KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
United States 25-Mar-2025
According to sources, United States (US) prosecutors and defence lawyers for Indian national Nikhil Gupta, accused of hiring a hitman on behalf of former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officer Vikash Yadav to target Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, have proposed delaying his trial to November 2025. Gupta was arrested in Prague, Czech Republic, in June 2023 and later extradited to the U.S. Prosecutors claim to have video, audio, and text evidence, including Gupta’s communications with Yadav and an undercover officer posing as a hitman.
United States 25-Mar-2025
On March 25, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), in its annual report, recommended sanctions against India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and individuals like Vikash Yadav over alleged assassination plots targeting Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The commission also urged the U.S. to designate India as a "country of particular concern" for religious freedom violations, a recommendation Washington has repeatedly ignored.
India 25-Mar-2025
Punjab Police on March 25 conducted raids at 452 locations, leading to the arrest of 69 drug smugglers and the registration of 47 First Information Reports (FIRs), and recovered 1.2 kg of heroin, 300 grams of opium, 2,200 intoxicant tablets/pills/injections, 375 kg of poppy husk, and INR 13,000 drug money from the possession of the arrested drug smugglers, across the state.
India 26-Mar-2025
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on March 26 criticized the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), stating that it continued its “pattern of issuing biased and politically motivated assessments,” while addressing the media in New Delhi. He accused the commission of misrepresenting isolated incidents to malign India’s multicultural society. The MEA asserted that efforts to undermine India’s status as a “beacon of democracy and tolerance” would fail and suggested that the USCIRF itself should be designated as an “entity of concern.”
India 26-Mar-2025
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami, on March 26, in Amritsar, criticized the Indian government’s insensitive approach towards the release of Bandi Singhs (Sikh prisoners), calling it a violation of human rights. He stated that despite SGPC’s continuous efforts, the central government’s negative stance remains a major obstacle. Dhami expressed disappointment that multiple requests for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including one by the Akal Takht committee, were ignored. He urged the government to ensure justice for Sikh prisoners, warning that further delays could lead to growing distrust among Sikhs.
India 26-Mar-2025
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema on March 26 announced two initiatives to combat drug trafficking, including deploying 5,000 Home Guards alongside the Border Security Force (BSF) on the Pakistan border and implementing advanced anti-drone systems. Presenting the state budget for 2025-26, he allocated INR 110 crore for these measures, with INR 60 crore designated for Home Guards.
India 26-Mar-2025
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema on March 26, while presenting the state budget for 2025-26, announced the first-ever census to collect data on drug addiction and de-addiction centres. Cheema reiterated the state’s commitment to combating drug smuggling by enhancing border security and implementing targeted initiatives to curb the menace.
India 26-Mar-2025
As part of “Yudh Nashian Virudh”, Punjab Police on March 26 raided 483 locations, arrested 77 drug smugglers after the registration of 55 first information reports (FIRs), and seized recovered 1.1 kg of heroin, 301 grams of opium and INR 13570 drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers across Punjab.
India 26-Mar-2025
Police on March 26 nominated two more persons in the Jalandhar grenade attack case, identified as Gaurav Gill and Maninder Bobby, in Jalandhar in Jalandhar district. The Police stated that Gaurav Gill, a resident of Canada, was the mastermind behind the attack. The case relates to a grenade being thrown at the house of YouTuber Navdeep alias Rozer Sandhu, in Raipur Rasoolpur village in Phillaur tehsil in Jalandhar district, on March 16.
Canada 26-Mar-2025
A Globe and Mail report on March 26 linked the revocation of Indo-Canadian Member of Parliament (MP) Chandra Arya’s candidacy for the upcoming federal election to alleged foreign interference concerns involving India. However, Arya countered that the Liberal Party dropped him due to his strong stance against Khalistani extremism. He defended his meetings with Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that such engagements were routine for MPs.
India 27-Mar-2025
On March 27, Shiv Sena Yuva Sena's (Shinde faction) General Secretary Rahool Kanal accused comedian Kunal Kamra of receiving funding from Khalistani elements to create content against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. In a post on social media platform X, Kanal demanded the demonetization of Kamra’s YouTube channel and claimed to have over 300 screenshots of payments linked to anti-government videos.
India 27-Mar-2025
The Ajnala sub-divisional court on March 27 remanded Varinder Singh Fauji, an aide of jailed Khalistani radical and Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, to five-day police custody, in Ajnala, Amritsar district. A former Army personnel and Amritpal’s personal security guard, Fauji was brought from Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam after his detention under the National Security Act ended. He was part of the mob that attacked Ajnala police station in February 2023. The police had sought a seven-day remand, and he will be produced in court again on April 1.
India 27-Mar-2025
On March 27, in Chandigarh, Neena Singh, a member of Sikh Legal Aid (SLA), urged the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to adopt more proactive methods for religious advocacy amid rising conversions to Christianity in Punjab. She suggested door-to-door preaching, similar to Christian missionary efforts, and called for greater transparency in SGPC's budget allocation for dharam parchar. The SGPC, set to finalize its annual budget on March 28, has earmarked INR 100 crore for religious propagation in 2024-25. Sikh scholars have also emphasized the need for stronger outreach and social welfare initiatives to preserve Sikh heritage.
India 27-Mar-2025
In a written response to Parliament, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that it has raised concerns with the United States (US) over respecting the religious sensitivities and food preferences of Indian nationals being deported. However, the US authorities denied instructing deportees to remove religious head coverings and confirmed that only vegetarian meal requests were made. The response came following a query by Punjab Member of Parliament (MP) Harbhajan Singh. The MEA also objected to the use of shackles on deportees, particularly women, and noted that the US has used military aircraft for deportations this year.
India 27-Mar-2025
Punjab Police Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, while addressing a press conference in Chandigarh on March 27, stated that the supply of drugs on the streets has reduced following a crackdown under the ongoing war against drugs. He emphasized that the police are now focusing on dismantling high-level drug networks by targeting key suppliers and kingpins. He also reported that since the launch of the anti-drugs campaign on March 1, 4,142 drug smugglers have been arrested.
India 27-Mar-2025
The Hoshiarpur police in association with the district administration on March 27 demolished an illegal building constructed on encroached land of a woman drug peddler identified as Gurmeet Kaur, in Nainowal Vaid village in Hoshiarpur district. The demolition was carried out following complaints from the village panchayat, which reported her involvement in drug smuggling.
India 27-Mar-2025
A submission by the state of Punjab in the Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) on March 27 revealed that 971 accused in drug cases registered before August 31, 2024, remain absconding in Punjab. During the hearing before Justice NS Shekhawat’s Bench, the state counsel informed the court that out of 1,846 absconding accused, only 875 had been arrested so far. The court observed that Punjab Police had a legal obligation to arrest the accused, initiate PO proceedings, and attach properties, but such efforts were lacking in several districts.
Canada 27-Mar-2025
On March 27, police sources confirmed to Radio-Canada that Canada’s most wanted fugitive, Dave “Pik” Turmel, was recently arrested in Italy. Turmel, the leader of the Blood Family Mafia (BFM), had been on the run for over a year and was wanted for multiple charges, including drug trafficking and armed assault. Interpol had issued a red notice for his arrest, and a reward of up to USD 250,000 was offered for information leading to his capture.
India 27-Mar-2025
Amritsar Rural Police on March 27 arrested seven unidentified members of an international drug syndicate and seized 4.5 kg of heroin in Amritsar district. Preliminary investigations revealed their links to Gurdeep Singh alias Rano, a key operative of the syndicate currently detained under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act. Further investigations are underway to dismantle the entire network.
India 27-Mar-2025
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), in a joint operation with the Himachal Pradesh (HP) police on March 27 arrested four members of the Harpreet Happo gang, identified as Amrit, Onkar Singh alias Golu, Prince and Gurpreet Singh, and seized two pistols, 20 rounds, the car from their possession, in McLeodganj in Kangra district in HP. The accused were involved in the murder of Kharar gym trainer Gurpreet Singh alias Guri, who was shot dead on January 31. All four have multiple criminal cases registered against them, including charges of murder, attempt to murder, and violations under the Arms Act.