KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
India 04-May-2025
On May 4, hundreds gathered in Phagwara, Kapurthala district, Punjab, to pay tribute to the great Sikh warrior and founder of the Kapurthala state, Nawab Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, on his 307th birth anniversary. The royal family, led by Brigadier (Retd) Sukhjit Singh Ahluwalia and his son Tikka Raja Shatrujit Singh Ahluwalia, organised an Akhand Path, which was attended by people from all walks of life.
India 04-May-2025
According to sources, Punjab is witnessing a troubling rise in the involvement of women in drug trafficking and consumption, with over 400 women arrested since March 2025 under the state’s anti-drug campaign. Data indicates that women are increasingly being used as couriers, operatives, and even cartel leaders—often driven by poverty, addiction, or coercion. High-profile arrests and forensic investigations suggest systemic exploitation, while the lack of gender-specific rehabilitation services exacerbate the crisis. Authorities have pledged a decisive crackdown, setting a May 31 deadline to reduce narcotics on the streets.
India 05-May-2025
On May 5, India lodged a strong protest with the Canadian High Commission over a pro-Khalistan rally held in Toronto on May 4, which featured derogatory imagery of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah, and External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar. The Indian government expressed deep concern over slogans promoting extremism and targeting Indian-origin Canadians. This was the first diplomatic communication since Mark Carney assumed office as Canada’s PM.
Canada 05-May-2025
On May 5, Indo-Canadian Hindu organisations—including the Canadian Hindu Chamber of Commerce (CHCC), Coalition of Hindus of North America (COHNA), and Canadian Hindu Volunteers (CHV)—strongly condemned hate speech made during the May 4 Khalsa Day parade in the Greater Toronto Area. A speaker was caught on video calling for the removal of “eight lakh Bhartis” from Canada, amid pro-Khalistan and anti-India banners. The National Alliance of Indo-Canadians urged Prime Minister (PM) Mark Carney to take decisive action against such radical elements.
Canada 05-May-2025
The recent Canadian election delivered a quiet but decisive verdict against Khalistani extremism in national politics. Once courted by mainstream parties for vote-bank gains, these fringe elements now stand politically marginalised. The fall of NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and the retreat of Justin Trudeau’s diaspora pandering mark a clear rejection of separatist rhetoric. India, having played the long game without theatrics, now observes as Canada confronts the consequences of enabling proxy radicalism. The Khalistan project didn’t fall in courtrooms or counterterror raids—it fell at the ballot box.
Canada 05-May-2025
The electoral defeat of New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh reflects broader shifts in Canadian politics, rather than solely Khalistani sympathies, as some Indian media suggest. His loss is rooted in the NDP’s long-term decline, the Liberal resurgence under Prime Minister (PM) Mark Carney, and evolving voter dynamics in the post-Trump era. While racial prejudice may have played a part, Singh’s policy influence—particularly during his alliance with the Liberals—was substantial. His legacy lies in mainstreaming Sikh political leadership in Canada, not in advancing separatist agendas.
India 05-May-2025
Executive Chairman of the Maharashtra State Punjabi Sahitya Academy and Convenor of the Maharashtra Sikh Association Bal Malkit Singh, on May 5 strongly condemned Khalistani terrorist and the chief of banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikh For Justice (SFJ) Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s recent anti-India remarks where he claimed that two crore Sikhs, including those serving in the Indian armed forces, would side with Pakistan in the event of a war between India and Pakistan, calling them baseless and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) driven. He asserted that the Sikh community firmly rejects such propaganda and stands united with India and Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi. Singh emphasised that Sikhs are rooted in nationalism, sacrifice, and service, and will not be swayed by foreign agendas.
Canada 05-May-2025
On May 5, Canadian MP Don Davies was appointed interim leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) following the resignation of pro-Khalistan leader Jagmeet Singh after the party’s poor performance in the April 28 federal election. The NDP secured only seven seats, losing its official party status in the House of Commons. Singh also lost his own seat and faced criticism for supporting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s minority government and for his perceived leniency towards Khalistani extremism.
United States 05-May-2025
On May 5, Diljit Dosanjh’s appearance at the Met Gala 2025 in New York City in the United States (US) sparked controversy for wearing an outfit embroidered with the map of Punjab and cultural symbols but notably without any reference to India. Supporters hailed it as a celebration of Punjabi heritage, while critics accused him of subtly endorsing separatist Khalistan ideologies. Dosanjh’s silence on the issue has fuelled intense debate over the line between cultural pride, political messaging, and national identity.
India 05-May-2025
On May 5, Bhagwant Singh alias 'Pradhan Mantri Bajeke', a close aide of jailed Khalistani radical preacher and Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, cautioned the youth of Punjab against Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia while speaking to the media in Bathinda district. Bajeke alleged that Majithia was misleading the youth about Amritpal Singh and suggested that Majithia should seek medical treatment, even offering financial assistance if needed.
India 06-May-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops, in a joint search operation with Punjab Police on May 6 arrested three unidentified smugglers and seized 25 grams of heroin along with one pistol, one magazine, four live rounds, INR 2000 in drug money, four smartphones, one motorcycle, one tractor from their possession, in Ajnala in Amritsar district.
India 06-May-2025
The State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), Amritsar, in coordination with a central intelligence agency, recovered two rocket-propelled grenades, two improvised explosive devices, five P-86 hand grenades, and a wireless communication set from a forested area near the Tibba Nangal–Kular road in Shaheed Bhagat Singh (SBS) Nagar district on May 6. Officials suspect the cache was part of a larger terror plot backed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) aimed at destabilising the region, adding that preliminary investigations point to attempts to revive sleeper cells.
India 06-May-2025
Police on May 6 arrested an unidentified woman, a member of a drug peddling gang, and seized 110 grams of heroin near Hussainpura village in Ludhiana district.
India 06-May-2025
Police on May 6 shot dead an unidentified gangster and arrested two of his unidentified associates in Shekhchak village, Tarn Taran district. Preliminary reports suggest the trio had gone to extort money from a local family but were intercepted by the police. When the gangsters opened fire, the police retaliated, resulting in the death of one gangster and the arrest of the other two.
India 06-May-2025
The Supreme Court (SC) on May 6 issued a notice in appeals filed by the Delhi Police challenging the Delhi High Court’s acquittal of 14 accused in six cases related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The Court directed the accused to respond by July 21 and ordered the production of trial court records. The appeals stem from a 2018 petition seeking implementation of the Dhingra Committee’s recommendations to address botched investigations.
India 06-May-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops, in a joint operation with Punjab Police on May 6 arrested three unidentified smugglers and seized 25 grams of heroin along with one pistol, a magazine, four live rounds, INR 2,000 as drug money, four smart phones, a motorcycle and a tractor from their possession, in Awanbasu village in Amritsar district.
India 06-May-2025
On May 6, a Special Task Force (STF) team was attacked while attempting to apprehend drug traffickers in Teona Pujariyan village in Bathinda district. The six suspects tried to break through the police cordon and assaulted the team with sticks and bricks. A case has been registered, and the police are currently searching for the suspects
India 07-May-2025
On the intervening night of May 7–8, the Border Security Force (BSF) neutralized a Pakistani intruder attempting to cross into Indian territory along the International Border (IB) in the Ferozepur sector of Ferozepur district. The intruder, who was moving toward the security fence under the cover of darkness, was fired upon by BSF personnel. After daybreak, the body was handed over to the police. In response to escalating security concerns, both Punjab and Rajasthan have been placed on high alert, with stringent security measures in place.
India 07-May-2025
Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of the banned terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), claimed in a video statement on May 7 that Sikh soldiers in the Indian Army have begun rebelling against the Indian state. He alleged that Sikh troops raised the Pakistani flag at Dashmesh College and painted pro-Pakistan slogans on its walls in Zirakpur, Punjab. Pannun further claimed that the Indian government had confiscated the soldiers’ phones and threatened their families. He urged Sikh soldiers to side with Pakistan to establish Khalistan and march on Delhi.
India 07-May-2025
On May 7, four members of the local Sikh community—identified as ex-army man Amarjeet Singh, shopkeepers Amreek Singh and Ranjit Singh, and homemaker Ruby Kaur—were killed, and a gurdwara wall was damaged when Pakistan launched heavy shelling in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).