KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
India 01-Dec-2024
On December 1, a five-member committee of Sikhs from Haryana, comprising Sukhwinder Singh Mandebar (Yamunanagar), Swaran Singh (Bunga Tibbi, Panchkula), Malkit Singh Panniwala (Sirsa), Swaran Singh Ratia (Fatehabad), and Umrao Singh Chhina (Kaithal), paid obeisance at Akal Takht in Amritsar and prayed for the prosperity of the newly formed Shiromani Akali Dal (Azad) (SAD-A). The committee, tasked with nominating the party's president, aims to address Sikh issues in Haryana and field candidates for religious elections, including those for the Haryana Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (HGPC), Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC).
India 01-Dec-2024
Additional Director General (ADG) of the Border Security Force (BSF) Western Command, Satish S. Khandare, while addressing the media during BSF's 60th Raising Day in Chandigarh, revealed a nearly 150% increase in drone seizures along Punjab's 553-km border with Pakistan in 2024, with 242 of the 250 recovered drones spotted in Punjab. He also highlighted significant recoveries, including 663 kg of narcotics and 69 weapons, and commended the force's efforts in preventing infiltration and smuggling.
India 01-Dec-2024
Police on December 1 arrested a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang along with his two associates, identified as Bhupendra Singh Rawat, Adesh Chaudhary and Deepak Singh Rawat, and seized three pistols and six bullets were recovered from their possession in Indore in Madhya Pradesh (MP). The suspects were reportedly planning to hijack a liquor truck.
India 01-Dec-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on December 1 recovered a packet containing 500 grams of heroin along with a drone from fields near Rajatal village in Amritsar district. The drone was a DJI AIR 3S model.
India 01-Dec-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on December 1 recovered a packet containing 540 grams of heroin along with a drone from fields near Dhariwal village in Ajnala in Amritsar district. The drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
India 01-Dec-2024
The Jagraon City police on December 1 arrested three persons, identified as Ravideep Singh alias Ravi, Amandeep Singh alias Jassu and Karan alias Nikku and seized 50 grams of heroin along with a Hyundai i20 from their possession, near Kothe Ath Chak village in Ludhiana district.
India 01-Dec-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on December 1 recovered two heroin consignments weighing 541 grams and 750 grams respectively, along with four Pakistani drones from fields in Tarn Taran and Amritsar districts in Punjab. The recovered drones included two DJI AIR 3S and two DJI Mavic 3 Classic models.
India 01-Dec-2024
Khalra police on December 1 arrested two bike-borne persons, identified as Jaspal Singh and Nirvail Singh and seized 115 grams of heroin from their possession, near Khalra village in Tarn Taran district. The Police revealed that the accused had received the consignment from the Pakistan side through a drone.
India 01-Dec-2024
Sadar police on December 1 arrested an individual, identified as Sukhjinder Singh Chhindha and seized an unlicensed 12 bore pistol from his possession while patrolling on the Abohar-Sriganganagar road in Fazilka district.
India 02-Dec-2024
According to sources, the Indian government has blocked approximately 10,500 URLs linked to the pro-Khalistani referendum over the past three years under Section 69A of the IT Act, citing national security concerns. Additionally, over 28,000 social media URLs, including those from platforms like Facebook and X, were blocked during this period for fraud and other malicious activities. The actions were taken based on recommendations from intelligence agencies and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA).
India 02-Dec-2024
On December 2, a video surfaced on social media showing Khalistan leader and self-styled head of Damdami Taksal Rajpura, Barjinder Singh Parwana, issuing death threats against Dhirendra Shastri of Bageshwar Dham, referencing the assassination of Indira Gandhi as a warning. The threats were reportedly triggered by Shastri's perceived remarks about the Golden Temple, although his supporters deny these allegations. The video has sparked widespread outrage, and complaints have been filed accusing Parwana of sedition and incitement to religious hatred.
India 02-Dec-2024
The five high priests on December 2 imposed religious punishment (‘tankhah’) on Sukhbir Singh Badal, directing the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to accept his resignation as party chief within three days and conduct elections for new office-bearers within six months. Sukhbir Singh Badal was also instructed to perform ‘sewa’ at the Golden Temple as penance for his government’s shortcomings between 2007 and 2017, including its handling of the 2015 sacrilege incidents. Additionally, the Akal Takht revoked the ‘Panth Rattan Fakhr-e-Qaum’ title previously awarded to the late Parkash Singh Badal.
India 02-Dec-2024
A Delhi court on December 2 adjourned the hearing in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler to December 9, as two former police officials summoned as witnesses were unable to depose. The case pertains to the killings of three Sikhs at Gurdwara Pul Bangash, with Tytler facing charges of murder and other offences.
India 02-Dec-2024
Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, issued new threats via a video message on December 2, urging farmers to surround Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi during his visit to Punjab Engineering College on December 3 in Chandigarh.
India 02-Dec-2024
According to sources, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is likely to investigate threats issued by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun to disrupt the All India Directors General of Police (DGP) and Inspectors General of Police (IGP) Conference 2024 in Bhubaneswar. Pannun reportedly sent threatening emails and audio messages to journalists in Odisha, prompting a high alert. Authorities suspect the involvement of sleeper cells, as the messages included text in both Odia and English, potentially prepared locally or with the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
India 02-Dec-2024
Fazilka police on December 2 dismantled an inter-state network of illegal opioids operating from Rajasthan, arresting an unidentified individual and seizing 1.71 lakh Clovidol-100 tablets in Khuian Sarwar, Abohar, Fazilka district.
India 02-Dec-2024
Purnea Police on December 2 arrested Rambabu Yadav for allegedly threatening independent Member of Parliament (MP) Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav from Dumaria village in Bhojpur district, Bihar. Rambabu Yadav, who previously had associations with Yadav's Jan Adhikar Party, claimed he was offered INR 2 lakh to issue video death threats to the MP, reportedly to prompt an upgrade in his security. During interrogation, the police found no connections to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, and further investigations are ongoing.
India 03-Dec-2024
The Jalandhar Police on December 3 arrested four smugglers, identified as Palwinder Singh alias Sona, Amardeep alias Harman, Vishal, Balbir Singh alias Bira, and seized 150 narcotics pills, 50 grams of heroin, and INR 4,800 in drug money from their possession, in Jalandhar in Jalandhar district.
United Kingdom 03-Dec-2024
Lord Meghnad Desai, a life peer in the British House of Lords and former Labour Party Member of Parliament (MP), explained in an interview with Hindustan Times that India perceives the Khalistan movement—supported by some members of the Sikh diaspora in Canada—as a threat to its unity, rooted in the trauma of partition and historical Sikh grievances. Desai emphasized the need for India to adopt a more measured approach to the issue and suggested dialogue, potentially mediated by a neutral third party such as the United Kingdom (UK) or Australia, to resolve the standoff and safeguard long-term bilateral relations.
India 03-Dec-2024
The Akal Takht's decision to revoke Parkash Singh Badal's "Fakhr-e-Qaum" (Pride of the Nation) title and impose religious punishments on Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders represents a critical juncture for the party, challenging its moral authority in Sikh politics. Criticizing the SAD's failure to protect Sikh interests, the Akal Takht called for a comprehensive reorganization of the party, urging rival factions to unite and elect new leadership to rebuild trust and restore integrity.