KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
Australia 15-Aug-2025
On August 15, a flag-hoisting ceremony at the Indian Consulate in Melbourne, Australia, marking India’s 79th Independence Day was disrupted by a group of Khalistani extremists. The disturbance was swiftly countered as attendees raised patriotic slogans and sang national songs, overpowering the separatist chants.
India 15-Aug-2025
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on August 15 led the state-level Independence Day celebrations, hoisting the national flag at Nehru Stadium in Faridkot. He announced a new reward policy to strengthen the anti-drug campaign, the recruitment of 1,600 police personnel, and the introduction of a drug-prevention curriculum in over 3,000 schools.
India 15-Aug-2025
On August 15, Punjab Information & Public Relations Minister Aman Arora inaugurated the ‘Tarang Helpline’ (9779175050) in Ludhiana to provide psychological support, counselling, and livelihood assistance to drug-affected individuals. He said the initiative aims to help people and families overcome addiction and rebuild their lives with dignity.
United States 15-Aug-2025
On August 15, India’s Independence Day, pro-Khalistani elements staged a massive protest outside the Indian Embassy in Washington DC, United States (US), waving Khalistan flags, chanting anti-India slogans such as “Down with India” and “Modi the murderer”, and tearing the Indian national flag, throwing its pieces in front of the embassy premises.
India 15-Aug-2025
Harpreet Singh, president of the reorganised Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) rebel faction, on August 15 in Amritsar, invoked the legacy of Partition, calling it a “religious injustice” that continues to haunt Sikhs. He criticised visa restrictions that hinder Sikh access to historic shrines and lamented that the 1947 division of Punjab and Bengal forced Sikhs to abandon sacred sites in Pakistan, including Nankana Sahib and Kartarpur Sahib.
India 15-Aug-2025
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann, while addressing Independence Day celebrations in Faridkot on August 15, announced that police personnel performing well in the “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign would be given cash rewards of INR 1.2 lakh for every kilogram of heroin seized from March 1, 2026. He asserted that Pakistan remains the main source of drugs entering Punjab, adding that houses built with drug money have been demolished and anti-drone systems deployed along the border.
India 16-Aug-2025
On August 16, Punjab Police, on day 168 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 28 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 38 drug smugglers and seized 620 grams of heroin and 1,612 intoxicating tablets and capsules from the possession of arrested drug smugglers, across Punjab. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached 25,909.
India 16-Aug-2025
According to sources, Pakistani underworld figure Shehzad Bhatti has claimed that the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala involved not only Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang but also politicians and government officials. Bhatti alleged that government insiders leaked Moosewala’s movements after his security was reduced, enabling the shooters. He further stated that his past friendship with Lawrence turned into rivalry over money disputes and escalated after Bishnoi’s gang threatened Pakistanis over Kashmir. Linked to global arms and land mafia networks, Bhatti has warned he will expose Lawrence’s secrets, including alleged plots against Indian politicians.
India 16-Aug-2025
Gangster Sukhwinder Singh, associated with the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang, was shot dead during a gang war in the Khandwala area of Amritsar district on August 16. He was killed by Nikhil Chahal and his accomplice Vikramjit Singh, both linked to the Balwinder Singh alias Dony Bal gang. Police arrested the two assailants shortly after the incident.
United States 17-Aug-2025
On August 17, a man was spotted wearing a blazer with a fake “Khalistan Air Force” insignia at a Khalistan Referendum voting centre in Washington DC, United States (US).
India 17-Aug-2025
Ludhiana police on August 17 arrested a gangster, identified as Mukkal Mattu and seized 1.05 kg of heroin along with three pistols, 21 cartridges from his possession, near Sacred Heart Convent School in Ludhiana in Ludhiana district.
United States 17-Aug-2025
According to Pakistani sources, thousands of Sikhs participated in a Khalistani referendum organised as part of the Khalistan movement in Washington DC, United States (US), on August 17.
India 17-Aug-2025
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami on August 17 issued a statement criticising officials for stopping Amritdhari sarpanch Gurdhian Singh from entering the Red Fort with his kirpan on Independence Day, August 15. Dhami alleged discrimination against Sikhs on the basis of religious symbols, asserting that the five Kakars are inseparable from Sikh identity and must be respected as a constitutional right.
India 17-Aug-2025
A recently released report by Khalsa Vox criticised Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun for supporting United States (US) President Donald Trump’s tariff hikes on Indian exports, even suggesting a 500 per cent increase. The report stated that such a stance directly harms Punjab’s Sikh farmers and dairy workers, whose livelihoods depend on exports of basmati rice, textiles, and dairy products. It warned that opening Indian markets would allow heavily subsidised American farm and dairy corporations to undercut small Sikh farmers and cooperatives like Amul. Khalsa Vox described Pannun’s position as a betrayal, arguing that his anti-India theatrics take precedence over Sikh well-being.
India 17-Aug-2025
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, on August 17 in Chandigarh, stated that investigations into the Lawrence Bishnoi-led network have exposed an “inter-operational and interchangeable” nexus of organised criminals, foreign-based gangsters, terrorists, and drug smugglers operating under Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). He emphasised that terror outfits, gangsters, and smugglers are now functioning interchangeably under ISI’s direction to foment unrest in Punjab.
India 17-Aug-2025
On August 17, Punjab Police, on day 169 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 42 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 57 drug smugglers and seized 461 grams of heroin, 415 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 31,550 from the possession of arrested drug smugglers, across Punjab. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached 26,023.
India 17-Aug-2025
Kapurthala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gaurav Toora on August 17 stated that 386 drug addicts have been admitted to de-addiction centres in the district over the past five months, including 72 from Subhanpur alone. The disclosure followed the circulation of a video showing Hamira village resident Manjit Singh struggling to walk under the influence of drugs. Toora added that while police are tackling supply chains, equal focus is being placed on rehabilitation, with 801 individuals enrolled in Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) clinics.
India 17-Aug-2025
The banned Khalistani terror group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) emailed threats of “political death” to Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann starting August 31, the anniversary of former CM Beant Singh’s assassination. Earlier, SFJ chief and designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun had issued threats to kill both Mann and the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) on Republic Day.
India 18-Aug-2025
On August 18, police revealed that jailed gangster Ashu, currently lodged in Faridkot jail, had arranged heroin and sophisticated weapons for peddler Mukkal Mattu—arrested on August 17—through Pakistan-based suppliers. Investigators suspect the consignment was delivered via drones from Pakistan and collected by local aides in India. Police added that Ashu will be brought on production warrant to further probe the international links of the network.
India 18-Aug-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on August 18 intercepted and arrested an unidentified smuggler, along with 560 grams of heroin, a motorcycle, and two mobile phones, near Bachiwind village in Ajnala, Amritsar district.