KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
United Kingdom 01-Aug-2020
After the British government dismissed its referendum 2020, the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) stated that, “One we establish consensus on the question of independence, we will then present the case to the United Nations for re-establishing the country of Punjab. Punjab Referendum 2020 is an unofficial referendum where the outcome is not legally binding on India. Yet with an overwhelming ‘yes’ vote this unofficial referendum will start the process through which we will eventually conduct an official legally binding referendum in Punjab, thereby peacefully establishing Khalistan.” “Today UK believes in India’s territorial integrity but tomorrow when they will see an overwhelming Sikhs supporting the independence of Punjab, I am sure they will reconsider the position,” it added.
India 01-Aug-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops seized 2.9 kg heroin near border outpost (BOP) Old Mohammadi Wala in Ferozepur district in the wee hours.
India 01-Aug-2020
Police arrested a person after recovering 2,000 intoxicant capsules and 175 intoxicant injections from his possession in Phillaur in Jalandhar district.
India 02-Aug-2020
Police seized 261 kg of poppy husk from three vehicles in Abohar in Fazilka district. However, the occupants managed to flee taking advantage of the dark.
India 02-Aug-2020
Punjab police busted another Pakistan-backed cross border drugs and weapons smuggling racket, with the arrest of two smugglers including a BSF constable, posted along the Pakistan border in Tarn Taran district. According to Director General of Police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta, the Jalandhar rural police had recovered a .30 Bore Pistol (made in China), along with 5 live rounds and ₹24.50 lakh as drug money, from the three, identified as Surmail Singh, Gurjant Singh and BSF constable Rajendra Prashad.
India 02-Aug-2020
India is preparing to bring back around 700 more Sikhs who are being 'tortured' in Afghanistan. These Sikhs will be brought back in several batches. Earlier, the first batch of 11 Sikhs reached India on July 26.
India 02-Aug-2020
According to reports, the past few months have seen much intimidation and threats meted out to the Sikhs in different parts of Pakistan. Sikh girls have been kidnapped and converted and attempts were made to convert a Gurudwara. Ironically, this is happening at a time when the Pakistan government has put in an extra effort to woo the Sikhs and invite them across the border from India to the Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara. This comes at a time when Pakistan is encouraging and funding the revival of a nascent Khalistan movement.
India 03-Aug-2020
After getting bail, the 65-year-old NRI Joginder Singh Gujjar claims he has nothing to do with pro-Khalistan group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) or its campaign for Khalistan ‘Referendum 2020’. He got bail after four weeks of being arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) after police told the court that they could not find any evidence against him. About a picture with SFJ leader Avtar Singh Pannun, Gujjar says that in 2019, Pannun had come to a Guruwara in Italy. Gujjar, who was president of the Gurudwara committee, says the committee decided to honour Pannun and others. “I was asked to give siropa (robe of honour) to Pannun. I don’t know him personally till date and not aware of his profile or activities,” he claims. He said that he had been living in Italy for the past 25 years and running a small shop there. He insists he is not involved in any political or secessionist activities.
India 03-Aug-2020
A Delhi court directed the city police to provide a man with a copy of an FIR registered against him. The man, identified as Rajkumar alias Lovepreet Singh is accused of being a Khalistan sympathiser who, along with others, was planning to execute people and extort others for money in various north Indian states on the directions of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-sponsored Khalistan leaders.
India 03-Aug-2020
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust invited Giani Harpreet Singh, the acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht, to the bhoomi pujan ceremony being organised in Ayodhya on August 5 for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya in Faizabad district of Uttar Pradesh.
India 03-Aug-2020
Pro-Khalistani group, Dal Khalsa wrote a letter to the Akal Takht Jathedar saying that no Sikh must attend the event as a community representative. The letter from general secretary Parmjit Singh Tanda says, “Sikhs are a third religio-political entity in this sub-continent. They should not become part of any celebrations of one religion at the cost of other’s sentiments, especially in an event that has a history of controversy. For us, keeping cordial relations with both the communities (Hindus and Muslims) on equal grounds is in our quami (community) interests.”
Pakistan 04-Aug-2020
The Sikh bodies in Pakistani-occupied Kashmir (PoK), including Sikh Intellectuals Circle J&K, International Sikh Federation, Sikh Students Federation and Sikh Youths of J&K said that the entire Sikh community had decided to observe 5th August as Siege Day. They demanded restoration of special status of Jammu and Kashmir and release of all Kashmiri political detainees.
Pakistan 05-Aug-2020
Some Sikh religious and political leaders in Pakistan came out in the open to exhort the community to ‘help’ militant movements in Kashmir. Messages were delivered to the Pakistani Sikh community on August 5, which is being observed as Youm-i-Istehsal (the day of exploitation) in Pakistan. The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSPGC) president Satwant Singh in his video message said that supporting Kashmiris in their “cause” is their duty, which they would continue to perform. He claimed that Kashmiris are being subjected to atrocities and denied their rights. “Sikhs have been helping the oppressed and it is time for the Sikhs to help Kashmiris,” he said.
United States 05-Aug-2020
Khalistani and Kashmiri separatists staged a demonstration against India at Times Square, New York City on the occasion of the bhoomi pujan ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodha. The coordinator of Sikh Coordination Committee, East Coast, Himmat Singh said that the protest was held against the Hindutva regime supported by the BJP. According to intelligence sources, during the sponsored programme, various Sikh and Kashmiri hardliners spewed venom against India and pro-Pakistan and Khalistan slogans were also raised.
United States 05-Aug-2020
According to reports, only a handful of Pakistani protestors had gathered at the iconic Times Square for the anti-India demonstrations which were organized under the leadership of Himmat Singh, a pro-Khalistani Sikh, to counter the massive celebrations of Ram Temple foundation stone laying ceremony conducted by the Indian Diaspora. Around 20-25 people were gathered out of which only 2-3 were from Sikh community while the others were of Pakistani origin. They raised pro-Khalistan slogans with an aim to disrupt the celebrations of Indian community.
India 06-Aug-2020
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) decided that the entire cost of bringing the Sikhs living in Afghanistan to India would be borne by the SGPC.
India 07-Aug-2020
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) charged eight people of an International narco-terror gang, operating from Pakistan and Dubai, in connection with alleged smuggling of 500 kg heroin, through Gujarat sea route. NIA, in its charge sheet, said its probe showed that the heroin was brought in three trips from Pakistan through the sea route at Gujarat by the gang which was acting in conspiracy with Pakistani nationals. All three consignments were clandestinely transported to Punjab, NIA spokesperson Sonia Narang said.
India 07-Aug-2020
The Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Harpreet Singh said that, “The place where Ram Temple is being built up is important for Hindus. Equally important are the Gurdwaras for Sikhs, which were demolished in India.” He said, “I congratulate Hindu society for construction of Ram Temple, but I would like to say that Gurdwara Gian Godri (Haridwar), Gurdwara Dangmar Sahib (Sikkim) and Gurdwara Mangu Mutt (Puri) are as important and sacred places for Sikhs as Ram Temple for Hindus.”
United Kingdom 07-Aug-2020
The British Sikh Association defied the Sikh Federation UK for its demand for an independent state for the Sikhs after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson assured that his government does not support the Khalistan movement. A British businessman Lord Raminder (Rami) Ranger tweeted, "Today, I spoke with the British Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Boris Johnson who categorically assured me that British government does not support the Khalistan movement. Thank you, Prime Minister." His comment was countered by Labour Party MP for Birmingham Preet Kaur Gill, who said, "The principle of self-determination is prominently embodied in Article 1 of the Charter of the United Nations. It is positioned as the first right in the twin Human Rights Covenants -- the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and (ICESCR). Most concerning." Kuldeep Singh Shekhawat, a journalist based in London said, "This (Khalistan) is (a) fake idea. There is no one in India demanding Khalistan in India. Indian Sikhs know that India is for them and they are for India." However, the Sikh Federation UK, which is allegedly working on the behest of Pakistan's secret agency, supported Preet Kaur Gill saying that "Sikhs have a legal and historical right to their own homeland, the British signed treaties with the Sikh Kingdom which are valid today. The betrayal of the British and Gandhi/Nehru Congress in 1947 is the reason for ongoing Sikh revolutionary movements. They won't stop until freedom."
India 09-Aug-2020
Police arrested two drug peddlers, identified as Harwinder Singh and Balwinder Singh after they recovered five kilograms opium and fifty kilograms poppy husk from the onion laden truck from near Boparai Kalan in Sudhar area in Ludhiana district.