KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
India 18-Jan-2025
Police on January 18 recovered one packet of heroin weighing 558 grams from fields near Wan village in Tarn Taran district. The packet was dropped by a drone.
India 18-Jan-2025
The leadership of Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), including Tarsem Singh, father of radical Khalistani preacher and Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, and Faridkot MP Sarabjit Singh Khalsa, son of Beant Singh, an assassin of former Prime Minister (PM) Indira Gandhi, offered ardas at Akal Takht in Amritsar on January 18 before launching the party's membership drive. They announced plans to establish offices in Chandigarh and Amritsar, while a seven-member committee is drafting the party’s constitution. Sarabjit Singh Khalsa confirmed their intention to contest the 2027 Assembly and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) elections. Additionally, Tarsem Singh criticized Sukhbir Singh Badal for disregarding Akal Takht directives and unveiled plans to create district-level committees to lead the membership campaign.
India 18-Jan-2025
Police on January 18 arrested two individuals, identified as Navdeep Singh alias Joban and Jaskaran Singh alias Karan and seized two envelopes containing 500 grams of heroin (250 grams each), a 7.65 mm country-made pistol with five live cartridges, and a bike from their possession, at a checkpoint near Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala district.
India 18-Jan-2025
On January 18, a 65-member Indian delegation crossed the Wagah-Attari border to attend the 34th World Punjabi Conference in Lahore, Pakistan, from January 19 to 21. Led by Sehajpreet Singh Mangat and Dr. Deepak Manmohan Singh, the delegation comprises prominent poets, artists, and scholars. The conference, themed around Sufism, will feature the release of new books in Gurmukhi and Shahmukhi scripts.
India 19-Jan-2025
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema on January 19 in Chandigarh stated that the meeting of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) members, initially scheduled for January 21, has been deferred to January 22 to address concerns over alleged ineligible voters in the preliminary voter lists for SGPC elections. He added that the party would gather details to file objections by January 23 and discuss the issue with the Chief Commissioner for elections. The SAD will also initiate a month-long membership drive starting tomorrow.
India 19-Jan-2025
The Jalandhar Commissionerate police on January 19 arrested a member associated with the Gounder gang, identified as Harpreet Singh alias Peda, and seized 100 grams of heroin along with two pistols and magazines from his possession near Jamsher village in Jalandhar district. Singh, wanted in multiple criminal cases, attempted to escape during a weapons recovery operation by opening fire on police officers but was injured in retaliatory fire.
India 19-Jan-2025
On January 19, Sikhs in Haryana elected the first governing body of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) in a peaceful election with a 69.85% voter turnout. Independent candidates won 21 of the 40 seats, followed by 10 seats secured by the Panthak Dal (Jhinda). The election marked the culmination of decades of struggle for a separate management body, following the Supreme Court's 2022 validation of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Act. The newly elected 49-member committee, including nine nominated members, will soon select office-bearers.
India 19-Jan-2025
Fazilka police on January 19 arrested Kewal Singh and seized 2.41 kg of heroin along with a Bajaj Platina bike from his possession near Nanak Nagri link road in Jalalabad, Fazilka district.
India 20-Jan-2025
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on January 20 directed police officers in border districts to intensify efforts to track and arrest criminals settled abroad by procuring colour-coded international notices, as part of counter-terrorism and organised crime measures, during a meeting with senior police officers from Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Batala, and Tarn Taran in Amritsar district. The order followed recent blasts in Amritsar and Gurdaspur, allegedly linked to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Yadav also emphasised maintaining law and order ahead of Republic Day celebrations through heightened surveillance, night patrols, and preventive measures.
India 20-Jan-2025
The Chabal police on January 20 arrested two car-borne individuals, identified as Manjit Singh Meeta and Sajan, and seized four grams of heroin and drug money worth INR 1.02 lakh from their possession near Chabhal Kalan in Tarn Taran district.
India 20-Jan-2025
According to sources in Punjab Police, wanted gangster Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia is evading law enforcement using untraceable burner phones with international codes. Based in the United States (US), Passia is linked to Pakistan-based terrorist Harwinder Singh alias Rinda and is accused of orchestrating grenade attacks and extortion in Punjab. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) recently announced a INR 5 lakh reward for his arrest, citing involvement in 17 criminal cases, including a Chandigarh grenade attack in September 2024. Punjab police claim progress in solving recent attacks attributed to him and his network.
United States 20-Jan-2025
Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, attended the swearing-in ceremony of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States (US) at Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on January 20. Reports indicate that Pannun gained entry to the high-profile event by purchasing a ticket. A video has surfaced online showing him chanting pro-Khalistan slogans during the ceremony.
United Kingdom 20-Jan-2025
Pro-Khalistan extremists on January 20 stormed a cinema and disrupted the screening of Kangana Ranaut's film Emergency in Harrow, United Kingdom (UK). The extremists halted the film and shouted "Khalistan Zindabad" slogans, claiming it portrayed their community negatively. A video of the extremists shouting pro-Khalistani slogans during the screening was shared on social media. Emergency, released on January 17, portrays India's 1975 emergency period under Prime Minister (PM) Indira Gandhi, with Kangana directing and starring in the film.
India 20-Jan-2025
On January 20, Member of Parliament (MP) and actress Kangana Ranaut responded to protests against her film Emergency in Punjab and disruptions caused by pro-Khalistan extremists during a screening in London, United Kingdom (UK). She stated that "small-minded people" were causing trouble, which was impacting everyone. Expressing gratitude for the support she received, Ranaut shared her heartbreak, saying, "Punjab was where my films did best, and now my movie isn’t even allowed to be shown there." She urged viewers to watch the film and decide for themselves whether it promotes unity or division, emphasizing that it reflects her feelings about India.
India 20-Jan-2025
On January 20, Jagdish Singh Jhinda, president of Panthak Dal (Jhinda) and elected member of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) from Ward-18 (Assandh), reversed his resignation, stating he would continue to fight for gurdwara management in line with Sikh maryada, in Kurukshetra, Haryana. Jhinda cited advice from senior members, who warned that his resignation could weaken the group and benefit the opposition. Expressing dissatisfaction with election results, he criticized government and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) interference in gurdwara affairs and reaffirmed his commitment to the Sikh Panth and farmers. He plans to participate in meetings on January 24 and 25 to decide the group’s next steps.
India 20-Jan-2025
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on January 20 held law and order review meetings ahead of the Republic Day celebrations in Amritsar and Jalandhar. The meetings, attended by senior police officials, focused on strengthening security measures, enhancing police presence, and intensifying night patrols. The DGP emphasized counter-terror operations, anti-drug efforts, and tackling organized crime, particularly in sensitive and border districts. He directed police to conduct regular patrols, increase checkpoints, and take swift action against any security breaches to ensure a peaceful Republic Day across Punjab.
India 20-Jan-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops, in a joint operation with Punjab Police on January 20, arrested two drug peddlers, identified as Sandeep Singh and Baaz Singh, and seized 530 grams of heroin dropped by a drone near Atalgarh village in Amritsar district.
India 20-Jan-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on January 20 recovered a China-made DJI Mavic Classic 3 drone from fields near Rajpur Kalan village in Ajnala, Amritsar district.
India 21-Jan-2025
The Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF), through emails to the media, claimed responsibility for two cylinder explosions during the Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh (UP), calling them retaliation for the Pilibhit police encounter. KZF described the blasts as a warning to UP Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath, stating it was "just the beginning." The explosions caused no casualties, and an investigation is underway to assess the threat and strengthen security.
India 21-Jan-2025
Dal Khalsa working president Paramjit Singh Mand and Shiromani Akali Dal - Amritsar (SAD-A) general secretary Harpal Singh Blair announced at a press conference in Amritsar on January 21 that Dal Khalsa and SAD-A would stage massive protest marches across Punjab’s Majha, Doaba, and Malwa regions on January 25, ahead of Republic Day. They stated that the protests would oppose fake encounters, extra-judicial killings, wrongful detentions, black laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the National Security Act (NSA), anti-farmer policies, and the denial of self-determination for minorities. Harpal Singh Blair also criticized the government’s actions against Sikhs globally and expressed concerns over Punjab’s political future. Both groups extended best wishes to U.S. President Donald Trump, seeking his support for Sikh issues worldwide.