KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
India 23-Jun-2025
Khuian Sarwar Police on June 23 arrested one smuggler, identified as Islaudin Illu and seized 800 grams of opium from his possession, in Gumjal village in Fazilka district.
Canada 24-Jun-2025
Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Mark Carney, in a statement on X on June 24, paid tribute to the victims of the 1985 Air India Kanishka bombing, calling it the deadliest terrorist attack in Canada’s history. He affirmed that the new government “unequivocally stands against terrorism,” in what was widely seen as a direct message to pro-Khalistan elements. Carney’s remarks signalled a clear departure from the Trudeau administration, which had faced criticism for perceived leniency towards extremist groups.
India 24-Jun-2025
On June 24, Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj summoned the executive committee of the Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD), citing multiple complaints regarding alleged violations of Sikh maryada (code of conduct), in Amritsar. The CKD leadership has been directed to appear before the highest Sikh temporal authority within 15 days, with the summon being issued to CKD president Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar, who also serves as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Amritsar South.
United Kingdom 24-Jun-2025
On June 24, UK High Court judge Justice Jay dismissed the libel claim filed by the UK chapter of the Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) against Conservative peer Lord Rami Ranger, but allowed the defamation suit brought by SFJ chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun to proceed. The GBP 500,000 case arises from Ranger’s 2021 interview and tweet alleging that SFJ and Pannun were funded by “the enemies of India.”
India 24-Jun-2025
On June 24, Punjab Police, on day 115 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 97 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 140 drug smugglers and seized 3 kg of heroin and INR 60500 drug money from their possession, across Punjab.
India 24-Jun-2025
On June 24, Delhi and Haryana Police shot dead wanted gangster Romil Vohra in a joint operation in Dera Mandi, South West Delhi district. Hours after the encounter, an Instagram post from the handle bhanu_rana61 alleged that Vohra had been picked up two days prior and killed in a staged encounter. The post vowed revenge, stating, “Hamare riwaz mein maut ka badla maut hai” (In our tradition, death is avenged by death).
India 24-Jun-2025
Interpol on June 24 issued a Blue Corner Notice for Amritpal Singh Mehron, the mastermind behind the murder of social media influencer Kanchan Kumari alias Kamal Kaur Bhabhi.
India 24-Jun-2025
Gharinda police on June 24 arrested two individuals, identified as Gursharan Singh alias Guri and Amritpal Singh alias Bai and seized three Glock pistols, along with a mobile phone and a bike from their possession, near Gharinda village in Amritsar district. According to police, the weapons were smuggled from Pakistan via drones.
India 25-Jun-2025
On June 25, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, condemned the Haryana government for referring to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur as ‘Veer Banda Bairagi’ in public advertisements, calling it a distortion of Sikh identity. He urged Sikh representatives in Haryana to unite against such narratives. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami also denounced the reference as an insult to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur’s legacy and a deliberate misrepresentation of Sikh history.
Canada 25-Jun-2025
On June 25, Canadian author and journalist Terry Glavin, in an article for the National Post, called the 1985 Air India Flight 182 bombing the worst mass murder in Canadian history and the deadliest act of aviation terrorism before 9/11. He criticised the Canadian government’s failure to bring the perpetrators to justice and condemned the continued glorification of Khalistani extremists involved in the attack.
India 25-Jun-2025
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau on June 25 arrested former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) minister Bikram Singh Majithia in Amritsar for allegedly laundering over INR 540 crore in drug-related proceeds. Search operations at three locations linked to 22 individuals led to the seizure of over 30 mobile phones, five laptops, three iPads, two desktop computers, property documents, diaries, and extensive financial records connected to Saraya Industries—the firm allegedly used to route illicit funds. Investigators uncovered INR 161 crore in unaccounted cash deposits, INR 141 crore in suspected foreign transfers, and INR 236 crore in unexplained financial entries in the company’s records.
India 25-Jun-2025
On June 25, Punjab Police, on day 116 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 104 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 153 drug smugglers and seized 1.8 kg of heroin, 2.4 kg of opium and INR 28890 drug money from their possession, across Punjab.
Canada 25-Jun-2025
Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke, in a statement published on the Surrey city government’s website on June 25, urged the Canadian federal government to designate the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and similar groups targeting South Asian Canadians as terrorist organisations under Canadian law. Citing a surge in shootings, extortion attempts, and gang-related killings, Locke characterised these actions as “economic terrorism” rather than ordinary crime. She emphasized that such a designation would empower law enforcement with enhanced tools to dismantle these networks and better safeguard local communities.
India 26-Jun-2025
The Supreme Court (SC) on June 26 raised serious concerns over prison security protocols after questioning how a journalist was able to access jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi for an interview. The observations came during a hearing on a petition filed by dismissed Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Gursher Singh Sandhu, who sought to quash proceedings against him related to the same incident. The SC permitted Sandhu to withdraw his plea, noting that the matter is already scheduled for hearing before the Punjab and Haryana High Court on July 3.
India 26-Jun-2025
On June 26, Khalistani supporters reportedly orchestrated a mass reporting campaign that led to the suspension of journalist Sameer Kaushal’s X (formerly Twitter) handle @itssamonline. The move followed Kaushal's podcast featuring Jaspal Atwal, a controversial figure previously convicted in a high-profile attempted murder case. The episode drew sharp backlash from pro-Khalistan circles, who accused Kaushal of providing a platform to anti-Khalistan voices.
Canada 26-Jun-2025
Canada’s spy agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), in its latest annual report to Parliament, warned that a small but militant faction of Khalistani extremists continues to pose a national security threat. The report raised concerns over the use of Canadian soil to promote, fundraise, and plan violence in India. This marks the first direct reference to the issue since 2018, signalling a potential policy shift as Canada seeks to repair strained ties with India. New Delhi has consistently flagged Khalistani networks in Canada as a major concern.
India 26-Jun-2025
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, on June 26 in New Delhi, stated that India seeks to strengthen its bilateral partnership with Canada across trade, energy, mobility, and student exchange. His remarks came days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis. Jaiswal described the meeting as 'productive and positive,' noting that both leaders agreed to take constructive steps to restore stability in ties, including the early return of envoys and the resumption of senior-level engagements.
India 26-Jun-2025
On June 26, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted raids at 18 locations across Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh (UP) as part of an ongoing probe into the Khalistani terror network. The operation targeted individuals linked to the banned outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), including BKI operative Kulbir Sidhu, currently based in Germany, and U.S.-based gangster Manish alias Kaka Rana. Authorities seized various incriminating materials, including mobile phones, digital devices, and documents during the searches.
India 26-Jun-2025
On June 26, former Punjab Minister and senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia was remanded to seven days’ custody by a Mohali court in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district, in connection with an ongoing investigation into the alleged laundering of over INR 540 crore in drug proceeds.
India 26-Jun-2025
On June 26, Punjab Police, on day 117 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign registered 103 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 155 drug smugglers and seized 1.09 kg of heroin, 64 kg of poppy husk and INR 5410 drug money from their possession, across Punjab.