KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
17-Jun-2023
Police arrested Dilbag Singh, a warder employed at the district jail in Muktsar on June 17 when he was allegedly caught carrying 52-gm of heroin, 460 sedative pills and 95-gm intoxicant powder from the jail complex. Following the discovery, the jail authorities promptly notified the police, who subsequently registered a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
17-Jun-2023
The National Investigating Agency (NIA), on June 17, took over the investigation into the attacks carried out by Khalistan supporters on Indian Missions in the United States (US) and Canada in March. Previously, a related investigation concerning the violent protests at the Indian High Commission in London was also handed over to the NIA. Delhi Police had registered First Information Reports (FIR) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for the March attacks. Pro-Khalistan protesters had earlier vandalized the Indian Consulate in San Francisco and attempted to damage the Indian High Commission in London, leading to strong protests from India. The NIA released CCTV footage seeking public assistance in identifying the culprits involved in the London attack.
17-Jun-2023
A committee of Sikh intellectuals, on June 17 submitted a report formulating the rules and regulations for appointment and removal of Jathedars of all Takhts to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), following the recent appointment of Giani Raghbir Singh as the Jathedar of Akal Takht.
17-Jun-2023
Bilga police on June 17 arrested two proclaimed offenders (POs), one of whom is a woman who had been evading capture for several months, identified as Kamaljit Kaur alias Rekha and Ranjit Singh, in Jalandhar district.
17-Jun-2023
the Nurmahal police arrested Avtar Singh, who was wanted in connection with a case involving drug peddling, in Nurmahal in Jalandhar district on June 17.
16-Jun-2023
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) on June 16 instructed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take over cases related to pro-Khalistan protests at the Indian consulate in San Francisco, United States (US), and the Indian High Commission in Ottawa, Canada. The move follows previous directives to the NIA to investigate similar Khalistani protests in London, United Kingdom (UK), which revealed a potential connection with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The NIA had questioned Waris Punjab De (WPD) chief Amritpal Singh and associates in Dibrugarh jail in Assam over the London incident. The UMHA suspects that these protests in Canada, the UK, and the US may have been coordinated. The protests involved anti-India slogans, the display of Khalistani flags, and the throwing of grenades at the Indian High Commission in Ottawa, resulting in injuries to an Assistant Consular Officer. The NIA is expected to file fresh cases and conduct a comprehensive investigation into these incidents.
16-Jun-2023
The Nakodar Sardar Police on June 16, recommended Omkar Nath’s, a follower of Khalistani separatist Amritpal Singh, arms licence for cancellation citing concerns of potential involvement in anti-social activities. The recommendation comes after verifying Nath's arms license and confirming his sympathy towards the ideology of Waris Punjab De (WPD). Nath owns a revolver, and his license is valid until June 2026.
16-Jun-2023
Acting Jathedar of Shri Akal Takht Sahib Giani Harpreet Singh was resigned from the post and Giani Raghbir Singh was appointed as the new Jathedar on June 16. The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) executive committee held on June 16. While the exact reasons for his resignation are unclear, reports suggest criticism from Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for attending an engagement ceremony of an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha may have played a role.
16-Jun-2023
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on June 16, was granted visas for 205 pilgrims to travel to Pakistan in observance of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's death anniversary. The pilgrims are scheduled to leave on June 21 and will participate in events at Gurdwara Dehra Sahib in Lahore.
16-Jun-2023
A member of the Davinder Bambiha gang, Jaswant Singh alias Jassa Hoshiarpuria, was arrested by the Anti Gangster Task Force (AGTF) of Punjab Police on June 16 from Tipra village near Banur, Panchkula district of Himachal Pradesh. One pistol along with five live cartridges were recovered from the accused. Preliminary investigations suggest that Jaswant Singh was involved in criminal activities targeting the Punjabi music industry, including extortion and posting threatening messages on social media.
15-Jun-2023
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has called an emergency meeting on June 16 in Amritsar, and the agenda is rumoured to be either the appointment of a regular Jathedar for Akal Takht or finding a replacement for the current Jathedar, Giani Harpreet Singh. Giani Harpreet Singh has been holding the officiating charge since October 2018 and has been vocal about Shiromani Akali Dal’s (SAD) deviation from Sikh affairs.
15-Jun-2023
Punjab Police on June 15 dismantled an international narco-terror module connected to Jammu and Kashmir by arresting five members of the module, identified as Gurpreet Singh alias Sajan, Rahul, Nikhil Kumar and Neeraj Jaswal of Amritsar, and Daljit Singh during a barricading operation near Naka Babri bypass in Gurdaspur district. The Police recovered INR 40-lakh drug money, 15 gm of heroin, one glock pistol along with its two magazines and eight live rounds, a pistol of .32 bore along with its magazine and 20 live rounds, four rounds of .11 bore, a Swift car, and a motorcycle.
15-Jun-2023
India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, criticized Canada's stance on terrorism and human rights violations, suggesting it was driven by vote-bank politics rather than genuine concern. He referred to a recent Sikh rally in Canada where separatist sentiments and violence against India were displayed. Jaishankar highlighted the issue of providing space to extremists and separatists, urging Canada, the UK, and Australia to learn from history and avoid accommodating such elements.
15-Jun-2023
A Mohali court has allowed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to examine accused Nishan Singh of Tarn Taran and Amandeep Singh alias Sonu of Amritsar, in Faridkot and Sangrur jails in connection with the RPG attack on the Punjab Police’ Intelligence Headquarters in Mohali on May 9, 2022. The court directed the superintendents of both jails to allow NIA officials to examine the duo and provide appropriate place and facilities in that regard.
14-Jun-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on June 14 seized 2.6 kg of heroin on the outskirts of Maboke Village in Ferozepur district of Punjab.
14-Jun-2023
In a joint operation on June 14 by the Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police, a drone was recovered around 9 am, on the outskirts of Dal village in Tarn Taran district of Punjab. The recovered drone is a Quadcopter of model DJI Matrice 300 RTK series
14-Jun-2023
Three members of Waris Punjab De (WDP), Bhagwant Singh, Basant Singh and Kulwant Singh Rauke, on June 14 filed a petition in Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) challenging the charges under the National Security Act (NSA) filed against them by the Punjab Government.
14-Jun-2023
On June 14, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) shared photos of individuals believed to be involved in the violent demonstration at the Indian High Commission in London in March, orchestrated by Khalistan supporters. This action followed the NIA's release of CCTV footage the previous day, which depicted the moments leading up to the attack on the high commission by protesters aligned with the pro-Khalistani movement.
13-Jun-2023
According to sources, Amritpal Singh, the arrested leader of Waris Punjab De (WPD), suffers from schizophrenia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and also takes Fludac tablet. Sources also said that Amritpal has remained tight-lipped during interrogation by the police. Police are looking for Bikramjit Tarun Rathi, a close associate of Amritpal and the treasurer of WPD. Investigators are focusing on tracing the money trail connected to his separatist activities, suspecting funding from Sikh religious organizations and abroad. Additionally, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has questioned Amritpal and his associates regarding their involvement in the Khalistan-related violence outside the Indian High Commission in London. Sources also revealed that Amritpal was aided by one Nimrat Bajwa, a Sirsa-based businessman before his arrest. Punjab police is also inquiring about his whereabouts.
13-Jun-2023
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), in a charge sheet filed on March 25 against Canada-based Satinder Singh alias Goldy Brar and jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, the details of which are emerging now, has linked Khalistanis and Gangsters to Nabha and Bargari Cases. According to the charge sheet, the Bargari agitation in 2015 and the Nabha jailbreak in 2016 brought together gangsters and Khalistanis in North India. The Jailbreak had led to the escape of terrorists Harminder Singh alias Mintoo , the chief of Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and Kashmir Singh Galwandi (a KLF terrorist) and four gangsters. The NIA claims that this alliance, facilitated by Pakistan's spy agency, created a network involved in high-profile killings, drug smuggling, and arms trafficking. The Charge sheet also reveals that now deceased chief of KLF Harmeet Singh alias PhD was approached by gangster Dharminder Singh alias Gugn seeking weapons. Gugni supplied weapons to Hardeep Singh alias Shera and Ramandeep Singh alias Canadian, who carried out targeted killings. Their victims included Brigadier Jagdish Gagneja (vice president of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), Punjab, Shiv Sena leaders Durga Das Gupta and Amit Sharma, RSS leader Ravinder Gosain, and followers of Dera Sacha Sauda. The charge sheet also reveals connections between Pakistan-based Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) leaders and the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which spanned multiple states and facilitated criminal activities and the movement of funds. The investigation highlights the interplay between terrorism, organized crime, and foreign support, with funds being sent to countries like Canada, the US, Thailand, and Australia.