KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
India 01-Mar-2023
The pro-Khalistani propagator and self-proclaimed leader of ‘Waris Punjab De’ Amritpal Singh on March 1 stated that he will go before the Akal Takht over the issue of carrying the saroop (copy) of Guru Granth Sahib to Ajnala Police Station during the protest on February 23. He also said that there were historical examples and references to back up his claim that their actions at Ajnala as it did not violate the maryada. “If Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar summons us and asks us to clarify the issue, we will surely appear there. We will have no hesitation in doing so. We will go there to present our side,” he said.
India 01-Mar-2023
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on March 1 filed a supplementary chargesheet against three operatives of the banned Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) in a case of seizure of weapons, ammunition, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Haryana in 2022. According to an NIA spokesperson, charges were brought against the accused Akash alias Akashdeep, Sukhbir Singh alias Jashan, and Jarmalpreet before a special court in Panchkula under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Arms Act, and the Explosives Substances Act.
India 01-Mar-2023
According to sources, the Indian army and intelligence agencies conducted tests on recently installed indigenous anti-drone spoofers and jammer systems in Jammu and Punjab bordering areas of Pakistan and it has produced satisfactory results against weapons, explosives, and drug-carrying drones launched by Pakistan terror groups. The army purchased 30 jammer and spoofer devices, each for the Jammu and Punjab sectors, and placed them along the western border for testing. The devices have been working efficiently for more than three months and stopped drones from crossing into Indian border.
India 01-Mar-2023
Police arrested two Jalandhar-based drug smugglers along with 100 kg of poppy husk and 600g of heroin at a checkpoint in Sujanpur, close to Pathankot in Pathankot district on February 28. They were identified as Taranjit Singh and Kishan Lal, who smuggle drugs to Punjab from J&K. During this search operation, a Station House Officer (SHO) got injured.
Pakistan 01-Mar-2023
According to a Pakistan government notification released on March 1, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appointed Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora as the Ambassador-at-Large for Kartarpur Corridor as part of efforts to draw Sikh pilgrims from all over the world.
India 01-Mar-2023
Former diplomat KC Singh on February 28 said that the self-proclaimed Khalistani separatist Amritpal Singh should surrender his passport since he doesn't consider himself as an Indian citizen. KC Singh, chief of the Sunehra Punjab Party, also said that Amritpal should get his identification from United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as a stateless person because “Khalistan exists only in his head.”
India 01-Mar-2023
The foreign secretary of the United Kingdom (UK), James Cleverly on March 1 assured that violent attacks on Indian residents will be closely monitored by UK police and security services, and that appropriate measures will be taken to stop such illegal activity. While addressing the G-20 summit in New Delhi, Cleverly said that "We take the security of people very seriously. Our police and security services always pay close regard to such activities and if it is an illegal activity, we act upon it."
India 02-Mar-2023
Notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi was sent to judicial custody by a local court after the completion of his remand period on March 2. Bishnoi's attorney Deepak Chouhan said that the gangster was produced before the court through a video conference.
India 02-Mar-2023
The police in Delhi and Punjab were warned by intelligence agencies that pro-Khalistan elements may attempt to disturb communal harmony by attacking Amritpal Singh and would try to inflame sentiments in the aftermath. The agencies have also alerted about the terrorist outfit, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), threatening to storm the IGI Airport building in Delhi with Khalistani flags and unfurl one on top ahead of the G20 summit. Also, intelligence agencies have asked that the police to keep a close check on the funds that the Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal is receiving. Security agencies also suspect that Amritpal Singh is receiving financing aid from Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) to be promoted as Bhindranwale 2.0 on social media.
India 02-Mar-2023
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on March 2 criticized the central government for "taking a U-turn" on Balwant Singh Rajoana's release in the Supreme Court. He also stated that this had hurt the Sikh community's sentiments. He also stated that it was shocking that the central government had turned down its commitment to release nine Sikh prisoners on the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak in 2019.
India 02-Mar-2023
Police searched some houses of suspected drug peddlers and addicts in Panjpir Colony, Jammu Basti, Dharam Nagari and Seetogunno Road in Abohar in Fazilka district on March 2. However, most of the suspects were not available in their houses during the search. According to reports, Abohar has emerged as a gateway for drug smuggling from the neighbouring state of Rajasthan. Many truck drivers have also been arrested while carrying drugs in the past. The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Avneet Kaur Sidhu, who conducted the search, said, “The aim is to eliminate drug trafficking and protect the people.”
India 02-Mar-2023
Faridkot police on March 2 arrested five alleged drug dealers in Surghuri village of Faridkot district. According to an official, three of the five peddlers were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, while the other two were under investigation.
India 02-Mar-2023
According to reports, senior police officials from northern states and Union Territories, on March 2, decided to create a special working group so that local law enforcement officials could frequently exchange information and coordinate their efforts to combat the drug problem. In a meeting organized by the Chandigarh Police on March 2, the officials held a thorough discussion on the drug problem and its sources, the substances, the routes, etc., and strategies to combat it.
India 02-Mar-2023
‘Waris Punjab De’ head Amritpal Singh, in an interview on March 2, said that, "(Our) Ultimate goal is Khalistan. Khalistan is our destination, the struggle for it is our path ahead. Khalistan is the ultimate solution to every problem we have right now.” Speaking out against his allegation of being labeled an ‘ISI agent, he said, "The propaganda to brand anyone who discusses the Panth or Punjab as an Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agent is not new". “Someone who recognizes the issue and attempts to solve it is subjected to this type of blame game when others who should be repairing the societal system fail to do so. I am Sikhi's servant”, he stated.
India 03-Mar-2023
In order to combat the drug problem in the state, an NGO (Non-governmental organization) led by a retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer has recommended the Punjab government prescribe opium or poppy husk to drug addicts in a controlled manner. The recommendation stated that if poppy husks are sold legally, the state government will spend less on drugs for drug addicts and will earn revenue.
India 03-Mar-2023
‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh visited Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on March 3 at the Takht secretariat in Amritsar. The meeting comes against the backdrop of Amritpal was criticized for carrying a "saroop" of the Guru Granth Sahib during the protest at the Ajnala police station on February 23. He said that this was not a prearranged meeting with the Jathedar and that he had come to do obeisance at the Golden Temple. He, however, disproved the speculations that the meeting was about carrying the Guru Granth Sahib to the protest sites.
India 03-Mar-2023
The Fatehgarh Sahib District Police conducted a cordon and search operation on March 3 to nab Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) supporters in the Jassran village of the Fatehgarh Sahib District. The homes of two former SFJ sympathizers were raided by the police, but nothing incriminating was found. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Jangeet Singh, said that the Punjab Police initiated a cordon and search operation campaign, to nab anti-nationals, drug dealers, gangsters, and criminals from the district.
India 03-Mar-2023
The police on March 3 arrested a man with an illegal pistol and six live cartridges from Barkandi Road in Muktsar district. The suspect was identified as Sukhpal Singh alias Sukha and a case has been registered against him under the Indian Arms Act.
India 03-Mar-2023
Police on March 3 arrested one person, identified as Sonu Singh and recovered 110-gm heroin from him on the mega highway in Abohar in Fazilka district.
India 03-Mar-2023
According to police sources, the investigation into the alleged kidnapping and assault complaint filed on February 16 against Waris Punjab De head Amritpal Singh and six other people is almost completed. A senior police officer said that the higher authorities would soon get a report on this case.