KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
India 03-Jan-2025
Police on January 3 arrested two drug smugglers, identified as Ajaypal Singh and Gurjinder Singh and seized 3.2 kg of heroin from their possession, at a checkpoint near Malwal Qadeem village in Ferozepur district.
India 03-Jan-2025
The Amritsar Commissionerate Police on January 3 busted a cross-border drug and weapon smuggling cartel, arresting 12 individuals, including kingpin Manjeet Singh alias Bhola, and seizing 2.19 kg of heroin, three pistols (two automatic), INR 2.60 lakh in drug money, and a Toyota Fortuner, in Jhanjoti village, Ajnala, Amritsar district.
India 03-Jan-2025
Between January 3 and 10, the Kapurthala police successfully dismantled multiple theft rackets, arresting 11 individuals and seizing several stolen and illegal items, including a .32 bore pistol, a sharp-edged weapon (datar), two fake pistols, 13 motorcycles, and 11 mobile phones in Kapurthala district.
India 04-Jan-2025
Months after announcing plans to launch a new political party, radical Khalistan preacher and Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, along with Faridkot MP Sarabjit Singh Khalsa, son of one of Indira Gandhi’s assassins, are set to establish a committee to outline the structure of their Punjab-based outfit. An official announcement is planned at the 'Panth Bachao, Punjab Bachao' (Save the Panth, Save Punjab) rally on January 14, during the Maghi Mela festival at Sri Muktsar Sahib in Punjab. With Amritpal detained under the National Security Act (NSA) in Dibrugarh jail, Assam, his father Tarsem Singh and Khalsa will lead the rally and initiate groundwork for the new political initiative aimed at addressing Punjab’s socio-political challenges.
India 04-Jan-2025
Border Security Forces (BSF) and Punjab Police in a joint operation on January 4 arrested two unidentified smugglers and seized a packet of heroin weighing 540 grams from their possession, near Attari village in Amritsar district.
India 04-Jan-2025
On January 4, the Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police, in a joint operation, recovered four packets of heroin weighing 2.12 kg, along with a box containing 40 live cartridges, near Balharwal village in Ajnala, Amritsar district.
India 04-Jan-2025
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on January 4 requested the Additional District and Sessions Judge to transfer the case records of the 2022 murder of Dera Sacha Sauda follower Pardeep Singh Kataria from the Faridkot court to the NIA Special Court at Patiala House, New Delhi. Pardeep, an accused in the 2015 Bargari sacrilege case, was killed in Kotkapura, with Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar named as suspects. The NIA cited orders from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) linking the killing to the Kala Jathedi gang and associates of Bishnoi and Brar. The agency also sought custody of the original case exhibits and evidence.
India 05-Jan-2025
The Delhi Lieutenant Governor (L-G), VK Saxena, approved full relaxation of age limits and educational qualifications on January 5 for 88 riot victims and their families seeking government jobs as Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) in New Delhi. This decision, made after appeals from the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee and victims' groups, aims to support rehabilitation efforts. Special camps held in November 2023 identified eligible applicants, many of whom faced barriers due to age or qualifications. The relaxation is in line with a 2006 rehabilitation package sanctioned by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to assist riot victims.
India 05-Jan-2025
The Punjab Frontier of the Border Security Force (BSF), in coordination with the Tarn Taran police, on January 5 recovered a packet of heroin weighing 562 grams and a China-made DJI Mavic 3 Classic drone near Dal village in Patti, Tarn Taran district.
India 05-Jan-2025
The Punjab Frontier of the Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with the Tarn Taran police, on January 5 recovered a packet of heroin weighing 632 grams near Dal village in Patti, Tarn Taran district.
India 05-Jan-2025
According to officials, a Pakistani drone found near Chak 9-F village in Sri Ganganagar district, Rajasthan, on December 2 had made three sorties into Indian territory before crashing due to a technical fault. The Border Security Force (BSF) registered a case under the Indian Aircraft Act and has since intensified security and patrolling along the Pakistan-India border, particularly in the Jalalabad area of Fazilka district, Punjab, to counter anti-national activities and drug smuggling.
India 05-Jan-2025
Khalistani terrorist and the chief of the banned Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun issued a fresh threat on January 5 via video message to disrupt the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, scheduled from January 13 to February 26. Pannun called for "Prayagraj Chalo" to oppose Hindutva ideology and urged supporters to raise Khalistani and Kashmiri flags at airports in Lucknow and Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
India 06-Jan-2025
Police on January 6 arrested two individuals, identified as Balbir Singh alias Bira and Ajay Verma and seized 2 kg of heroin along with INR 1.5 lakh of drug money from their possession, near Kadial village in Ajnala in Amritsar district.
India 06-Jan-2025
Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police on January 6, arrested one smuggler identified as Bittu and seized 525 grams of heroin along with two mobile phones from his possession near Malakpur village in Ajnala in Amritsar district.
India 06-Jan-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) on January 6 recovered a broken drone from fields near Khanwal village in Ajnala in Amritsar district. The recovered drone was a DJI Mavic 3 classic model.
India 06-Jan-2025
Radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh's father, Tarsem Singh, has urged people to attend the ‘Panthic’ gathering on the Maghi festival at Muktsar Sahib on January 14 and announced plans to launch a new political party. He criticized the current Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leadership for failing the Punjabi community and emphasized addressing Punjab’s issues within the constitutional framework. Tarsem Singh highlighted the need to prioritize youth leadership, health, and education. He also denied the authenticity of a letter allegedly written by Amritpal Singh condemning his mother’s statement against Khalistan.
India 06-Jan-2025
According to data from the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG), Punjab's district courts are grappling with a significant backlog of 8,45,319 cases, with 62% of them pending for over a year. Of these, 4,71,803 are criminal cases involving life and liberty, while 3,73,516 are civil matters. The primary reasons for delays include the non-availability of counsel, stay orders, and witness-related issues. This backlog underscores the urgent need for judicial reforms to ensure timely justice delivery and reduce prolonged adjournments.
Canada 06-Jan-2025
Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau resigned as Liberal Party leader on January 6, ahead of a key caucus meeting in Ottawa, Canada. The Khalistani factor significantly influenced Trudeau's resignation, as former pro-Khalistani allies withdrew support and declared a no-confidence vote. His handling of Khalistani issues also strained relations with India and polarized public opinion in Canada. The Liberal Party now faces an uphill battle in the upcoming election, with polls favoring Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives. Trudeau's ties with the Sikh diaspora and his approach to Khalistani issues remain under intense scrutiny.
India 06-Jan-2025
Police on January 6 arrested two associates of foreign-based gangster Prabh Dasuwal, identified as Karanpreet Singh alias Karan and Gurlaljit Singh alias Laali, and seized one pistol, some live cartridges and empty bullet shells from their possession in Valtoha village in Patti in Tarn Taran district. The duo, involved in extortion on Dasuwal's directions, were linked to two firing incidents in the past month. They were arrested after a brief encounter when they opened fire on the police, injuring themselves in retaliatory fire.
India 06-Jan-2025
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh's call on January 6 for the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to comply with the December 2 directives has intensified challenges for SAD Working President Balwinder Singh Bhunder and SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami. While SAD leaders, including Sukhbir Singh Badal, have fulfilled the religious component of their tankhah (religious punishment), they have yet to address key political directives, including Sukhbir's resignation and membership enrolment reforms. Sources indicate Giani Raghbir Singh's backing of Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh has deepened the rift between the Akal Takht, SGPC, and SAD leadership.