KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
01-Mar-2026
Rajasthan Police on March 1 launched a major crackdown on organised gangs and arrested 214 criminals linked to various networks, including the Lawrence Bishnoi and Rohit Godara gangs, across 19 districts of the state. The operation targeted gangs involved in illegal arms possession, extortion, and other criminal activities. Among those arrested were 11 reward-carrying criminals, 157 persons with pending warrants, and 46 other wanted individuals. Police also seized 32 vehicles and 19 mobile and electronic devices as evidence. A total of 1,276 criminals were identified for the special operation, including 383 linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi–Rohit Godara gang, 534 associated with local gangs, and 359 wanted criminals from other categories. Police teams conducted coordinated raids across the state to apprehend them. During the operation, Police also recovered illegal weapons and narcotics. In 30 cases registered under the Arms Act, 17 pistols, three country-made pistols, 14 cartridges, six knives, and six daggers were seized. In 34 cases under the NDPS Act, authorities recovered 1.166 kg of heroin, 8.544 grams of smack, 5.29 grams of MD, 300 grams of opium, 14.792 kg of cannabis, and 26.08 kg of poppy husk. Additionally, in Jhunjhunu district, Police recovered 8,153 opium plants during action against illegal opium cultivation.
01-Mar-2026
Mehatpur village Sarpanch (village head) and Jamhoori Kisan Sabha leader Mahinder Singh was critically injured after being attacked by alleged drug peddlers in Jalandhar district on March 1. According to family members and residents, four to five men, who had reportedly lain in wait, assaulted him with iron rods and sharp weapons before fleeing as villagers rushed to his aid. Locals allege the attack was in retaliation for his persistent complaints against “chitta” (synthetic drug) trafficking in the area, sparking protests outside the Mehatpur police station.
01-Mar-2026
On March 1, the 40th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 499 raids, arrested 179 persons and recovered four weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 80 individuals, while 113 persons were verified and released after questioning. Seven proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
01-Mar-2026
On March 1, Punjab Police, on day 365 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 86 drug smugglers, and seized 878 grams of heroin, 105 kg of poppy husk, 523 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 3720 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
01-Mar-2026
Police on March 1 arrested two members of the Bambiha gang, identified as Amandeep Singh alias Captain and Pavandeep Singh alias Billa alias Sunny, both residents of Faridkot district, Punjab and recovered 11 pistols and 22 magazines from their possession, in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan. Preliminary investigations indicate that the weapons were intended for use in an impending gang war in Punjab.
01-Mar-2026
The family of Ranjit Singh—one of the three accused in the killing of an ASI and a Home Guard, who was allegedly killed in a police encounter on February 25—along with several organisations, including farm unions and religious groups, blocked the Pathankot–Amritsar National Highway (NH) on March 1.
28-Feb-2026
Unidentified assailants on February 28 fired seven to eight gunshots outside the residence of a veterinary doctor in the Mota Singh Nagar locality of Jalandhar district. Police have initiated an investigation into the incident. Later in the evening, another firing incident was reported outside the residence of the owner of Vardaan Hospital in Jalandhar district.
28-Feb-2026
The State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) on February 28 foiled a terror conspiracy by arresting two suspects and recovering a fully assembled RDX-based improvised explosive device (IED) weighing approximately 2.5 kg, along with a Glock pistol and four live cartridges in Shaheed Bhagat Singh (SBS) Nagar district. Preliminary investigations indicate that the accused were allegedly acting under the directions of foreign-based handlers.
28-Feb-2026
Dal Khalsa has called on residents to assemble in Gurdaspur on March 1 to protest the killing of youth Ranjit Singh, which it described as a “fake encounter” by the Gurdaspur police, alleging that Punjab continues to function as a police state. Party leaders Kanwar Pal Singh, Paramjeet Singh Mand, and Paramjit Singh Tanda announced the protest.
28-Feb-2026
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand on February 28 stated in Mumbai that no country, including India, gets a free pass to engage in foreign interference in Canada. However, she declined to clarify whether she believes India is currently involved in such activities.
28-Feb-2026
On February 28, the 39th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 548 raids, arrested 224 persons and recovered 17 weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 111 individuals, while 136 persons were verified and released after questioning. Four proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
28-Feb-2026
On February 28, Punjab Police, on day 364 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 89 drug smugglers, and seized 2.3 kg of heroin, 1.8 kg of opium, 1766 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 15,980 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
28-Feb-2026
The Amritsar Commissionerate Police on February 28 arrested three persons, Gurpreet alias Billa, Lovepreet alias Love, and Satnam Singh alias Judge and recovered 3.230 kg of heroin, one 9mm Zigana pistol, one 9mm Glock pistol, and 32 live cartridges from their possession in Guru Ki Wadali, Amritsar district. Lovepreet was also wanted in a murder case registered at Lopoke police station in Amritsar Rural.
28-Feb-2026
The Amritsar Commissionerate Police on February 28 arrested two persons, Manpreet alias Manna and Gurlal alias Dima and seized 205 grams of heroin, INR 4,500 drug money and a motorcycle from their possession in Amritsar district.
28-Feb-2026
The Amritsar Commissionerate Police on February 28 arrested four persons, Gurpreet alias Gopi, Shankar Kumar, Anish alias Yakki, and Ravi alias Ganja alias Takla and seized 2 kg of heroin from their possession in Amritsar district.
28-Feb-2026
Police on February 28 arrested one person, identified as Rohit alias Dakku and recovered a .32-bore pistol along with two live cartridges from his possession, in Mohkampura, Amritsar district.
27-Feb-2026
The Amritsar Rural Police on February 27 arrested two alleged drug traffickers, identified as Gursewak Singh alias Sebo and Surjit Singh alias Kaku and seized 1 kg of heroin from their possession near Ranike village in Amritsar district.
27-Feb-2026
On February 27, police arrested one person, identified as Prabhjot Singh alias Prabh and recovered 12 grams of heroin from his possession in Mattewal, Amritsar district.
27-Feb-2026
Police on February 27 arrested two suspects, identified as Jagbir Singh alias Jaggu and Kishan Pal Singh alias Babbu and recovered 270 grams of heroin, a broken pistol, two mobile phones, and a motorcycle from their possession near Daliri village in Tarn Taran district.
27-Feb-2026
On February 27, two unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants shot dead a businessman, Jasvir Kumar, and his gardener, Baldev, at the former’s farmhouse on Shellar Road in Sardulgarh town of Mansa district. The motive behind the killings remains unclear, and police have initiated an investigation.