KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
03-Jun-2023
Ahead of Ghalughara day on June 6, the Dal Khalsa's Facebook and Twitter accounts were disabled on June 3. Senior activist Kanwarpal Singh criticized the timing of the move. Earlier, the Dal Khalsa announced plans for a march in remembrance of Ghalughara on June 5 and called for a shutdown in Amritsar on June 6.
03-Jun-2023
A hoax bomb call near the Golden Temple in Amritsar in the early hours of June 3, ahead of the 39th anniversary of Operation Bluestar, prompted heightened alertness from the Punjab Police. After receiving a call at 1:05 am claiming that four bombs were planted near the Golden Temple, a large-scale search operation was conducted. Later, the caller, identified as Gagandeep Singh (19) from the Majith Mandi area, was arrested despite no suspicious items being found.
03-Jun-2023
In a joint operation between the Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police, a packet of 5.5 kg heroin was seized after being dropped by a drone in the fields near Rai village in Amritsar sector in Amritsar district on June 3.
03-Jun-2023
Security Forces arrested two drug smugglers, identified as Hoshiar Singh and Gurpreet Singh and recovered over 9 kilograms of heroin from them, in two separate operations in Amritsar and Fasilka districts on June 3.
02-Jun-2023
Ludhiana police increase surveillance during ‘Ghallughara Week’ the anniversary of June 1984 Operation Bluestar. Police are monitoring individuals/vehicles and social media to prevent incitement. Special instructions aim to ensure security and prevent religious animosity. Special Director-General of Police (DGP) Ishwar Singh has held a meeting to discuss security measures.
02-Jun-2023
Police in Punjab's border districts have increased security measures ahead of the anniversary of Operation Bluestar. Concerns over potential disruptions and threats from Khalistani elements and cross-border intrusions have prompted the deployment of additional forces. Police are intensifying intelligence gathering, enhancing surveillance capabilities, and conducting flag marches to counter any potential harm or chaos. Sikh For Justice (SFJ) and Dal Khalsa have called for gatherings and shop closures, adding to the security concerns.
02-Jun-2023
In response to three low-intensity blasts near the Golden Temple (on May 6, May 8, and May 10), the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has tightened security measures. Fifty high-resolution CCTVs are being installed, along with scanners at entrances and dedicated women personnel for checking.
01-Jun-2023
In a collaborative effort, the Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Polices’ Counter Intelligence (CI) unit arrested two individuals and seized 2.5 kg of heroin near the International Border (IB) in Chak Khiwa village of Jalalabad in Fazilka district on June 1. One of the accused was identified as Jaswinder Singh alias Gindu. Police alleged the accused has connections with Pakistani smugglers and drugs were dropped on the Indian side of the border by drones operated from Pakistan.
01-Jun-2023
Unidentified individuals painted "Khalistan Zindabad" slogans on a wall at Moga city's bus stand in Moga district on the intervening night of June 1 and 2. CCTV footage revealed two people exiting the bus stand around 1:30 am on June 2. Moga Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) J Elanchezhian stated that a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against unknown individuals under sections 153A, 153B, and 505 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Moga City police station.
01-Jun-2023
Police on June 1 conducted raid in Bhiwandi in Thane district of Maharashtra and recovered four SIM boxes related to an investigation into threatening messages sent on behalf of a pro-Khalistan group. Two individuals, Mashid Khan and Mohammad Shahid Alam, both residents of Bhiwandi, have been identified as the accused in the case. They are expected to be brought to Ahmedabad, and further raids are ongoing in Bhiwandi. This is the third seizure in connection to the case, with the previous two made in March in Satna, Madhya Pradesh, resulting in the arrest of two individuals who released bulk calls and audio-video messages warning against attending the India-Australia Test cricket match at Narendra Modi stadium on March 8.
01-Jun-2023
In preparation for the 39th anniversary of ‘Operation Bluestar’, Khalistani separatists have announced a complete shutdown, prompting the deployment of two companies of paramilitary forces and 5,000 Punjab Police personnel in Amritsar. Rapid Action Force (RAF) units and Punjab Police’s anti-riot forces will be present, with additional personnel from neighbouring districts.
01-Jun-2023
on June 1, the death anniversary of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) militant, Mehanga Singh Babbar, who was first to be gunned down by the security forces during the operation on June 1, was observed by the Hawara Committee in collaboration with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and other outfits at Gurdwara Baba Atal Rai Sahib situation in complex of the Central Sikh shrine.
01-Jun-2023
Surendranagar police arrested three individuals associated with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's network, identified as Akshay Bishnoi, Ankit Kankkad alias Bishnoi and Vikram Jadeja along with 176 grams of mephedrone with a street value of Rs 17.81 lakh in Gujarat. The suspects, including a close associate of Lawrence Bishnoi's brother Anmol Bishnoi, were arrested during a police operation.
01-Jun-2023
Haryana Police on June 1 arrested 10 alleged shooters linked to notorious gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldie Brar in Gurugram. Four pistols, 28 live cartridges, two vehicles, and seven police uniforms were seized from their possession. The accused had planned a major dacoity and kidnapping, intending to pose as police officers during the crime. The gang members confessed to carrying out crimes under the instructions of Bishnoi and Brar, who are believed to be residing abroad. Multiple cases have been registered against the arrested individuals in various districts of Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan.
31-May-2023
Punjab Police's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) on May 31 arrested Gurveer Singh alias Guri, one of the accused involved in the murder of Jarnail Singh in Amritsar's Sathiala village on May 24. Police also recovered one .32 caliber pistol along with seven live cartridges from him. The arrest follows the identification of the Bambiha gang's role in the crime, with the police releasing pictures of 10 gang members involved.
31-May-2023
Khalistani separatist outfit, Dal Khalsa, on May 31 called for a shutdown in Amritsar on June 6 to mark the 39th anniversary of Operation Bluestar. They have also announced a remembrance march on June 5 in the city. The shutdown is limited to business, commercial, and educational institutions, with no disruption to transportation, medical services, or traffic. According to the leaders, the call aims to protest against the killings of innocent pilgrims and the demolition of the Akal Takht during the 1984 Army operation. The outfit urged non-Sikh residents to express solidarity by closing their businesses.
31-May-2023
According to reports, during the state-wide crackdown against drug traffickers called "Operation Clean”, the Punjab Police failed to find any drugs in the rural areas of Jalandhar. Despite being touted as the "biggest crackdown," the operation yielded no substantial results. The police targeted 76 identified commercial drug smugglers and conducted raids on their establishments, but most of them were either absconding, in jail, or out on bail.
31-May-2023
The Sehajdhari Sikh Party (SSP) has raised concerns over whether Sikh women who avail beauty services, such as haircuts and facial hair removal, will be eligible to vote in the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) elections. The issue arose after the Gurdwara Election Commission's chief commissioner sent a letter to the Punjab government outlining the eligibility criteria for Sikh voters. The SSP president questioned whether Sikh women who remove their hair, including facial hair, can be registered as voters. The matter highlights the need for clarity regarding the eligibility criteria for Sikh women in SGPC elections.
31-May-2023
The Dal Khalsa, a Khalistani separatist organization, on May 31 announced a 'Holocaust (Ghallughara) Remembrance Parade' in Amritsar on June 5 to commemorate the 1984 army assault on Darbar Sahib and Akal Takhat. They urged local gurudwara committees in Punjab to hold prayer gatherings and pass resolutions against "Operation Blue Star." The organization emphasized the need for grassroots engagement in expressing Sikh pain and not leaving the responsibility solely to representative groups. They criticized Sikh leaders who joined BJP and AAP for attempting to erase this period from public memory. The Dal Khalsa also condemned the Delhi police's violence against women wrestlers during a protest.
31-May-2023
Jaswinder Singh Multani, a member of the banned pro-Khalistan outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), was declared a proclaimed offender by a National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Chandigarh on May 31. The declaration comes in relation to a case involving the alleged planting of a bomb near a jail in April 2022. The court has instructed the NIA to provide a list of the accused's properties, with the case adjourned until July 31. Multani, a pro-Khalistan terrorist, is named in multiple FIRs in Punjab.