KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
21-Jan-2026
The Border Security Force (BSF) and the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) on January 21 recovered arms and ammunition—including three pistols, six magazines, and 150 live cartridges—from Bhindi Aulakh village near the India–Pakistan border in Amritsar district.
21-Jan-2026
On January 21, Punjab Police, on day 326 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 78 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 152 drug smugglers and seized 377 grams of heroin, 1529 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 5200 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
21-Jan-2026
On January 21, the second day of Punjab Police’s “Operation Prahar” against gangsters, 1,186 associates of foreign-based gangsters were arrested across Punjab, taking the total arrests to 2,500. Earlier, on January 20, 1,314 individuals were arrested statewide on Day 1 of the operation. Major arrests included Amritpal Singh alias Gaggu, an A-category criminal linked to the Bambiha gang with five criminal cases, and Harpreet Singh alias Preetu, a B-category criminal associated with the Jaipal Bhullar gang. Additionally, around 40 suspects were questioned and 12 proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested.
21-Jan-2026
Punjab Police on January 21 arrested a gangster, Jeevan Singh, shortly after his arrival from Dubai, at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Acting on a lookout circular, police apprehended him upon disembarkation; he was wanted in several heinous offences, including extortion cases in Punjab.
21-Jan-2026
Security forces in Delhi were placed on high alert on January 21 following intelligence inputs warning of a coordinated terrorist attack allegedly planned by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), through Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) with support from Punjab-based gangsters, on or before Republic Day (January 26), code-named “26-26.” Potential targets reportedly included the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Raghunath Temple in Jammu, and other temples and cities.
21-Jan-2026
An email received at the Shimla Deputy Commissioner’s office threatened a “suicide bombing” if Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister (CM) Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu arrives to hoist the national flag on Republic Day. Police have registered a case against an unknown person at Sadar police station, Shimla, under relevant sections. Earlier, in August 2025, a similar threat was allegedly sent by the Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), warning the CM against unfurling the Tricolour on August 15.
21-Jan-2026
The State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Mohali, on January 21 arrested Raman Kumar, a resident of Gangyal in Jammu, for alleged links with Pakistan-based terrorist Shahzad Bhatti, in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district. A .30-bore pistol was recovered from his possession on January 23 following his disclosure. Police said Kumar had been in long-standing contact with Bhatti and was acting on his directions. He was arrested in connection with an Arms Act case registered on December 10, 2025, at the SSOC Mohali police station and was brought from Ambala jail to Punjab on a production warrant and produced before a district court.
20-Jan-2026
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) and Fazilka police on January 20 arrested a gangster, identified as Pritpal Singh after he was injured in an encounter at a naka near Arniwala village in Fazilka district. He was wanted in a murder case linked to a fatal shootout near the District Judicial Court Complex on April 22, 2025.
20-Jan-2026
Police on January 20 arrested a key shooter of the Jaipal Bhullar gang, identified as Harjinder Singh alias Laddi and seized one .32-bore Beretta pistol, three empty cartridges, and two live rounds, during an encounter on the southern bypass of Patiala city in Patiala district. The gangster was injured in the encounter.
20-Jan-2026
On January 20, Punjab Police, on day 325 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 49 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 76 drug smugglers and seized 1.3 kg of heroin, 1 kg of opium, 18 kg of poppy husk, 130 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 2250 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
20-Jan-2026
Amritsar police on January 20 killed a notorious criminal, Mani Prince alias Mani Soorma, in a brief encounter and recovered a sophisticated PX5 pistol, near the Defence drain in the Gharinda area of Amritsar district. A native of Tarn Taran, Mani Soorma had around 50 FIRs against him for offences including murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, extortion, and repeated firing incidents across Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts. He had earlier been arrested on January 12 after an encounter in the Kamboh police station area in Amritsar but escaped from Guru Nanak Dev Hospital two days later after dodging the police escort.
20-Jan-2026
Jalandhar Rural police on January 20 arrested two youths, identified as Angrej Singh and Karanvir, in connection with a firing incident and seized a .30-bore pistol, one live cartridge, a cartridge shell, and a motorcycle after a brief encounter in Sohal Jagir village, Jalandhar district. The firing had occurred outside a house in Sohal Jagir village of Shahkot nine days earlier.
20-Jan-2026
The Ludhiana Commissionerate Police on January 20 said they arrested 118 criminals and recovered 13 pistols, 144 grams of heroin, 96 bottles of illicit liquor, and 430 habit-forming tablets during a major crackdown by over 100 teams of police officials in the city and localities situated on its outskirts in Ludhiana district. Several proclaimed offenders were apprehended during the raids.
20-Jan-2026
In a joint operation, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) on January 20 arrested a woman arriving from Thailand and seized 1.5 kg of suspected narcotics from her at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar district.
20-Jan-2026
Punjab Police on January 20 launched a statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahar—targeting 60 gangsters based abroad and their network of 1,200 associates in Punjab, all of whom have been arrested. Announcing the operation, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said over 12,000 police personnel are conducting raids across the state, targeting around 600 houses of gangsters’ family members and numerous hideouts, with the operation extending beyond Punjab as well. He said the drive, launched under the directions of Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann, aims to dismantle gangster networks and make Punjab free of organized crime.
20-Jan-2026
Punjab Police on January 20 announced the formation of the Overseas Fugitive Tracking & Extradition Cell (OFTEC) to track foreign-based gangsters and terrorists involved in criminal activities in the state. The cell will focus on extradition and deportation of fugitives. Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said the initiative aims to strengthen international police cooperation and address gaps in handling terrorism, organised crime, cyber, economic, and trafficking cases. Police said around 60 Punjabi gangsters are hiding abroad, mainly in Canada and the US, with red-corner notices pending against 21 of them and the rest under process.
20-Jan-2026
A Faridkot court has framed charges against 12 of the 17 accused in the murder of Gurpreet Singh, a former associate of jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh, invoking stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Amritpal Singh is also an accused, but proceedings against him are pending as he is lodged in Dibrugarh Central Jail, Assam, under the National Security Act (NSA). Four other accused are reportedly abroad. According to the prosecution, Gurpreet Singh knew about Amritpal Singh’s alleged links with gangster Jaipal Bhullar and designated terrorist Arsh Dala, also an accused in the case. Police claim Amritpal Singh conspired to have Gurpreet Singh eliminated in October 2024 to prevent exposure of these links.
20-Jan-2026
The Punjab government has told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that there is no merit, either factually or legally, in Lok Sabha MP Amritpal Singh’s petition challenging his third detention order dated April 17, 2025. The submission came as a Bench headed by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu imposed costs of INR 10,000 on the state for filing its reply on the date of hearing, despite a January 17 deadline.
20-Jan-2026
According to a report, a jailed Rajasthan criminal linked to the 2022 murder of Punjabi rapper Shubhdeep Singh alias Sidhu Moose Wala has been identified as a key operative in an interstate extortion racket run from prison. Arshad Khan, a native of Churu district, was brought to Ludhiana on a production warrant from Ferozepur Jail this week. Police allege he acted as a middleman for the Goldy Brar gang, coordinating a hit squad to intimidate a local businessman who refused to pay a ₹50 lakh extortion demand. Investigators say the case is a major breakthrough in exposing links between incarcerated gang leaders and street-level shooters.
19-Jan-2026
The Border Security Force (BSF), along with the anti-drug smuggling team, on January 19 seized 1.118 kg of heroin in the Kahangarh border outpost area of Amritsar district. The contraband packet was dropped by a drone.