KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
India 08-Apr-2025
An unidentified miscreant hurled a grenade at the residence of former Punjab minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national executive member Manoranjan Kalia in Jalandhar district around 1 am on April 8. The grenade landed near the gate, causing damage to a side door; however, Kalia escaped unhurt. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage showed the attacker arriving and fleeing in an electric rickshaw. A police investigation is currently underway.
India 08-Apr-2025
On April 8, five Sikh high priests—Jathedar Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, along with Giani Raghbir Singh (Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib), Giani Jagtar Singh (Takht Damdama Sahib), Giani Rajinder Singh (Takht Patna Sahib), and Giani Baldev Singh (Takht Hazur Sahib)—are scheduled to meet at the Akal Takht Secretariat in Amritsar, Punjab, amid the ongoing controversy over the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) membership drive.
India 09-Apr-2025
On April 9, Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah reaffirmed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government's resolve to eradicate Naxalism by 31 March 2026 and declared zero tolerance for separatist rhetoric related to the Khalistan movement, while speaking at the Rising Bharat Summit 2025 in New Delhi. Shah cited a sharp decline in Naxal-affected districts—from 120 to 12—as evidence of progress, and highlighted ongoing efforts in states like Chhattisgarh, where hundreds of Naxalites have been killed, arrested, or have surrendered. On the Khalistan issue, Shah stressed that any attempt to divide the nation would be dealt with firmly and urged close cooperation between the Punjab state government and the Centre to counter such threats.
India 09-Apr-2025
According to senior police sources, Punjab has seen a troubling rise in grenade attacks since November 2024, especially in the border districts of Amritsar and Gurdaspur. Despite the elimination of key suspects in police encounters, such incidents continue, with intelligence agencies linking them to pro-Khalistan terrorist outfits, criminal gangs, and Pakistan-based handlers. Notable counter-terror operations include the December 2024 killing of three Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) operatives and the March 2025 neutralisation of Gursidak Singh, a key accused in the Amritsar temple blast. Investigators believe that vulnerable youth from economically weaker sections are being lured with as little as INR 5,000 to execute these attacks, supported by a continuous influx of grenades through drone drops and cross-border smuggling networks.
India 09-Apr-2025
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on April 9 announced the arrest of Abhijot Singh in connection with the grenade attack in Chandigarh’s Sector 10. Singh was already lodged in jail for a separate grenade incident. NIA investigations revealed that he was in direct contact with United States-based Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia. Acting under Passia’s instructions, Abhijot conducted multiple reconnaissance missions at the target location in July and August 2024, and procured a stolen motorcycle with a fake number plate to facilitate the attack. Further probes established that Happy had also supplied weapons to Abhijot and co-accused Rohan Masih, with intentions to carry out a firing at the Sector 10 residence.
India 09-Apr-2025
Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), on April 9 issued threats via a video message targeting the Chief Ministers of Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. Pannun warned them against celebrating the birth anniversary of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar on April 14, threatening grenade attacks if his warning was disregarded. He also claimed responsibility for defacing the Ambedkar Housing Society in Sector 76, Mohali, displaying provocative graffiti and a Khalistan flag in the video. However, Mohali Police, upon investigation, reported finding no physical evidence of vandalism at the site.
India 09-Apr-2025
On April 9, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) Fauja Singh Sarari, Ranbir Singh Bhullar, Rajnish Kumar Dahiya, and Naresh Kataria strongly condemned Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun for his derogatory remarks against Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution. Addressing a press conference in Ferozepur, Punjab, they urged Sikh organizations to excommunicate Pannun from the panth, stating that he tarnishes the name of both Punjab and Sikhism.
India 09-Apr-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police on April 9, recovered a packet of heroin weighing 569 grams from agricultural fields near Wan village in Patti, Tarn Taran district.
India 09-Apr-2025
A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan sustained serious leg injuries on April 9 after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated while a patrol team was attempting to defuse it near the India–Pakistan border fence in Punjab. The device was detected during a night-time area domination patrol aimed at securing routes commonly used by troops and local farmers. Despite the explosion, BSF personnel secured the area, and a Bomb Disposal Squad later neutralised the remaining devices.
India 09-Apr-2025
Punjab Police, on April 9, on Day 40 of its ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ (War Against Drugs) campaign, arrested 111 drug smugglers and recovered 3.7 kg of heroin, 253 kg of poppy husk, and INR 98,800 in drug money from their possession across Punjab.
India 09-Apr-2025
Punjab Police on April 9 arrested Papalpreet Singh, a close aide of radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, following the completion of his year-long detention under the National Security Act (NSA) at Dibrugarh Jail in Assam. He was immediately taken into custody in connection with the 2023 Ajnala police station attack case and brought to Amritsar for further proceedings.
India 09-Apr-2025
On April 9, a drug peddler identified as Raj Singh alias Raju died after his motorcycle crashed into a wall at Sadiq village in Faridkot district. While his family claimed he was being pursued by the police, leading to the fatal accident, local officials and villagers refuted the allegation, asserting that Raju lost control due to high speed.
India 09-Apr-2025
Police on April 9 arrested three individuals, identified as Ranjit Singh alias Rana, Gurdev Singh alias Gedi, and Shailendra Singh alias Selu, and seized 500 grams of heroin, one Glock 9mm pistol along with two magazines, and INR 33 lakh hawala money from their possession, in Lopoke village in Ajnala in Amritsar district.
India 10-Apr-2025
Pro-Khalistani slogans were found painted on the wall of Ambedkar Housing Society in Sector 76, Mohali, in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district on April 10, with Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, claiming responsibility via a video message.
India 10-Apr-2025
Gippy Grewal’s film Akaal: The Unconquered recently sparked controversy, drawing sharp backlash from sections of the Sikh community over the alleged misrepresentation of revered historical figures. Protests erupted in Patiala and Ludhiana, led by Baba Bakshish Singh—a staunch advocate for the respectful portrayal of Sikh history and traditions—who condemned scenes depicting drinking, tobacco use, and shaven-headed characters as deeply offensive to Sikh values.
India 10-Apr-2025
Lok Sabha member Dr. Raj Kumar Chabbewal, on April 10, condemned Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, for his derogatory remarks about Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, calling them a deliberate ploy to incite unrest in Punjab. Speaking in Jalandhar, he asserted that anti-Punjab forces like Pannun are threatened by the state’s progress, but the government will not allow their agenda to succeed.
India 10-Apr-2025
Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, on April 10 issued a warning to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, demanding the cancellation of all Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations in the state, through a public letter circulated to the media. Pannun also announced a reward of INR 11 lakh for hoisting the Khalistan flag at the Ambedkar statue in Chaura Maidan, Shimla. Additionally, he condemned Dr. B. R. Ambedkar for allegedly enabling the marginalisation of Sikhs through Article 25(b) of the Constitution.
India 10-Apr-2025
According to a senior officer, the Border Security Force (BSF) will launch a large-scale anti–improvised explosive device (IED) sanitisation drive along the India–Pakistan border in Punjab, following the recovery of two such devices from a farming field in Gurdaspur on April 9, which injured one jawan. This marks the first instance of IED recovery in the region, prompting heightened security measures. The area where the explosives were found lies ahead of the border fence, and officials suspect cross-border involvement due to the military-grade nature of the devices. Additional detection equipment and sniffer dogs will be deployed to secure cultivable land frequently accessed by farmers and civilians.
India 10-Apr-2025
On April 10, Punjab Police, on Day 41 of the 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' campaign, arrested 84 drug smugglers and recovered 2.5 kg of heroin, 86 kg of poppy husk, and INR 70,400 in drug money from their possession across Punjab.
India 11-Apr-2025
According to sources, following the extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, India is intensifying efforts to bring back seven high-profile fugitives, including gangsters and economic offenders: Satinderjit Singh alias Goldy Brar, Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dala, Anmol Bishnoi, Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, and Sanjay Bhandari. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has made 178 extradition requests since 2019, of which 23 have been successful. India is leveraging its global diplomatic network to ensure these individuals face justice.