KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
18-May-2026
According to reports in sections of the Pakistan media, Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi faced protests by pro-Khalistan activists during his reported visit to Oslo, Norway, where he was said to be receiving the country’s “Grand Cross” award. Demonstrators allegedly gathered outside the venue, raising slogans against the Indian Prime Minister and accusing his government of promoting “Hindutva extremism.” Protesters reportedly displayed banners and chanted slogans targeting Modi, while heavy security arrangements were in place during the visit.
20-Apr-2026
Investigators believe the April 17 shooting of two Punjabi-origin men outside a gurdwara in Covo, Bergamo province, Italy, was premeditated. Preliminary findings indicate that the main shooter, also of Indian origin, and his accomplices were known to frequent the gurdwara. Eyewitnesses reported that four suspects arrived in two cars and opened fire around 11:50 pm before fleeing the scene in their vehicles.
19-Apr-2026
At least 11 people were injured after a violent clash broke out at a gurdwara in Moers, near Duisburg in Germany on April 19. Reports indicate that over 40 individuals were involved, prompting a large police response. Videos circulating online, reportedly from inside the gurdwara, show two groups engaged in a physical altercation, with some participants allegedly using sharp weapons, including knives and kirpans. Authorities stated that at least one suspect has been detained, and investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the violence and those responsible.
17-Apr-2026
Two Indian men, Rajinder Singh and Gurmit Singh, were shot dead by an unidentified assailant as they were leaving a warehouse used as Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur Ji during a Baisakhi gathering in Covo, Bergamo province, Italy, on April 17. A third person was also injured in the attack. The assailant allegedly approached the victims, opened fire, and fled in a car. Around 10 shell casings were recovered from the scene, with authorities probing the possibility of a “coldly planned execution.” A witness told reporters that the shooter was “an Indian” who also frequented the gurdwara.
11-Apr-2026
According to an April 11 report, a New Zealand tribunal rejected a Sikh man’s asylum claim as “entirely fabricated,” calling for stricter scrutiny of such cases. In its March 27 order, the tribunal dismissed harassment claims made by Ranbir Singh from Jammu and Kashmir, citing lack of credibility and directing him to return to India. The ruling noted that unless countries such as Australia, Canada, and the United States (US) act decisively, asylum systems risk being misused as a backdoor route for migration rather than protection for genuine victims.
28-Mar-2026
A report published on March 28 by New Zealand’s largest news organization, Stuff, identified Baltej Singh - nephew of Satwant Singh, one of the assassins of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in October 1984 - as the alleged mastermind behind the country’s largest-ever methamphetamine seizure. The report marks the first time a New Zealand media outlet has named Baltej, who had previously secured permanent name suppression from a court. According to Stuff, he has since withdrawn his bid to retain suppression, though details of the withdrawal remain unclear. Indian media had identified him as early as April 2023 following his arrest, while Canada’s CTV News and the Investigative Journalism Foundation also named him in a multi-part investigation in October 2025. By the time he withdrew his suppression request, his identity had already been in the international public domain for nearly two years.
07-Mar-2026
A most-wanted gangster linked to the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang, identified as Amritpal Singh alias Amrit Dalam, was detained at the Moldova border on the basis of an Interpol Red Notice issued at the request of Punjab Police in coordination with central agencies. Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said Amritpal Singh is wanted in multiple serious criminal cases in Punjab and had been absconding abroad for a considerable period. The detention was facilitated through sustained international coordination and persistent follow-up by Punjab Police with global law enforcement agencies, he added. Legal and diplomatic procedures are now underway to secure his extradition or deportation to India so that he can face the law.
13-Feb-2026
In a social media post shared on February 13, gangsters Harry Boxer and Sunil Meena—alleged associates of the Lawrence Bishnoi–Goldy Brar nexus—claimed responsibility for a firing incident at a commercial establishment in Marinha Grande, Portugal. The gang identified the target as Sukh Jawandha, a Portugal-based TikTok influencer, warning that the shooting was merely a “trailer” and that failure to change his ways would lead to a direct attempt on his life. They accused Jawandha, who reportedly wields influence within the Punjabi diaspora, of exploiting Indian migrants by withholding wages and confiscating passports to blackmail them. The group also released video footage of the incident to support their claims.
03-Feb-2026
According to The Australia Today, a bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Australian Indian Community Centre in Rowville, Melbourne, was allegedly cut from its base using an angle grinder and stolen, prompting a police investigation and renewed concern within the Indian-Australian community. The 426-kg statue, gifted by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and inaugurated by former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in 2021, had earlier been vandalised within 24 hours of its unveiling. The incident has revived concerns, as Khalistan supporters have previously attempted to damage or deface Mahatma Gandhi statues in Australia and abroad, treating them as symbolic targets despite Gandhi’s global standing as an icon of non-violence.
03-Feb-2026
India on February 3 lodged a strong protest over the theft of a bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Melbourne, Australia, expressing concern over the possible involvement of pro-Khalistani elements, who had earlier attempted to vandalise the statue at the time of its inauguration in 2021. According to Australian media reports, the 426-kg bronze statue was stolen from the Australian Indian Community Centre in Rowville, a suburb of Melbourne, in the early hours of January 12. While investigations are ongoing, suspicion has been directed at pro-Khalistan groups, which had opposed the installation of the statue and attempted to vandalise it during its inauguration. Officials noted that such incidents appear to be part of a broader pattern of targeting symbols associated with India overseas.
01-Feb-2026
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has claimed responsibility for an attack on Pakistan-based gangster Shehzad Bhatti in Portugal. In a social media post, an individual identified as Randeep Malik warned that anyone speaking against India or Lawrence Bishnoi would face death. The post also alleged that Bhatti works as a proxy for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), assisting in recruiting youth for attacks in India, particularly in Punjab.
22-Jan-2026
Pro-Khalistanis led by Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on January 22 raised a Khalistan flag and vandalised the Indian embassy in Zagreb, Croatia, issuing threats against India ahead of Republic Day. In a video released after the incident, he claimed the Tricolour would be replaced by the Khalistan flag and Indian embassies taken over once Punjab is “liberated.” The embassy’s front wall was defaced with “26/01” and pro-Khalistan slogans.
16-Jan-2026
Pakistan Punjab’s Minister for Human Rights and Minorities, Ramesh Singh Arora, speaking at an international conference titled “Racism and Violence Against Sikhs and Other Minorities in India: The Reality on the Ground” in Baku, Azerbaijan, on January 16, claimed that Operation Blue Star marked the beginning of the Khalistan movement. He alleged that violence against Sikhs stems from political opportunism, state repression, and denial of Sikh identity and aspirations, citing Article 25(b) of the Indian Constitution. Arora described the 1984 Indian Army action at the Golden Temple during Operation Blue Star as a key example.
11-Jan-2026
A peaceful Sikh nagar kirtan was disrupted in Tauranga, New Zealand, on January 11.
02-Jan-2026
According to reports, a poster circulating in Milan, Italy, calling for a lockdown by pro-Khalistan elements signals a new shift in their tactics. Intelligence Bureau officials said intercepts indicate attempts to expand into more countries, widening the reach of Khalistani messaging and projecting a transnational narrative around the movement.
31-Dec-2025
A poster widely circulating on social media advertises a planned protest in Milan, Italy, linked to individuals associated with the pro-Khalistan group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). Reports said the protest is being promoted by Jagroop Singh and Gurpal Singh, identified as SFJ-affiliated activists. The poster attempts to link the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada with the death of Osman Hadi in Bangladesh, presenting them within a single narrative to connect unrelated incidents across different countries under a common ideological framework.
27-Dec-2025
According to sources, intelligence agencies have flagged a sharp rise in Khalistani activities in Australia, even as a marginal crackdown has slowed such activities in Canada and the United Kingdom (UK). Officials said Khalistani elements have diverted significant resources to Australia in recent months, reflected in increased violence, vandalism, and anti-India graffiti. While referendums were held earlier, the scale of activity has expanded considerably, with social media campaigns—particularly by groups like Sikhs For Justice—now largely focused on Australia. Agencies have also noted repeated online calls targeting Indians, urging vandalism and raising anti-India and anti-Modi slogans. Officials said the shift in focus to Australia appears to be deliberate.
24-Dec-2025
A video footage circulating online showed pro-Khalistan supporters trampling India’s tricolour on the streets of Melbourne, Australia, on December 24–25. Shared widely on social media, the clips showed 20–30 activists laying the Indian flag on the road, marching over it while waving Khalistan flags and raising anti-India slogans. The incident occurred amid festive holiday gatherings, drawing sharp reactions from the Indian-origin community.
23-Dec-2025
Amid controversy over the religious protests in South Auckland on December 20, New Zealand’s 2023 census data shows a continued decline in Christian denominations, with over 50% of the population declaring ‘no religion’. Of the total population of 4,993,923, as many as 2,576,049 identified as having no religious affiliation, up from 1,635,348 in 2013 and 2,264,601 in 2018, making ‘no religion’ the fastest-growing category. Christian denominations registered a steady decline. Pentecostals fell sharply from 45,777 in 2013 to 22,296 in 2018 and further to 19,245 in 2023—just 0.38% of the population. Other major denominations, including Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian, also saw significant reductions, with all Christian denominations together numbering 715,722 (14.33%). In contrast, minority religions recorded growth. The Sikh population rose from 19,191 in 2013 to 40,908 in 2018 and 53,406 (1.07%) in 2023. Hindus increased from 89,085 in 2013 to 121,644 in 2018 and 142,008 in 2023, though not all may be of Indian origin, with many tracing roots to Fiji. Buddhist and Muslim populations also grew steadily. Notably, while Pentecostal Christianity is declining in New Zealand, its following has expanded rapidly in Punjab in recent years.
23-Dec-2025
New Zealand Members of Parliament (MPs) Oriini Kaipara, Priyanca Radhakrishnan, and Marama Davidson expressed solidarity with the Sikh community and criticized the protest ahead of the Sikh nagar kirtan in South Auckland on December 20.