KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
United Kingdom 01-Oct-2024
A recent discussion on the United Kingdom (UK)-based MATV program Gurdwara MiriPiri highlighted deepening divisions within the pro-Khalistan diaspora. The program exposed contradictions, factionalism, and opportunism among key figures, questioning their alignment with Indian political leaders like Rahul Gandhi and the movement’s erasure of Sikh roots in Lahore. The anchors concluded that the Khalistan movement is increasingly fragmented and lacks genuine support.
India 01-Oct-2024
Punjab Police Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, while chairing a state-level Law and Order review meeting at the PAP Complex in Jalandhar on October 1, announced intensified efforts to curb petty crimes and drug trafficking by increasing CCTV surveillance at crime hotspots across the state. He stated that real-time monitoring would be conducted through newly established control rooms at district and sub-divisional levels and emphasised strict action against drug suppliers, property seizures, and enhanced vigilance ahead of upcoming elections and festivals.
India 01-Oct-2024
Police on October 1 arrested three drug smugglers identified as Sukhchain Singh alias Kala Suro, Amritpal Singh alias Pal, and Harman Singh, seizing 175 grams of heroin, INR 1.2 lakh in drug money, a Swift car, and a Scorpio car from their possession near the Mor Kale Ghanupur bypass near Chheharta in Amritsar district.
India 01-Oct-2024
The Chheharta police on October 1 arrested a drug smuggler identified as Narinder Singh, and seized 100 grams of heroin and INR 2,690 in drug money from his possession in Chheharta, Amritsar district.
India 01-Oct-2024
The police recently took strict action against a drug peddler identified as Meena Saini, sealing a house valued at INR 30,12,500 in the Satnampur locality of Phagwara, Kapurthala district. This followed the arrest of Ram Pal in April 2024, who was caught with 3 kg of opium and implicated Meena during interrogation. The property has been frozen, preventing any sale or transfer.
Canada 01-Oct-2024
The trial of four Indian nationals accused in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was adjourned for the fifth time at Surrey Provincial Court in Surrey, Canada, on October 1. The adjournment was due to the prosecution requiring more time for disclosure. The next hearing is scheduled for November 21. The four accused — Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh, Karanpreet Singh, and Amandeep Singh — remain in custody, facing charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
India 01-Oct-2024
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami, in Amritsar on October 1, appealed to the Canadian government, Sikh leaders, and India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to address the challenges faced by Indian students, particularly those from Punjab, in Canada. Citing a recent protest by Indian students in Brampton, he urged Canadian Sikh Members of Parliament (MPs) and officials to engage with the government to resolve their grievances.
India 01-Oct-2024
Police on October 1 arrested four members of a criminal gang, identified as Anwar Singh alias Jambu, Gurpreet Singh alias Kaka, Akashdeep, and Suraj Singh and seized a 12-bore double-barrel gun and a .32-bore pistol from their possession, near Vallah Bridge in Amritsar district. Their accomplice, Sandeep Singh alias Ladi, will be brought from jail on a production warrant.
India 01-Oct-2024
The Jalandhar rural police on October 1 arrested a man identified as Gurjit Singh and seized a .32 bore pistol along with four live cartridges from his possession after he brandished the weapon and obstructed traffic near a government office in Phillaur, Jalandhar district. The police stated that Gurjit had parked his Scorpio in the middle of the road, causing a disruption, and threatened a local resident when confronted. A case was registered, and the police recommended the cancellation of his arms license.
United States 01-Oct-2024
Khalistani extremists desecrated the statue of Mahatma Gandhi on October 1, draping it with Khalistan flags and separatist symbols in Washington, D.C., in the United States. According to reports, the silence from the U.S. government regarding this incident is troubling, as it risks condoning hate and disrespect under the guise of free speech. This act not only disrespects Gandhi but also strains the strong diplomatic relationship between India and the U.S.
India 02-Oct-2024
The Delhi Police's Special Cell arrested Jatinderpal Singh alias Jassi, an individual based in the United Kingdom (UK), at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport in Amritsar district on October 2, in connection with the largest-ever drug bust involving 560 kg of cocaine and 40 kg of hydroponic marijuana.
India 02-Oct-2024
Amritsar Police on October 2 dismantled an interstate weapon smuggling gang with the arrest of five individuals identified as Mohammad Akbar, Javed Khan, Qasim, Mukesh Kumar, and Allmin, seizing three .32 bore pistols and 30 live bullets from their possession in Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Nagar, Amritsar district. During interrogation, it was revealed that Mukesh and Allmin were responsible for supplying illegal weapons, with Mukesh procuring them from Rajasthan and distributing them across other parts of Punjab through his network.
India 02-Oct-2024
Gurdaspur Member of Parliament (MP) Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, in Amritsar on October 2, expressed concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab, claiming that gangsters were influencing voters during the panchayat polls under the patronage of the state government. Randhawa highlighted incidents involving gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria’s family being honored by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) officials and the free movement of gangster Gopi Goli in Kalanaur, which has terrorized villagers.
India 02-Oct-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on October 2 recovered three packets of heroin weighing 1.823 kg from fields near Wan village in Tarn Taran district. Although the suspects escaped before the troops arrived, the heroin, suspected to have been dropped by a drone, was found wrapped in yellow tape with an improvised copper wire loop attached.
India 02-Oct-2024
In the past week, the Jalandhar police disposed of seized drugs, including 62.3 kg of poppy husk, 932 grams of heroin, 270 grams of intoxicating powder, 10 grams of ganja, 850 grams of charas, along with 290 tablets and 14 injections, across 68 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, in Jalandhar district. The disposal was carried out at an authorised facility.
India 02-Oct-2024
According to official data, in the first nine months of 2024 (January-September), the Border Security Force (BSF) seized 153 Pakistani drones, 190 kg of heroin, 29 weapons, and 400 rounds of ammunition along the International Border (IB) in Punjab. Additionally, 153 individuals, including 25 Pakistani nationals, were apprehended for smuggling or infiltration. The BSF has intensified efforts to dismantle cross-border drug and arms smuggling operations.
India 02-Oct-2024
Police on October 2 busted an interstate arms smuggling gang and arrested its kingpin, Sunil Kumar alias Jeona, seizing five .32-bore pistols and eight live cartridges from his possession near Adda Nijharan in Jalandhar district. Preliminary investigations revealed that Sunil Kumar was smuggling arms from Madhya Pradesh (MP) to Punjab and had links to high-profile criminals abroad, including members of the Landa Harika gang.
Canada 03-Oct-2024
Daniel Bordman, a senior correspondent at The National Telegraph, stated in a conversation with India Today that Canada's immigration system is "completely broken and predatory in nature." He explained that Indian students, who are now facing the brunt of new immigration laws, are being exploited by Khalistani groups to advance their separatist agenda. Bordman noted that these extremist groups are taking advantage of vulnerable students, offering them legal protection in exchange for attending rallies and supporting their cause amid Canada's economic and housing crisis.
Canada 03-Oct-2024
The Deputy Chairman of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Mark Flynn, revealed in Ottawa, Canada, on October 3, that Canadian law enforcement is conducting separate investigations into alleged foreign interference by India, distinct from the probe into the 2023 killing of pro-Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He appeared before the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions. Flynn acknowledged that India has raised concerns over Khalistani extremism but noted that what India defines as an offense may not always align with Canadian law.
India 03-Oct-2024
According to reports, the India-United States (US) relationship has seen progress, but two key issues—Bangladesh's regime change and the Khalistan movement—are causing tensions. India’s security concerns and political sensitivities regarding Bangladesh conflict with the US's positive view of the regime change. Similarly, the US's approach to Khalistani elements, based on its democratic principles, has strained trust, particularly given India’s painful history with Punjab's insurgency. Resolving these issues will require deeper dialogue and cooperation to address mutual concerns and prevent further mistrust between India and the US.