KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
India 20-Oct-2025
Pakistan-based Khalistani terrorist Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, reportedly linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), released a video threatening Punjab’s excise department and liquor contractors. In the video, Rinda warned that those targeted “should protect themselves” as “anyone could be blown up,” referring to recent violence and attacks on liquor shops in Punjab. Claiming responsibility for the Nawanshahr grenade attack, he described it as a step up from his previous actions and threatened further assaults using explosives and firearms. Security agencies have termed the video alarming, noting that it directly threatens contractors, liquor shop workers, and excise department officials.
Canada 20-Oct-2025
Former CSIS director and national security adviser Richard Fadden, who served under prime ministers Justin Trudeau and Stephen Harper, said on October 20 that India never provided evidence to back its concerns about Sikh separatist activities in Canada. Fadden noted that Indian officials frequently raised the issue during his tenure, but “never gave us any evidence.” He added, “We kept trying to explain to them that we have the rule of law and our own procedures.” Fadden expressed hope that there is now “an effective exchange of law enforcement information on both sides” to allow such cases to proceed through courts.
India 21-Oct-2025
According to reports, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is attempting to revive the Khalistan movement in Punjab by using Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) to spearhead a major recruitment drive. Currently, there are 41 Khalistani groups, some sympathetic to the cause and others pursuing it through violent means. Seeking to unify these factions, the ISI has reportedly tasked BKI with leading the movement, bringing other groups under its umbrella.
India 21-Oct-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) on October 21 arrested a drug smuggler, identified as Arshdeep Singh, and seized 3.716 kilograms of heroin from his possession near the Pachharian border outpost in Ferozepur district.
Canada 21-Oct-2025
Three men linked to gangster Rohit Godara, Mahender Saran Dilana, Rahul Rinau and Vicky Phalwan, claimed in a social-media post that they shot Punjabi singer Teji Kahlon in Canada and warned “this is only the beginning.” They said Kahlon was shot in the abdomen and accused him of aiding rival gangs with money, weapons and information, and warned of harsher action if he did not stop.
Canada 21-Oct-2025
Punjabi singer Teji Kahlon was seriously injured in a targeted shooting attack outside a private event in Canada on October 21. Soon after the attack, a social media post by three individuals, Mahender Saran Dilana, Rahul Rinau, and Vicky Phalwan, claiming affiliation with the Rohit Godara gang took responsibility for the incident. In the post, the group issued a chilling threat, warning of a fatal strike. Local police and Canadian federal authorities are investigating the case but have not yet confirmed the identities of the shooters or the motive behind the attack.
India 21-Oct-2025
Amritsar Rural Police, in a coordinated operation with central agencies, on October 21 arrested two operatives of a terror module, identified as Mehakdeep Singh alias Mehak and Aditya alias Adhi and seized a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) intended for a “targeted terror attack” in Gharinda, Amritsar district. Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused were in contact with an operative of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), who had sent the consignment across the border via drone, as well as with Harpreet, who is currently lodged in Ferozepur Jail.
India 21-Oct-2025
On October 21, Punjab Police, on day 234 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 11 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 11 drug smugglers and seized 4.2 kg of heroin, 338 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 23,220 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
India 22-Oct-2025
The Supreme Court (SC) on October 22 refused to grant bail to Gurjodh Singh, an aide of pro-Khalistan leader and Member of Parliament (MP) from Khadoor Sahib, Amritpal Singh, accused in the February 2023 Ajnala police station attack, which left several police personnel injured.
India 22-Oct-2025
According to sources, the Delhi Government is expected to convene a meeting of the Sentence Review Board (SRB) later this week, during which several long-pending cases, including that of Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar, are likely to be taken up. Bhullar, convicted in the 1993 Delhi bomb blast that killed nine people and injured several others, has been in prison for over three decades. His death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment by the Supreme Court (SC) in 2014, citing an inordinate delay in the consideration of his mercy plea.
India 22-Oct-2025
Punjab Police on October 22 arrested four operatives of a cross-border smuggling network, identified as Jugraj Singh alias Chiri, Kulbir Singh alias Nannu alias Kalu, Arshdeep Singh, and Nachattar Singh and seized four sophisticated .30-bore pistols along with live ammunition in Amritsar district.
India 22-Oct-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) on October 22 seized a DJI Mavic 3 Classic drone carrying a Glock pistol with two magazines near Nesta village in the Amritsar sector in Amritsar district.
India 22-Oct-2025
An Amritsar court on October 22 remanded Mahkdeep Singh alias Mahak and Aditya alias Adhi to three-day police custody in connection with the seizure of a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) and launcher, allegedly smuggled from Pakistan. The accused reportedly admitted that they were promised INR 20,000 for concealing and delivering the RPG. The payment, they stated, was to be arranged by jailed gangster Harpreet Singh alias Vicky, who had ordered the weapon. However, the duo claimed they had no knowledge of who was to deliver the payment or when.
Canada 22-Oct-2025
Canadian Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre extended Diwali greetings, combining them with wishes for Bandi Chhor Divas, which drew criticism for his choice of wording. Social media users accused him of pandering to Khalistanis, with some commenting that it was unsurprising his party lost the last election.
India 22-Oct-2025
Pro-Khalistan slogans, including "Khalistan Zindabad," were found written on a school wall in Manawala village, Bathinda district, on October 22. Villagers immediately alerted the Rama Police Station, after which a police team arrived and covered the slogans with black ink.
India 23-Oct-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) on October 23 seized a DJI Mavic 300 RTK drone near Chakallbaksh village in Amritsar district.
India 23-Oct-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) on October 23 seized a DJI Mavic 3 Classic drone near Roranwala village along the Amritsar sector in Amritsar district.
India 23-Oct-2025
According to official sources, the smuggling of rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) from Pakistan into Punjab has raised serious security concerns, as these weapons are being used in targeted attacks on police and sensitive installations. In the latest case, Amritsar Rural Police arrested two suspects with an RPG launcher believed to have been smuggled from Pakistan via drones. Senior officials said such consignments are often pushed across the border through drones or concealed routes for use by sleeper cells operated by handlers in Pakistan.
India 23-Oct-2025
According to the Border Security Force (BSF), until October 23, it had recovered 213 drones, 325 kg of narcotics including heroin and ICE, 180 weapons, mostly pistols, 12 grenades, and 10 kg of high explosives in Punjab alone. The BSF also neutralized three cross-border intruders and apprehended 210 Indian nationals and 16 Pakistani nationals suspected of smuggling. BSF officials noted that these figures are in addition to seizures and arrests made by Punjab Police, which earlier this month recovered two AK-47 assault rifles.
India 23-Oct-2025
On October 23, Punjab Police, on day 236 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 75 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 95 drug smugglers and seized 685 grams of heroin, 93 kg of poppy husk, 1245 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 14,760 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.