KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
Punjab Police on April 14 conducted ‘Operation Seal-VI’ at the state's borders from 8 am to 2 pm to curb the inflow of drugs and liquor during the Lok Sabha election campaign and seized INR 10 lakh cash, 110 kilograms of poppy husk, 1 kg of opium, 24 grams of heroin, and 228 litres of illicit liquor. The operation involved 1,500 police personnel manning 220 checkpoints across 10 border districts: Pathankot, Muktsar, Fazilka, Ropar, Mohali, Patiala, Sangrur, Mansa, Hoshiarpur, and Bathinda. The police searched 5,137 vehicles, impounded 22, fined 200, arrested 44 individuals, and filed 42 First Information Reports (FIRs).
Police on April 13 arrested an India Reserve Battalion constable posted at Amritsar Central Jail, identified as Mangat Singh Patti and seized 50 grams of heroin and tobacco from his possession in Amritsar district.
In a joint operation, the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff of Punjab Police on April 13 arrested an unidentified drug smuggler and seized 30 grams of gold and INR 3 lakh in cash from his residence in Muhar Jamsher village, Fazilka district. According to the BSF, the coordinated efforts led to the apprehension of the suspected individual, who has a history of involvement in narcotics smuggling.
Police on April 12 arrested one unidentified drug peddler and seized 500 grams of heroin from his possession, near Sarai Amanat Khan in Tarn Taran district.
Khalra police on April 12 arrested two drug smugglers, identified as Lovepreet Singh Labha and Karanpreet Singh Karan and seized 200 grams of heroin from their possession, in Khalra village in Tarn Taran district.
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on April 12 recovered one packet of heroin weighing 510 grams from farming fields adjacent to Dhanoe Kalan village in Amritsar district.
The Jalandhar Commissionerate Police on April 12 busted a cross-border drug network associated with the Jaipal Bhullar gang by arresting a key individual identified as Saaraj alias Bau and seizing 3 kg of heroin, two .32 bore pistols, and four cartridges from his possession in Jalandhar district. Initially, Saaraj was arrested with 200 grams of heroin, but further investigations based on his disclosure led to the seizure of 2.8 kg of heroin, along with two .32 bore pistols and four cartridges. Saaraj, previously involved in extortion and attempted murder, joined Jaipal Bhullar's criminal network after being released on bail in 2022. He orchestrated heroin trafficking from Pakistan in collaboration with another gang member, Chandu Firozepuria.
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Gurdaspur Police conducted a joint operation on April 9 and recovered 530 grams of heroin allegedly dropped by a Pakistani drone near Chauntra village in Gurdaspur district in Punjab.
Police on April 8 busted a smuggling racket and arrested two individuals identified as Kamaljit and Jatinder Kumar and seized 180 grams of heroin from their possession near Rama Mandi chowk in Jalandhar district. Both suspects have previous criminal records, and the police are continuing investigations to ascertain the source of the drugs.
The Bhawanigarh Police on April 7 arrested an unidentified woman and seized 40 grams of heroin from her possession near the grain market at Jollian village in Sangrur district of Punjab.
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered a packet of heroin weighing 350 grams from wheat fields adjacent to Kalsian village in Tarn Taran district on April 7.
Police on April 6 arrested an individual identified as Rana Kumar and seized 20 kg of poppy husk from him in Ishar Nagar, Ludhiana, in Ludhiana district. According to the police, Rana, a labourer and drug addict, allegedly smuggled drugs to finance his addiction. He is already involved in seven drug peddling cases across Punjab and Haryana.
The Special Task Force (STF) wing of Ludhiana Police on April 6 arrested two drug peddlers identified as Amritpal Singh and Sunny Kumar, seizing 5.5 kg of heroin from their possession near Jandiala Guru in Amritsar district. The suspects were allegedly connected to a prominent Amritsar-based drug smuggler, potentially linked to Pakistan-based heroin traffickers, indicating a cross-border smuggling angle.
The City-2 police seized 2 kg of opium from a bike belonging to an accused identified as Arun Kumar alias Latu on April 5 in Abohar in Fazilka district. However, the accused managed to evade arrest.
Punjab Police on April 5 busted an interstate gang involved in smuggling drugs and weapons and arrested four individuals identified as Neeraj Kumar, Akashdeep, Tejpal Singh, and Rahu, seizing 300 grams of heroin and seven country-made pistols near Kapurthala in Kapurthala district. The police revealed that the suspects acquired illegal country-made pistols from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and sold them in Punjab. Neeraj Kumar, one of the arrested individuals, is also implicated in a bank robbery in Bihar where he stole INR 40 lakh.
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff of the Police on April 4 arrested a drug peddler, identified as Updesh Singh and seized 1 kg of opium from his possession at Abohar-Hanumangarh road near Abohar in Fazilka district. This arrest follows the previous arrest of his father, Mahal Singh, in April 2023 with 3.5 kg of opium; Mahal Singh remains in jail.
Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police on April 3, busted a narco-hawala racket and arrested two unidentified individuals along with one packet containing 500 grams of heroin from a house in Bhalladwal village in Amritsar district. The arrested individuals confessed to transferring drug money to Pakistan-based smugglers. Both suspects have been remanded to judicial custody for 14 days.
Border Security Force (BSF) on April 3, during a search operation based on specific information, recovered a packet containing 545 grams of heroin from fields near Naushera Dhalla village in Tarn Taran district.
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff of the Police on March 30 arrested four persons, identified as Tejinderpal Singh, Parminder Singh alias Billa, Gurvinder Singh and Sanu Sharma alias Bunty and seized 120 banned pills from their possession, near a de-addiction centre in Faridkot in Faridkot district. These individuals were arrested for selling prohibited pills to drug addicts outside the de-addiction centre. Two suspects, who were employed as security guards at the centre, allegedly enticed addicts with chemical drugs during rehab visits. Two other suspects, Rakesh Kumar and Satish Kumar, remain absconding.
Police on March 30 busted an international drug racket being operated from Goindwal Jail in Goindwal, Tarn Taran district, and arrested five youths identified as Gagandeep Singh alias Gora, Harmandeep Singh alias Happy, Charanjit Singh, Germanpreet Singh, and Lovejit Singh alias Rahul and seized 3 kg of heroin, INR 50,000 in drug money, and a pistol with three cartridges from their possession in Amritsar district. Investigations revealed that the suspects lacked prior criminal records and had been involved in the drug trade for six months. The cartel was being operated by a Goindwal Sahib jail inmate who had links with Pakistan-based narco suppliers with the pseudonyms Kala and Rana.
Police on March 29 arrested three gangsters from Lakhbir Singh Landa’s Khalistani terrorist module, identified as Gurpreet Singh Gopi, Mohpreet Singh Moh, and Shamsher Singh Shera and seized 1.2 kg of heroin, three country-made pistols, four magazines, and 20 cartridges from their possession on national highway No. 54 near Sheron village in Tarn Taran district. The suspects were known for their involvement in criminal activities associated with Landa’s module, including threatening and attacking businessmen and doctors. The module was orchestrated by Landa, who operates from abroad and has links to other criminal individuals, including Satbir Singh, Gurdev Singh Jaisal, and Yadwinder, all facing numerous criminal cases.
Police on March 29 arrested two individuals, identified as Prem Singh and Gurmeet Singh, and seized 170 grams of heroin from their possession, near Seed Farm near Abohar in Fazilka district.
Police on March 29 arrested four unidentified persons and seized 40 grams of heroin from their possession, near a canal in Abohar in Fazilka district.
Police on March 29 arrested an individual identified as Rajkamal Rahul and seized 3 kg of poppy husk from his possession in Abohar in Fazilka district.
Police on March 29 arrested an individual identified as Hardeep Deepu and seized 100 intoxicating tablets from his possession in Abohar in Fazilka district.
The Border Security Force (BSF) on March 29 detected human footprints near the International Border (IB) and conducted an extensive search operation with sniffer dogs, recovering nine packets of heroin, each individually stuffed in black-coloured socks and weighing approximately 9.5 kg, hidden in the fields near Maharsona village in Fazilka district.
The Border Security Force (BSF) on March 28 recovered one packet containing 1.140 kg of heroin near Shamshan Ghat in Nagalamb village in Amritsar district. The heroin was recovered after the BSF intercepted suspicious movements by two unidentified individuals in the area, although the suspects managed to flee.
The Border Security Force (BSF) on March 27 recovered a packet of heroin weighing 530 grams, two mobile phones, and a motorcycle from Naushera Dhalla village in Tarn Taran district. Acting on intelligence regarding drug smuggling via drones, BSF troops conducted a search near Naushera Dhalla village, where they observed two individuals on a motorcycle. The suspects fled upon seeing the troops, despite pursuit efforts, leaving behind the recovered items.
The Border Security Force (BSF) on March 26 arrested two unidentified individuals and seized 22 grams of heroin and two mobile phones from their possession near Hazara Singh Wala village in Ferozepur district. Preliminary questioning revealed they had received the heroin from a resident of Peer Ismail Khan Basti in Sukna, Ferozepur district.
Police on March 26 arrested two individuals, identified as Gurraj Singh and Raghubir Singh and seized 400 grams of heroin and a car from their possession in Duggan village in Sangrur district. Based on information obtained during their interrogation, the police also arrested another individual, identified as Ajay Singh.
Police on March 26 arrested two women, identified as Harpreet Kaur and Navdeep Kaur and seized 705 grams of heroin, INR 29,500, and a two-wheeler from their possession in Sangrur district. After their interrogation, the police arrested Baljinder Singh, while another identified suspect, Amardeep Sekhawat, remains at large.
Punjab Police on March 25 busted a cross-border drug smuggling racket by arresting 12 unidentified persons and seizing 4 kg of heroin and INR 3 lakh in drug money in Amritsar district. The smuggling module was allegedly led by Malaysia-based top smuggler Ranjeet Singh alias Cheeta, who is linked to previous major drug hauls, including the 2019 seizure of 532 kg of heroin at Attari International Check Post in Punjab. Drones were reportedly used by the module to transport drugs from Pakistan into Tarn Taran district. Investigations are ongoing to uncover further connections and make additional arrests in the case.
Police on March 25 arrested Satnam Singh and Gurdeep Singh and seized 220 kg of poppy husk from their possession at Malerkotla-Raikot Road near Malerkotla in Malerkotla district. The duo were smuggling poppy husk, hiding it in a turmeric consignment.
Police on March 24 arrested a courier worker and a member of arms and drug smuggling racket backed by gangster and Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa, identified as Gagandeep Singh and seized 2 kg of opium from his possession in Jalandhar in Jalandhar district. This operation is part of a larger operation targeting Landa's interstate weapon smuggling network, which has resulted in the seizure of 25 weapons and 29 kg of opium so far.
The Nawanshahr police on March 24 arrested two drug peddlers, identified as Harsimranjeet Singh and Amandeep Singh and seized 12 grams of heroin, two syringes and a car from their possession at a naka (checkpoint) near Kathgarh village in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district.
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police in a joint operation on March 23 recovered 2 kg of heroin and a drone from farming fields adjacent to Nanak Nagar village in Fazilka district.
Police on March 23 arrested a woman smuggler, identified as Parminder Kaur and seized 1.8 kg of poppy husk and INR 35,000 drug money from her possession in Samrala in Ludhiana district. Three accomplices, identified as Balwinder Singh alias Bindri, Prince, and Sameer alias Mota, are still at large.
Police on March 23 arrested three drug smugglers identified as Rinku, Mehar Singh and Jagmal Singh and seized 22 grams of heroin and a car from their possession, at a naka (checkpoint) near Khanna in Ludhiana district.
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with the Punjab Police on March 20, arrested an unidentified person and seized a packet containing 533 grams of heroin and a mobile phone without a SIM card from Dal village in Tarn Taran district. Another unidentified individual was later arrested in connection with the recovery.
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police conducted a joint search operation on March 19 based on intelligence from the BSF Intelligence Wing and arrested one unidentified person and seized approximately 14.50 kg of opium plants after discovering illegal poppy cultivation along with coriander in an agricultural field near Chak Khewa and Dhani Bachan villages in Jalalabad tehsil, Fazilka district.
The Border Security Force (BSF) on March 18 arrested five unidentified smugglers in a successful intelligence-led operation in Gurdaspur district of Punjab. The operation began with the seizure of heroin transported by drone, after which the BSF provided crucial information to the Gurdaspur police, leading to the initial arrest of two smugglers. Subsequent investigation efforts resulted in the apprehension of three more individuals, marking a significant blow to long-standing drug trafficking networks in Punjab.
Amritsar (Rural) police on March 18 arrested two drug peddlers identified as Gurmukh Singh alias Bodhi, and Dilbagh Singh and seized 500 grams of heroin from their possession in Attari village in Amritsar district. The heroin had been dropped near a government school ground in Attari, prompting a response from the Punjab Police following a tip-off from village defense committee members regarding drone activity. The suspects were arrested when they attempted to retrieve the heroin. An investigation is underway to determine Dilbagh Singh's involvement in drug smuggling and potential links with Pakistan-based smugglers.
The Border Security Force (BSF) on March 18 recovered 3.306 kg of heroin, believed to have been dropped by a drone, from near the dargah of Bodal Saha Peer Baba adjacent to Mehdipur village in Tarn Taran district.
The Border Security Force (BSF) on March 17 recovered 600 grams of heroin that was dropped by a drone in fields near Naushera Dhalla village in Tarn Taran district.
The Border Security Force (BSF) on March 15 recovered a package containing a pistol, two magazines, and 3.38 kg of heroin during a search operation in fields near Kakkar village in Ajnala tehsil in Amritsar district. Officials noted the presence of a metal hook and an illumination ball attached to the packet, indicating that it had been dropped by a drone.
Police from Udyog Vihar Police Station on March 13 seized nearly 600 grams of opium concealed in face cream jars that were sent from Punjab to New Zealand, in Gurugram, Haryana. The parcel raised suspicion when a courier company reported it contained suspicious items. The sender, Mandeep Singh from Punjab, is currently under investigation. The package was intended for Kuldeep Singh in New Zealand.
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police conducted a joint operation on March 13 and recovered a grey bag containing 3.236 kg of heroin, along with a metal hook and illuminating strips attached to it, from a residential premise in Mehandipur village in Tarn Taran district. This well-coordinated effort successfully prevented a narco-syndicate from smuggling narcotics into India from across the border.
The Jalandhar police on March 10 arrested nine smugglers identified as Abhi Ram alias Alex, Money, Pawan, Sikandar, Amarjit Kaur, Sunny, Balihar, Amit Shukla, and Parmod and seized 22 kg of opium from their possession, along with frozen bank accounts totaling INR 9 crores and properties worth INR 6 crores suspected to be acquired from drug proceeds. Abhi Ram was arrested in Ranchi, Jharkhand, while the others were apprehended in Delhi. Six Delhi Customs officers are also implicated in the case. According to the police, Abhi Ram was the primary cultivator, while the others were involved in courier operations and money laundering. Additionally, five foreign entities based in the United Kingdom (UK), United States (US), Australia, and Canada were also involved in the case.
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on March 9 recovered a packet containing about 470 grams of heroin from fields adjacent to Chakram Sai village in Gurdaspur district.
The Amritsar (Rural) police on March 9 arrested a drug peddler, identified as Baljeet Singh and seized 2.8 kg of heroin and INR 2.5 lakh drug money from his possession, at a naka (checkpost) at Khasa bus stop near Khasa village in Amritsar district. According to the Police, Baljeet was in contact with Canada-based drug peddler Honey, who operated a hawala racket. Further investigations are underway.