KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
India 19-Feb-2025
The police on February 19 arrested a smuggler, identified as Lovepreet Singh, and seized 3 kg of heroin from his possession near the bus stand in Khasa village, Amritsar district. The arrest followed the interrogation of Harmandeep Singh, from whom 10 kg of heroin had been recovered earlier.
India 19-Feb-2025
The police on February 19 arrested a Bambiha gang shooter, identified as Aman Kumar alias Golden, and seized two 30-bore pistols along with 10 cartridges from his possession in Liddaran village, Jalandhar district. Authorities revealed that Aman was linked to Bambiha gang leader Harmandar Singh, who is currently lodged in Rohini Jail, Delhi.
India 19-Feb-2025
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on February 19 in Chandigarh announced that 52 police officials, ranging from constables to inspectors, had been dismissed from service on corruption charges. The dismissals were part of a statewide crackdown following directions from Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann to curb corruption and misuse of power within the police department. The action was taken after complaints emerged regarding police officials allegedly registering fake First Information Reports (FIRs) to extort money.
India 20-Feb-2025
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on February 20 in New Delhi charge-sheeted two aides of Canada-based Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala in the terror-gangster syndicate case, identified as Neeraj Pandit alias Neeraj Faridpuria and Anil Singh. NIA's probe revealed their links with the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and the Bambiha gang, as well as their role in the murder conspiracy of Jasveer Deeghot in Palwal, Haryana. While Anil was arrested in September 2024, Neeraj remains at large.
Canada 20-Feb-2025
The Canadian government on February 20 officially designated seven transnational criminal organizations, including the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel, as terrorist entities under the Criminal Code. This move fulfils a promise made to former U.S. President Donald Trump to combat fentanyl trafficking and prevent trade tariffs. Public Safety Minister David McGuinty stated that these groups engage in extreme violence, drug and human trafficking, and arms smuggling. The designation grants law enforcement additional powers to disrupt their financing and operations.
India 20-Feb-2025
According to sources, the Batala Police have approached the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) to issue a Red Corner Notice against U.S.-based gangster Happy Passia, allegedly responsible for multiple bomb blasts in Punjab. The move follows a grenade attack on the home of Punjab Police Constable Jatinder Singh, for which Passia claimed responsibility. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Suhail Qasim Mir confirmed that the request was made through the Bureau of Investigation and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Meanwhile, Gurdaspur Member of Parliament (MP) Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa criticised the delay in initiating the process.
India 20-Feb-2025
Khalistani radical preacher and jailed Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh recently moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court, fearing disqualification due to his prolonged absence from Parliament. Detained under the National Security Act (NSA) since April 2023, he has missed 46 sittings. As per Article 101(4) of the Constitution, an MP’s seat may be declared vacant if they are absent for 60 consecutive sittings without permission. MPs can seek leave through the Committee on Members’ Absence, which has previously granted leave to jailed MPs.
India 20-Feb-2025
On February 20, newly elected Rajouri Garden Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Manjinder Singh Sirsa was sworn in as a Cabinet Minister in the ninth Legislative Assembly of Delhi. He is the first Sikh to hold a ministerial position in the Delhi Government after a decade of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rule. A former president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), Sirsa has won the Rajouri Garden Assembly seat three times. Having joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2021, he is expected to play a key role in the party’s strategy for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
India 20-Feb-2025
The Delhi High Court on February 20 disposed of a plea challenging the bail granted to former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, as he was convicted in the matter. The trial court found him guilty on February 12 for the murders of two individuals in Delhi’s Saraswati Vihar. Kumar, already serving a life sentence in another riots-related case, was formally taken into custody. His appeal against a previous conviction in the killings of five Sikhs is pending before the Supreme Court.
United States 20-Feb-2025
Khalistani terrorist and Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in response to allegations of mistreatment of Sikh migrants by the Donald Trump administration, stated, “I have nothing to do with the civil rights of Sikhs. I’m not working on civil rights at all," effectively disowning Sikh human rights issues. Sources questioned his silence, calling it “selective advocacy” despite his claims of championing Sikh rights. Pannun, who faces multiple charges in India, including sedition and terrorism, has been actively promoting Khalistani extremism and receiving foreign funding for subversive activities. His failure to condemn migrant mistreatment has raised concerns over his true motives.
India 20-Feb-2025
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Chandigarh on February 20 informed the court that the accused in the Sector 10 grenade blast case, Rohan Masih and Vishal Masih, received funds, weapons, and explosives from foreign-based entities to carry out terror acts in Punjab and Chandigarh. The agency revealed their links to foreign-based terrorists Harwinder Singh alias Rinda and Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia, who conspired to assassinate a retired Punjab Police officer. The NIA is probing cross-border smuggling of weapons and explosives, along with the accused’s involvement in other criminal activities.
India 20-Feb-2025
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on February 20 in Chandigarh obtained production warrants for accused Rohan Masih and Vishal Masih in the Chandigarh Sector 10 grenade blast case. The Special NIA court granted the agency's request to interrogate them to identify an associate involved in reconnaissance before the attack. The NIA stated that the accused, linked to foreign-based Khalistani terrorists Harwinder Singh alias Rinda and Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia, were provided with weapons and funds for terror acts in Punjab and Chandigarh. The court ordered their production on February 25.
India 20-Feb-2025
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on February 20 filed a chargesheet against two aides of Canada-based Khalistani terrorist and gangster Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala, identified as Anil Singh and Neeraj Pandit alias Neeraj, in Patiala House Court, New Delhi. The two were part of a terror-gangster syndicate funded by Dala and linked to the Bambiha gang. They were allegedly involved in the murder conspiracy of Jasveer Deeghot in Palwal, Haryana. Anil Singh was arrested on September 5, 2024, while Neeraj remains at large.
Nepal 20-Feb-2025
Sources indicate that Khalistani terrorist Kashmir Singh, who escaped from Nabha jail in 2016, is believed to be hiding in Nepal under a different identity. Singh, accused in the 2015 attack on Shiv Sena leader Harvinder Soni, was reportedly influenced by Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) chief Harminder Singh Mintoo. He is also alleged to have provided shelter and funds to those responsible for the 2022 RPG attack on the Punjab police intelligence headquarters. Singh is linked to Pakistan-based terrorist Harvinder Singh Rinda and Canada-based Lakhbir Singh Sandhu alias Landa.
Canada 21-Feb-2025
Indo-Canadian candidate Viresh Bansal, running in the Ontario election for the Oshawa riding, was suspended by Canada’s Liberal Party on February 21 after offensive social media posts attributed to him surfaced. Bansal apologised for comments made in 2023 regarding the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and a homophobic slur against Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau. Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie condemned the remarks, but no decision has been made on cancelling his candidature. The Ontario elections are scheduled for February 27, with the ruling Conservatives expected to retain power.
India 21-Feb-2025
Police on February 21 busted a trans-border drug cartel, arresting four traffickers identified as Gurjant, Jagjit Singh, Sahil Kumar, and Rinku, and seizing 5.06 kg of heroin from their possession in Amritsar district. Jagjit Singh, who had recently returned from Italy, was already wanted in a January 14 heroin seizure case. Police stated that the accused were in contact with Pakistan-based smugglers using drones to transport the contraband.
India 21-Feb-2025
Patiala Police busted a target-killing module linked to foreign-based gangster Goldy Dhillon, arresting two operatives, Malkit Singh alias Max and Sandeep Singh alias Deep, and seizing five pistols—three .32 calibre, one .30 calibre, and one .315 calibre country-made pistol—along with 15 cartridges, 1,300 intoxicating tablets, and an Activa scooter (PB 23 AA 0795) from their possession in Rajpura, Patiala district. The accused were allegedly tasked with carrying out target killings in Mohali and Rajpura under Dhillon’s orders.
India 21-Feb-2025
From February 24, forty-one Sikh devotees from Sarojininagar in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP), will embark on a special pilgrimage to Kartarpur Sahib, organized by Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Rajeshwar Singh. They will fly from Amausi Airport to Amritsar, offer prayers at the Golden Temple, and then cross the Wagah border to visit Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara. The devotees will return to Lucknow by air on February 26.
India 21-Feb-2025
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on February 21 in Amritsar decided not to accept the resignation of its president, Harjinder Singh Dhami, and urged him to reconsider. Dhami had resigned on February 17, citing moral grounds, amid internal conflicts within the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) over the removal of Giani Harpreet Singh as Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib. SGPC Senior Vice-President Raghujit Singh Virk stated that a delegation would meet Dhami to persuade him to withdraw his resignation.
India 21-Feb-2025
On February 21, in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, the complainant’s counsel argued for the death penalty for former Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Sajjan Kumar, calling the mass killings a “state-assisted massacre,” during a hearing at the Rose Avenue court in New Delhi. Senior Advocate HS Phoolka highlighted the systematic nature of the violence, citing the murder of 2,733 Sikhs in Delhi and 3,350 across India. Comparing the killings to other mass crimes, he stressed the need to strengthen legal provisions against genocide and argued that Kumar instigated armed mobs to target Sikh men for elimination.