KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
India 01-Aug-2024
Gurpartap Singh Wadala, convener of the rebel Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) group, dismissed concerns about the return of terrorism in an interview with The Tribune, stating that there is no demand for Khalistan in Punjab. He attributed the recent victory of condemned radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh to a leadership vacuum in the state. Wadala criticized the current SAD leadership for not addressing Punjab's issues and suggested that while the slogan of Khalistan may resonate with some Sikhs abroad, it does not reflect the broader sentiment in Punjab. He also condemned Amritpal’s actions at the Ajnala police station but acknowledged his efforts against drug abuse.
Canada 01-Aug-2024
According to sources, the recently held Khalistan Referendum in Calgary, Canada, fell flat, attracting only a few hundred attendees and highlighting the movement's lack of support. This failure underscored the Sikh community's rejection of extremism and their commitment to peace and unity. The referendum's poor turnout revealed the movement's desperate bid for relevance, disproving the claims of its proponents.
United States 01-Aug-2024
United States (US) State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel on August 1 reiterated the expectation for accountability from India regarding the alleged involvement of an Indian government employee in a failed assassination attempt against US citizen and Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Patel confirmed that the US continues to address these concerns directly with the Indian government.
India 01-Aug-2024
The Muktsar police on August 1 arrested two unidentified persons who attempted to extort INR 20 lakh from Dr. Bansal, who runs a hospital in Sri Muktsar Sahib, Punjab. The arrests followed a complaint from Dr. Bansal about an extortion call he received on July 28, demanding the payment or facing severe consequences.
India 01-Aug-2024
Police on August 1 arrested a criminal identified as Puneet Singh alias Gola and recovered a .32 bore pistol from his possession following a brief encounter in Sanour, Patiala district, Punjab. Gola, who had opened fire on the police, sustained a bullet injury to his leg and was admitted to Rajindra Hospital in Patiala. He was previously wanted in 15 criminal cases, including murder and attempted murder.
India 01-Aug-2024
Amritsar City Police on August 1 busted a cross-border smuggling network, arresting one drug smuggler identified as Gurmej Singh, and seizing 3.5 kg of heroin, INR 1 lakh in drug money, and a motorcycle from his possession near Ghanupur Kale Road in the Chheharta area of Amritsar district. According to the police, Singh was in contact with Pakistan-based smugglers who were using drones for drug transport. Investigations are ongoing to uncover the full extent of the smuggling network.
Canada 01-Aug-2024
Canadian law enforcement, specifically the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s (RCMP) South Community Response Unit (SCRU), seized several firearms on August 1 from a residential property linked to a pro-Khalistan activist in Surrey, British Columbia. This action followed a video circulating online that showed people with weapons at a pre-wedding event, which was connected to Harjit Singh Pattar, an associate of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and the secessionist group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ).
India 02-Aug-2024
According to sources, the Indian government has requested the social media platform X to block the accounts of Mocha Bezirgan and Journalist V, who have been actively critiquing and addressing pro-Khalistan propaganda in Canada. The removal demand, based on India's Information Technology Act, 2000, is effective in India, although the accounts remain accessible elsewhere.
India 02-Aug-2024
Faridkot Member of Parliament (MP) Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa and Tarsem Singh, father of radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh, announced a Panthic conference focusing on key Sikh issues, including alleged government atrocities and the release of Sikh political prisoners, to be held on August 19 at Baba Bakala in Amritsar district, Punjab. They also called for the withdrawal of the National Security Act (NSA) from Sikh prisoners, including Amritpal, and criticized the state government's handling of sacrilege cases.
Canada 02-Aug-2024
According to a recent poll by the agency Leger for the Association of Canadian Studies, 60 percent of Canadians now believe there are “too many” immigrants, marking a notable increase from previous years. This shift in sentiment, which has risen from 35 percent in March 2019, has coincided with a rise in xenophobia, particularly targeting Indian and Sikh communities. The increase in racist incidents, including physical attacks and online harassment, reflects broader concerns over immigration and cost-of-living issues. Experts warn that this backlash, driven by discontent with government policies, risks fostering a climate of open racism.
India 02-Aug-2024
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Jalandhar Member of Parliament (MP) Sushil Rinku met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on August 2, requesting that the Adampur airport be named after Guru Ravidas. Rinku reminded Shah of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's promise made during a May 30 rally regarding the airport renaming. He also briefed Shah on the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab, including issues such as robbery and gang violence, as well as the ongoing development work in Jalandhar district.
Canada 02-Aug-2024
A Pakistani-origin man allegedly linked to Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and anti-India elements, identified as Rahat Rao, was set on fire near the 10200 block of City Parkway in Surrey, Canada, on August 2. Rao, who has been associated with pro-Khalistan activities and drug trafficking, is suspected of playing a role in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, whom Rao and Tariq Kiyani reportedly targeted due to competition in the drug trade.
India 03-Aug-2024
Recent government data indicate that Pakistan-based terrorists are shifting tactics, with a significant increase in drug trafficking cases in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). In 2023, over 2,400 cases were registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in J&K, up from nearly 1,660 in 2022. Officials report that Punjab has emerged as a new route for arms supply and infiltration, as terrorists adapt their methods and routes. Previously, Punjab was primarily used for drug trafficking, with local criminals aiding in smuggling operations from Pakistan.
India 03-Aug-2024
On August 3, Dal Khalsa announced plans to hold a 'Freedom March' on August 13 in Hoshiarpur to mark its 46th foundation day. The march will honour Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed in Canada last year, and Dal Khalsa founder Gajinder Singh Khalsa, a Khalistani terrorist who recently passed away in Lahore, Pakistan.
India 03-Aug-2024
On August 3, several Sikh activists—Parminder Pal Singh Khalsa of the Sikh Sewak Society International (SSSI), Santokh Singh of the Bhai Gurdas Institute of Advanced Sikh Studies, and Harsimran Singh, Prof. Balwinder Singh, and Baljit Singh of the Sikh Missionary College—appealed to the Akal Takht to convene a Sikh convention before making any decisions regarding the crisis within the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in Amritsar, Punjab. They recommended forming a Panthic council led by the Akal Takht to address the issues.
Pakistan 03-Aug-2024
According to sources, Sikhs and Hindus in Pakistan have launched a campaign to amend the Succession Act of 1925, arguing that it unfairly limits inheritance rights for their communities, particularly for women. Prof. Kalyan Singh Kalyan emphasized that the Act, originally designed for Christians, fails to ensure equal inheritance rights for Sikhs and Hindus. Pushpa Kumari from the Human Rights Commission (HRC) noted that the current law often results in property being transferred to male relatives rather than daughters, underscoring the need for legal reform to address these inequalities.
India 03-Aug-2024
According to sources, the Indian Government has established an Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal to review the extension of the ban on the pro-Khalistan group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), following a Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) notification that declared SFJ an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and extended the ban for an additional five years from July 10, 2024.
India 03-Aug-2024
Punjab Police on August 3 launched a special operation, OPS Seal-VII, to enhance security ahead of Independence Day in Punjab. The operation included thorough checks of all vehicles entering and exiting the state, focusing on monitoring drug traffickers, bootleggers, and other anti-social elements. The Police reported that over 1,100 personnel had established coordinated checkpoints at 91 entry and exit points across 10 border districts.
India 03-Aug-2024
Kapurthala police on August 3 arrested four Special Task Force (STF) personnel—Sub-Inspector Salvister Masih, Constable Gurvinder Singh, Constable Sham Masih, and Head Constable Major Singh—on the orders of the High Court in Kapurthala district. The arrests are related to allegations that these personnel fabricated a Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) case in 2019.
India 04-Aug-2024
The emergence of the drug 'Ice' (methamphetamine) signals a significant shift in Punjab’s drug market, highlighted by the recent arrest of Harpreet Singh, elder brother of radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, for allegedly possessing and consuming crystal methamphetamine. The rise in Ice usage is linked to a decline in heroin supplies following the Taliban's ban on opium cultivation in Afghanistan. Punjab Police have reported a dramatic increase in Ice seizures, from 0.54 kg in 2023 to 16.9 kg in 2024, while heroin recoveries have decreased. This trend is raising concerns among de-addiction specialists about its potential impact on addiction patterns and public health.