KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
09-Mar-2024
Police on March 9 arrested a miscreant, identified as Nikhil Kumar for making extortion calls to businessmen in the region by posing as an aide of gangster Goldy Brar, in Faridkot in Faridkot district. Using a United Kingdom (UK) country code, he demanded INR 6 lakh from a medicine shop owner, threatening to upload photos of the owner's daughter studying in Canada if not paid. The cyber cell traced the calls to a local number, leading to Nikhil's arrest.
09-Mar-2024
A gallery honoring those killed during the Indian Army's Operation Bluestar in 1984 was inaugurated on March 9 at the Golden Temple complex in the Amritsar district. The event was attended by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale’s son, Bhai Ishar Singh. Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa, the 16th head of the Sikh seminary Damdami Taksal (DT), unveiled the Shaheedi Gallery at Gurdwara Shaheede Yadgar, adjacent to Akal Takht. The gallery features a comprehensive list of Sikh leaders and devotees, including women, who were killed from June 1 to 6, 1984, accompanied by their photographs. Additionally, a documentary highlighting the events has been arranged for viewing.
09-Mar-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on March 9 recovered a packet containing about 470 grams of heroin from fields adjacent to Chakram Sai village in Gurdaspur district.
09-Mar-2024
The Amritsar (Rural) police on March 9 arrested a drug peddler, identified as Baljeet Singh and seized 2.8 kg of heroin and INR 2.5 lakh drug money from his possession, at a naka (checkpost) at Khasa bus stop near Khasa village in Amritsar district. According to the Police, Baljeet was in contact with Canada-based drug peddler Honey, who operated a hawala racket. Further investigations are underway.
09-Mar-2024
The State Special Operations Cell on March 9 arrested Chetan Kakkar, an associate of gangster Rajan Bhatti, and seized 270 grams of heroin, a pistol, five cartridges, and INR 7,97,000 of drug money from his possession upon his arrival from Dubai at Hyderabad International Airport in Telangana. Kakkar, originally from Amritsar, had fled to Dubai after Bhatti's arrest in February 2024.
08-Mar-2024
The police on March 8 arrested Nripen Das, Superintendent of Dibrugarh Central Jail, for alleged collusion with detainees associated with Khalistani preacher and the chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD), Amritpal Singh, and his associates, following the discovery of electronic gadgets, including a smartphone, in their possession, in Dibrugarh, Assam. Subsequent investigations revealed evidence of unauthorized activities, prompting additional CCTV installations and preventive measures.
08-Mar-2024
Mohali Police on March 8 arrested five of the eight suspects, including two tainted cops, involved in the daylight shooting of Jammu-based gangster Rajesh Dogra, identified as Anil Singh (kingpin), Harpreet Singh, Satvir Singh, Sandeep Singh and Sham Lal, and seized three pistols, two revolvers, a .12 bore gun and 71 live rounds along with four luxury vehicles from Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district in Punjab. The main suspect, Anil Singh, allegedly orchestrated the crime for revenge in a gang war.
08-Mar-2024
Police on March 8 registered a case against two persons, identified as Kuldeep Singh and Baljit Singh, following the death of a 24-year-old from a drug overdose, in Azamwala village in Fazilka district. The deceased's father, Paramjit Singh, revealed that his son had been battling drug addiction. On March 7, they found him unconscious with an injection in his hand, and before passing away, he implicated Kuldeep and Baljit as the sources of the drug, known as 'chitta'.
07-Mar-2024
The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) was informed by the state of Punjab on March 7 that a convict in Faridkot Central Jail in Punjab was using a mobile phone to communicate with Pakistani smugglers, highlighting a concerning security breach. The state detailed various ingenious methods prisoners employ for smuggling, including hiding phones in body cavities and conspiring with outsiders. To counteract these tactics, traditional security measures such as armed guards and patrols are in place, alongside AI-based CCTV surveillance.
07-Mar-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police, in a joint operation on March 7, recovered a packet of heroin weighing 5 kg from a farming field adjacent to Neshta Village in Amritsar district.
07-Mar-2024
The Police on March 7 busted a module running a drug racket from across the border by a United States (US) resident Satnam Singh, with the arrest of two peddlers identified as Gurlal Singh and Lovedeep Singh and seized 780 grams of heroin, a motorcycle and two mobile phones from their possession, near Rajoke village in Tarn Taran district. The peddlers confessed to receiving heroin from Satnam Singh across the Indo-Pak border.
07-Mar-2024
Police on March 7 averted targeted killings with the arrest of two operatives of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), identified as Kuldeep Singh alias Ghugg and Avtar Singh alias Ladi and seized a .32 bore pistol along with four magazines and 30 rounds from them, along with a bike (PB08-FI 3940) from their possession in Mehatpur village in Jalandhar district. The module, led by United States (US)-based Harpreet Singh alias Happy Pasia and Pakistan-based Khalistani terrorist Harvinder Singh Rinda, aimed to involve youngsters in anti-national activities.
07-Mar-2024
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami on March 7 welcomed Ramesh Singh Arora's appointment as the first cabinet minister of the Punjab government in Pakistan. They hailed it as a significant moment for the Sikh community, marking the first time a Sikh has held such a position since the India-Pakistan Partition in 1947. Raghbir Singh urged Arora to utilize his constitutional authority to address Sikh issues, while Dhami expressed hope that Arora would serve as a liaison between the Pakistani government and minority communities. They emphasized the importance of safeguarding gurdwaras in Afghanistan.
07-Mar-2024
A third associate of Waris Punjab de (WPD) leader Amritpal Singh, identified as Basant Singh, was hospitalized on March 7 due to deteriorating health caused by a hunger strike at Dibrugarh jail in Assam.
07-Mar-2024
The Rajpura police on March 7 busted an inter-state drug module, arresting four of its members, identified as Kusum Devi, Guniya Devi, Ram Geya, and Ranju Kumari and seizing 9 kg of charas from their possession at a checkpoint near Basantpura Village in Patiala district.
07-Mar-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police, on March 7, in a joint operation, recovered one packet of heroin weighing 565 grams from a farming field adjacent to Sanktara village Tarn Taran district.
06-Mar-2024
Bihar Police arrested two shooters of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, identified as Sunil Karolia and Sahil, on March 6 and seized contrabands from their possession near the toll plaza in Runni Saidpur, Sitamarhi district in Bihar. Preliminary investigations suggest their involvement in multiple murders across Rajasthan, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh.
06-Mar-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on March 6 arrested a Pakistani national loitering near the International Border (IB) and seized PKR 570, a wristwatch, one earphone, and 3 Pakistani national identity cards, and a mobile phone from his possession in the Amritsar sector of Amritsar district. The individual was caught while attempting to escape towards the Pakistani side after being spotted by BSF troops. He was subsequently handed over to the Punjab Police.
06-Mar-2024
On March 6, the Akal Takht constituted a sub-committee to address the issue of shifting detainees from Dibrugarh Central Jail to Punjab, following concerns raised by family members during a meeting with Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh. The detainees, including Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh and nine others charged under the National Security Act (NSA), have been on a hunger strike since February 16, citing privacy violations due to surveillance cameras installed without their consent.
06-Mar-2024
According to sources, intelligence agencies have warned of potential disruption by pro-Khalistani elements during Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi's rally, scheduled for March 7 at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Khalistan terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), has reportedly called for raising pro-Khalistan and Pakistan flags. Despite doubts about SFJ's presence in J&K, security forces are on high alert.