KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
05-Mar-2026
The family of Ranjit Singh, who was shot dead by Police in an alleged encounter near Puranashala township on February 25, has refused to cremate his body, demanding murder charges against the Police personnel involved, in Gurdaspur district. Ranjit, was an accused in the recent killing of an ASI and a Home Guard jawan at a border check post in the district and was reportedly shot when he allegedly opened fire on Police. His family, along with several trade and farm unions, has announced a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office on March 9. Meanwhile, Punjab Police added charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to the FIR registered in the killing of the ASI and the Home Guard jawan. The law allows for individuals to be designated as terrorists and permits extended detention without bail, often exceeding 180 days. Gurdaspur Police have claimed that the accused—Ranjit Singh, Inderjit Singh, and Dilawar Singh—had links with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
04-Mar-2026
Amritsar City Police on March 4 arrested a woman and seized 20 grams of heroin along with INR 1,120 drug money from her possession in Amritsar district.
04-Mar-2026
Faridkot Police on March 4 arrested a suspected smuggler, identified as Akash, and seized 2.064 kg of heroin along with INR 20,000 in alleged drug money from his possession, near the Chandbaja village bridge in Faridkot district.
04-Mar-2026
Faridkot Police on March 4 arrested Jagwinder Singh alias Kala, an associate of the Bambiha gang and seized three illegal weapons from his possession, in Faridkot district.
04-Mar-2026
Police on March 4 arrested a drug smuggler and seized 2 kg of heroin from his possession in Faridkot district. Preliminary interrogation indicated that the consignment was meant for further distribution, suggesting the accused’s links with a larger drug trafficking network.
04-Mar-2026
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zonal Director Amanjit Singh, citing the 51st report of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Committee, in Ludhiana, stated that Punjab has around 7.4 million drug users, including about 700,000 in the 10–17 age group. He observed that the state is severely affected by drugs such as heroin, opioids, sedatives, and inhalants, adding that cocaine is also increasingly entering the state.
03-Mar-2026
Delhi Police on March 3 arrested Rohit Solanki, a member of the rival Rohit Godara gang, for firing at advocate Deepak Khatri, counsel for jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, at Kashmere Gate in New Delhi. According to investigators, Solanki was the key conspirator and one of the shooters in the February 24 attack, which occurred when Khatri was returning with friends after offering prayers at the Marghat Wale Temple.
03-Mar-2026
The Ahmedabad Crime Branch arrested a man, identified as Biswas, from West Bengal for allegedly sending a series of bomb threat emails in the name of Khalistan targeting schools and lower courts across Gujarat. He has been taken into remand and is currently being interrogated. Authorities said the accused sent multiple threatening emails to institutions across the state.
03-Mar-2026
The autopsy of Ranjit Singh, who was shot dead by Police in an alleged encounter near Puranashala township on February 25, was conducted at Gurdaspur Civil Hospital in the presence of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) on March 3. His death has triggered controversy, with family members disputing the Police claim that he was killed in an exchange of fire. Earlier, members of the “Ranjit Singh Jhoota Muqabala Action Committee,” including his relatives, gathered outside the hospital mortuary, while the radical outfit Dal Khalsa called for protests over the alleged encounter.
03-Mar-2026
Delhi Police is investigating fresh death threats received by defence entrepreneur Sahil Luthra from international numbers, with the callers claiming responsibility for a past firing incident at his Amritsar residence and demanding INR 10 crore. In a complaint filed at the Chanakyapuri Police Station on February 27, Luthra, Managing Director of Vijayen Trishul Defence Solutions (VTDS), said he received two threatening calls on February 26 from numbers with Portugal and Germany country codes. Police are examining possible cross-border linkages and the potential involvement of banned outfits.
03-Mar-2026
On March 3, Punjab Police, on day 367 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 87 drug smugglers, and seized 1.1 kg of heroin, 2 kg of poppy husk, 408 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 17,950 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
03-Mar-2026
The State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), Fazilka, in a joint operation with the Border Security Force (BSF), on March 3 arrested a woman, Palo Bai, and her son, Gurwinder Singh and seized 3.230 kg of heroin from their possession, near Mohammad Pira village in Fazilka district.
02-Mar-2026
On March 2, the 41st day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 409 raids, arrested 132 persons and recovered five weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 71 individuals, while 116 persons were verified and released after questioning. Four proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
02-Mar-2026
On March 2, Punjab Police, on day 366 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 92 drug smugglers, and seized 1.2 kg of heroin, 3 kg of opium, 11 kg of poppy husk, 635 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 4720 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
02-Mar-2026
The Amritsar Rural Police on March 2 arrested three more suspects, Rehmat Ali, Sanjeev, and Gagan, in connection with the January 29 seizure of nearly 43 kg of heroin and a cache of arms, taking the total number of arrests in the case to nine, in Amritsar district. Deputy Superintendent of Police Dharminder Kalyan stated that the three were working as couriers in the illegal drug trade and were involved in transporting the contraband as part of a larger smuggling network. Meanwhile, the Police have issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against the prime accused, Karan Singh alias Karan Chheharta, a resident of Chheharta currently based in Dubai, who is believed to be the key handler behind the cross-border drug and arms consignment.
02-Mar-2026
In a joint operation on March 2, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Border Security Force (BSF) arrested a Pakistani drug smuggler, identified as Abu Bakar, and recovered 10 kg of heroin in the Khemkaran sector along the Indo–Pakistan border in Tarn Taran district. The accused allegedly crossed the barbed-wire fence and entered Indian territory. Authorities are investigating how he managed to breach border security. This is believed to be the first instance of a Pakistani smuggler being caught alive with contraband.
02-Mar-2026
Nakodar Police on March 2 arrested a man, identified as Inderjit Singh alias Indu and recovered 4 grams of heroin from his possession, near the Bilga bus stand in Jalandhar district.
02-Mar-2026
Police on March 2 arrested a man, identified as Abhishek alias Abhi, and seized 28 loose intoxicant tablets from his possession in Mohalla Guru Nanakpura, Nakodar, in Jalandhar district.
02-Mar-2026
Police on March 2 arrested an accused, identified as Gurdev Singh and seized 3 kg of opium from his possession, in Moga district. He had earlier been booked under the NDPS Act on August 9, 2025, when 265 grams of heroin were recovered from him, but was released on bail and allegedly resumed drug smuggling.
02-Mar-2026
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Singh Mann stated in Chandigarh on March 2 that the state’s ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ (War Against Drugs) campaign has completed one year, claiming intensified enforcement against drug trafficking networks and higher conviction rates under the NDPS Act. He said the drive, conducted between March 2025 and February 2026 under a “zero-tolerance” policy, focused on dismantling supply lines and organised networks while encouraging public participation. Citing official data, Mann said 36,178 FIRs were registered against alleged drug traffickers during the year and 51,648 people were arrested. Enforcement agencies also seized 2,277 kg of heroin and more than 4.9 million intoxicant tablets and capsules, while INR 16.70 crore in alleged “drug money” was recovered. He added that properties linked to accused traffickers were seized or demolished, though no details were provided on the number or value of assets. On prosecution outcomes, the CM said the overall conviction rate under the NDPS Act stood at around 84%, rising to about 88% in 2025, attributing the improvement to stronger case preparation and enhanced forensic support.