjab, is advocating for the legalization of opium cultivation in Punjab as a solution to the state's drug menace. Gandhi, a cardiologist, argues that regulated opium cultivation will increase farmers' income and combat the use of synthetic drugs like "chitta." He contends that banning drugs has led to the proliferation of more harmful substances like cocaine, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. He proposes regulated access to traditional intoxicants like opium and poppy husk as a safer alternative to synthetic drugs, emphasizing the failure of previous anti-drug campaigns.
12-May-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on May 12 recovered a packet containing 520 grams of heroin from fields near Hardo Rattan village in Amritsar district.
12-May-2024
Police on May 12 busted a drug racket and arrested 13 unidentified individuals, recovering drug money worth INR 84 lakh, luxury vehicles, and a truck in Jalandhar district. These arrests are connected to a case involving 48 kg of heroin. The arrested individuals were involved in various roles within the drug network, including suppliers, purchasers, and hawala operators.
12-May-2024
On May 12, Pro-Khalistan graffiti and slogans against Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi were discovered on the pillars of Karol Bagh and Jhandewalan Metro stations in New Delhi. The Delhi Police swiftly removed the graffiti and filed a First Information Report (FIR) regarding the incident, while also requesting CCTV footage from the metro stations. The slogans were attributed to supporters of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ).
12-May-2024
In the current Lok Sabha elections in Punjab, the focus has shifted from drug addiction to the menace of drug-dispensing drones reportedly originating from Pakistan. Political rhetoric, once centered around combating drug addiction, now emphasizes cross-border smuggling and the need for a robust government to address the issue. While Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) nominee Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal avoids drug-related statements, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Taranjit Singh Sandhu vows to curb smuggling with United States (US)-inspired medical treatments. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) nominee Anil Joshi highlights the AAP-led government's failure to uproot addiction despite promises. Data from the Border Security Force (BSF) underscores increased drone activity and heroin seizures, indicating evolving tactics by Pakistan-based operatives, marking a departure from previous elections where drug addiction was a prominent political issue.
12-May-2024
On May 12, international drug smuggler Gurpreet Singh alias Gopa, wanted in multiple cases, was shot dead near Wadala Chowk in Jalandhar in Jalandhar district, Punjab.
11-May-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on May 11 recovered one packet of heroin weighing 2.175 Kg from fields near Sankatara village in Tarn Taran district.
11-May-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on May 11 recovered one packet of heroin weighing 569 Kg from fields near TJ Singh village in Tarn Taran district.
11-May-2024
Reports indicate a surge in pro-Khalistani leaders' participation in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in Punjab, including Simranjit Singh Mann (Shiromani Akali Dal-Amritsar – SAD-A), Sandeep Singh, Sarabjit Singh Khalsa, and jailed Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh. This trend raises concerns about national security, given their advocacy for separatism, which challenges India's sovereignty. Simranjit Singh Mann's admission of accepting payment for issuing counterfeit asylum certificates adds complexity to the electoral landscape. Amritpal Singh's leadership of the Waris Punjab De (WPD) organization draws comparisons to extremist figures like Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, hinting at a resurgence of radical ideologies. Sandeep Singh's association with pro-Khalistani sentiments, despite being in jail for alleged involvement in a murder, underscores simmering tensions in the region. Sarabjit Singh Khalsa's familial ties to prominent political figures, despite past electoral losses, highlight the entrenched pro-Khalistani sentiments within Punjab's political sphere.
11-May-2024
Reports highlight the deep-rooted communal politics affecting India's democracy, particularly in Punjab, tracing back to a history of religious terrorism in the 1980s and 1990s followed by heightened communal polarization. Despite a decrease in inflammatory rhetoric post-Sudhir Suri's killing, instances of lynchings and killings due to alleged 'sacrilege' by Sikh extremists persist, showcasing ongoing religious tensions. Punjab's persistent sacrilege cases underscore the seriousness, worsened by political exploitation and institutional failures. Religious leaders, including the Akal Takht's Jathedar, contribute to a hardening of Sikh identity and steer followers away from core principles, fostering religious intolerance and authoritarianism. This mirrors broader chauvinism and repression across India, highlighting the need for a collective realization against political manipulation of noble faiths.
11-May-2024
Baddi-based Smilax Pharmachem Drug Industries is under investigation for allegedly manufacturing and illegally supplying tramadol-related psychotropic drugs in Punjab, operating in Baddi, Solan district, Himachal Pradesh (HP). The unit is accused of failing to disclose sales details to the State Drugs Controller (SDC) and Superintendent of Police (SP) for the past year, in violation of norms. Despite extensive purchases of raw materials, drug authorities had not detected illegal drug manufacturing until a recent raid by the Special Task Force (STF) of Punjab uncovered significant quantities of tramadol powder.
11-May-2024
Punjab Police on May 11 busted an interstate network involved in manufacturing and supplying illegal psychotropic substances, and arrested seven individuals, including the mastermind identified as Alex Paliwal, and seized intoxicant tablets/capsules worth INR 70.42 lakh and 725.5 kg of intoxicant tramadol powder, along with INR 2.37 lakh in cash, in an operation spanned five states - Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh (HP), Uttar Pradesh (UP), and Maharashtra. The investigation, initiated by the Special Task Force (STF) following the arrest of two drug smugglers in February, eventually led to the apprehension of the gang's kingpin in UP. Further scrutiny traced the illicit supply chain to pharmaceutical companies in HP and Maharashtra, exposing the intricate web of interstate drug trafficking.
11-May-2024
Amritsar (Rural) police on May 11 arrested two drug peddlers, Akashbir Singh and Banty, and seized 510 grams of heroin from their possession, along with a bike and a mobile phone in Amritsar district. The duo was produced before a duty magistrate and remanded to two-day police custody for further interrogation. The police are investigating their connections to drug consignment recipients and Pakistani-based smuggler Qasim Dhillon, who smuggled contraband into Indian territory using drones.
11-May-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops intercepted a drone on the night of May 11-12 and recovered a packet containing 498 grams of heroin along with the drone from fields near Havelian village in Amritsar district.
10-May-2024
Jailed Khalistani preacher and chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD), Amritpal Singh, filed his nomination from Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha constituency of Punjab on May 10, from Dibrugarh in Assam. His lawyer and relatives facilitated the nomination in Tarn Taran, Punjab. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had previously disposed of his plea for temporary release to file the nomination, as the Punjab government facilitated the process.
09-May-2024
Jailed Khalistani preacher and chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD), Amritpal Singh, declared assets worth INR 1,000 in his poll affidavit on May 9. The affidavit also reveals that Singh's wife, Kirandip Kaur, owns movable assets worth INR 18.37 lakh, including cash, gold jewellery, and funds in a United Kingdom (UK) bank account.
09-May-2024
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, in an interview with PTI on May 9, reiterated concerns about Canada's tolerance of Khalistani separatist elements, emphasizing that freedom of speech shouldn't support separatism. Jaishankar criticized Canada for prioritizing its vote bank over the rule of law and questioned how individuals with questionable backgrounds are allowed to stay in the country. He noted India's respect for free speech but clarified it doesn't condone threats to foreign diplomats or sheltering individuals linked to organized crime.
09-May-2024
On May 9, Anuj Rao, a close associate of gangster Kala Jathedi, was fatally shot by armed assailants in Jhajjar town, Haryana. Anuj, who had recently opened a real estate office, was attacked while socializing with friends there. The police have not made any arrests related to the incident yet.
09-May-2024
Police on May 9 arrested three members of the David gang wanted in a murder case reported in February 2024, identified as Vikramjit Singh alias Vicky, Hardeep Singh alias Ghagu, and Tirath Singh alias Kala and seized a .32 bore pistol and four live cartridges from their possession in Ludhiana district.