KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
13-Mar-2023
Police on March 13 arrested an alleged aide of pro-Khalistan activist Amritpal Singh, identified as Sukhmander Singh in connection with an attempt to murder and robbery case from Amritsar. Karanjit Singh alias Vicky was assaulted and robbed by armed persons on March 5. Police also booked Gurinder Singh Ghali of Moga along with his unknown accomplices in this case.
12-Mar-2023
Gujarat Police on March 12 arrested two accused, identified as Rahul Kumar Dwivedi and Narendra Kushwaha for allegedly making threats to disrupt a cricket match at the behest of the pro-Khalistan organization Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) from Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh. During the search, police also seized 11 sim boxes, each of which could hold 300 sim cards, and four routers. Prior to the India-Australia cricket match, which was attended by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese, a mass message which warned that a pro-Khalistan group planned to storm the cricket stadium and raise its flag was sent out widely.
12-Mar-2023
A panel formed by the Akal Takht to decide whether the "saroop" (copy) of the Guru Granth Sahib can be brought to protest sites submitted its report on March 12. A spokesperson from the Akal Takht secretariat stated that a decision on the matter will be made public after the meeting of the "Panj Singh Sahiban," or five Sikh high priests, on March 14 at the Gurdwara Manji Sahib Diwan Hall in the Golden Temple complex.
11-Mar-2023
Panthic bodies and activists, led by former militant leader and All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) president Daljit Singh Bittu, on March 11 announced to call a World Sikh Convention on June 28, to liberate the Akal Takht, the highest Sikh temporal seat, from the influence of electoral bodies and revive old Sikh traditions. Bittu said, “The international gathering will be hosted at Anandpur Sahib on Miri-Piri Divas (June 28) this year. The intention is to address the current challenges facing Sikhs around the world today, with a primary focus on coming to a collective resolution on re-establishing panch pardhani (collective) leadership and gurmatta-based decision-making at Akal Takht Sahib”. “Sikh organisations, institutions and representatives will be invited from all over the world to participate in the effort to liberate Akal Takht Sahib from the influence of electoral parties and shift its governance processes in line with panthic tradition and collective decision-making,” he said.
11-Mar-2023
Australia's Prime Minister (PM) Anthony Albanese during his visit to New Delhi on March 11 stated that Australia will not tolerate any extremist activities or attacks on places of worship, particularly Hindu temples in Australia. He further assured that "we will take every measure through our security agencies and police to make sure that whoever is guilty of this faces the full force of the law. Australia is a tolerant, multicultural country, thus this activity has no place there”.
11-Mar-2023
Inspector General of Police (IG, Ludhiana Zone) Kaustubh Sharma on March 11 disclosed that Lovejeet Kang, a gangster based in the United States (US), along with his accomplices, recruited Punjab youths into their gang using social media platforms. According to him, the gang members would identify financially vulnerable youth and notify Kang, who would offer them financial assistance before recruiting them into his gang.
11-Mar-2023
Border Security Force (BSF) recovered approximately 3.05 kg of heroin dropped by drone near Dhanoe Kalan village in Amritsar district on March 11. According to reports, the drone was fired by the BSF troops, but it managed to escape back to the Pakistani border.
10-Mar-2023
Nakodar Sadar police arrested a drug peddler, identified as Yadwindar Singh, and recovered 70 grams of opium from his possession in Sidhupur village in Nakodar in Jalandhar district.
10-Mar-2023
The Nurmahal police arrested a drug peddler, identified as Indarjit Singh along with 65 intoxicating capsules and 120 tablets in Sanghe Khalsa village in Nurmahal in Jalandhar district.
10-Mar-2023
Australian Prime Minister (PM) Anthony Albanese and Indian PM Narendra Modi discussed the latest attacks by Khalistan supporters on Hindu temples in Australia during the bilateral meeting on March 10 in New Delhi. The discussion was held in response to pro-Khalistan extremists vandalizing a number of notable temples in Australian cities like Melbourne and Brisbane. “It is a matter of regret that reports of attacks on temples have come regularly from Australia over the past few weeks. It is natural that such news worries everyone in India, disturbs our mind," said PM Narendra Modi in a joint press conference with Albanese. According to Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, Albanese assured Modi that the Australian authorities will deal with the matter to assure social stability. “The Prime Minister mentioned to the Prime Minister of Australia that this is something that disrupts the peace and harmony of both our societies and there is a need to take cognizance of the challenge that this represents," said Kwatra.
10-Mar-2023
The secretary for information and broadcasting, Apurva Chandra on March 10 stated that at least six foreign-operated YouTube channels that were allegedly promoting pro-Khalistan sentiments were blocked at the instance of the central government during the past ten days. He also said that these channels with Punjabi-language content were trying to stir up trouble in the border state of Punjab.
10-Mar-2023
The Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) vice-chancellor Jaspal Singh Sandhu and police on March 10 denied Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s claim that he had raised Khalistan flag at GNDU. A police official investigating the issue said that, “We didn’t find anything with regards to the claims of Pannun; there is much likely possibility of fake videos sent by SFJ to gain popularity in media.” Earlier, ahead of the visit of President Droupadi Murmu, on March 9, Pannun, in a video message, claimed to have put banners eulogizing Khalistan on the walls of GNDU.
10-Mar-2023
According to reports, Punjab police have begun acting against people promoting a pro-Khalistan hysteria and campaign on social media and are gradually tightening the noose around Waris Punjab De (WPD) activists. After the Ajnala incident, the Punjab police reportedly designed a plan to weaken Amritpal Singh's roots in Punjab. The first step was to start the process of canceling the arms licenses of WPD activists, followed by the arrest of Gurinderpal Singh who is a close ally of Amritpal Singh. Further action against WPD activists is expected to follow the G-20 summits in Amritsar.
09-Mar-2023
The pro-Khalistani outfit, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), put up Khalistani posters at Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar on March 9. The posters were hung on the Guru Nanak Dev University's walls with the slogan, "Welcome G-20 leaders to Khalistan; Punjab is not India; Khalistan Zindabad." Notably, SFJ, earlier, called for ‘Rail Roko' (impeding trains) all across the state on March 15 and 16 in an attempt to disrupt the sessions of the G20 summit 2023, which is scheduled to take place in Amritsar.
09-Mar-2023
A day after the Manikaran incident (Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh), around 100 Punjabi pilgrims protested and shouted pro-Khalistan slogans by blocking the Chandigarh-Manali highway Himachal Pradesh border on March 9. According to reports, the pilgrims brandished swords and clubs, hurled stones at shops and cars, and attacked local people during a fair in Manikaran. Meanwhile, pilgrims also refused to pay the Green Tax at the Manali entry.
09-Mar-2023
According to police sources, during the investigation of the murder case of Jagraon electrician Paramjit Singh, police have found the involvement of Bathinda-based gangster Lucky Khokhar alias Denis. He is currently lodged in a jail in Rajasthan after being arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) from Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan. Based on the information provided by the shooters arrested in the murder case, Ludhiana police have initiated proceedings to bring Denis on a production warrant for questioning. According to Police, gangster-turned-terrorist Arsh Dalla had assigned Denis to execute the electrician.
09-Mar-2023
Punjab police on March 9 arrested a close aide of Amritpal Singh, identified as Gurinderpal Singh Aujla at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar in Amritsar district. The Jalandhar police were looking for him in a case of allegedly brandishing weapons on social media. Aujla is a United Kingdom (UK)-based NRI (Non-Resident Indian), who was trying to leave the country and travel to UK as per police report.
09-Mar-2023
Khanna police on March 9 busted a module of the Lovejeet Kang gang and arrested six of its members along with 13 weapons, 11 magazines, three live cartridges, and two vehicles in Ludhiana in Ludhiana district. They were involved in the abduction of people and demanded ransom worth several crores across the state. Lovejeet Kang, currently residing in the United States (US), was booked by the Kapurthala police in January 2023 when he had demanded INR 3 crore from an NRI (Non-Resident Indian) after kidnapping the NRI’s father.
09-Mar-2023
The crime branch of the Chandigarh police arrested a drug dealer identified as Amandeep Singh (29) on March 9 from Kapurthala in Kapurthala District. He was earlier arrested by Punjab in a drug seizure case.
09-Mar-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) shot down a drone and recovered weapons including, an AK series rifle, two magazines, and 40 bullets along the International Border (IB) in the Nabi Nagar village in Gurdaspur district on March 9.