Time Line-2021

United Kingdom 09-Dec-2021

The high court in England on December 9 rejected an appeal by Indian authorities seeking permission to appeal against a magistrates’ court order turning down the extradition on human rights grounds of Kuldeep Singh alias Keepa Sidhu (44), wanted in India as an alleged senior member of the banned terrorist organisation Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF). Singh, is charged with conspiring with others to commit terror activities in Punjab dating back to 2015-16, including a plot to assassinate then chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. Singh is also accused of recruiting youths in Punjab to the banned KZF organisation by offering them money and organising a meeting of separatists in a gurdwara.

India 17-Dec-2021

The Border Security Force (BSF) on December 17 shot down a drone along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab.

India 23-Dec-2021

A man was killed and five others injured in a blast at the District Courts Complex in Ludhiana District. The man killed in the blast, identified as former policeman Gagandeep Singh, was carrying the explosion. Director General of Police (DGP), Siddharth Chattopadhyaya said that they suspect Pakistan’s role but cannot conclude anything as the investigation is underway. However, the accused was in “touch with other conspirators in jail and outside. The deceased person, former policeman Gagandeep Singh, was carrying the explosion. He was dismissed from service in 2019 and spent two years in jail following his arrest in a drug-trafficking case." The injured have been identified as: Sandeep Kaur (31), a photostat machine operator and resident of Raikot, Ludhiana, Manish Kumar (32), a Policeman and resident of Police Colony Jamalpur, Ludhiana, Kuldeep Singh Mand (50) an advocate of Bindra Ban Road, Ludhiana, while, Sharanjit Kaur (25), resident of Jamalpur, Ludhiana, Krishan Khanna (75) of Phase 1, Dugri, Ludhiana and Gurpreet Kaur (35), were visitors to the court complex. While terming it as an unfortunate incident, Punjab Chief Minister (CM), Charanjit Singh Channi said that prima facie, it seems that the deceased person was the perpetrator of this crime.

Germany 27-Dec-2021

The German Police detained Sikh for Justice (SFJ) militant Jaswinder Singh Multani (45) in Germany, for his alleged involvement in the blast at a Ludhiana court on December 23 and planning to target Delhi and Mumbai. Jaswinder is a close associate of SFJ founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and is reportedly involved in separatist activities. According to media reports, Multani was picked up by the Federal Police from Erfurt after the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government requested the German authorities to arrest the pro-Khalistan radical who has links to Pakistani, and has been involved in smuggling of arms and ammunition from across the border into Punjab.

India 30-Dec-2021

A high alert has been sounded in Mumbai after intelligence agencies received inputs regarding terror activities planned by pro-Khalistan groups. A senior officer said that after Jaswinder Singh Multani, a member of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) who was allegedly linked to Ludhiana court blast, was detained and questioned in Germany, they have received inputs regarding planned terror activities in Mumbai and other big cities. The officer said, "We have received inputs that apart from SFJ, other banned pro-Khalistan groups are in contact with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to execute terror activity in Mumbai, Delhi and other cities."

India 30-Dec-2021

According to officials, in the wake of intelligence inputs that Khalistani elements may carry out a terror attack in Mumbai on the eve of New Year, the city police have beefed up security at prominent railway stations and other public places. Police also cancelled the weekly offs and holidays of its personnel so that its entire strength remains available for duty. "Police had received an input that Khalistani elements may carry out a terror attack in Mumbai on the eve of New Year," a police official said. Hence, in order to maintain the law-and-order situation, police are on alert and will be keeping a strict vigil across the city on December 31. Considering the possibility of people gathering at prominent places like the Gateway of India and Marine Drive to ring in the New Year, a large number of personnel, will be deployed in the city, he said.

India 30-Dec-2021

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered a case against banned Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) radical Jaswinder Singh Multani for his involvement in the December 23 Ludhiana court blast, and others for hatching a conspiracy to target Indian cities. Multani was picked up by Federal Police from Erfurt in central Germany after India government requested German authorities to arrest the pro-Khalistan radical who has links to Pakistan, and has been involved in smuggling of arms and ammunition from across the border into Punjab. According to NIA’s first information report (FIR) filed on December 30, the 45-year-old has been booked under sections related to criminal conspiracy and waging war against India, among others, of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Earlier on December 23, one person was killed and six others were injured after a bomb went off in the district court’s complex in Ludhiana, triggering a high alert in the state. Police said the deceased was the alleged bomber and dismissed head constable Gagandeep Singh. Preliminary probe revealed that 1.5 kg of explosives were assembled in a plastic container to carry out the blast in the court premises.

India 31-Dec-2021

The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered 0.95 Kg of heroin, which was pushed from Pakistan through the river Satluj in Punjab. BSF Punjab spokesperson said, “On 31st Dec' 2021, vigilant Border Security Force troops, deployed along the River Sutlej bank in the area of responsibility of Ferozepur Sector observed some suspicious item floating in River Sutlej from Pakistan to India side. Thereafter, troops dragged the suspected item towards the bank and when it was searched, they recovered and seized 01 Pkt of contraband (weight appx 0.950 Kg) suspected to be Heroin”.

India 31-Dec-2021

Ludhiana Special Task Force arrested two accused and seized 1.7 kg heroin from them. Acting on a tip off, police stopped three accused. Two of them were nabbed while the third escaped from the spot.

India 31-Dec-2021

The Border Security Force (BSF) arrested an Indian national, identified as Jagdish Singh and recovered one 32 bore pistol and seven live cartridges from his possession near the Indo-Pakistan border in Ferozepur. BSF officials said, “We are also checking whether the weapon recovered from him was smuggled from across the border.”

United Kingdom 31-Dec-2021

According to Pakistani newspapers, the British Sikh community held voting on the Khalistan Referendum at four locations, with thousands of people, including a 95-year-old Sikh woman, turning out to vote in the non-binding referendum on December 31. Gurdwaras Singh Sabha in Hounslow, Gurdwaras Singh Sabha in Slough, Guru Nanak Gurdwaras in Wednesfield, and Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Smethwick held Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) sponsored voting on December 31, 2021.