KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
16-Oct-2023
A Patiala resident, Jagir Singh (71), declared dead in a police encounter 31 years ago in Ajnala in Amritsar, has been found alive. Interestingly, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently prosecuting four Punjab Police officers, including two deceased, on charges of allegedly killing Jagir Singh and Daljit Singh in what is now regarded as a 'fake' encounter that occurred on December 29, 1992. The CBI's investigation also revealed that not only is Jagir still alive, but he also served 15 years as a convict in a drug smuggling case within Amritsar Jail. Remarkably, the case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was registered at the very Ajnala police station where the initial First Information Report (FIR) for the police encounter, listing Jagir's name and details, was filed.
16-Oct-2023
Former Indian Foreign Services (IFS) officer Amar Jit Singh on October 16 criticized the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) for eulogizing terrorists involved in the Khalistan movement. The SGPC's recent posts, which honour individuals like Harjinder Singh Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha, members of the Khalistani terror outfit Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) responsible for high-profile assassinations during the Punjab insurgency, have raised concerns. The SGPC has also been accused of taking anti-India stances, opposing government decisions, and supporting Khalistani elements. Critics argue that the SGPC, influenced by a distorted version of Sikh history attributed to Arthur Macauliffe, has strayed from its original purpose and is promoting a narrow agenda.
15-Oct-2023
Police on October 15 arrested a drug smuggler, identified as Surinder Singh alias Shinda, and recovered 1 kg of heroin, a 9-mm pistol, INR 8.5 lakh drug money and two cars, after an encounter at Nurmahal in Jalandhar district.
15-Oct-2023
The Special Task Force (STF) arrested three drug smugglers and recovered 2.5 kg of heroin in the Gharinda area of Amritsar district on October 15.
15-Oct-2023
Ferozepur police arrested two persons, identified as Rajdeep Singh and Amrik Singh along with 2 kilograms of heroin in Ferozepur district on October 15.
15-Oct-2023
Police on October 15 arrested two persons, identified as Surjit alias Bulla and Sukhjinder Singh and recovered 25 grams of heroin from their possession in Kapurthala district.
15-Oct-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered a drone in a paddy field near the International Border in Ferozepur district on October 15.
15-Oct-2023
Police on October 15 placed Damdami Taksal (Sangrawan faction) chief Baba Ram Singh and his son Rajandeep Singh under house arrest in Amritsar. They were prevented from attending Gurdwara Guru Amardas Jee in Athwal village, where they were scheduled to lead a 'Khalsa Vahir' procession, that was recently initiated by Sikh separatist leader Amritpal Singh, which was intended to go to Sri Goindwal Sahib. However, the house arrest of the faction chief led to the postponement of the procession.
15-Oct-2023
Police arrested a drug peddler, identified as Baljeet Singh along with 50 grams of heroin from near the area of Dussehra ground on Altos Chowk in Ludhiana district on October 15.
14-Oct-2023
During his appearance at the Khushwant Singh Literary Festival in Shimla, Ujjal Dosanjh, the former premier of British Columbia, characterized Canada as "hypocritical" and India as "touchy" when discussing the ongoing tension between the two nations regarding the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Dosanjh pointed out that while Canadian President Justin Trudeau has swiftly denounced the celebration of violence by Hamas supporters, he has not extended the same condemnation to the glorification of violence by Khalistani extremists within Canada.
14-Oct-2023
According to reports, in order to prevent the recruitment of young individuals by jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and the Canada-based terrorist Arshdeep Dalla via social media platforms, the Punjab Police has notified the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) and the heads of state police forces and anti-terror agencies that over the past three years, they have successfully restricted access to 6,000 social media accounts on platforms such as X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and other similar channels. Sources also indicated that the Punjab Police highlighted several significant catalysts and elements in the process of radicalization. These include the farmers' agitation, individuals like Amritpal Singh and the Khalsa Vaheer, social media platforms, the influence of the Dera culture, and the foreign-based movement known as Referendum 2020, led by Sikhs For Justice (SFJ).
14-Oct-2023
Punjab Police on October 14 busted a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terror module by arresting two Jammu and Kashmir-based operatives, identified as Uzair Ul Haq and Raj Mohammad Andleeb along with two IEDs, two hand grenades, one .30 bore pistol with two magazines, 24 cartridges, eight detonators, four batteries, and a timer switch in Amritsar. According to the police, the LeT had planned to use these operatives to target places of strategic importance and prominent personalities in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, with the aim of disturbing peace and harmony.
14-Oct-2023
Police arrested four Punjab-based drug peddlers, identified as Kulwinder Singh, Gurpal Singh, Kuljit Singh Rana and Kalu Singh and recovered 55 grams of heroin in two separate incidents in Fazilka district.
14-Oct-2023
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on October 14 raided the houses of two youngsters, identified as Aditya and Abhishek to probe their links with drug smugglers and gangsters in Panjkosi and Maujgarh villages in Abohar in Fazilka district.
13-Oct-2023
Two Pakistani prisoners, who were released by the Indian Government on October 13, have been returned to Amritsar Central jail because the Pakistan Embassy could not provide the necessary documents.
13-Oct-2023
According to reports, following the seizure of 30 kg of cocaine from two peddlers based in Punjab in the Ramban district in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), the J&K Police have raised suspicions that the Srinagar-Pathankot highway has become a prominent channel for inter-state drug trafficking. Additionally, the police are actively investigating whether the two arrested peddlers have any connections with previously arrested drug traffickers in J&K. Inside sources within the police department believe that these Punjab-based peddlers may have been disguising themselves as tourists while entering Kashmir, using their vehicles to transport illicit consignments.
13-Oct-2023
The Khanna police obtained a production warrant to bring gangster Amit Malik Bhura, who is currently incarcerated in Bathinda jail, in connection with an Arms Act case registered at the Sadar police station a month ago. The court has remanded him in police custody for four days.
13-Oct-2023
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on October 13 while addressing a felicitation event arranged by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), acknowledged the significant role of the Sikh community in India's struggle for independence and expressed gratitude for their unwavering commitment to the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Shah also highlighted the sacrifices made by the Sikh community and emphasized that the contributions of Sikh Gurus to the country are immeasurable and cannot be repaid even over thousands of years. He also said that justice to the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots started being delivered only after the Narendra Modi government assumed office in 2014.
13-Oct-2023
Police on October 13 arrested three gangsters who were closely associated with Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar and worked for Malaysia-based gangster Vicky, identified as Gurdit Singh, Sunil Kumar, and Rohit Kumar, and recovered a .32-bore pistol and four cartridges from their possession near Ring Road, close to the Army Cantonment in Bathinda district.
12-Oct-2023
An Indian official in New Delhi on October 12 revealed that Indian and Canadian authorities have engaged in communication 'at multiple levels' in the wake of a dispute over potential Indian involvement in the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader in suburban Vancouver, Canada. However, Arindam Bachi, the spokesperson for India's External Affairs Ministry, refrained from verifying or refuting media accounts of a meeting between the foreign ministers in Washington, United States (US), which allegedly occurred two weeks ago.