KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
India 28-Sep-2025
Khanna police on September 28 arrested one person, identified as Shubham Kumar along with 70 grams of heroin and a Swift car in Civil Lines, Ludhiana district.
Canada 29-Sep-2025
Unidentified assailants opened fire on Punjabi-Hindi radio station ‘Swift 1200 AM’ in Surrey, British Columbia, late on September 29, in what police suspect is the latest act of intimidation linked to Canada’s spiraling extortion crisis targeting South Asian businesses. No one was inside at the time, and staff discovered bullet holes in the main exterior door the next morning on September 30. Surrey Police Service (SPS) confirmed it was a targeted drive-by attack and transferred the case to British Columbia’s newly formed Provincial Extortion Task Force. The station’s recent shows had focused on extortion threats against Indian-owned businesses and Ottawa’s decision to designate the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity.
Canada 29-Sep-2025
The Government of Canada on September 29 formally designated the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity under its Criminal Code, citing the group’s violent activities, intimidation tactics, and threats to diaspora communities. Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree announced the decision, emphasizing that the designation would provide law enforcement with ‘powerful and effective tools’ to curb the gang’s activities. He further stated, “The Bishnoi gang is not just a criminal network but a terrorist organization that thrives on fear and violence. This designation makes it clear that Canada will not tolerate their crimes.” With the inclusion of the Bishnoi gang, a total of 88 entities are now listed as terrorist organizations under Canadian law. The Bishnoi gang, led by Lawrence Bishnoi, who hails from Punjab and is currently lodged in Sabarmati Central Jail in Gujarat, India, faces numerous charges, including murder, extortion, and involvement in high-profile assassinations, most notably that of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. Following the designation, all property, vehicles, and financial assets linked to the Bishnoi gang in Canada can now be frozen or seized. It also becomes a criminal offence for any individual in Canada, or Canadians abroad, to knowingly provide funds, services, or resources to the gang.
India 29-Sep-2025
According to Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, Punjab Police has intensified security across all districts, particularly along the Indo-Pak border, following intelligence inputs about attempts to disturb peace in the region. After chairing a high-level Law and Order Review Meeting in Amritsar on September 29, the DGP stated, "There are specific intelligence inputs suggesting that after Operation Sindoor, Pakistan’s ISI is desperately trying to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in Punjab. To counter this, we have deployed 57 additional companies, including seven from the Border Security Force (BSF), across seven border districts."
India 29-Sep-2025
On September 29, Punjab Police, on day 212 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 39 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 49 drug smugglers and seized 3.2 kg of heroin, 20 kg of poppy husk, 420 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 1210 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
India 29-Sep-2025
The Amritsar Rural Police Special Cell on September 29 arrested three persons, identified as Karanbir Singh, Husandeep Singh, and Sahilpreet Singh, and seized a Glock pistol (9 mm), a Zigana pistol (.30 bore), 532 grams of opium, a motorcycle, and four mobile phones from their possession, in Amritsar district.
India 30-Sep-2025
On September 30, Punjab Police, on day 213 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 48 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 71 drug smugglers and seized 5.38 kg of heroin, 1.3 kg of opium, 5 kg of poppy husk, 465 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 1480 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
India 30-Sep-2025
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on September 30 stated that officers across the state have been given a free hand to deal firmly with gangsters and anti-social elements. Chairing a state-level law and order virtual meeting with senior officers, including Station House Officers (SHOs), the DGP outlined a comprehensive action plan ahead of the festive season. He directed officials to remain vigilant, ensure peace and harmony, and safeguard citizens. Yadav further instructed police personnel to identify and arrest associates of gangsters, assuring them, “You have full protection and support from the department. Deal with the gangsters fearlessly.”
India 30-Sep-2025
Bihar Police arrested a Punjabi youth, identified as Sandeep Paswan for allegedly threatening to kill Bihar’s Minister of Building Construction Jayant Raj Kushwaha on Facebook Messenger while claiming affiliation with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, in Ludhiana district, Punjab. A mobile phone used in the incident was seized. Initial investigations revealed that Paswan had no prior criminal history and no genuine links to the Bishnoi gang.
India 30-Sep-2025
According to official sources, while Canada designated the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity on September 29, India had repeatedly warned Ottawa about the group’s activities in the past. These warnings, conveyed in 2021 and 2022, were largely ignored by the government of then–Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau, which subsequently accused India of using gang members to target pro-Khalistan separatists based in Canada. The issue was first discussed during the 2021 visit of National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials to Ottawa for talks with Canadian counterparts, and was raised again in the summer of 2022, when Indian officials expressed concern about ‘transnational criminal gangs’ exploiting Canada as a base for planning criminal activities in India.
India 30-Sep-2025
The Global Sikh Council (GSC), an umbrella organisation representing national Sikh bodies from 28 countries, adopted a resolution during its virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM) calling for the restoration of the sovereignty, dignity, and spiritual authority of the ‘Takhats,’ as well as the revival of Sikh heritage sites in Pakistan.
India 30-Sep-2025
The Counter Intelligence (CI) unit of Punjab Police on September 30 arrested a drug trafficker, identified as Vansh Kumar and seized 4.70 kg of heroin from his possession, in Patiala district. Preliminary investigation revealed that Kumar is closely associated with Dubai-based Amritpal Singh, an aide of jailed gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria.