KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
India 21-Jan-2025
Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, issued a threat via a video on January 21, vowing to target the Republic Day Parade on January 26 to prevent President Droupadi Murmu from unfurling the Tricolour. In the video, Pannun warned Delhi residents against sending children to the parade, claiming "Khalistani vigilantes will perform an action," and disclosed that SFJ had allocated a USD 125,000 budget for the attack. The Special Cell of the Delhi Police has been instructed to investigate the threat.
India 21-Jan-2025
The special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mohali, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district, on January 21, denied bail to Rajanpreet Singh, one of the accused in the 2021 Ludhiana court complex bomb blast case. Rajanpreet, arrested in August 2022, was accused of involvement in narcotics smuggling and links with Pakistan-based arms smugglers. The NIA stated that he was part of a terror gang responsible for the blast, which killed the bomb handler and injured five others. The court denied bail, citing his deep involvement in the criminal conspiracy and the need for his custody for a fair trial.
India 21-Jan-2025
Investigations into recent incidents of organised crime in Punjab have revealed that, under the guidance of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Khalistani militants, foreign-based gangsters, and narcotic smugglers are collaborating to incite violence in the region. According to sources in the Punjab Police, senior officials, including DGP Gaurav Yadav, have briefed officers on the growing interoperability between these groups, particularly in extortion-related violence and grenade attacks. A unified strategy involving counter-intelligence, the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), and the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) has been implemented to dismantle the network. The police are also focusing on thorough investigations and documentation to strengthen cases and ensure longer sentences for criminals.
Canada 21-Jan-2025
On January 21, 29-year-old Sikh youth Gurvinder Uppal succumbed to injuries from a gang-related shooting that occurred on January 20 in Delta, British Columbia, Canada. Police described the incident as a targeted attack linked to ongoing gang conflicts. A white Ford pickup truck, later found on fire, was reportedly connected to the shooting.
India 21-Jan-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on January 21 arrested two unidentified smugglers and seized a packet of heroin weighing 530 grams from their possession, in Atalgarh village in Amritsar district.
India 22-Jan-2025
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of the Chandigarh Police on January 22 arrested Gagan alias Gogi Gagandeep Singh (23) and Gagandeep (24), seizing 125.83 grams of heroin, 77.80 grams of charas, five knives, a dummy pistol, and a weighing scale from their possession in Chandigarh. The arrests followed the earlier detention of a woman smuggler, Aarti, who was caught with 30 grams of heroin on January 2. Gagandeep was identified as the main drug supplier.
India 22-Jan-2025
Punjab Police, in a joint operation with the Health Department, conducted raids at several pharmaceutical outlets on January 22 and seized 28,491 intoxicating tablets and 1,448 capsules in Ferozepur district. At M/s Nitin Medical Store, 17,180 tablets and 260 capsules were seized, leading to the booking of Raman Kapoor and Kunal Kapoor. In a separate raid at M/s PK Medical Agency, 11,111 tablets and 1,188 capsules were seized, with owners Pawan Kumar and Raj Badwar booked. Additionally, 200 intoxicating tablets were seized from Aulakh Medical Store, and owners Angrej Singh and Rakesh Kumar were also booked.
India 22-Jan-2025
The arrest of Onkar Singh, a teetotaller, and the seizure of 3.5 kg of drugs and INR 6.5 lakh in cash from his possession in Patiala, Punjab, have opened a Pandora’s box. Investigators believe he was single-handedly running the smack trade across multiple districts in Punjab through "fixed conduits." Onkar, who had evaded arrest in a 2021 drug case, targeted college students via trusted aides and operated from rented accommodations. Over 10 individuals linked to his network have been identified, marking one of Punjab’s largest smack-related seizures in recent times.
India 22-Jan-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on January 22 recovered a DJI Mavic 3 Classic drone from fields near Rattan Khurd village in Amritsar district.
India 22-Jan-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police, recovered an assembled quadcopter from fields near Fazilka in Fazilka district on January 22.
India 22-Jan-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on January 22 recovered a 5 kg packet containing four Zigana pistols and seven magazines near Rajatal village in Amritsar district.
India 22-Jan-2025
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) has ranked the Jamalpur police station in Ludhiana as the best police station in Punjab and placed it among the top 35 across the country. Located in a migrant-dominated area, Jamalpur was one of two police stations nominated by the Punjab government for UMHA's annual rankings. The ranking process evaluates police stations based on performance, citizen satisfaction, and willingness to report crimes. The Khanauri police station in Sangrur, also nominated, did not secure the top position but was praised for its inclusion.
United States 22-Jan-2025
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on January 22 pressed for accountability over the 2023 arson attack on India’s consulate in San Francisco by Khalistani extremists during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, DC. Jaishankar described the incident as a “very serious matter” and called for the perpetrators to be held accountable. The U.S. has condemned the attack, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) prioritizing the investigation, though progress remains unclear.
India 22-Jan-2025
According to sources, pro-Khalistan elements backed by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) are intensifying efforts through propaganda and coordination with gangsters and narcotics smugglers. Groups like Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), and Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) are leading activities, including protests and false claims of attacks. Punjab Police remain on high alert, focusing on border areas and international linkages. Meanwhile, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun's presence at United States (US) President Donald Trump's inauguration is seen as part of a propaganda drive to bolster the movement's visibility.
India 22-Jan-2025
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on January 22 conducted searches at multiple locations linked to the banned Khalistani terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) across Punjab, Uttar Pradesh (UP), Uttarakhand, and Chandigarh in connection with the Chandigarh grenade attack case. Incriminating material, including mobile devices, digital evidence, and documents, was seized during the operation.
India 22-Jan-2025
Several schools in Delhi received emails on January 22, allegedly from the banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), urging them to suspend participation in Republic Day celebrations. The email cited a “high risk of violence” and called for protests against the Indian Constitution. The Delhi Police are verifying the authenticity of the emails and investigating their source, while remaining on high alert for potential disturbances.
India 23-Jan-2025
On January 23, two police officers from Khanna, identified as Superintendent of Police (SP) Tarun Ratan and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sukh Amritpal Singh, sustained serious burn injuries while disposing of narcotics in Amritsar district. The fire used for destruction became uncontrollable. SP Ratan suffered burns on 40% of his body, while DSP Singh sustained burns on 25%. Both officers were hospitalized and are reported to be out of danger.
India 23-Jan-2025
According to senior police officials, with the new Donald Trump administration in the United States (US) prioritizing the deportation of criminals, the Punjab Police has started preparing documentation for the potential deportation of gangsters involved in illegal activities both in the US and Punjab. These individuals, many of whom entered the US illegally or with forged documents, are suspected of running criminal networks from abroad, engaging in activities such as drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and extortion. The Punjab Police is collating material on at least a dozen gangsters with ties to the US and Canada, including notorious names like Goldy Brar and Swaran Bhola. The aim is to present this information to US authorities, hoping for faster deportations under the new administration.
India 23-Jan-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops and the Special Task Force (STF) of Punjab Police on January 23 arrested an unidentified smuggler and seized 550 grams of heroin along with a phone from his possession near Balharwal village in Ajnala, Amritsar district.
India 23-Jan-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops in a joint operation with the Punjab Police on January 23 recovered a drone near Rattan Khurd village in Amritsar district. The recovered drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.