KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
India 05-Mar-2025
Punjab New and Renewable Energy Minister and Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) state president Aman Arora announced on March 5 that under the "Yudh Nashian Virudh" (war against drugs) campaign, Punjab Police registered 580 First Information Reports (FIRs) and arrested 789 drug peddlers under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between March 1 and 4. Authorities also seized 74 kg of heroin, 19.5 kg of opium, and 77 kg of synthetic drugs, totaling approximately 170 kg of narcotics across Punjab.
India 05-Mar-2025
The Amritsar Rural Police on March 5 busted a smuggling network operated by a United States (US)-based smuggler, Jasmit Singh alias Lucky, and arrested one smuggler, identified as Sahilpreet Singh alias Karan, seizing 23 packets of heroin, each weighing 1 kg (totalling 23 kg), in Daspura village, Amritsar district. Preliminary investigations indicated that the consignment was smuggled from Pakistan, and efforts are underway to apprehend other individuals linked to the network.
India 05-Mar-2025
Police on March 5 arrested gangster Navjot Singh, a close associate of Lucky Patial, who runs the Bambiha gang, after a brief encounter and seized a country-made Sten gun, two magazines, and two additional magazines belonging to another firearm from his possession in Mullanpur, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. Navjot, who had recently resumed illegal arms trafficking after his release from jail, was shot in the leg during the exchange of fire before being taken into custody.
India 06-Mar-2025
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on March 6 in New Delhi condemned the security breach outside Chatham House in London, United Kingdom (UK), where a pro-Khalistan protester attempted to approach External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar’s vehicle. He criticized the misuse of democratic freedoms by such elements and urged the host government to fully uphold its diplomatic obligations. The UK government also denounced the incident, calling any attempts to intimidate or disrupt public events “completely unacceptable.” The Metropolitan Police swiftly intervened, ensuring Jaishankar’s safe departure. No arrests were made following the incident.
India 06-Mar-2025
Uttar Pradesh (UP) Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna on March 6 praised the Special Task Force (STF) for arresting an active Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist, Lajar Masih, in a joint operation with Punjab Police, calling it a sign of improved law and order. Masih was reportedly linked to Pakistan-based ISI operatives and worked for a Germany-based BKI module.
India 06-Mar-2025
Delhi Cabinet Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on March 6 condemned the recent attempt by Khalistani extremists to assault External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in London, United Kingdom (UK), stating that a handful of individuals could not represent the entire Sikh community. He emphasized the patriotism of Sikhs and their contributions to India’s independence.
Pakistan 06-Mar-2025
Pakistan ranked second in the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025 due to a sharp rise in terror attacks and civilian casualties, according to the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). The report highlighted a 45% surge in attacks during 2024, with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) emerging as the deadliest group. Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained the worst-affected regions, accounting for over 96% of attacks and fatalities.
India 06-Mar-2025
Punjab Police on March 6 demolished two properties allegedly belonging to drug traffickers Sandeep Singh alias Sonu and Gurmeet Singh in the Angarh and Maqboolpura areas of Amritsar district. The demolition was part of the state government's crackdown on drug trafficking, with authorities stating that the properties were built using illicit funds. Civic officials had issued demolition orders after following due procedures.
India 06-Mar-2025
Punjab Police on March 6 arrested two key members of the Pavittar Chaura gang, Kanwalpreet Singh alias Kanwar and Ranjit Singh and seized one 9mm Glock pistol, one .30 bore pistol, two .32 bore pistols, four magazines, and 39 cartridges from their possession in Batala, Gurdaspur district. Both accused were in contact with US-based gangster Pavittar Singh Chaura and were involved in criminal activities in Punjab at his behest.
India 06-Mar-2025
In a joint operation on March 6, the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Special Task Force (STF) and Punjab Police arrested Lajar Masih, a terrorist with alleged links to Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and seized three active hand grenades, two active detonators, one foreign-made pistol, and 13 cartridges from his possession in Kaushambi district, UP. Masih, a resident of Amritsar, Punjab, had escaped judicial custody in September 2024 and was reportedly working for Germany-based BKI operative Swarn Singh, alias Jeevan Fauji.
India 06-Mar-2025
Uttar Pradesh (UP) Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar revealed on March 6 that Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Lajar Masih, arrested in Kaushambi district, was in contact with a Delhi-based gang to obtain a fake passport and flee abroad. He had altered his Aadhaar details using forged documents and had already paid INR 2.5 lakh for the passport. Linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Masih was planning a major terror attack during the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj before being nabbed in a joint operation by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) and Punjab Police.
India 06-Mar-2025
Punjab Police on March 6 conducted raids at 501 locations leading to the arrest of 75 drug smugglers after registration of 53 First Information Reports (FIRs), and recovered 8.2 kg of heroin, 4.5 kg of opium, 1294 intoxicant tablets/pills/injections and INR 1.04 lakh drug money from their possession, across the state.
India 07-Mar-2025
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on March 7 terminated the services of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh and Takht Kesgarh Jathedar Giani Sultan Singh in Amritsar. The decision follows the December 2, 2024, decree by the Akal Takht, which declared former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal "tankhaiya" (guilty of religious misconduct) and called for restructuring the party leadership. Prominent Sikh leaders in the United States condemned the SGPC’s decision, calling it "unwise and unacceptable." SGPC Senior Vice President Raghujit Singh Virk defended the removals, stating that the former Jathedars failed to address contemporary Sikh issues. The SGPC also announced that its annual budget session will be held on March 28.
India 07-Mar-2025
On March 7, the Punjab government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to integrate drug awareness into the school curriculum. The agreement, signed between the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), Punjabi University, and the Educational Multimedia Research Centre (EMRC) in Patiala, aims to educate students on drug prevention. EMRC Patiala will develop digital content, while Punjabi University will oversee implementation. Initially introduced for grades nine to twelve, the program will later become a permanent part of the ninth-grade curriculum.
India 07-Mar-2025
Punjab Police on March 7 raided 687 locations, arrested 111 individuals involved in drug trafficking and liquor smuggling, and seized 1.2 kg of heroin, 9.8 kg of opium, 3.3 kg of ganja, 46 kg of poppy husk, 7,091 intoxicant tablets and injections, and INR 1.32 lakh in cash across Punjab. A 1,000-strong police force conducted vehicle checks at 84 points in 10 border districts, including Pathankot, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Fazilka, Rupnagar, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar, Patiala, Sangrur, Mansa, Hoshiarpur, and Bathinda.
India 07-Mar-2025
The counter-intelligence wing of Jalandhar Police on March 7 averted a major targeted killing in Punjab by arresting three operatives of a Babbar Khalsa International (BKI)-backed terror module—Jagroop Singh, Sukhjit Singh, and Navpreet Singh alias Nav — and seizing four pistols, including two country-made weapons, along with four magazines and 22 cartridges from their possession, in Surya Enclave, Jalandhar. The module was being handled by US-based gangster Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi Nawashehria, a close aide of Pakistan-based terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda. Investigations revealed that Gopi, with the help of his Greece-based associate Laadi Bakapuria, was recruiting youth for anti-national activities.
India 07-Mar-2025
The Amritsar Rural Police on March 7 arrested three persons, including a granthi and his wife—Joga Singh (granthi), Sharanjit Kaur, and his brother Punjab Singh—and seized 2.5 kg of heroin and INR 40,500 in drug money from their possession in Gagarmal village, Ajnala, Amritsar district.
India 07-Mar-2025
The Amritsar rural police on March 7 arrested four persons, identified as Dilbagh Singh alias Judge, Arshdeep Singh and Samual Masih, and seized 5 kg of heroin from their possession, in Dhusi Bandh in Ajnala in Amritsar district.
India 07-Mar-2025
Former Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on March 7 in Amritsar condemned the removal of Giani Raghbir Singh as Akal Takht Jathedar and Giani Sultan Singh as Takht Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar, calling it a "black day" for Sikh institutions. He accused the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) of controlling Sikh institutions and retaliating against the December 2 decree. Other Sikh leaders, including Giani Kewal Singh and Manjit Singh Bhoma, also denounced the move, warning that SAD and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) would face consequences for their actions.
Canada 07-Mar-2025
On March 7, the British Columbia (BC) Supreme Court in New Westminster, Canada, sentenced Jose Lopez to life in prison without parole for 20 years for his role in the killing of Ripudaman Singh Malik. Lopez and Tanner Fox, who received a similar sentence on January 28, were convicted of second-degree murder. The prosecution stated that the killing was "planned and deliberate," with both accused receiving financial compensation. Malik, previously acquitted in the 1985 Air India Kanishka bombing case, was shot multiple times, but the perpetrators have not revealed who hired them.