KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
20-Jul-2023
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami on July 20 expressed concern over granting parole to the Sirsa dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Both leaders also raised the issue of Sikh prisoners who have been incarcerated for decades without any release, claiming it instills a sense of slavery among Sikhs in India and creates a distrustful environment among the Sikh community.
20-Jul-2023
Pro-Khalistan bot activity on social media has escalated, targeting India's diplomats and missions in Canada, the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), and Australia, according to a report released by the Princeton, New Jersey-based Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI). In response to inquiries, NCRI's Chief Operating Officer (COO), Jack Donohue, confirmed that about 20% of the accounts involved in the recent surge of Khalistan activity were identified as Pakistani based on user descriptions and reported locations. These bots have been amplifying violence and conspiracy theories, including false allegations of India's involvement in the assassination of a prominent figure. The NCRI report indicates that some of these accounts are linked to Pakistan, possibly indicating state-involved influence. The bots have also been promoting extremist rhetoric and calling for attacks on Hindu places of worship and Indian government buildings. The escalating online activity raises concerns and highlights the need for increased vigilance and defensive measures by law enforcement and social media platforms.
20-Jul-2023
The Kartarpur Corridor was closed from July 20 until July 22 due to rising water levels in the Ravi river caused by heavy rain and water releases from the Ujh river in Jammu and the Ranjit Sagar Dam.
20-Jul-2023
Ferozepur district has recorded the highest number of First Information Reports (FIR) under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in the ongoing anti-drug smuggling drive by Punjab Police, with 795 cases registered between July 5, 2022, and July 7, 2023. The initiative was launched following an announcement by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to combat drug smuggling in the state. However, the maximum haul of heroin was made from the border districts of Amritsar (Rural), Fazilka, and Tarn Taran. Amritsar (Rural) recorded the highest recovery of heroin at 196.87 kg, while Ferozepur reported the most drug-related FIRs. The total seizures in the given period include heroin (1073.44 kg), opium (797.14 kg), poppy husk (375.47 quintals), and pills/capsules (65,49,389).
20-Jul-2023
Two gangsters of the Deepu Banur gang, identified as Ravi Kumar alias Ravi Banur and Som Dutt, were arrested by the operation cell of Chandigarh Police near Shiv Temple in Phase 2, Chandigarh on July 20. Their accomplice, Amandeep Singh alias Mani Rajput, is at large. Ravi Kumar is a cousin of Deepak Banur, a close aide of Lawrence Bishnoi. The gang targeted prominent businessmen in the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula). The trio was allegedly operating on the directions of gangster Gurjant Singh alias Janta.
20-Jul-2023
Chief Judicial Magistrate Aman Inder Singh Sandhu on July 20 gave a two-month deadline to decide on the recommendation for the early release of Shamsher Singh, a convict in the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Beant Singh. The order came in response to Shamsher Singh's bail application, following a Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling in January to grant regular bail to convicts who completed their life sentence but awaited a decision on permanent release. The court noted that Shamsher Singh had served 27 years, six months, and 18 days in prison as of July 8, and his behaviour inside the jail was commendable. The Superintendent of Model Jail, Chandigarh, had recommended his premature release on July 13.
19-Jul-2023
Kirandeep Kaur, the wife of imprisoned Khalistani separatist and chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD), Amritpal Singh, was stopped from leaving the country for the third time on July 19 at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport in New Delhi. According to sources, her travel plans were allegedly linked to an upcoming ceremony honouring the slain Khalistani leader Avtar Singh Khanda, the 'chief' of Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), who passed away in the United Kingdom (UK) on July 15 under mysterious circumstances. Authorities are concerned that Kirandeep may deliver inflammatory speeches in the UK, potentially fuelling hatred against India. However, she blamed the government and agencies for stopping her.
19-Jul-2023
Punjab Police’s State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) on July 19 arrested a member of the Goldy Brar-Lawrence Bishnoi gang, identified as Kashmir Singh alias Bobby Shooter, and recovered one country-made pistol along with two live cartridges from him in Khanna in Ludhiana district.
19-Jul-2023
Gangster Surinder Pal Singh alias Billa, a member of the Bambhia gang, surrendered to the police on July 19, four days after escaping from custody at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital in Faridkot. He had fled while receiving treatment for a bullet injury sustained during an exchange of fire with the police.
18-Jul-2023
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), threatened Indian leaders Union Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Indian High Commissioner of India to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma in a video circulated on social media. He accused them of being responsible for the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and offered a reward of 125,000 dollars to anyone providing information about the foreign visits of these leaders. In the video, Pannun can be heard saying, “The Sikh Qaum has not forgotten its history and how to use weapons. Sikhs For Justice is offering a reward of 125,000 dollars to anyone who informs about the foreign visits of these Indian leaders. These Indian leaders are our targets now.”
18-Jul-2023
In a joint operation, the Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police on July 18 intercepted a Pakistani drone and recovered 2.35 kg of heroin near fields in Kalsian Khurd village in Tarn Taran district of Punjab.
18-Jul-2023
According to reports, the Ludhiana district in Punjab is grappling with a severe drug addiction crisis, with an alarming number of drug-related cases being reported. The region has witnessed tragic incidents, including deaths resulting from drug overdose. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCB) data from 2021 ranks Ludhiana as the most severely affected district in Punjab concerning drug addiction.
18-Jul-2023
Police arrested one person identified as Manjeet and recovered 16.26 gm of heroin from him near Government College for Girls, Sector 42, Mohali.
17-Jul-2023
The Amritsar City Police's Criminal Investigation Agency (CIA) staff arrested an alleged member of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang, identified as Deepak Rathi alias Dhillon alias Parvesh Haryanvi, in Kolhapur, Maharashtra on July 17. According to Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Abhimanyu Rana, Deepak is alleged to be one of the shooters involved in the killing of gangster Jarnail Singh in Sathiala village in Amritsar district on May 24. Deepak has multiple cases of attempted murder and dacoity registered against him in Haryana, Delhi, and Punjab.
17-Jul-2023
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann, on July 17, participated in a virtual meeting on 'Drug Trafficking and National Security' and urged Union Home Minister (UMH) Amit Shah to make drone registration mandatory in order to combat cross-border smuggling of weapons and drugs. He also suggested the installation of anti-drone technology or jammers along the International Border (IB) with Pakistan. Mann proposed the establishment of a regional drone forensic lab in Punjab to trace the origin and routes of drones. He emphasized his government's efforts in addressing drug trafficking through a three-pronged strategy of enforcement, de-addiction, and prevention (EDP).
17-Jul-2023
Khanna police on July 17 arrested two persons, Abhishek Saxena and Aman and recovered three illegal country-made pistols of .315 bore from their backpacks in Khanna, Ludhiana district. On July 20, a country-made .315 bore pistol was also recovered based on the information provided by them. According to Khanna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amneet Kondal, during questioning, the accused revealed that they were friends and had connected with an unidentified person through Instagram. This person provided them with illegal weapons and instructed them to supply the weapons to Ludhiana.
17-Jul-2023
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials revealed on July 17 that a Pakistani arms supplier based in Dubai, UAE, identified as Hamid had provided the weapons used in the murder of Punjabi singer and politician Sidhu Moosewala. Hamid claimed to have close ties with gangster Goldy Brar alias Satinderjit Singh, a close associate of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Moosewala was shot dead by six assailants in the Mansa district of Punjab on May 29, 2022. NIA documents reveal that Shahbaz Ansari, an arms supplier for the Bishnoi gang, met Hamid in Dubai prior to Moosewala's murder to discuss arms smuggling and the supply of weapons to Lawrence Bishnoi. The investigation is also examining the connection between Khalistani terror group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and Moosewala's murder.
17-Jul-2023
Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Minister S. Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal on July 17 criticized Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann and urged him to refrain from dictating to the Khalsa Panth on how it should manage its religious affairs or disseminate the teachings of the great Guru Sahiban to the Sikh Sangat through the sacred Gurbani and its telecast mode.
17-Jul-2023
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Headquarters Sukhchain Singh Gill, on July 17, revealed that Punjab Police's year-long battle against drugs has resulted in the arrest of 16,360 drug smugglers, including 2,351 major players. They have registered 12,218 FIRs, with 1,458 related to commercial quantity. During this period, the police seized 1220.94 kg of heroin, 797.14-kg opium, 902.13-kg ganja, 375.47 quintals of poppy husk, and 65.49 lakhs tablets/capsules/injections/vials of pharma opioids from across the state. The police also seized INR 12.33 crore in drug money and forfeited properties worth INR 26.72 crore from 66 major smugglers. Additionally, law and order have improved, with the police dismantling 18 terror modules and 208 gangster/criminal modules, arresting 143 terrorists/radicals after recovering 31 rifles, 209 revolvers/pistols, 5 tiffin improvised explosive devices (IEDs), 6.78 kg RDX and other explosives, 10 hand grenades, one sleeve of disposed rocket launcher, 51 drones, and one loaded rocket-propelled grenade.
17-Jul-2023
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has opened two offices in Amritsar, Punjab, which were virtually inaugurated by Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah on July 17. The objective of this move is to strengthen the fight against drug peddlers in the border state.