KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
26-Feb-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) shot down a drone, identified as Chinese made DJI Matrice, along the Indian territory near Shahjada village of Amritsar district on February 26.
26-Feb-2023
The police arrested two persons, identified as Karan and Preet Kamal for allegedly possessing heroin and recovered 15 gm and 20 gm of heroin from each of them in Amritsar in Amritsar district.
26-Feb-2023
The Central government on February 26 suspended the Instagram profile of the Waris Punjab De head, Khalistani sympathizer Amritpal Singh. Notably, Amritpal’s account was a verified account with Blue Tick and used for running his pro-Khalistani agenda.
25-Feb-2023
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Singh on February 25 condemned supporters of Khalistan sympathiser and Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh's aide, Lovepreet, aka Toofan Singh, for using the Sikh holy book as a "shield" during their recent protest at Ajnala police station. CM tweeted in Punjabi, “Those who take the Guru Granth Sahib to police stations as a shield cannot be called ‘waris (the heirs)’ of Punjab and Punjabiyat in any way,".
25-Feb-2023
Sukhbir Singh Badal, the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), criticized Amritpal and his supporters for allegedly committing sacrilege at Ajnala. He pointed out, "This is shocking, unbelievable and unforgivable. Never in Sikh history has anyone ever shown such brazen disrespect to the Guru Granth Sahib Ji as was done at Ajnala". Also, Giani Harpreet Singh, the jathedar of the Akal Takht, constituted a subcommittee on February 25 to examine the dos and don'ts of where the Sikh holy book can be carried in order to preserve its status and honour. According to Sarbat Khalsa's Dhian Singh Mand, the Guru Granth Sahib should not have been taken for personal purposes.
25-Feb-2023
Sukhbir Singh Badal, the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), criticized Amritpal and his supporters for allegedly committing sacrilege at Ajnala. He pointed out, "This is shocking, unbelievable and unforgivable. Never in Sikh history has anyone ever shown such brazen disrespect to the Guru Granth Sahib Ji as was done at Ajnala". Also, Giani Harpreet Singh, the jathedar of the Akal Takht, constituted a subcommittee on February 25 to examine the dos and don'ts of where the Sikh holy book can be carried in order to preserve its status and honour. According to Sarbat Khalsa's Dhian Singh Mand, the Guru Granth Sahib should not have been taken for personal purposes.
25-Feb-2023
Amritpal Singh, while addressing the media in Ajnala on February 25 claimed that the Ajnala incident was not violent. He said, "You are counting sloganeering and hoisting the flags (Khalistani), as violence... you have not seen the real violence till now, the real violence is yet to be seen," He also stated that, violence was 'sacred'. "Suppressed people choose violence. People say violence is very bad, but violence is very sacred. Guru Gobind Singh Ji said, when you have no choice, then holding a sword is right," he said.
25-Feb-2023
Amritpal Singh on February 25 said that the Anjala violent incident and subsequent release of Lovepreet Singh will "change the course of the future". He further said that the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) could not claim ignorance of the situation. It wasn't that he was unaware of the situation. He also stated that Punjab Police acted hastily based on incorrect intelligence reports.The incident at Ajnala police station in Amritsar on February 23 could have been prevented if police had been more vigilant and his aide Lovepreet Singh Toofan had not been arrested, he said.
24-Feb-2023
On February 24, in an interview with India Today, Amritpal Singh, who is the head of 'Waris Punjab De', said, "There is no revival but survival. Khalistan is not a taboo and the demand is being made to end suffering. I won’t even call myself a preacher." He said, “Once we will make Khalistan here, we will go to Lahore". He had previously threatened the police to face serious consequences, if the case against his aide was not closed. Based on a complaint filed by Varinder Singh, Amritpal Singh and his five aides were charged with kidnapping, theft, rioting, and other offenses.
24-Feb-2023
The Senior Superintendent of Punjab Police (SSP) Harpal Singh Randhawa stated that, "What happened on February 23 should not have happened. Because Amritpal (Singh) had brought Guru Granth Sahib with him, the Punjab Police did not retaliate. Things would have gone wrong if we had retaliated. We respected Guru Granth Sahib”. The SSP also said that Amritpal had previously stated that he would only hold peaceful dharnas. "But he lied to us. His supporters attacked the Punjab Police, but we did nothing since Guru Granth Sahib was in the midst."
24-Feb-2023
'Waris Punjab De' leader Amritpal Singh stated on February 24 that the goal of Khalistan should not be viewed as evil or taboo. The statement comes after massive protest over his close aide Toofan Singh's arrest. Amritpal Singh openly stated that it was his right to demand the separation of the Sikh homeland from India. "It should be seen from an intellectual point of view as to what could be its geopolitical benefits. It's an ideology and ideology never dies. We are not asking for it from Delhi," Meanwhile, several Sikh leaders have criticized the separatist leader for his divisive agenda and attempts to incite animosity between the Sikh and Hindu communities in Punjab, which have coexisted peacefully for generations.
24-Feb-2023
Two drug peddlers identified as Raj Singh Raju and Amandeep Singh, were arrested along with 75,500 intoxicating tablets on NH 62 in Abohar, Fazilka district on February 24.
23-Feb-2023
On February 23, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav assured Himachal Pradesh DGP Sanjay Kundu of his full support in combating organised inter-state crime, notably the smuggling of drugs and illicit liquor across the Punjab-Himachal Pradesh border. He also mentioned that in order to stop the smuggling of illegal narcotics and liquor, it was decided to strengthen the closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera network at the entry and exit points across the border.
23-Feb-2023
Amritpal Singh on February 22 released a video claiming that his statements regarding Union Home Minister Amit Shah were twisted and portrayed in the wrong sense. Reportedly, a few days back Amritpal Singh released a video stating Shah will face the same fate as Indira Gandhi if he tries to stop Punjab from turning into Khalistan. On February 21, he did a press conference and said that “I did not threaten the Home Minister in any way. The agencies want to kill me. And my words were twisted and misconstrued by people.” Earlier, during Deep Sidhu’s anniversary, he stated that neither Indira nor Shah or Modi can stop from turning Punjab into Khalistan.
23-Feb-2023
During the recent nationwide raids conducted by National Investigation Agency (NIA) at 76 locations across eight states, it arrested six suspects, including a close associate of designated terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dalla, identified as Lucky Khokhar alias Denis, said NIA on February 23. According to the central counter-terrorism law enforcement agency, the other five accused who were arrested in the raid, identified as, Lakhvir Singh, Harpreet, Dalip Bishnoi, Surinder alias Chiku Chaudhary and Hari Om alias Titul. So far, NIA has revealed that they have been involved in smuggling arms, ammunition, explosives etc. across international and inter-state borders in India for several Khalistani terror outfits, including the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF).
23-Feb-2023
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed an application before the Special Judge, NIA court at Chandigarh, for issuing of proclamation proceedings against Jaswinder Singh Multani, one of the key accused of planting a bomb near the Model Jail in April 2022. In regard to the application, the NIA court has fixed the next date of hearing in the case for March 2, 2023.
23-Feb-2023
An associate of the gangster Tajinder Singh alias Teja, identified as Harinder Singh alias Soni, was arrested by the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) at Bassi Pathana of Fatehgarh Sahib district on February 23. Six cartridges and a foreign-made pistol were recovered from him. He was arrested after a brief chase and shootout, said AGTF.
23-Feb-2023
Supporters of pro-Khalistan idealogue and the 'Chief' of Waris Punjab De, Amritpal Singh, armed with swords, guns, and sharp weapons on February 23 clashed with roughly 600 Punjab Police officers, injuring several persons. According to sources, two senior policemen were injured, and a police vehicle was damaged. The protest occurred in response to the arrest of Lovepreet Singh aka Toofan who was allegedly accused in a kidnapping and assault case. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Amritsar, Satinder Singh, stated that Lovepreet would shortly release on February 24, after the completion of formalities "as per the evidence submitted before the Punjab Police" according to media reports.
22-Feb-2023
Three gangsters, identified as Teja Mehandpuria and two of his associates were shot dead in an encounter with Anti- Gang Task Force (AGTF) near the Bassi Pathana bus stand in Fatehgarh Sahib district on February 22. Two police personnel, Sub-Inspector (SI) Gurpreet Singh and constable Sukhraj, were injured in the gunfight. Police also recovered six pistols from the gangsters. Teja, who is facing around 35 cases including murder and robbery, and his accomplices were allegedly involved in the January 8 killing of constable Kuldeep Singh Bajwa in Phillaur. The policeman was part of a team chasing gangsters who had robbed a car at gunpoint in Kangjagir village. According to sources, AGTF’s operation was code-named “Fast-track” after ‘Teja’ (fast) to arrest him.
21-Feb-2023
Punjab Police on February 21 conducted a cordon and search operation (CASO) at several locations across the state and arrested 205 persons and recovered 2.8 kg of heroin and INR 2.20 lakh drug money while registering 187 cases in this connection. According to sources, the operation was conducted simultaneously in all 28 police districts of the state and targeted the ‘notorious/infamous mohallas/villages’ where drugs are prevalent or certain areas which have become shelter/safe haven for criminals and anti-social elements. Police searched 324 hotspots and questioned 5,781 people during the operation.