KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
09-May-2024
The Counter Intelligence (CI) Jalandhar unit of Punjab Police on May 9 busted an interstate arms racket, arresting two smugglers identified as Harpreet Singh alias Happy Mattu and Rahul Masih along with seized six pistols and seven magazines near Railway Station Jalandhar Cantonment in Jalandhar district. The Police revealed that the operation uncovered the smugglers' procurement of four large arms consignments from Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh (MP) over the last six months. Efforts are underway to apprehend two more significant members of the module.
09-May-2024
Jailed Khalistani preacher and chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD) Amritpal Singh on May 9 moved to the Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) seeking temporary release from Dibrugarh jail in Assam to file his nominations for contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Khadoor Sahib constituency. Amritpal Singh's petition cited the approaching deadline for nomination filing and requested a seven-day release in accordance with National Security Act (NSA) provisions or alternative arrangements to submit his nomination papers.
09-May-2024
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, during a weekly briefing in New Delhi on May 9, stated that Canada has not yet formally communicated any relevant evidence regarding the involvement of three Indians in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
09-May-2024
The Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha constituency in Tarn Taran district, Punjab, has gained attention with the entry of jailed Khalistani preacher and chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD) Amritpal Singh as an independent candidate. Issues such as the release of former Khalistani militants and Amritpal's arrest dominate the electoral discourse in this Sikh-dominated region. With the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) facing challenges from multiple fronts and concerns over vote division among Sikh hardliners, the electoral dynamics have intensified, leading to a four-way contest with the Congress, AAP, SAD, and Amritpal in the fray. The constituency's political landscape reflects shifting allegiances and the quest for representation amidst historical and religious sensitivities.
09-May-2024
The Uttar Pradesh (UP) Special Task Force (STF) on May 9 arrested a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang named Manish Kumar Yadav from Ramleela Maidan in the Chiluatal area of Gorakhpur district in UP. During interrogation, Yadav confessed to his involvement in supplying arms for criminal activities, leveraging contacts he made while in jail.
08-May-2024
Punjab Police on May 8 resolved the murder of bouncer Munish Rana alias Manni by arresting two shooters associated with the Lucky Patial gang, identified as Vikram Rana alias Happy and Kiran Singh along with a .32-bore pistol, six cartridges and four bullet shells, as well as a motorcycle, near Medicity in New Chandigarh in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district in Punjab. The Police tracked down the shooters, leading to their arrest after an exchange of gunfire. Meanwhile, police on May 8 stated that local members of the Bhupi Rana and Kaushal gangs were responsible for the murder of bouncer Manish Kumar alias Manni, who was shot dead on May 7 in Chando village in Khara tehsil in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district in Punjab. Despite the Davinder Bambiha gang initially claiming responsibility, the investigation revealed otherwise.
08-May-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops intercepted a drone on the intervening night of May 8-9 and recovered 550 grams of heroin from Raitewali Bhaini village in Fazilka district.
08-May-2024
Damdami Taksal, a prominent Sikh seminary led by Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa, recently issued an appeal urging Punjabis, especially Sikhs, to consider having a minimum of five children. This call is rooted in the belief of strengthening familial bonds and contributing to societal prosperity. Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa emphasized that the Taksal would mobilize resources to support families facing economic challenges in raising larger families, extending the appeal to all communities residing in Punjab.
08-May-2024
Border Security Forces (BSF), along with Punjab Police on May 8 recovered a packet containing 210 grams of heroin and a China-made drone from fields near TJ Singh village in Tarn Taran district.
08-May-2024
The Special Cell of Delhi Police stated on May 8 that in the past few weeks, during a pan-India operation, they have arrested nine criminals and a juvenile wanted in cases ranging from shootouts to arms supply to the Lawrence Bishnoi-Goldy Brar gang, identified as Manjeet Singh alias Guri, Gurpal, Jaspreet Singh alias Rahul, Sachin Kumar alias Rahul, Santosh alias Sultan Baba,Manjeet,Abhay Soni alias Kabir,Dharmendra alias Kartik, and Santosh Kumar, and seized seven pistols, 31 live cartridges and 11 mobile phones from those arrested from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh (MP), Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Bihar.
07-May-2024
On May 7, a bouncer identified as Manish Kumar alias Manni was shot dead by wo assailants suspected to be involved in an old gang war between bouncer groups, in Chando village in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district in Punjab.
07-May-2024
Simranjit Singh Mann, Member of Parliament (MP) from Sangrur and candidate of Shiromani Akali Dal-Amritsar (SAD-A), while campaigning at Ballian village in Sangrur district on May 7, advocated for the opening of the Pakistan border to boost Punjab's prosperity. Mann emphasized that the financial conditions of farmers, laborers, and small traders could significantly improve with the border's opening, benefiting sectors like transportation. He asserted that commodities like wheat, which are in high demand in Pakistan, could bring substantial economic gains to Punjab.
07-May-2024
Tarsem Singh, the father of Khalistani preacher and chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD) Amritpal Singh, stated on May 7 that Amritpal was initially hesitant but decided to contest elections due to the community's urging.
07-May-2024
Another farmer, identified as Jaswant Singh, died at a farmers’ protest site on Shambhu Border on May 7, near Shambhu village in Patiala district, Punjab. Singh's demise marks the 20th death since the protests began on February 13, 2024.
07-May-2024
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, on May 7 in New Delhi, reiterated India's concerns over Canada's tolerance of extremist elements, especially after pro-Khalistan imagery was displayed at a parade in Toronto on May 5. Jaiswal condemned the violent imagery and emphasized that the celebration and glorification of violence have no place in civilized society. He called on democratic nations to prevent intimidation by radical groups under the guise of freedom of expression.
07-May-2024
A report by The Globe and Mail revealed that during Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's 2018 visit to India, the Indian government refused to allow his aircraft to land in Amritsar unless he met with Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to discuss Khalistani separatism. Singh handed Trudeau and then-Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan a dossier containing names of Khalistani activists the Indian government wanted curtailed, including Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, advocating for Khalistan. The meeting was described as "not pleasant," with Canada promising to review the list. This incident underscores the longstanding tensions between India and Canada over the issue of Khalistani separatism, exacerbated by Trudeau's allegations linking Indian agents to Nijjar's killing and subsequent diplomatic fallout.
07-May-2024
Following the use of metal detectors during a security check at Gurdwara Ratgarh Sahib in Naraingarh, Ambala district in Haryana, amid an ongoing religious congregation, Baljit Singh Daduwal, a member of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC), urged Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on May 7 to take action. Daduwal described the checking in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib as "intolerable" and demanded a probe into the incident, calling for strict legal action against the security officials involved. The incident, which occurred on April 29 during Saini's visit, sparked controversy after a video went viral, prompting condemnation from Sikh leaders, including Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami, who demanded an apology from the CM.
07-May-2024
The Delhi unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) protested outside the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) headquarters in New Delhi on May 7 after the Lieutenant-Governor recommended a probe against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over allegations of receiving funding from the banned Khalistani terror organization Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). The AAP termed the accusation as a political conspiracy. Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva alleged that accepting funds from a banned outfit compromises national security, while AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj highlighted similar complaints raised earlier, suggesting political motives.
06-May-2024
The Border Security Forces (BSF), along with Punjab Police, on May 6, in a joint operation, recovered one packet of heroin weighing 550 grams from farming fields near Roranwala Kalan village in Amritsar district.
06-May-2024
The city crime branch of Mumbai Police on May 6 arrested Mohammed Rafiq Sardar Choudhary, who allegedly accompanied the shooters that fired at actor Salman Khan’s house in Mumbai, from Nagaur in Nagaur district, Rajasthan. Choudhary allegedly paid the shooters INR 1 lakh and provided logistical support. Police stated that Choudhary was in direct contact with Bishnoi gang members and had visited Salman Khan's building for reconnaissance prior to the firing incident.