KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
India 12-Mar-2025
The head of Damdami Taksal, Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa ‘Dhuma,’ via a video message, strongly opposed the removal of Takht Jathedars by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), calling it a violation of Sikh traditions, and called for a Panthic gathering on March 14 at Anandpur Sahib to protest against what he termed disrespect towards Sikh principles. Without naming anyone, he accused SGPC and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders of making self-serving decisions. Once aligned with SAD-SGPC, the Taksal's political stance shifted after the SAD-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance ended, with Baba Harnam Singh later extending support to the BJP in the Maharashtra elections.
India 12-Mar-2025
The Centre recently informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh has been granted a 54-day leave of absence from the Lok Sabha, preventing his disqualification due to prolonged absence. The approval was sanctioned by a parliamentary committee, ensuring he retains his parliamentary seat despite his incarceration.
India 12-Mar-2025
Punjab Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state president Aman Arora on March 12 stated that as part of the ongoing campaign against drugs, the Punjab government had registered 1,163 First Information Reports (FIRs) under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act since March 1, leading to the arrest of 1,615 alleged drug peddlers and the seizure of 1,115 kilograms of narcotics, seven lakh pills and capsules, and approximately INR 60 lakh in drug money across Punjab, while addressing the media in Chandigarh.
India 13-Mar-2025
Damdami Taksal head Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa, in a statement in Amritsar on March 13, criticized the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for exceeding its mandate by removing the jathedars of Akal Takht and Takht Kesgarh Sahib. He accused the SGPC of undermining Sikh traditions at the behest of its political bosses. His remarks came ahead of a Panthic congregation at Anandpur Sahib in Rupnagar district, organized by the Sikh seminary during the Hola Mohalla celebrations, to discuss the issue.
India 13-Mar-2025
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, while addressing the media in Chandigarh on March 13, stated that the ongoing ‘War Against Drugs’ campaign has yielded significant results, with the arrest of 1,759 drug traffickers and the seizure of over 81 kg of heroin, 51 kg of opium, 7.5 lakh intoxicating tablets, and 970 kg of poppy husk, along with other synthetic drugs, in 13 days across Punjab. Additionally, the properties of 29 individuals associated with drug trafficking have been demolished.
India 13-Mar-2025
Police on March 13, in a raid, arrested five unidentified drug peddlers and seized 3 grams of heroin, 325 intoxicating pills and INR 1.35 lakh in drug money along with three scooters, four motorcycles and a Maruti car from their possession, in Baazigar Basti in Dhuri in Sangrur district. The raids, were part of the ongoing 'War Against Drugs' campaign. The Police warned drug peddlers to either quit the trade or leave the state, assuring support for those willing to reform.
India 13-Mar-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on March 13 arrested a smuggler, identified as Kuldeep Singh and seized five packets of heroin weighing 2.6 kg from his possession, near Lakha Singh Wala village in Ferozepur district. The operation was launched based on a tip-off, and the recovered packets, wrapped in yellow adhesive tape with nylon threads and illumination strips, indicated that the consignment was dropped using a drone from across the border.
India 13-Mar-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police on March 13 recovered one packet of heroin weighing 549 grams, from fields near Wan village in Patti in Tarn Taran district.
India 13-Mar-2025
On March 13, Mangat Ram alias Manga, the Moga district president of the Shiv Sena, was shot dead in the Baghiana Basti area of Moga district. Three bike-borne assailants opened fire on him, also injuring an 11-year-old child.
India 14-Mar-2025
Police on March 14 arrested three accused, in the case of the murder of Shiv Sena leader Mangat Ram alias Manga, identified as Deeepu, Arun alias Singha and Rajveer alias Laddo, and seized a 32-bore pistol and a 30-bore pistol from their possession, in Malout in Sri Muktsar Sahib district in Punjab. The trio were arrested after an encounter after they opened fire on the police.
India 14-Mar-2025
Kunnamangalam police on March 14 arrested two Tanzanian nationals, Kilekamajenga David Nteme and Myonga Atka Haruna, involved in a series of inter-state synthetic drug trafficking cases, in Phagwara, Kapurthala district, Punjab. The accused, both students at Lovely Professional University, were linked to the seizure of 227 grams of MDMA in Kerala on January 2. Investigations revealed large financial transactions in their accounts, which led to their arrest from a house near their college. Police stated that efforts to target wholesale drug suppliers have disrupted trafficking networks.
India 14-Mar-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) on March 14 recovered three packets of heroin weighing 1.7 kg from fields near Awan Vasau village in Ajnala in Amritsar district. An improvised copper wire loop was found attached to each packet indicating that they were smuggled via drones, from across the border.
India 14-Mar-2025
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), in a joint operation with Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) Jaito on March 14 arrested a shooter of the Davinder Bambiha gang identified as Manpreet Singh alias Mani, and seized a .30-bore pistol, four live cartridges and a motorcycle from his possession, at a naka (checkpoint) near Ghugiana village in Faridkot district. The accused, wanted in multiple cases of murder and arms-related offences, opened fire at the police while attempting to flee but was injured in the retaliatory action before being arrested.
India 14-Mar-2025
The Bathinda police on March 14 arrested six gangsters following a brief encounter, identified as Gurdeep Singh, Sunil Singh, Satwant Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Hargurn Singh and Arshdeep Singh, and seized a stolen AK-47 rifle and 24 rounds of ammunition from their possession, in Bathinda in Bathinda district. Two of the accused, Gurdeep and Sunil were army jawans posted in Jammu and Srinagar, allegedly stole the rifle before using it in a hotel robbery on March 11. The police tracked the suspects using CCTV footage, leading to the encounter in which one accused sustained a bullet injury. Authorities are coordinating with the army for further investigation.
India 14-Mar-2025
On March 14, a man identified as Zulfan, armed with an iron rod, attacked and injured five people on the premises of the Golden Temple in Amritsar district. Among the injured were two sewadars, three devotees, and a victim from Bathinda who remains in critical condition. The police have arrested the attacker and his yet-to-be-identified accomplice, who allegedly conducted a recce before the assault.
Canada 14-Mar-2025
Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau submitted his resignation on March 14 in Ottawa, Canada, ending over nine years in office. He was replaced by former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney, who won the Liberal Party leadership with nearly 86% of the votes. Trudeau’s tenure saw a significant deterioration in India-Canada relations, particularly after his 2023 allegations linking Indian agents to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. His controversial policies and declining popularity led to a major political shift in Canada.
India 15-Mar-2025
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab president Aman Arora, while addressing the media in Chandigarh on March 15, announced that as part of the ongoing campaign against drugs, 1,488 cases were registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in the last 15 days. This led to the arrest of 2,049 individuals involved in drug peddling and smuggling, along with the seizure of 1,270 kg of various narcotics, 7.16 lakh intoxicant capsules and tablets, and INR 63 lakh in drug money from the arrested smugglers. He also stated that the police demolished 28 drug-related illegal properties built using drug money, sending a strong message to those profiting from the drug trade.
India 15-Mar-2025
On March 15, on the 15th day of the "Yudh Nashian Virudh" campaign, Punjab Police conducted raids at 557 locations, arrested of 114 drug smugglers, after the registration of 72 first information reports (FIRs), and seized 945 grams of heroin, 43 kg of poppy husk, 3,098 intoxicant tablets/pills/injections, and INR 76,310 in drug money from the possession of the arrested smugglers, across Punjab.
India 15-Mar-2025
Police on March 15 busted a gang of snatchers, and arrested two of its members, identified as Manjit Singh and Manbir Singh, and seized a knife, a black motorcycle without a number plate and chilli spray, along with a stolen gold karrah (bangle), from their possession, in Phagwara in Kapurthala district. The third accused in the case, identified as Sunny is still absconding.
India 15-Mar-2025
Punjab Police’s State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) on March 15 arrested three operatives of Pakistan-based banned Khalistani terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) identified as Jagjit Singh, alias Jaggi, Shubham Khelbude and Gurdeep Singh, alias Deepa, and seized a pump-action gun with 15 cartridges and a pistol with eight cartridges from their possession, in Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. The arrests follow the earlier detention of three others linked to the February 10 Nanded murder case, bringing the total number of arrests to six. The Police revealed that the suspects were involved in providing logistics, extortion, and shelter to operatives on the directions of BKI terrorist Harvinder Singh alias Rinda