KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
24-Mar-2024
The Nawanshahr police on March 24 arrested two drug peddlers, identified as Harsimranjeet Singh and Amandeep Singh and seized 12 grams of heroin, two syringes and a car from their possession at a naka (checkpoint) near Kathgarh village in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district.
24-Mar-2024
Dal Khalsa working president Paramjit Singh Mand, on March 24 at the monthly meeting of young activists of Dal Khalsa in Hoshiarpur district, questioned Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal regarding the degradation of Sikh politics, following the SAD core committee's decision to prioritize principles over politics in Punjab. Mand criticized the Badal-led SAD for prioritizing power over principles and accused the Badal family of controlling the SAD and subjugating the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) since the passing of Akali stalwart Gurcharan Singh Tohra.
23-Mar-2024
The Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, while speaking at the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) of the National University of Singapore (NUS) in Singapore on March 23, highlighted the need to address the issue of Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism. He emphasized India's stance against terrorism and criticized Pakistan for using it as a tool of statecraft. He affirmed India's commitment to confronting the issue head-on and stated that dialogue with Pakistan has been minimal due to their reaction to the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
23-Mar-2024
According to ABC News, Indian authorities conducted searches at the family home of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Punjab shortly before his alleged murder in Surrey, Canada. The searches, involving uniformed police and intelligence agencies, raised suspicions among locals. Despite Canada's accusations and ongoing tensions, the Indian government denies any involvement in Nijjar's killing, emphasizing the need for evidence, which Canada has failed to provide until now.
23-Mar-2024
Dal Khalsa on March 23 rejected India's probe findings regarding its alleged involvement in a plot to kill Khalistan terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the United States (US). Dal Khalsa demanded an independent investigation by US authorities and urged India to hand over any implicated former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) official for criminal proceedings in a US court.
23-Mar-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police in a joint operation on March 23 recovered 2 kg of heroin and a drone from farming fields adjacent to Nanak Nagar village in Fazilka district.
23-Mar-2024
Police on March 23 arrested a woman smuggler, identified as Parminder Kaur and seized 1.8 kg of poppy husk and INR 35,000 drug money from her possession in Samrala in Ludhiana district. Three accomplices, identified as Balwinder Singh alias Bindri, Prince, and Sameer alias Mota, are still at large.
23-Mar-2024
Police on March 23 arrested three drug smugglers identified as Rinku, Mehar Singh and Jagmal Singh and seized 22 grams of heroin and a car from their possession, at a naka (checkpoint) near Khanna in Ludhiana district.
23-Mar-2024
Based on information from Village Defence Committee (VDC) member of Neshta village, the Amritsar rural police on March 23 recovered a drone from farming fields near Neshta village in Amritsar district. The drone was a DJI Mavic 3 model.
23-Mar-2024
Police seized a drone from farming fields near Atalgarh village in Amritsar district on March 23. The drone was a quadcopter DJI Matrice 300 RTK model.
22-Mar-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) intercepted the movement of a drone on March 22 and recovered it the following morning, on March 23, from fields adjacent to Mehandipur village in Tarn Taran district. The drone was a DJI Matrice Model-300 RTK model.
22-Mar-2024
According to reports from central intelligence agencies, Pro-Khalistan Entities (PKEs) are experiencing a leadership vacuum, prompting efforts to cultivate new leaders besides Khalistani terrorists and the chief of the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The report said that fragmentation within PKEs has led to discord among supporters and reduced violent protests, citing the absence of strong leadership. Pakistan-backed groups are also trying to intensify their recruitment to advance the Khalistan agenda in the United Kingdom (UK) and Canada, amid concerns over unchecked human trafficking.
22-Mar-2024
The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) on March 22 directed immediate sanitisation of high-security zones in jails to prevent inmates from making extortion and threatening calls using mobile phones. The court demanded jail-wise data on mobile phone recoveries and seizures from Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh over the past three months. The court emphasised the urgency of sanitising high-security zones to curb extortion and threatening activities, scheduling further hearings for April 15. The proceedings were initiated following an in-custody interview with gangster and criminal Lawrence Bishnoi.
21-Mar-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on March 21 arrested two key operatives, identified as Deepak Khurana alias Deepu and Avtar Singh alias Sunny, in the Attari drug seizure case involving over 102 kg of heroin valued at INR 700 crore, in New Delhi. Both accused were involved in drug distribution, handling cash, and laundering drug proceeds. They were associated with the prime accused Razi Haider Zaidi and Shahid Ahmed alias Qazi Abdul Wadood. The narcotics, smuggled from Afghanistan via the Integrated Check Post (ICP) Attari in Amritsar district, Punjab, were intended for distribution in India under the direction of Dubai-based Shahid Ahmed.
21-Mar-2024
Khalistan preacher and chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD), Amritpal Singh, along with his associates, ended their hunger strike in Dibrugarh jail in Assam on March 21. Following the orders of Jathedar Singh Sahib of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, a delegation including Giani Malkit Singh met the detainees, offering prayers and Prasad of Hari Ki Pauri. The hunger strike, initiated on February 16, protested against privacy and human rights violations in the jail.
21-Mar-2024
According to sources, following the United States (US) claims of an alleged plot to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an intelligence operative from India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) has been removed from his position, and several others have been reshuffled. India's investigation concluded that rogue operatives, not authorized by the government, were involved in the plot. Although the Indian government revealed little officially, it informed US authorities about the findings of the high-level committee.
20-Mar-2024
Police on March 20 arrested gangster, Movish Bains, a member of the Puneet Bains Gang from the Jandiali area in Ludhiana district. This arrest came two weeks after two gangsters, Movish and Mukul, shot at each other near a shrine in Vijay Nagar, Ludhiana. The arrest followed a tip-off, during which Movish attempted to escape but sustained leg injuries in the process.
20-Mar-2024
Police on March 20 booked Lakhbir Singh Landa along with his accomplice Satnam Singh Satta for extortion from a couple in Ruriwala village in Tarn Taran district. Landa and Satta allegedly sought INR 25 lakh in extortion from Partap Singh, who reported shots fired at his house by Landa's associates. Subsequently, Landa allegedly made a phone call claiming responsibility for the incident and demanding the money.
20-Mar-2024
Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Raghbir Singh, while speaking in Amritsar on March 20, advised Sikh youths not to perform stunts on motorcycles, tractors, and cars during the national festival of Hola Mahalla, which will be held from March 21 to March 26 at Sri Anandpur Sahib in Rupnagar district in Punjab.
20-Mar-2024
The All-Kashmir District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (DGPC) Coordination Committee was formed on March 20 with elected members from District Gurdwara Committees, aiming to address issues within the Sikh community in Kashmir. They advocate for Pahari status for Sikh-populated areas, a special job package for Sikh boys, implementation of Punjabi language in education, and political reservation similar to that of Kashmiri Pandits. Additionally, they seek a swift resolution of Gurdwara land issues, government assistance for Gurdwara construction in Gulmarg and Tral, and heritage status for Gurdwara Amirakadal and Maharajgunj in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).