KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
08-May-2026
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA)on May 8 arrested a Nigerian woman, identified as Bella, along with her taxi driver Dilip Kumar and recovered 3.069 kg of heroin from their possession, at the Goindwal Sahib bypass in Tarn Taran district. The two, allegedly linked to an international smuggling network and residing in New Delhi, had reportedly arrived in the area to collect heroin smuggled from Pakistan. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, Police established a checkpoint at the bypass and intercepted the accused.
08-May-2026
On May 8, the 108th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangstran Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahar— the police conducted 548 raids, arrested 261 persons and recovered five weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 126 individuals, while 34 persons were verified and released after questioning. 12 proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
08-May-2026
On May 8, Punjab Police, on day 433 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 72 drug smugglers, and seized 5.9 kg of heroin, 10 kg of poppy husk, 292 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 1000 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
08-May-2026
Rajasthan Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on May 8 said it had detained a man in Punjab, identified as Guruvinder Singh, for interrogation over allegations of circulating anti-national and separatist content on social media and recording videos of strategic border areas, in Tarn Taran district. Preliminary investigations reportedly found pro-Khalistan and pro-Pakistan posts, videos and comments on his social media accounts. Investigators also alleged that he was in contact with suspicious individuals linked to terror networks. During questioning and digital analysis, officials recovered audio clips, videos, chats and comments allegedly supporting pro-Khalistan and pro-Pakistan narratives. According to the ATS, Facebook Messenger chats and voice notes also indicated alleged communication with suspicious individuals and members linked to The Resistance Front. Investigators claimed the chats included discussions on procuring AK-47 rifles and grenades to carry out bomb blasts.
07-May-2026
The Border Security Force (BSF) on May 7 recovered 538 grams of heroin, along with packing material and remnants of a drone kit, near the Border Outpost (BOP) at Dauke in Amritsar district.
07-May-2026
The Border Security Force (BSF) on May 7 recovered 482 grams of heroin wrapped in a polythene packet from the Dauke border area in Amritsar district.
07-May-2026
The Border Security Force (BSF) on May 7 recovered 561 grams of heroin, along with packing material and drone remnants, near the border fencing area in Amritsar district.
07-May-2026
Gharinda Police on May 7 arrested an alleged drug smuggler, identified as Rajbir Singh, and seized 545 grams of heroin along with packing material in Amritsar district.
07-May-2026
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s Punjab unit on May 7 extended support to singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh after he confronted pro-Khalistan elements during his concert in Calgary. In a post on X, the party stated that the threats issued against Dosanjh by “anti-national elements” reflected their “frustration and desperation,” adding that the singer had brought global recognition to Punjab. The BJP’s support followed a video released by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), warning that the group would oppose Dosanjh’s upcoming shows in the United States (US).
07-May-2026
On May 7, the 107th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangstran Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahar— the police conducted 585 raids, arrested 323 persons and recovered five weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 123 individuals, while 44 persons were verified and released after questioning. 12 proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
07-May-2026
On May 7, Punjab Police, on day 432 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 114 drug smugglers, and seized 2.9 kg of heroin, 75 kg of poppy husk, 271 narcotic tablets/capsules and INR 3625 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
07-May-2026
Police on May 7 arrested a person, Harpreet Singh for allegedly selling heroin and seized 48 grams of heroin from his possession in Abupura village in Ludhiana district.
07-May-2026
Police on May 7 arrested an alleged drug peddler, Sarabjit Singh, and seized 15 intoxicating tablets from his possession in Mohalla Bagh Wala, Shahkot, in Jalandhar district.
07-May-2026
Police on May 7 arrested a man, identified as Vinod Sharma and recovered 120 grams of heroin from his possession during a special checking and patrolling operation in Phagwara in Kapurthala district.
07-May-2026
Several colleges in Amritsar and Baba Bakala in Amritsar district received bomb threats via email on May 7. The threats, later confirmed to be a hoax, warned of bomb explosions between May 7 and May 9 in multiple locations across Punjab, including Amritsar, Adampur, and Fatehgarh Sahib. The email, purportedly sent by the Khalistan National Army, also mentioned Bhagwant Mann and Ravneet Bittu while issuing threats against them. It further referred to Mann’s ‘Shukrana Yatra’ and cited the recent blast near the cantonment area in Khasa, Amritsar, for which the Khalistan Liberation Army had claimed responsibility.
07-May-2026
Aam Aadmi Party Member of Parliament (MP) Sanjay Singh on May 7 alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had launched a “Mission Punjab” through the recent twin blasts in Amritsar and Jalandhar in an attempt to disturb the peaceful atmosphere in the poll-bound state. He further claimed that there was a “direct relation” between the BJP and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), citing the Pathankot attack as an example. Singh alleged that the blasts were part of the BJP’s electoral strategy to create unrest in Punjab and accused the party of having a “history” of cooperating with the ISI.
07-May-2026
India on May 7 categorically rejected allegations of foreign interference made in a report by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), describing the claims as “baseless” and contrary to India’s long-standing policy of respecting the sovereignty of other nations. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India’s position on the issue had remained “clear and consistent,” asserting that the country adheres to international norms and does not interfere in the internal affairs of other states.
06-May-2026
The Chandigarh Police on May 6 arrested a Class 12 student — a minor — while he was allegedly on his way to Patti in Tarn Taran district to carry out a murder at the behest of two gangsters operating from abroad, thereby foiling a suspected gang-linked killing plot. Investigations revealed that the minor was in active contact with Prabh Dasuwal and Gurvinder Singh, and had reportedly left home on May 5 to execute the attack. The case has highlighted a troubling pattern of online gang recruitment. The student, who had recently appeared for his Class 12 board examinations, was allegedly drawn into the gang network around two months earlier through Instagram, after which communication reportedly shifted to Telegram for operational instructions. According to investigators, the minor sought contact with gangsters after being assaulted by local youths and seeking revenge, following which he was allegedly groomed and recruited by the network.
06-May-2026
On May 6, the 106th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangstran Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar— the police conducted 586 raids, arrested 308 persons and recovered seven weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 57 individuals, while 21 persons were verified and released after questioning. 13 proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
06-May-2026
On May 6, Punjab Police, on day 431 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 110 drug smugglers, and seized 1.5 kg of heroin, 2321 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 30,088 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.