KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
03-May-2023
Police on May 3 arrested a man, identified as Gaurav Pandit for allegedly posting objectionable comments on social media against Sikh gurus and the community, in Yamunanagar district of Haryana.
03-May-2023
Police and Border Security Force (BSF) troops on May 3 arrested two persons from Firozpur in Punjab, when they came to collect heroin smuggled via a drone from Pakistan in Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan. The men were found with a country-made pistol and three phones.
03-May-2023
Two men, who were arrested in March for allegedly sending pro-Khalistan voice messages ahead of the India-Australia cricket match, have been denied bail by a sessions court in Ahmedabad, Gujrat on May 3. The messages threatened to disrupt the match and were sent using a sim box, allegedly by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ).
03-May-2023
The Uttarakhand special task force has discovered that Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a leader of banned pro-Khalistani group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), used a Japanese telecommunications company to make threat calls to recipients in India while sitting in United States (US). The police have written to the company for further action, but are yet to receive a reply. Pannun had made threat calls to police officers, media persons and government employees in the state ahead of the three-day G20 event in Ramnagar near Nainital, a city in Uttarakhand in March.
03-May-2023
The Supreme Court (SC) on May 3 denied the commutation of the death sentence of Balwant Singh Rajoana, a Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist convicted of assassinating former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh. The court has directed the Centre to decide on Rajoana's request for compassion. The decision was made by a panel of three judges who had reserved their decision in March 2023, due to the Centre's delayed decision on Rajoana's mercy petition.
03-May-2023
The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) has started the ‘Akhand Path’ to celebrate the 300th birth centenary of Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia at the Bunga Ramgarhia in the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab. The main event will be held at Gurdwara Sri Manji Sahib Diwan Hall on May 5, which will be attended by Singh Sahibs, Jathedars of Takht Sahibs, heads of various sects and prominent personalities of the Panth.
03-May-2023
According to reports, Chinese-made DJI Matrice 300 RTK drones with advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities have become a popular tool for Pakistani smugglers to drop drugs, arms, and ammunition in Punjab from across the border. Border Security Force (BSF) officials have seized 10 drones in 2023, with eight being Matrice 300 RTK models. The drones are equipped with high-definition cameras that can live record and take pictures, and up to three payloads can be mounted on them simultaneously. They can also be operated with dual remote controls having an HD screen. At least 30 drone intrusions have been reported at the Punjab border this year, with BSF having captured 22 drones last year. The BSF is hopeful of acquiring an effective anti-drone technology soon to combat the threat.
02-May-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on May 2 arrested two suspected drug smugglers, identified as Harjinder Pal Singh and Lovepreet Singh from near the Kaku Singh Wala border post in Abohar in Fazilka district. According to BSF, they were carrying out a reconnaissance mission to locate a suitable spot to receive a drug shipment from across the border.
02-May-2023
The Garhshankar police arrested two smugglers and recovered drugs and liquor from their possession in Hoshiarpur district on May 2.
02-May-2023
Tanda police arrested one person, identified as Suraj and seized 58 gm of intoxicating powder from him in Hoshiarpur district on May 2.
02-May-2023
Mukerian police arrested a drug smuggler, identified as Sunil Kumar and seized 100 gm of heroin from him in Hoshiarpur district on May 2.
01-May-2023
Pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh, who was arrested on April 23 in Punjab’s Moga district after a month-long manhunt, has refused to disclose his sources of money and poses a threat to peace and security, according to officials. He has pledged to fight against drugs and conversions if released but authorities fear he will resume his previous activities. His arrest has raised concerns about a resurgence of militancy in Punjab.
01-May-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) seized 2.5 kg of heroin that were dropped by a drone from Pakistan in Setha Wala village in Ferozepur district on May 1. The BSF recovered three packets of heroin, two sparkling balls, and a luminous blue LED bulb with battery attached to the consignment. This is the fifth incident of drug seizure in the past five days along the International Border in Punjab.
01-May-2023
A study conducted by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), focused on the drug addiction problem in Punjab and neighbouring states, found that more than 95% of respondents believed that politicians were distributing drugs to woo voters and that some leaders were involved in the drug trade. The addicts also talked about a nexus between political leaders, police officials, and drug smugglers. The study also mentioned media reports that had previously exposed the police-drug-politician nexus. The researchers emphasized that it was impossible to break the supply chain of drugs without punishing the major players involved in it.
01-May-2023
Police arrested a drug peddler, Lakhwinder Singh following the recovery of 1 kg of heroin from his fields near the barbed fencing at Kilche village in Ferozepur sector in Ferozepur district on May 1.
01-May-2023
Police arrested two associates of gangsters Lakhbir Singh Landa and Satnam Singh alias Satta Naushehra, identified as Jobanjit Singh and Joginder Singh alias Rinku in Amritsar on May 1. The arrests were made in connection with a recent shooting incident in Naraingarh area in Punjab. The suspects were acting on the directions of Ravisher Singh, who is currently in Portugal and is an accomplice of Landa and Satta.
30-Apr-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) seized 1 kg of heroin near the International Border in Ferozepur sector in Ferozepur district on April 30.
29-Apr-2023
On April 29, members of pro-Khalistan outfit Dal Khalsa gathered at Akal Takht in Amritsar and demanded the formation of Khalistan. They celebrated April 29 as Khalistan Declaration Day and held placards with messages promoting Khalistan. They claimed that Sikhs were promised a sovereign nation in 1947, but India did not fulfil its promise. They insinuated that the demand for Khalistan is a "conflict between Punjab and India". They appealed to the international community to press India to let the people have the right to self-determination. The spokesperson of Dal Khalsa claimed that India wants to solve the political problem in Punjab using armed forces and that they do not want violence. They also claimed that the people of Kashmir and Nagaland should have the right to self-determination.
29-Apr-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered 1.5 kg of heroin from fields near the International Border (IB) in Amritsar sector of Amritsar district on April 29.
29-Apr-2023
To commemorate Khalistan Declaration Day, Bhai Daljit Singh issued a statement on April 29.