KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
India 11-Feb-2025
The Punjab and Haryana High Court, on February 11 in Chandigarh, declared drug peddlers a grave threat to society and ruled out leniency in such cases while denying anticipatory bail to an accused under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Emphasizing that narcotics smuggling is not just a law enforcement issue but a major socio-economic crisis, the court highlighted India’s porous borders, particularly the Attari-Wagah corridor, and underscored the need for strict enforcement. It also reaffirmed the Supreme Court’s zero-tolerance stance on drug trafficking.
India 11-Feb-2025
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) inquiry report listed multiple allegations against Giani Harpreet Singh, former Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib. He refused to present his defense before the committee, which accused him of religious violations, including interrupting kirtan (hymn singing) to justify his actions and attending political events. His presence at the weddings of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Parliament (MP) Raghav Chadha and former Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Charanjit Singh Channi’s son drew criticism. Despite some internal dissent, the SGPC executive committee formalized his removal.
India 11-Feb-2025
According to sources, gangsters and criminals have a higher success rate on the ‘donkey route’ to the United States (US) due to their extensive networks and financial resources. Figures like Sunil Yadav, Anmol Bishnoi, and Deepak Pahal exploit weaknesses in international border controls, using forged passports and corrupt contacts to evade security checks. Unlike ordinary migrants, traffickers avoid deceiving gangsters, fearing retaliation from their criminal networks. Investigators highlight that these criminals leverage human smuggling networks and fake identities, making it difficult for authorities to track and intercept them.
India 11-Feb-2025
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami, on February 11 in Amritsar, welcomed the conviction of former Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, stating that the verdict would help heal Sikh sentiments. He urged the government to fast-track all pending cases and called for a parliamentary resolution of condolence and apology.
India 12-Feb-2025
Leaders of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) in New Delhi on February 12 hailed the conviction of former Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case and demanded capital punishment. Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries Ravneet Singh Bittu credited Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi for reopening riot cases, while Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Rajouri Garden, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, called for the death penalty or life imprisonment for Kumar.
India 12-Feb-2025
After the conviction of former Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, survivors expressed deep relief, calling it a long-overdue moment of justice. Kulpreet Vesuna recalled how his house in Janakpuri was burned down and became a site of killings. Harmeet Pal Singh shared how his mother disguised him as a girl to protect him from the mob. Jaspal Singh, a 92-year-old survivor, described the widespread destruction in Kalkaji and demanded life imprisonment for Kumar. Babu Singh Dukhiya, who was 29 during the riots, called it the biggest massacre since independence and thanked the judiciary for finally delivering justice.
Pakistan 12-Feb-2025
The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) backed the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee’s (DSGMC) call for a Sarbat Khalsa (global Sikh assembly) following the removal of Giani Harpreet Singh as Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib and offered to host the gathering at Guru Nanak Dev’s birthplace in Nankana Sahib, Punjab Province, Pakistan. PSGPC member Bishan Singh and DSGMC President Harmeet Singh emphasized the need for Sarbat Khalsa to address key Sikh religious matters.
India 12-Feb-2025
According to reports, the Punjab government’s anti-drug program allegedly violated privacy laws by directing the health department to share personal details of drug addicts registered in OOAT clinics without their consent. Deputy commissioners had begun collecting this data to contact families for prevention efforts, potentially breaching Section 23 of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017. Following concerns, the Punjab Health Department halted the process, assuring that no data had been shared. Experts warned that such disclosures could cause psychological distress and deter individuals from seeking treatment.
India 12-Feb-2025
Former Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Sajjan Kumar’s conviction for the murders of Jaswant Singh and his son on November 1, 1984, is the second secured by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in 2015 to reinvestigate anti-Sikh riot cases. The first was the 2018 conviction of Yashpal Malik for killing two Sikhs in Mahipalpur, Delhi, where he was sentenced to death. Atma Singh Lubana, who has supported riot victims, called Kumar’s conviction a major milestone and expressed hope for justice in the remaining seven cases under trial. Kumar is already serving a life sentence for his role in the 1984 riots.
India 12-Feb-2025
The Muktsar district police on February 12 arrested two persons, identified as Maninder Singh and Akashdeep Singh, and seized a vehicle transporting 27 quintals of poppy husk from Jharkhand, near Aulakh village in Malout, Sri Muktsar Sahib district. The accused had affixed an “On Army Duty” sticker on the vehicle to evade police checks and falsely claimed to be transporting ration for the Army. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the kingpin who was to receive the consignment.
India 12-Feb-2025
On February 12, police discovered that unidentified Khalistan supporters had reportedly hoisted a flag and inscribed a slogan on a government building in Satauj village, Sangrur district, Punjab, the native place of Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann. Police stated that a purported video of the incident had been received and was being verified. They added that all angles were under investigation, and necessary legal action would be taken following the probe.
India 12-Feb-2025
A Delhi court on February 12 convicted former Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Sajjan Kumar for the murder of two Sikh men during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Saraswati Vihar, New Delhi. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) alleged that Kumar led the mob responsible for the killings. Arguments on sentencing are scheduled for February 18. Kumar is already serving a life sentence for his role in the killing of five Sikhs in Raj Nagar during the riots. While he was acquitted in a separate case in 2023, other legal proceedings against him remain pending in various courts.
India 13-Feb-2025
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) on February 13 arrested a drug dealer, Amanjit Singh, who was selling drugs under the guise of being a taxi driver, and recovered 1 kg of heroin from his possession near Sector 80 in Mohali, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. Police revealed that Amanjit sourced heroin from Delhi, Amritsar, and Firozpur and supplied it in Mohali and surrounding areas. He was previously involved in a theft case and is a fugitive in a 10 kg heroin case in Punjab.
India 13-Feb-2025
Police on February 13 arrested two unidentified smugglers and seized 1.1 kg of heroin from their possession at a naka (checkpoint) in Mohali, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. They were produced in a Mohali court and taken on a three-day remand.
United States 13-Feb-2025
Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agent Ghulam Nabi Fai on February 13 led a pro-Khalistan protest outside the White House ahead of Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s meeting with United States (US) President Donald Trump in Washington, DC. Fai, a convicted criminal previously jailed in the US for operating as an undisclosed agent of Pakistan, has a history of lobbying against India. His protest is seen as Pakistan’s attempt to push its propaganda during PM Modi’s crucial visit. Experts have dismissed the Khalistan issue as irrelevant, highlighting Pakistan’s desperation in raising baseless concerns.
India 13-Feb-2025
Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of the banned terror outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), claimed responsibility via a video message on February 13 for hoisting a flag and inscribing Khalistani slogans on a government school building on February 12 in Satauj village, Sangrur district, the native place of Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann. Police stated that the video was being verified, and all angles were under investigation, with legal action to follow.
United States 13-Feb-2025
United States (US) President Donald Trump was questioned about the presence of Khalistani elements in the US during a press conference with Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on February 13 in Washington, DC. While he did not directly address the question, he highlighted US-India collaboration in combating crime. He also emphasized the approval of Tahawwur Rana’s extradition to India, a key suspect in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, reinforcing both nations’ commitment to addressing security threats and organized crime.
United States 13-Feb-2025
Sukhjit (Sukhi) Singh Chahal, founder and CEO of The Khalsa Today, a Sikh advocacy organization and think tank in the United States (US), on February 13 congratulated former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard on her US Senate confirmation as Director of National Intelligence (DNI). Last month, Chahal had joined an interfaith coalition urging the media to reject anti-Hindu prejudice ahead of Gabbard’s confirmation hearing. The coalition, comprising Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and Sikh leaders, condemned biased portrayals of Hindus in the media.
India 13-Feb-2025
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, in a Facebook post on February 13, strongly condemned the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) executive committee’s decision to remove Giani Harpreet Singh as the Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, calling it a threat to the independent status of Sikh temporal seats. He criticized the SGPC’s probe and termed Giani Harpreet Singh’s removal as "extremely condemnable and unfortunate." The February 10 decision has sparked backlash within the Sikh community.
India 13-Feb-2025
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on February 13 released a joint statement following bilateral talks between Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and United States (US) President Donald Trump, affirming India and the US’ commitment to taking “decisive action” against individuals threatening the safety and sovereignty of both nations, including illegal immigration networks, organized crime syndicates, narco-terrorists, and human and arms traffickers. The statement urged Pakistan to prosecute perpetrators of terror attacks in India and pledged enhanced law enforcement cooperation. Trump also approved the extradition of 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana. Pakistan rejected the statement as “one-sided” and criticized US-India defence agreements.