KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
India 01-Jan-2022
Police on January 1 produced two jail inmates, Ranjit Singh and Sukhwinder Singh, in a court in Ludhiana to seek extension in their remand for questioning in the ongoing probe into the court complex bomb blast case. The court extended their police remand for five days. A police officer said both were being questioned for their alleged links with Gagandeep Singh, who died in the blast.
India 01-Jan-2022
According to reports, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will probe the suspected involvement of Germany-based Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) operative Jaswinder Singh Multani in the use of drones for the smuggling of arms, ammunition, explosives and drugs into the Indian territory by Pakistan-based syndicates. Based on inputs related to his alleged role in attempts to revive terrorism in Punjab, NIA has registered a case against him and his associates. Following an alert from Indian agencies, the police in Germany detained him a few days ago. “Multani was released after he submitted an affidavit that he would cooperate with the authorities concerned,” said an official. The official said that, “We have evidence indicating that Multani has been in touch with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). He also has links with smuggling syndicates in Pakistan and on the Indian side in Punjab. Through social media platforms and encrypted chat messengers, he radicalizes gullible young men from Punjab and motivates them to indulge in such illegal activities.”
India 02-Jan-2022
The Special Task Force (STF) arrested a smuggler, identified as Akashdeep Singh, and recovered 1.5 kg of heroin from him at Moti Nagar in Ludhiana district. During preliminary questioning, Akashdeep admitted that he had been into the notorious trade for two years and used to bring heroin from some big smuggler of Ferozepur.
India 02-Jan-2022
The Special Task Force (STF) arrested a smuggler, identified as Jugraj Singh (23), and recovered 600 grams of heroin from him in Sector 32, Chandigarh Road. A case under the NDPS Act was registered against him. He was nabbed from Sector 32, Chandigarh Road in Ludhiana district. Official sources said Jugraj Singh had links with many jailed smugglers in Punjab and he was running a drug network at their behest.
India 02-Jan-2022
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) confirmed on January 2 that the FIR against Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) activist Jaswinder Singh alias Multani has no connection with the Ludhiana bomb blast case. An NIA official said the NIA team has returned and Punjab Police is continuing its probe in the blast case. The NIA had lodged an FIR against Multani, a few days after the blast in Ludhiana's district courts complex. There was speculation that the main accused of the bomb blast, Gagandeep Singh (a dismissed cop), was in touch with Multani. The NIA official said, "The FIR has been lodged against SFJ activist Jaswinder Singh Multani under different sections of IPC and Unlawful Activity (Prevention) Act (UAPA). But, the FIR has no connection with the Ludhiana bomb blast. The Punjab police are probing the Ludhiana blast case and not the NIA."
India 03-Jan-2022
According to reports, Border Security Force (BSF), Punjab Frontier had killed 6 Pakistani smugglers and intruders in the year 2021. The force also captured one Pakistan drone and seized over 484 kg of heroin from the 553 km stretch of Indo Pak international border in Punjab during 2021. A spokesperson of the BSF, Punjab Frontier, informed that though the Indo Pak international border in Punjab was challenging and tough yet they had been able to thwart the cross-border smuggling, intrusion, etc. attempts. “During the year 2021, BSF troops of Punjab Frontier have maintained a high level of alertness and vigil which resulted in successfully detected and captured 1 Pak drone and seizing of 484.505 kgs heroin, 58 different calibre weapons, 3322 rounds,” said the spokesperson adding that the troops had also been successful in killing 6 Pak smugglers and intruder. He also informed that they had also apprehended 16 Pak nationals and 1 Bangladeshi national in different incidents across the 553 km stretch of Indo Pak international border.
India 04-Jan-2022
According to intelligence sources, it is learnt that Pakistan has sought to infiltrate India through the Kartarpur Corridor route and Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) had given the responsibility for the same to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). It has also been learnt that the LeT is preparing to carry out the operation with five individuals who will be dressed in Sikh attire. As per sources, this infiltration attempt is likely to be made in the near future. The ISI is expected to provide all documents and facilities to enable the same. The group has been given two weeks of commando training under ISI supervision in a terror camp in Sakargarh and are associated with the LeT Tanzeem outfit. The source also named two people from the group as Mohd Gulzar Maghre and Mohd Sahjada Bande. They have been instructed to go to Gurdaspur and Pathankot in Punjab.
India 04-Jan-2022
Police arrested a warden of Bathinda Central Jail and recovered 15 grams of heroin from his possession. According to police, the warden was supplying heroin to the jail inmates.
India 05-Jan-2022
According to the top sources in the intelligence establishment, days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Firozpur in Punjab, pro-Khalistan outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) had called upon the people to protest his visit. In a video released by the outfit's chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, he was seen aggressively calling upon the people of Punjab to hold, what it called "Show da Shoe" protest on January 5.
India 05-Jan-2022
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has taken a strong notice of the posts defaming the Sikh community on social media. A letter has been written by the SGPC to the Commissioner of Police, Amritsar in this regard.
India 05-Jan-2022
Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on January 5, termed the 'blocking PM Modi's cavalcade' in Ferozepur as a start for 'Khalistan freedom'. Issuing a video message, Pannun, claimed that Sikhs had chased Modi out of Punjab and that the upcoming polls will decide the Khalistan referendum. Pannun said, "Listen Modi govt, the campaign for Khalistan referendum has begun in Punjab on 5th January, as those bearing the tricolour had to go back to Delhi. People with orange flags chased Modi bare-footed out of Punjab, and Punjab has decided to be free today". Pannun added, "Indira Gandhi came to Punjab with weapons, she was answered with weapons. You are spreading panic in Punjab, but we answer the same with votes peacefully - by holding Khalistan referendum, by votes. Punjab has decided that along with the assembly elections, the Khalistan referendum will be held. May it be any party - Congress-Channi, Navjot Sidhu, BJP, AAP, whoever stands against saffron, will face the khanda (the Sikh weapon of war)". Earlier, PM Modi, who was scheduled to inaugurate projects worth Rs 42,750 crores and address a joint BJP-PLC-SAD (D) rally in Ferozepur, returned to Delhi after a brief security breach.
India 07-Jan-2022
Three accomplices of Canada-based Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) operative Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala, an aide of KTF’s Canada-based chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar, were arrested with two hand-grenades and two pistols from Chogawan village in Moga district on January 7. The arrested persons were identified as as Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi, Varinder Singh alias Vinda and Baljeet Singh. According to police, they had planned to attack a church in Moga to disturb the law-and-order situation. A .9mm pistol, a magazine and six cartridges were recovered from Gurpreet Singh, while a .9mm pistol, two magazines and 12 cartridges were found with Varinder Singh and two hand-grenades were recovered from Baljeet Singh. “During interrogation, they said that they were in regular touch with Arsh Dala, who provided them the grenades to throw at a religious place. He had also given them money for this task,” Moga Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Charanjeet Singh Sohal said.
India 07-Jan-2022
The Government of India has rubbished as 'fake' a viral video that shows anti-Sikh views being expressed during a 'Cabinet Committee on Security' (CCS) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) fact check Twitter handle said that the video is 'fake' and added that 'no discussion or meeting has taken place'. "A tweet referring to a viral video claim that in a #Cabinet Committee meeting on Security, there was a call for the removal of Sikhs from the Indian Army. The claim is #Fake No such discussion/meeting has taken place," the PIB said in a tweet.
India 07-Jan-2022
Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on January 7 denounced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security breach in Ferozepur, terming the incident as “unfortunate”.
India 07-Jan-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered an abandoned Pakistan wooden boat in the Sutlej. According to the information, the boat was spotted by the personnel belonging to 136 Battalion during patrol duty near the DT Mall border outpost along the International Border (IB) in Ferozepur.
Germany 08-Jan-2022
According to sources, a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team will soon leave for Germany to investigate a case against Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) member Jaswinder Singh Multani, who is allegedly planning attacks in Mumbai and other parts of India with the support of operatives from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and his Punjab-based associates. The NIA had last month registered a case under criminal conspiracy charges and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, against Multani and other operatives of the SFJ for “conspiring to carry out terror attacks in India and revive militancy in Punjab”. However, the NIA made it clear that this case has no connection with the blast at Ludhiana’s district and sessions court complex that took place on 23 December 2021. The source said, “Multani is in contact with “ISI operative Jibran as well as a Pakistan-based smuggling network involving history-sheeters Rana Taseem, Imran and others, and is actively pursuing a conspiracy to carry out attacks in Mumbai and other parts of India, with support of his Punjab-based associates”. “Multani’s associates include Jagdish Singh Bhura of the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF), deputy chief of KZF Gurmeet Singh, who is also associated with SFJ, Ranjeet Singh Pakhoke of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), Sukhdev Singh Heran and Hardeep Singh Nijjar of Babbar Khalsa International, and KTF members Paramjit Singh Pamma and Ranjeet Singh Neeta,” the source added. However, Multani has denied his involvement in terrorism conspiracies.
India 09-Jan-2022
Delhi Police’s Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Ops (IFSO) unit has identified 46 Twitter handles - all originating in Pakistan - which were engaged in propagating a manipulated video of the cabinet committee meeting to insinuate that the central government had convened a meeting to remove Sikhs from the Indian Army. According to DCP (special cell) KPS Malhotra, all of the Twitter accounts engaged in this mischief were created between October and December last year. “They are being blocked,” he added. Technical analysis has revealed that these accounts were being operated from a single browser.
India 09-Jan-2022
After assuming charge, the newly appointed Director General of Police (DGP), Viresh Kumar Bhawra, said that the Punjab Police will ensure smooth conduct of the state assembly polls around the corner. He said police will also ensure that the elections are conducted in an inducement-free manner. Apart from ensuring smooth elections, Bhawra said his focus will be on eradicating drug menace and terrorism from the state. He added that people-centric policing and public service delivery are among his top priorities.
India 10-Jan-2022
According to reports, some Supreme Court (SC) lawyers received an anonymous, pre-recorded call from a group claiming responsibility for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security breach at Punjab and warning of dire consequences should the apex court take up the case. The call was received some of the lawyers in the morning, at around 10.40 am, the same time when the court was hearing a public interest litigation on the matter, and decided to set up a committee to look into the breach. After several lawyers complained of receiving the call, the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) wrote to Supreme Court Secretary-General Virender Kumar Bansal seeking appropriate action. The SCAORA in its letter said, “Several members of SCAORA received an anonymous, automated pre-recorded call from number +447418365564, once at approximately 10.40 am and another call at 12.36 pm on January 10 fastening responsibility for Prime Minister Modi’s security breach during his visit to Punjab on January 5 on Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) from US, wherein it was stated that SFJ is responsible for blocking PM Modi’s cavalcade at Hussainwala flyover in Punjab.” The letter went on to state that “the caller further warned the Supreme Court judges to refrain from hearing the PIL filed by NGO Lawyers Voice seeking probe into the security breach on the ground that the SC has not been able to punish the culprits of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.” One of the lawyers addressed a complaint to the Delhi Police Commissioner of Police to initiate a probe against the person behind the calls and referred a copy of the complaint to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as well.
India 11-Jan-2022
According to report, Information security analysts have found proof that Pakistan’s sleeper cells are attempting to create a sense of disharmony in India by using forged proxies and internet "sleeper cells". The report also showed how Pakistan used social media applications to pursue its agenda of fake propaganda in India. The report, which analysed social media trends between October and November (2021), showed how more than 11,000 posts were generated in an attempt to propagate fake news about the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, radicalise youth, and further exacerbate discord by exploiting year-long farmers’ protest. The report showed how several hundred Twitter accounts would appear on the same day, tweet, and then cease to exist during farmers’ protests. The same strategy was used this time, when over 900 accounts emerged, tweeted anti-India propaganda, attempted to radicalise the youth, and were then either deleted or left inactive. According to information security firm Innefu co-founders Abhishek Sharma and Tarun Vig, the Pakistani handles were captured to identify Pakistan's involvement, confirming the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agenda to resurrect the Khalistan movement against India's sovereignty. Sharma also said, “The online agenda was used to further the stance of Sikh For Justice (SFJ), which made overt attempts to influence youth by offering $125,000 for raising Khalistan flags in Parliament on November 26/29.”
India 11-Jan-2022
Delhi Police, National Investigation Agency (NIA) and other central agencies, in a charge sheet, revealed that the Pakistani government has been conspiring for the last six years and misleading the youths of Punjab. In order to destabilize poll-bound Punjab, the Pakistani government and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) set up a K-2 (Kashmir-Khalistan) desk. From 2016 to 2020, at least eight murders and other attacks have been carried out by ISI through Khalistani terrorists in Pakistan and gangsters in Punjab. The attacks were designed to disturb the peace in Punjab and create an atmosphere of terror in the state. Pakistan allegedly planned to spread terror in Punjab after spoiling the lives of the youth through drugs. According to the chargesheet, Pakistani intelligence agency ISI, along with Khalistani terrorists Harmeet Singh alias Happy PHD, and Lakhbir Singh Rode, conducted targeted killings of RSS and Hindu leaders from 2016 to 2017. They aimed to fuel the ‘Khalistani Movement’ in Punjab through these activities. The ISI set up the K-2 desk and appointed its top officers to carry out terror activities in Punjab. These officers, on the directions of Lakhbir Singh Rode, used to supply funds to gangsters who fled to Gulf countries from Punjab.
India 11-Jan-2022
Punjab Police has solved the hand grenade attacks including an attack at Pathankot Army Camp by busting a major terror module backed by the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) group with the arrest of its six operatives from SBS Nagar district in Punjab. Those arrested were identified as Amandeep alias Mantri, Gurwinder Singh alias Gindi, Parminder Kumar alias Rohit alias Rohta, Rajinder Singh alias Malhi alias Nikku, Harpreet Singh alias Dholki and Raman Kumar. Police also recovered six hand-grenades (86 P), one pistol (9mm), one rifle (.30 bore) along with live bullets and magazines from their possession, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab VK Bhawra said. Earlier, in two instances some unidentified persons had hurled hand grenades at Pathankot - one near Chakki Pull on November 11, 2021, while another grenade attack took place outside Triveni Dwar, 21 sub-area of Army at Pathankot on November 21, 2021. The DGP said that during the preliminary interrogation, accused persons revealed that they were directly in touch with self-proclaimed Chief of ISYF (Rode) Lakhbir Singh Rode and his close aides identified as Sukhmeetpal Singh alias Sukh Bhikhariwal and Sukhpreet alias Sukh for planning terrorist attacks. "The entire cache of the recovered hand grenades, arms and ammunition were pushed in from across the International border by Lakhbir Rode and arrested accused persons had been tasked for further attacking the pre-identified targets which were mainly police and defence establishments, religious places etc," he said. The accused persons have also confessed to having lobbed hand grenades for two times in Pathankot, he added.
India 11-Jan-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) thwarted an attempt of Pakistan-based smugglers to push narcotics and ammunition inside the Indian territory by recovering 22 kilograms of heroin in three separate incidents in Ferozepur sector in Punjab. One pistol along with a magazine and eight live cartridges was also recovered. Besides heroin and ammunition, 430 grams of opium was also recovered, sources said.
India 12-Jan-2022
After several Supreme Court lawyers complained that they received calls from pro-Khalistani forces claiming responsibility for the blockade of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's convoy in Punjab's Ferozepur, similar calls were received by the Times Now headquarters in Noida. Rahul Shivshankar, Editor-in-Chief, Times Now, sad, "We are getting these calls from both - Canada and the UK. We know who these people are. We will be contacting the Canadian High Commission and the British High Commission and taking up the matter with the government."
India 12-Jan-2022
In a new propagandist video shared by Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on Facebook, the banned Khalistani outfit has announced 1 Million dollars as a 'reward' to anyone who would raise Khalistani flags instead of the Indian tricolour in Delhi on January 26 Republic Day. "This is the matter of Sikhs and Hind. This time the tricolour will not be allowed anywhere in Delhi. The campaign to liberate Punjab from Indian occupation through 'Khalistani Referendum' will continue equal to 2022 Vidhan Sabha elections," Pannun was heard saying in the video. He also appeared to burn Indian flags in the video. A similar attempt to instigate the Sikhs in India was made in 2021 when the SFJ had announced a cash reward of 2,50,000 dollars for hoisting the Khalistan flag at the India Gate on Republic Day. It also hijacked the farmers' protest, asking them to indulge in anti-national activities on the national holiday.
Canada 12-Jan-2022
India and Canada have decided to take their bilateral relationship to the next level with plans to enhance security, defence and trade ties under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s third term. India’s High Commissioner to Canada Ajay Bisaria said the countries are undertaking “fresh initiatives” in order to have “greater coordination” in a changing geopolitical environment. However, according to sources, with Ottawa not recognising the so-called ‘Punjab 2020 Referendum’, promoted by pro-Khalistan group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), a banned outfit in India, the bilateral relationship between both countries is poised for a reset of sorts. In November 2021, a three-member team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had visited Canada to investigate the funding routes of the SFJ and other pro-Khalistan groups. While the NIA has urged the Canadian government to declare SFJ as a terrorist entity, it has also agreed to share “actionable intelligence” with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the source said. The source also said both the NIA and Canada’s National Security Information Network (a wing of the RCMP that deals with national security and terrorism) have decided to get a regular dialogue mechanism going against the pro-Khalistan groups present in that country.
India 12-Jan-2022
The Supreme Court Bar Association on January 12 wrote to former top court judge Indu Malhotra, heading a panel tasked with probing the security breach of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Punjab, seeking an enquiry into anonymous threat calls reportedly made to advocates in connection with the case. Several Supreme Court lawyers had on January 10 written to the apex court alleging they have received calls threatening judges over the case involving a security breach that left Prime Minister Modi stuck for 20 minutes on a flyover in Punjab last week.
India 12-Jan-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF), in three separate incidents, on January 12 recovered six packets of heroin weighing nearly 6.3 kilograms and tied in yellow wrapping, one pistol, one magazine and 50 rounds along the Indo-Pak border in Ferozepur and Amritsar Sector in Punjab, allegedly being pushed in by the Pakistani-based smugglers.
India 12-Jan-2022
According to reports, Punjab is witnessing a spike in number of drugs and arms being smuggled across the international border of the state. Pakistan-based drug operatives trying to push drugs and contraband across the fence, which usually see a spurt in demand during polls.
Pakistan 12-Jan-2022
According to reports, the Pakistani media is now openly backing the Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). An article in Radio Pakistan, published on January 12, has claimed that "India has launched a massive propaganda to malign the Sikhs for Justice". It further states that India is trying to get the SFJ banned in the United States. It added that India has also arrested Jaswinder Singh Multani, a member of the SFJ for his involvement in the recent Ludhiana court blast. The editorial claims that the United States administration has refused to accept India's attempts "of labeling the Khalistan movement as terrorism". Moreover, it also claims that other countries like United Kingdom, United States and Canada continued to allow SFJ and its referendum activities as an "expression of political opinion under the freedom of expression".
India 12-Jan-2022
The Indian news channel, Times Now headquarters in Noida received threats calls from pro-Khalistani forces. Rahul Shivshankar, Editor-in-Chief, Times Now, sad, "We are getting these calls from both - Canada and the UK. We know who these people are. We will be contacting the Canadian High Commission and the British High Commission and taking up the matter with the government."
India 13-Jan-2022
After busting a terror module of International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), Punjab Police on January 13 seized 2.5 kg of RDX, besides arms and ammunition, on the disclosure of the prime accused in two recent incidents of hurling of grenades in Pathankot. Police also seized a detonator, a detonating cord, five explosive fuses along with wires and 12 live cartridges of AK-47 rifles, Director General of Police (DGP) V K Bhawra said. According to police, the explosive material was to be used in assembling IEDs. “The recovery was made on the disclosure statement of accused Amandeep Kumar alias Mantri of village Lakhanpal in Gurdaspur, who is the prime accused in the two recent incidents of grenade attacks in Pathankot,” said the DGP. Kumar was among the six ISYF operatives arrested by police on January 10. He has confessed to have hurled grenades in two separate incidents in Pathankot, according to the statement.
India 13-Jan-2022
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the probe into December 23 Ludhiana court blast, in which the alleged bomber Gagandeep Singh was killed and six people were injured. A senior official privy to the development said they took over the probe from Punjab Police after Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) issued a notification. Initial investigations carried out by the Punjab Police have pointed towards the role of Khalistani groups.
Pakistan 13-Jan-2022
In a video, Sikh For Justice (SFJ)'s chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said that the group has written to Imran Khan to support the Khalistan Referendum. In this video, Pannun is openly reaching out to Khan and has urged the Pakistani government to "diplomatically intervene" to support the Khalistan Referendum. In addition, he said, "SFJ has written a letter to Imran Khan and the message is to the people of Pakistan. Fall of Dhaka is past and we're asking PM Imran Khan to diplomatically intervene and support the Khalistan referendum. It will lead to fall of Delhi. Indira Gandhi had supported the Bangladesh war and Bangladesh was lost. It’s time for a payback in the same way. Khalistan Referendum will liberate Punjab from the Indian occupation." "Now is the time that India should be balkanized into small parts. You are raising the issue of Kashmir and its time to support Khalistan Referendum and Sikhs. Join hands with us and we're seeking diplomatic intervention," Pannun goes on to say in the video.
India 14-Jan-2022
According to reports, the recent investigations suggest that luring youths of lower strata of society, irrespective of their religion, with foreign dreams and easy money is the latest modus operandi of the banned terror outfit International Youth Sikh Federation (IYSF) to further its cause. Of the six IYSF operatives arrested by the Punjab Police for November 21, 2021 grenade attack at an army camp in Pathankot, three are Hindus and all of them come from a poor family background. The IYSF is a banned outfit being run by wanted terrorist Lakhbir Singh Rode, who reportedly operates in Pakistan. The six were arrested on January 10. Unnamed officials said that the accused were neither radicalised nor driven by pro-Khalistan ideology. Their job was to create panic through grenade attacks as briefed by their handler, Sukhpreet Singh alias Sukh of Kharal village, who is currently in Greece, and reportedly an aide of Rode. The accused trained themselves in handling grenades from videos available on YouTube, the officials said. “They were active for the last four to six months. Probe suggests that one of the accused was not even paid any money. In its attempt for survival, the IYSF is targeting needy youths belonging to the lower strata of society in lieu of paltry sums and foreign dreams,” the officials added.
India 14-Jan-2022
A Supreme Court lawyer filed a complaint with Delhi police cyber cell against Sikh For Justice (SFJ) Chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The lawyer also filed FIR against Twitter and Facebook for providing a platform to publish objectionable video messages issued by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun who is seen threatening the Prime Minister of India and the sovereign integrity of the nation.
India 14-Jan-2022
The Punjab and Haryana high court granted bail to Amarjeet Singh, an accused linked with the 2019 Tarn Taran blast and alleged pro-Khalistani group member, observing that the accusation is not prima facie “true”. Amarjeet in his appeal had said that he was in custody since September 2019 and nothing has come on record that he was a member of any terrorist organisation and involved in any unlawful activity. Hence, bail be granted. Earlier, two of the accused were killed on the spot when an explosion took place at Pandori Gola village of the Tarn Taran district in September 5, 2019.
India 14-Jan-2022
The Special Task Force of Punjab Police found an improvised explosive device (IED) weighing 5 kg and some Indian currency notes concealed in a bag lying on the Attari-Bachiwind road in Amritsar, close to the India-Pakistan border.
India 14-Jan-2022
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that “some Khalistani mentions” of “offending nature” spotted in a social media account of a person will not be a conclusive proof of him being a member of a terrorist group. The observation came on an appeal filed under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act against an order, dated February 4, 2021, passed by the Mohali NIA Special Judge, dismissing his bail application in an FIR registered on September 23, 2019.
India 15-Jan-2022
A drug peddler, Birbhan (36), who was arrested in an Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) case and was presently out on bail, was rearrested by the UT police with 1.125 kg of charas from the Indira Colony in Chandigarh.
India 15-Jan-2022
According to reports, the central intelligence agencies have alerted the Punjab government that with only 30 days to go for the upcoming Assembly elections, terrorists may carry out a major attack in the state. A high alert has been issued to central and state government intelligence agencies in this regard and orders have been issued to strengthen security. According to the alert, Pakistan terrorists Wadhwa Singh Babbar (BKI), Paramjit Singh Panjwar, Ranjit Singh Neeta (KZF), Lakhbir Singh Rode (ISYF) are being used by Pakistan’s intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). An alert sent to the Punjab government also said that RDX can also be used in elections in Punjab.
India 15-Jan-2022
Sikh Youth of Punjab (SYP), the youth wing of Dal Khalsa, organised a youth conference to discuss the challenges being faced by the Sikh community and Punjab and the role and responsibilities of the young generation in tackling them. The conference expressed concern over the continuous arrests of youth under UAPA and other terror-related cases and observed that it was the outcome of government’s denial to resolve Punjab conflict and deliver justice in sacrilege cases.
India 16-Jan-2022
The Intelligence agencies warned that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has activated its terror outfits to execute more terror activities in the state and in some parts of Uttar Pradesh, with an aim to derail the electioneering process in the state and to increase the Khalistani footprints in Punjab. According to intelligence inputs, the ISI-sponsored Sikh terror outfits may target the election rallies and may attempt to hit some important leaders or VVIP during the electioneering process in Punjab, parts of UP, and Uttarakhand. The sources added that considering the Punjab election as an apt opportunity to reactivate the Khalistani movement in the state and also in other poll-bound states wherein the Sikh voters are in large numbers, the ISI has activated all small or big terror groups which have been tasked to derail the poll process in the state.
United Kingdom 16-Jan-2022
According to reports, Sikh community in the United Kingdom (UK) has started to push back against the anti-India campaign led by the Khalistani elements. The leaders of the UK Sikh community, on January 16, gathered at Gurdwara Shri Guru Singh Sabha, located in Park Avenue, Southall, and passed a resolution thanking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for doing so much for the Sikh community and helping to bridge the misunderstandings.
India 17-Jan-2022
Supreme Court lawyers on January 17 received the 5th threat call from Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) since Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi's security breach. The call which was received by lawyers such as Apoorv Shukla and Maharashtra's former Chief Standing Counsel Nishant Katneshwarkar contained a pre-recorded message from SFJ chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. It threatened the lawyers for filing a complaint against Pannun for announcing a 1 million dollars reward to block PM Modi and raise the Khalistan flag instead of the tricolor in Delhi on Republic Day. Pannun reportedly warned of protests against apex court lawyers whenever they go abroad. Moreover, he maintained that SFJ will not allow retired SC judge Indu Malhotra to proceed with the inquiry into the PM's security breach. Maharashtra's former Chief Standing Counsel Nishant Katneshwarkar said, "I received this call from a UK number. It is from Mr. Pannu of SFJ. But today it is saying that the SFJ will identify the advocates. Because of the filing of the complaint, the advocates have put themselves in a dangerous position. And it further says that SFJ will not allow Justice Indu Malhotra to proceed with the inquiry committee and SFJ will block the Honourable Prime Minister on 26th of January." In the recorded call Pannun said, "You have filed complaint against SFJ and put yourself in a dangerous position. Now we will hold anti-Sikh, anti-Muslim advocates accountable. While we will block Modi on January 26 and raise Khalistan flags, we will not allow Indu Malhotra to investigate Modi terror plot. We are preparing a list of advocates who visit foreign nations and you will hear from us peacefully, democratically and loudly."
United States 17-Jan-2022
A Delhi-based lawyer, Vineet Jindal, on January 17 registered a complaint against Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) Chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun with the New York State Police's Commissioner, Keechant L Sewell. The complaint has been filed in connection with criminal assault, for attempting to wage a war among communities, the provocation for rioting, criminal conspiracy against the state of India, threat to the Prime Minister (PM) of India, and former Judges of the Supreme Court (SC) of India. The complaint stated that "Khalistani terror group 'Sikhs For Justice' has provoked masses to 'block' Prime Minister Narendra Modi and to remove the tricolor from the national capital on January 26, 2022, by offering a huge reward". It added that the SFJ's statements and acts are clearly meant to challenge the sovereignty and unity of India. It is an attempt to wage war amongst different communities and states.
India 17-Jan-2022
A hand grenade was found on a bank of a seepage drain near Muthianwali border village in Fazilka district near the International Border (IB).
India 17-Jan-2022
According to sources, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has identified more than twelve individuals related to Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) leader Jaswinder Singh Multani. On December 27, he was detained in Germany at India’s request. According to the officials, Multani’s suspected contacts with a smuggling network sponsored by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) have also been exposed. According to claims, the allegations have spurred German authorities to launch an independent investigation into Multani’s and his accomplices’ behavior. Multani is accused by the NIA of gathering cash to provide weaponry and explosives through a smuggling network in Punjab. Officials further stated he was actively utilizing social media channels to spread SFJ’s beliefs.
India 17-Jan-2022
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) declared a reward of INR 10 lakh on Germany-based Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) operative, Jaswinder Singh Multani, who has been booked along with his associates from other banned outfits like the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) and the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) for allegedly attempting to revive terrorism in Punjab. According to reports, the preliminary findings have also indicated the role of Multani in the recent Ludhiana court complex blast. The NIA has accused him of coordinating with Pakistan-based pro-Khalistani elements and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and conspiring to carry out terror attacks in Mumbai and other parts of the country. The NIA registered the case following a direction from the Central government to investigate the allegations against Multani. Along with Multani, the NIA has named Jagdish Singh Bhura of KZF, his deputy Gurmeet Singh, who is also associated with SFJ; Ranjeet Singh Pakhoke of KTF (Germany); Sukhdev Singh Heran and Hardeep Singh Nijjar of Babbar Khalsa International; and Paramjit Singh Pamma and Ranjeet Singh Neeta, both KTF members, in the case. Meanwhile, at the instance of the Indian agencies, the German police had last month detained and then released him after he submitted an affidavit promising to cooperate with the authorities concerned.
Germany 17-Jan-2022
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) declared a reward of INR 10 lakh on Germany-based Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) operative, Jaswinder Singh Multani, who has been booked along with his associates from other banned outfits like the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) and the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) for allegedly attempting to revive terrorism in Punjab. According to reports, the preliminary findings have also indicated the role of Multani in the recent Ludhiana court complex blast. The NIA has accused him of coordinating with Pakistan-based pro-Khalistani elements and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and conspiring to carry out terror attacks in Mumbai and other parts of the country. The NIA registered the case following a direction from the Central government to investigate the allegations against Multani. Along with Multani, the NIA has named Jagdish Singh Bhura of KZF, his deputy Gurmeet Singh, who is also associated with SFJ; Ranjeet Singh Pakhoke of KTF (Germany); Sukhdev Singh Heran and Hardeep Singh Nijjar of Babbar Khalsa International; and Paramjit Singh Pamma and Ranjeet Singh Neeta, both KTF members, in the case. Meanwhile, at the instance of the Indian agencies, the German police had last month detained and then released him after he submitted an affidavit promising to cooperate with the authorities concerned.
India 18-Jan-2022
Banned pro-Khalistan outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), in a video message, threatened to run an international campaign on Republic Day. In the video message, SFJ's chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said Khalistan Referendum activists Jaswinder Singh Multani who was detained by German police after the recent Ludhiana court blast for allegedly furthering pro-Khalistan agenda but was later released, and Gurmit Singh Bagga would 'Raise Khalistan' and 'Block Tiranga' at the Indian embassy in Frankfurt, while Paramjeet Singh Pamma would do the same in London, UK, and Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver, Canada. Pannun also said, "Citing infamous Article 25(b) of the Indian Constitution, a global anti-India campaign #SikhsAreNot Hindus has been launched, emailing UK Prime Minister (Boris) Johnson, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Biden and Trudeau administrations urging them to support the first-ever Khalistan Referendum for secession of Punjab from India." SFJ has already announced an offer of 1 million dollars for the project 'Raise Kesri-Khalistan', and 'Block Modi-Tiranga' coinciding with India's Republic Day celebrations this year. Pannun had earlier released a video asking Sikhs to raise the 'kesri' flag in place of the Indian Tricolour.
India 18-Jan-2022
Intelligence Bureau (IB), in its alert, said that according to inputs received in March 2021, the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) is planning to attack India's top leaders, VVIP, at the behest of Pakistan intelligence agency ISI. According to the alert, the Khalistan Liberation Force has joined hands with Islamic militants and all this has been done by the Pakistani agency ISI, so elaborate security arrangements should be made. According to the alert, on January 26, top leaders from 5 Central Asian countries Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan are expected to be the chief guests at the event. IB alerts sent through the Home Ministry provide information on SOPS, countermeasures and active terror outfits in India at a total of 32 points.
Canada 18-Jan-2022
Canada based Sikh, Ripudaman Singh Malik, whose name had cropped up in the Kanishka bombing in 1985, praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his commendable gesture towards the Sikh community. Malik, who is also president of Satnam Education Society of B.C., Canada, also expressed his concerns over a few Sikhs for allegedly unleashing a coordinated campaign against PM Modi. In his letter to Modi, Malik mentioned various initiatives of the government which includes reopening 1984 anti-Sikh riots closed cases, opening of Kartarpur Corridor; appointing a Sikh, Iqbal Singh Lalpura as Chairperson of National Commission for Minorities; grant of FCRA (Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act) license for Golden Temple; year-long celebrations of 350th birth anniversary of Sikh’s first master Guru Nanak Dev; 450th birth anniversary of ‘Hind ki Chadar’ Guru Teg Bahadur and recognizing the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh's younger sons Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh by declaring December 26 as 'Veer Bal Divas'. Malik had fought a long battle before he was acquitted by the Canadian judiciary in 2005 of the charges of blowing Air India’s Flight 182 in Kanishka. While expressing concern at some Sikhs who were allegedly working against the Modi government, Malik writes “I am concerned at an orchestrated campaign by some misguided members of my community against you in person and India at large”.
India 18-Jan-2022
According to sources, security agencies are on high alert in wake of reports indicating that Pakistan purchased more drones from China which are likely to be used for dipping arms and ammunition in India. Intelligence documents show that Islamabad recently purchased drones from China. According to security agencies, Pakistan may try to target important installations in India using drones. This alert came after two Indians and a Pakistani were killed along with 6 wounded in a suspected Houthi drone attack near the Abu Dhabi airport in UAE.
Germany 19-Jan-2022
According to official sources, at least nine pro-Khalistan activities, including Jaswinder Singh Multani, the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) operative who was recently booked by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on the charge of attempting to revive terrorism in Punjab, have been operating from Germany for the past several years. Interpol Red Notices are pending against four of these suspects, Bhupinder Singh Bhinda, Gurmeet Singh Bagga and Shaminder Singh of the banned Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF); and against Harjot Singh of the proscribed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). Bhinda, an associate of Pakistan-based KZF chief Ranjeet Singh Neeta, was sentenced by a Frankfurt court in December 2012 to jail for four years and seven months for conspiring to kill the Radha Soami Beas Dera head during his visit to Germany in July 2010. According to government records, Bagga is wanted in three cases of explosives smuggling from Pakistan to Punjab. He was also sentenced to a four years’ prison term by a German court for the assassination bid on the Dera chief in Vienna. He has been trying to get asylum in Germany. The official said that in 2019-20, Bagga, with Neeta’s help, had weapons smuggled into Punjab from across the border using Pakistan-controlled drones. It was also found that another key suspect named Shaminder Singh went to Germany in 2011. He is closely associated with Bagga and one Belgium-based Jagdish Singh. “He had motivated two individuals, Palwinder Singh and Sandeep Kumar, who were arrested along with a woman, Jaswinder Kaur. Arms and ammunitions were seized from them,” the official said. The list includes accused Multani, whose role is also being probed in the recent Ludhiana court blast case. In November 2021, another official said he had claimed that a grenade attack at Punjab’s crime investigation agency office in Nawanshahr was the handiwork of his team. The NIA has announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh on him in the latest case.
United Kingdom 19-Jan-2022
The self-styled president of Khalistan, Sewa Singh Lalli welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement to observe December 26 as “Veer Bal Diwas”. Lalli, in his social media post in Punjabi, said, “this government has encouraged and initiated some virtuous deeds towards Sikhism. Let’s encourage it even more. Hints are enough for the wise.” He wrote, “The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi warmly welcomes the martyrdom of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji, as Veer Bal Diwas in India”. “The history of Sahibzada’s unique sacrifice can now be read in government institutions and schools, colleges, educational institutions all over India. It is the duty of the responsible Sikh leaders in particular to respect this decision and to further encourage the historic decision taken in favour of Sikhism”, he added.
India 19-Jan-2022
According to the Intelligence Bureau (IB)’s input, the banned Khalistani outfit Sikh for Justice (SFJ) is in the process of carrying out a terrorist attack on Republic Day. The outfit is likely to attack India Gate and Red Fort by placing explosives in a car. According to IB input, SFJ may repeat hoisting the religious flag at Red Fort like last year (2021). It also claimed that terrorists had brought explosives from Pakistan to India.
India 20-Jan-2022
The pro-Khalistan outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) released a video provoking the people of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) ahead of Republic Day. In the video message, SFJ chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and a veiled woman are seen parroting the Pakistan line by exhorting the people of the J&K to raise their voice for the "freedom" of J&K. Pannun exhorted Kashmiris to not only block Prime Minister Narendra Modi from hoisting the national flag on January 26 but also unfurl the Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) flag in Delhi. He said, "Now is the time people of Kashmir, you should reach Delhi. Block PM Modi from hoisting the tricolour. Just as the Sikh community will unfurl the Khalistani flags, you should unfurl the flag of Kashmir in Delhi. You are getting killed in fake encounters in Baramulla, Shopian, Anantnag every day and nobody knows in the world. When you reach Delhi on January 26, the entire world will watch that Kashmir and Sikhs wants freedom."
India 20-Jan-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered around 7.25-kg heroin, smuggled from Pakistan with the help of a drone, near Muhawa border outpost in Amritsar district on the intervening night of January 19 and 20. The BSF troops fired at the unmanned aerial vehicle and also lit up the area with illumination bombs to locate the drone after hearing a humming sound. The technique was used for the first time by the BSF. It said the troops heard a sound of dropping from the flying object. The area was immediately cordoned and a search operation was launched in the morning that led to the recovery of seven packets of 7.25-kg heroin, the officials said.
India 20-Jan-2022
Infamous drug peddler, Poonam alias “Bhabi” and her accomplice, Sandeep Khatri, were arrested with heroin in Chandigarh on January 20. Police recovered 404gm heroin from Poonam and another 205.9gm heroin was recovered from Khatri. According to police, Khatri had come to deliver heroin to Poonam.
Canada 21-Jan-2022
New Delhi has formally asked Canada for “ample deployment” of security at its missions in the country so there is no repeat of pro-Khalistan disruptions as last year. The Indian request was conveyed via a note verbale, an official diplomatic communique, issued by India’s High Commission to Ottawa to Canada’s foreign ministry, Global Affairs Canada. There have been open statements about disturbing Republic Day functions in Vancouver from the secessionist outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), while other hardline groups have planned a car rally to the consulate in Toronto and a demonstration in front of the High Commission in Ottawa. The Indian official said assurances had been received that Canadian law enforcement charged with diplomatic security will “enhance patrolling, deploy static and plainclothes personnel”.
India 21-Jan-2022
The Punjab Police January 21 thwarted a possible terror attack around the Republic Day and recovered a 40-mm Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) with two compatible grenades, 3.79 kg RDX, nine detonators, and two sets of timer devices from Gurdaspur. The recovery was made on the disclosure of Malkeet Singh, a resident of village Gazikot in Gurdaspur who was arrested January 19 by the Gurdaspur Police based on a tip-off in a terror module and conspiracy case. The consignment of explosives was sent from across the border by Pakistan-based International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) chief Lakhbir Singh Rode. Senior Superintendent of Police Nanak Singh said, “An FIR naming Rode, Sukh Bhikhariwal, Sukh Ghuman, Malkit Singh and Arshdeep Singh Dalla has been registered at the Dinanagar police station. Of these, Malkit Singh of Gazikot village has been arrested and the recovery was made after we interrogated him. Sukh Bhikariwal is lodged in Tihar jail and we will be bringing him here on a production warrant. A manhunt has been launched to nab the remaining accused.”
India 21-Jan-2022
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on January 21 said it has conducted at five locations in Taran Tarn, Fazilka and Ferozepur districts of Punjab in connection with its investigation into the bike Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast case of Jalalabad in the state. The NIA official said, “During the searches conducted today, electronic gadgets, ammunition, documents and other incriminating materials have been seized.”
India 22-Jan-2022
The Special Task Force (STF) arrested four persons for allegedly harbouring Sukhpreet Singh, the key accused of the terror attacks that took place in Punjab in November from Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand. The four accused were identified as Shamsher Singh (26), Harpreet Singh (24), Gurpal Singh (24), and Ajmer Singh (30). The STF has also recovered a 0.32 bore pistol and a hatchback car from their possession. Senior Superintendent of Police, Udham Singh Nagar, Barinderjit Singh said, “The four accused were arrested after Punjab police shared intelligence that prime accused Sukhpreet was hiding in the district and being helped by the operatives of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), an outlawed militant group. An STF team raided several suspected hideouts in Pantnagar town of the district and managed to nab the four accused. Sukhpreet, however, is still at large.”
India 22-Jan-2022
According to reports, the Special Task Force (STF) of drugs has failed to make any breakthrough in the seizure of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) recovered from near Dhanoe Khurd village located on the Attari-Bachiwind border village road in Amritsar over a week ago. The IED contained over 2.7-kg RDX along with 1.36-kg iron ball packed in three containers to enhance its potency. Mohinish Chawla, IG, Border Range, said investigations were still under progress to identify sleeper cells involved in sneaking explosives to India for creating law and order problem, especially when the Republic Day and Assembly elections were round the corner. According to sources privy to the investigations, the IED was smuggled into India with a drone. There was different module used in sneaking this IED (from Dhanoe Khurd village), while RDX seized from Gurdaspur was smuggled by another module. The police had booked gangster Sukh Bikhariwal, who was deported from Malaysia along with Sukh Ghuman, Tharanjot Singh besides ISYF chief Lakhbir Singh Rode and fugitive gangster Arsh Dhalla in the case.
Germany 23-Jan-2022
According to reports, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is in touch with its German counterparts for assistance in the probe against Jaswinder Singh Multani of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), who was booked along with his associates from other pro-Khalistani banned outfits on the charge of attempting to spread terror activities in Punjab. Having registered a case against Multani and others, the NIA has announced a reward of INR 10 lakh against him. His suspected role in the recent Ludhiana blast case is also being investigated on the basis of the inputs. An official said, “We are in touch with the German authorities in connection with the case against Multani and others. All necessary measures are being taken to ensure that those involved are brought to book.”
India 23-Jan-2022
Punjab Police have been carrying out search and combing operations in villages along the Indo-Pak border in the border districts in Punjab. This is being done to thwart any untoward incident in view of the ensuing Assembly elections and Republic Day celebrations. Police have been carrying out intelligence-based operations as there has been regular seizure of explosives including RDX, hand grenades and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) being pushed into the country by Pakistan-based banned terror modules.
India 23-Jan-2022
The Khanna district police arrested two drug peddlers, identified as Tirath Singh and Ramjan Mohammad and seized nearly 142 kilograms of poppy husk and 2 vehicles used in the crime from the accused following two connected raids in Sihar and Shahpur villages in Khanna district.
India 24-Jan-2022
Several Supreme Court lawyers again received threat calls, allegedly from terrorist group Indian Mujahideen, over the removal of Article 370 that granted special rights to Kashmir. The callers threatened to hoist the flag of Kashmir in Delhi on Republic Day. The callers also referred to threats by the pro-Khalistan group, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and vowed to "take the fight to Delhi”. “We will take the fight to Delhi...The way Article 370 was removed is against the rights of the people of Kashmir, and the Supreme Court is just as responsible as the government...The fight for Freedom of Kashmir will take place in Delhi and the world will watch...Even the organisation 'Sikhs for Justice' which supports the idea of Khalistan is taking the fight to Delhi," transcript of the call recording said.
India 24-Jan-2022
According to sources, Delhi Police ramped up security measures ahead of Republic Day on the basis of specific intelligence inputs. The intelligence agencies have asked the Delhi Police to keep a watch on people who were actively involved in the protests against the CAA, the NRC and the three farm laws. Sources added that some of these individuals are in touch with anti-social elements backed by foreign sources to destabilise normalcy in India.
India 24-Jan-2022
Radical group Dal Khalsa, while accusing Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal of blocking the release of 1993 bomb blast case convict Devinderpal Singh Bhullar, said in Chandigarh that both BJP and AAP were chips of the same block and their silence on Sikh prisoners’ issue was criminal. Dal Khalsa leaders Kanwarpal Singh and H S Dhami also announced to take out a march in Amritsar on January 26.
India 24-Jan-2022
Punjab police teams raided different places and arrested 10 peddlers and recovered a total of 37.05 gm of smack, 1.5-kg opium, 1.7 kg of poppy and 685 gm of ganja from their possession.
United States 24-Jan-2022
An event organized by the Sikh and Punjabi community in Washington thanked Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi for his contribution to Sikh history, tradition and culture.
India 25-Jan-2022
The security agencies warned Delhi Police that on the occasion of Republic Day Khalistani terrorists can strike in the national capital. Police have also released posters of eight Khalistani terrorists. According to sources, Delhi Police have also reportedly got a few calls in this connection and they are taking the input seriously. Delhi Police released posters of the Khalistani terrorists from different organisations, and have urged the people to inform them immediately if they come across anything suspicious. The posters have been pasted across the national capital.
India 25-Jan-2022
According to Border Security Force (BSF), the International Border (IB) in Punjab remains the most vulnerable stretch along the entire western front with Pakistan, with the highest number of drone sightings, apprehensions of intruders and recovery of arms and narcotics in 2021 being reported in this sector. Sources said that, of the 100-odd drone sightings reported by the BSF in 2021, as many as 67 have been in Punjab Frontier, followed by 24 in Jammu Frontier and six in Rajasthan Frontier. Gujarat Frontier and Kashmir Frontier reported two and one sighting, respectively. A senior BSF officer revealed that in 2021, there were 62 incidents where enemy drones operating in the vicinity of the border were fired upon by BSF personnel. These included 43 in the area of Punjab Frontier and 17 in Jammu Frontier, followed by two in Rajasthan Frontier. BSF data also showed there have been 58 incidents of hostile drones crossing over into the Indian territory, out of which 45 were in Punjab alone. There have also been instances of drones being recovered after being shot down by the BSF.
India 25-Jan-2022
According to a senior official in Delhi Police, with an aim to carry out terrorist attacks on Republic Day and derail elections in five states, Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has reactivated its Kashmir-Khalistan (K2) desk to bring pro-Khalistan and anti-India supporters in Kashmir at a common platform. Delhi Police on January 25 pasted posters with names and pictures of suspected terrorists belonging to the Al-Qaeda terror group and banned terrorist outfits of pro-Khalistan in central Delhi. A senior official said that the idea behind the K2 desk is to exploit sentiments in Punjab and Kashmir. Intelligence agencies said that around 350 terrorists are ready to infiltrate India. The videos released by pro-Khalistan outfit, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) push the part of the K2 plan and is backed by ISI. In a recent video released by SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh, he had shared the screen with a burqa-clad woman in the video. The woman, in her message, urged "Kashmiri Freedom Fighters" to leave the Valley and reach Delhi on January 26 to free Kashmir and Khalistan." The purported video of SFJ also featured a picture of terrorist Burhan Wani, who was killed in an encounter in Kashmir. Pannun claimed that the burqa-clad woman is a Muzaffarabad- (Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir) based woman "activist".
United Kingdom 25-Jan-2022
The founder of Dal Khalsa and UK-based Sikh separatist leader, Jaswant Singh Thekedar accused Pakistan of using Sikhs to fulfill its nefarious motives against India. Thekedar, who is a pro-Khalistan leader himself, said that Pakistan is least bothered about the welfare of Sikhs. In a TV interview, he said, “Pakistan has never been a sympathiser of Sikhs and will never be. They can never help Khalistanis. If Pakistan wanted to help Khalistanis, then why it did not give passports to those seeking political asylum. They don’t even have a residence permit. Pakistan is using Sikhs as props for the last 40 years to target India.” He also acknowledged the steps being taken by the BJP-led India government for the welfare of the Sikhs. He also slammed Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a US-based member of banned pro-Khalistan outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), saying he does anything only at Pakistan’s direction. “Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is not even a Sikh, he parrots Pakistan's script. He makes statement only at the direction of Pakistan and just for money. He can never fight for Khalistan and never did in the past. His motive is to only make money and not Khalsa. He is only instigating the people of India. They get money for making statements against India and causing violence,” he added.
India 25-Jan-2022
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) arrested two persons, identified as Vikram and Arun Bhatti and recovered a Chinese-made pistol (.30 bore) along with 25 live rounds, besides fake Indian currency worth Rs 80,000, five mobiles, an internet dongle, a car and three motorcycles from their possession in Ferozepur district.
Canada 26-Jan-2022
Over 100 pro-Khalistanis from across BC gathered outside the Indian consulate at 325 Howe Street in Vancouver to protest the Indian government on India’s Republic Day. The annual protests are targeting the Indian government’s mistreatment of Sikhs and this time the protest was focused on Sikh political prisoners, many of whom have been imprisoned for decades. A statement from the Sikh Press Association (SPA) said, “The issues run deep for Canada’s Sikhs, many of whom themselves feel at risk of India’s grasp.”
Belgium 26-Jan-2022
According to sources, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) recorded a symbolic protest in the Indian High Commission Room by hanging posters. A large number of protesters were also gathered in the European Union capital Brussels. However, none of these protests was televised because of a ban by the Indian government.
United States 26-Jan-2022
According to reports, Pro-Khalistanis installed the Khalistan flag on the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in front of the Indian Embassy in Washington and burnt a copy of the Indian constitution and Indian flag in London outside the Indian High Commission. Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun who led the burning of the Indian flag in Washington DC, sated that “This is Sikhs vs Hind war in which the SFJ is using the most potent weapon of the century – ballot – to liberate Punjab from Indian occupation.”
United Kingdom 26-Jan-2022
According to Pakistani media, nearly a hundred Khalistani activists, including Khalistani terrorist Paramjeet Singh Pamma, gathered at the London Indian High Commission and held a protest for two hours to condemn India’s official celebrations and register their protest against India.
Germany 26-Jan-2022
Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) operative, Jaswinder Singh Multani on whom National Investigation Agency (NIA) has recently announced INR 10 lakh bounty, raised the Khalistan flag in front of the Indian Embassy in Frankfurt, stating that he “will continue working for the secession of Punjab from India through Khalistan Referendum”.
Canada 26-Jan-2022
Khalistani terrorist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on multiple terror charges raised the 80 feet high Khalistan flag towering above Tricolour at the Indian Embassy in Vancouver.
Italy 26-Jan-2022
Khalistani supporters had set up their flag in front of the Indian embassy in Milan.
India 27-Jan-2022
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) arrested a cross-border drug peddler, identified as Balwinder Singh alias Vindi and recovered heroin worth Rs 5 crore in Ferozepur district.
India 27-Jan-2022
Several Supreme Court lawyers including senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani received a threat call from banned pro-Khalistan outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). In the audio call, SFJ chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun was heard making a preposterous claim that the Khalistani flag will be hoisted in the Supreme Court. Pannun said, "Mr Jethmalani, you will see that we shall be going to the top court of this country and we shall raise the flag at the Supreme Court." Supreme Court advocate NS Nappinai said, "This is a little worrisome. Because if you look at the way the legal fraternity has functioned, whatever kind of case they take up be it tough or regular, there has never been a legacy of the system or the community being threatened. And now, the frequency is increasing and we have had instances of lawyers being physically harmed. Some have lost their lives also. This is a very serious issue which definitely needs to be addressed by the court and the legal fraternity to understand where things are going wrong."
United States 28-Jan-2022
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that adequate measures have been taken against the desecration of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Washington in US. The MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that “Adequate measures were taken against such attempts. There was also an attempt to desecrate the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Washington DC.” India had lodged a strong protest with the US law enforcement agencies against the “mischievous act” by “Khalistani elements” who masqueraded as protesters and defaced the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Washington.
India 28-Jan-2022
According to sources, the Election Commission (EC) has seized drugs worth nearly Rs 75 crore from Punjab in the run-up to assembly elections. EC sources said drugs worth Rs 74.64 crore were seized under the expenditure monitoring process in Punjab up to Thursday, followed by Manipur (Rs 65.54 crore), Uttar Pradesh (Rs 25.54 crore), Uttarakhand (Rs 4.03 crore) and Goa (0.98 crore).
India 28-Jan-2022
According to sources, the Election Commission (EC) has seized drugs worth nearly Rs 75 crore from Punjab in the run-up to assembly elections. EC sources said drugs worth Rs 74.64 crore were seized under the expenditure monitoring process in Punjab up to Thursday, followed by Manipur (Rs 65.54 crore), Uttar Pradesh (Rs 25.54 crore), Uttarakhand (Rs 4.03 crore) and Goa (0.98 crore).
India 28-Jan-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) foiled a cross-border drug smuggling bid and recovered 58 kg heroin after an exchange of fire with Pakistani smugglers in which one BSF jawan was injured in an area under Chandu Wadala border outpost along the Indo-Pak border in Gurdaspur district. Gurdaspur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nanak Singh said that the exchange of fire took place between the BSF troops and Pakistani smugglers after the latter tried to push drugs through a pipe into the Indian territory. BSF, during the search operation, recovered 47 packets of heroin and seven packets of opium. Besides, a Chinese-made Norinco pistol with two magazines, 9 mm Pietro Beretta pistol with one magazine, 74 rounds of AK-47 with four magazines, 44 rounds of 0.3 calibre and 12 rounds of 9 mm were also seized by the BSF. A 15-foot-long plastic pipe was recovered from the spot.
India 28-Jan-2022
The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC), while rapping the police for their “callously casual approach” towards official duty in a drugs case, asserted that drug menace in Punjab appeared to be touching new heights with each passing day. The HC Bench asserted such conduct was least expected as the officials were duty bound to check the crime graph in the state, especially when drug menace had become deep rooted and was taking its toll like “a slow poison” on the youths.
United Kingdom 29-Jan-2022
The Chairman of the British Sikhs Association and the ruling Tory Party’s Lord Rami Ranger has called Sikh For Justice (SFJ)’s chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun a Pakistani agent for his campaign for the creation of an independent state for Sikhs called Khalistan. In a debate on the Republic TV, the millionaire British Indian businessman hit out at the SFJ and its main leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun who has already been declared a “terrorist” by the India state over his activism for the state of Khalistan. It is believed that SFJ will be taking legal actions over the serious allegations.
India 29-Jan-2022
According to sources, Pakistan is directly involved in the narco-terror smuggling attempts along the India-Pakistan borders. Sources said, Pakistani rangers are in support of such illegal movements at the border and are constantly observing Indian movement on the borders. According to the source, the recent incident at Gurdaspur where the Border Security Force seized 57.8 kgs of heroin along with arms and ammunition from a Pakistani smuggler was an example of a similar event.
Pakistan 30-Jan-2022
According to sources, the Pakistan government has taken various measures to motivate the devotees from India to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur Corridor, in large numbers even as the Project Management Unit (PMU), an exclusive department created under Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) for the management of Kartarpur Corridor is striving hard given the sinking economy of Pakistan.
Canada 31-Jan-2022
According to reports, hundreds of trucks and thousands of protesters, most of them Sikhs migrated from India, blocked the streets towards downtown Ottawa to protest against the government's vaccine mandates required to cross the Canada-US border. The protest is part of a self-titled 'Freedom Convoy 2022', which started out as a rally of truckers against the requirement that Canadian truck drivers crossing the border into the US be fully vaccinated as of mid-January.
India 31-Jan-2022
Balwant Singh Rajoana, one of the men convicted for the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Beant Singh, appealed to the people to vote for the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in the upcoming Punjab polls and asked ‘sangat’ to vote against the Congress to punish them for the ‘1984 anti-Sikh riots and murders of thousands of innocent Sikh youths.’ He is currently lodged at Patiala Central Jail and out of jail briefly to attend his father’s bhog ceremony.
India 01-Feb-2022
The Punjab and Haryana high court on February 1 deferred the hearing on a suo motu plea on Punjab drug menace post assembly polls for March 24.
India 01-Feb-2022
Amid threats from the Pakistan-based terrorists, Afghan Mujahideen, insurgency in the Northeast states, and the Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the Central government has enhanced the budget for the Intelligence Bureau (IB) by 13.43 percent with an allocation of INR 3,168.36 crore. The government has increased the budget so that its intelligence wing is technologically equipped.
India 01-Feb-2022
The State Investigation Agency (SIA) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) carried out a raid and arrested a person, who was allegedly involved in terror funding, identified as Jaideep Dhawan on February 1 night in Amritsar. Sources claimed that the J&K Police had seized Rs 42 lakh hawala money from Nagrota on November 16, 2021. According to police, the money was being pumped in the Valley for militants. The SIA got the transit remand of Jaideep from the Mohkampura police station. The SIA also reportedly carried out raids in other two locations of Punjab and Haryana and nabbed two more persons.
United Kingdom 02-Feb-2022
United Kingdom (UK) home secretary Priti Patel has been accused of smearing Sikhs after she referred to Sikh separatist extremism as a “shared security threat” the UK had with the US in a speech she gave on November 19, 2021. In the speech in Washington DC to the Heritage Foundation, a think tank which promotes Conservative public policies and values, Patel spoke about “the global picture and the various threats” that the UK and US face as allies, all of which “endanger our shared freedom and prosperity”. While discussing Islamist extremism, Daesh and extreme right-wing terror groups, she said, “Sikh separatist extremism has also caused considerable tensions in recent years. While we stoutly defend freedom of expression, it must always be within the law. We have expanded our disruptions capability to better address those people who seek to radicalize but who operate, often intentionally, below legal thresholds.” Meanwhile, Dabinderjit Singh, principal adviser of the Sikh Federation (UK), said that he had been raising this “quietly” with ministers ever since November asking them to explain her comments. He said, “No one has been able to. This is not just a speech but a speech on the UK government website. If Sikhs had carried out a bomb blast in Britain, it may have been legitimate to say that. We are shocked the home secretary has made such remarks… What incident in Britain would make the home secretary start saying she is worried about Sikh separatist extremists? Is it on the back of the 2020 Khalistan referendum in Britain? She says she has banned the political wing of Hamas and the undertone is that is why she is mentioning Sikhs.”
India 02-Feb-2022
A Pakistani youth was shot dead by the Border Security Force (BSF) as he intruded into the Indian territory crossing over the International Border (IB) in Ferozepur sector in Ferozepur district on February 2 night.
United Kingdom 03-Feb-2022
A peer in the House of Lords and chairman of the British Sikh Association, Lord Rami Ranger, said that United Kingdom (UK) home secretary Priti Patel was “right” to say during a speech to a United States (US) think tank that "Sikh separatist extremism has caused considerable tensions in recent years”. He said that as home secretary of the UK, Patel “is right to ensure Britain never becomes a launchpad for terrorists”. “Every British citizen who has taken an oath of alignment to Her Majesty the Queen must be loyal and work hard to become an asset to the nation. Engaging in criminal activities against any nation is punishable by law. With the new nationality bill, they could be removed from the country and stripped of their citizenship,” he said. Ranger urged “anti-India Sikhs” to be like the Sikh Gurus who “were committed to their Mother India and paid supreme sacrifices to preserve India’s ancient civilization”. “Anti-India Sikhs should learn from the Kashmiri militants who have been terrorizing their fellow Kashmiris for three decades and have gained nothing except to hinder the progress of Kashmiris along with causing death and destruction to their fellow citizens,” Ranger added.
India 03-Feb-2022
The Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on February 3 said in Rajya Sabha that a small fringe group of pro-Khalistan elements in Canada is spreading anti-India feelings and the government remained closely engaged with that country over the issue. He said that both governments have recognized the fundamental principle of respect for sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of India and Canada as the basis of bilateral ties. "The vast majority of people of Indian origin in Canada share a warm emotional bond with India and have worked for the betterment of relations between India and Canada…. There is a small fringe group of pro-Khalistan elements in Canada who spread anti-India feelings through their extremist statements and activities," the Minister said. "The government of India remains closely engaged with the Government of Canada to address our concerns relating to anti-India activities by the extremist elements," he added.
Pakistan 04-Feb-2022
The Sikh community around the world condemned Pakistan for removing the statue of great Sikh general Hari Singh Nalwa in Haripur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan.
India 04-Feb-2022
According to a report prepared by the Hudson Institute, Pakistan is reviving its previous tactics to spread hatred, disrupt communal harmony and promote extremism in India as Islamabad has been supporting jihadi activities against New Delhi to disrupt peace in the country. Pakistan's security apparatus has for decades supported jihadi and Khalistani groups that have targeted India, and a revival of this activity should be a source of concern to the American national security apparatus as well as India's, said the report. The Institute’s report further stated that Jaswinder Singh Multani, who was arrested in Germany for allegedly masterminding a blast at Ludhiana court in December 2021, is reportedly a leading member of the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) movement. The SFJ's public face, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has apparently confirmed this fact, revealing a close relationship with Multani. Over the years, Sikhs for Justice has written public letters to the prime minister of Pakistan and the presidents of Russia and China, seeking their support against India. The Hudson Institute report, Pakistan's Destabilization Playbook: Khalistan Separatism within the US, which was authored by a group, emphasizes the need for law enforcement in Western countries to be vigilant with respect to Pakistan-backed extremist groups.
India 04-Feb-2022
A 13-member committee ‘Political Prisoner Release Committee’ was constituted during the meeting of various Sikh organizations on the issue of the release of Sikh prisoners from various jails. The 13-member committee has been authorized to take up the issue of political prisoners and other Sikh prisoners with government representatives. Sikh organisations led by Dal Khalsa, Alliance of Sikh Organisations and farmer organisations led by BKU (Doaba) constituted the coordination committee for the release of political prisoners. The 13-member committee included Baba Hardeep Singh Mehraj, Baba Hardeep Singh Dibdiba, HS Majhi, Kisan leaders Amarjit Singh Sandhu, Gurpal Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Narien Singh and Jaskaran Singh with Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjpur as its legal adviser.
Canada 05-Feb-2022
Tejinder Singh Sidhu, President, World Sikh Organization of Canada, in his letter to Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, described hardships faced by Canadian Gurdwaras and the Sikh community as a result of restrictive immigration policies. Due to Covid, restrictive immigration policies have frozen the arrival of Sikh parcharaks (religious workers) into Canada for the past two years.
India 05-Feb-2022
According to reports, for Pakistan-based terror outfits, the Indo-Pak border in Punjab is the favoured route when it comes to weapon supply. According to data compiled by Border Security Force (BSF), the Punjab border has recorded 450 per cent more seizures than the Jammu border, which used to be a priority route. Data also points to Pakistan’s intentions towards India as 2021 was the year when the neighbour attempted maximum chances to send weapons across since 2019. The figure has been increasing every year. The total number of weapons seized in 2019 and 2020 was not even half the total seized last year. In 2019 and 2020, BSF seized 49 weapons from the Indo-Pak border in Punjab, but in 2021, the force seized 58. The situation on the Punjab border is more serious, and weapons smuggling witnessed a massive rise. In 2019, BSF seized 247 weapons, while it seized 750 in 2020. These numbers witnessed a rise of 340 per cent in 2021. Last year, 3,322 cases were recorded by BSF. The Indo-Pak border in Rajasthan, which was earlier reporting minor cases, recorded none this year. According to data, BSF seized the largest haul from the Punjab border among other borders where the force is deployed. “Drones and local networks have made Punjab an easy route to smuggle arms into India. It requires no human life to get involved and is an easy way out. There has been a massive rise in such cases detected by BSF, but many were missed by the force and Punjab Police,” a senior BSF official said.
India 05-Feb-2022
The Dal Khalsa, while condemning the arrest of Fahad Shah, editor-in-chief of online news magazine The Kashmir Walla, asked the Government of India to stop gagging the media. Fahad was arrested on February 4, three days after he was questioned by the police along with three other journalists for “incorrect reporting” about a gun battle in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
India 06-Feb-2022
Two Pakistani unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) were pushed back by Border Security Force (BSF) stationed in Gurdaspur in Punjab in the wee hours on February 6. According to sources, the first attempt was intercepted by BSF personnel at about 1:30 AM while the second drone's entry was hampered at 2:10 AM.
India 07-Feb-2022
The pro-Khalistani outfit, Sikhs For Justice’s (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in his new video, called to block any of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s movement in Punjab ahead of the Assembly elections. In the threatening video, Pannun also states that the PM will be reminded of Indira Gandhi. The terror inciting video also calls to the people of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and claims that the ‘freeing of Punjab’ would pave the way for Kashmir’s freedom as well.
Canada 07-Feb-2022
Several Indian media outlets published a report calling out Jagmeet Singh’s denunciation of trucker’s strike, support of farmers protests as they term it is a hypocritical move. The report said “The Sikh-origin leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party (NDP) who is now condemning truckers strike in Ottawa, had staunchly supported the farmers' protests in India last year.”
India 07-Feb-2022
The Mehat Pur police arrested a proclaimed offender (PO) absconding for one year in a case of drug peddling, identified as Jasjit Singh alias Jiti in Jalandhar district.
United States 08-Feb-2022
Pro-Khalistan outfit 'Sikhs For Justice' (SFJ) vandalized a life-sized statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Chicago and San Francisco in the United States (US). According to reports, this is the second such incident by the secessionist group SFJ in the past four days. The banned outfit also pasted posters with abusive language that can be read as “I am rapist & father of India: Rape Capital of world.” Earlier SFJ vandalised the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Union Square Park, New York. The 8-foot-high statue, located in Manhattan’s Union Square, was defaced by some unknown persons, the Consulate General of India said. “The Consulate condemns this act of vandalism in the strongest terms. The matter has been taken up with local authorities. The matter has also been taken up with the US State Department for immediate investigation and urged appropriate action against those responsible for this despicable act,” it said.
India 08-Feb-2022
The Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai on February 8 informed the Lok Sabha that as many as 47 terror modules related to Khalistani separatist activities were busted in Punjab in the last three years. The Minister also said that eight people died in Khalistani related terror incidents in 2019, 2020 and 2021. “As regards the Khalistani separatist activities, in the year 2019, seven terror or radical modules were busted in Punjab as against 15 such modules in 2020 and 25 modules in 2021. No loss of property was reported during the period,” he said replying to a written question. Rai said two persons died in Punjab during 2019 in Khalistani related terror incidents, as against three persons in 2020 and three persons (one victim and two perpetrators) in 2021.
India 08-Feb-2022
According to official sources, the Delhi Police’s special cell, which is investigating the role of seven men arrested from Delhi, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh in September last year for allegedly plotting terror attacks across North India, has already prepared a charge-sheet in the case and is likely to submit it before city court this week. In addition to the alleged roles of the arrested terror suspects, the charge-sheet is expected to contain details on how the RDX, allegedly recovered from them, was smuggled into the country from Pakistan through the Punjab border.
India 08-Feb-2022
Police recovered narcotics, sharp-edged weapons and mobile phones, from gangsters lodged at Bathinda Central Jail in Bathinda district during a special search operation. Bathinda SSP Amneet Kaundal said that “a smartphone was recovered from gangster Baljinder Singh Billa. Ganja and tobacco were recovered from gangster Kirpal Singh. Apart from this, some iron material was recovered.”
India 09-Feb-2022
According to reports, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has requested concerned agencies to issue a lookout circular and blue corner notice against Jaswinder Singh Multani, an alleged Khalistani operative linked to the recent bomb blast in a Ludhiana court and for attempts to “foment trouble” in poll-bound Punjab. NIA sources revealed that it has requested Interpol to issue a ‘blue corner’ notice against Multani, who is allegedly a close aide of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun wanted in multiple cases registered by central agencies and Punjab Police. Central agencies request Interpol to issue ‘blue corner’ notice to collect additional information about a person’s identity, location or activities with relation to a crime. Similarly, a Look Out Circular (LOC) will help NIA to track Multani’s movement in case he visits India through his passport. The agencies deployed at the airport will alert NIA and stop him from travelling further. The NIA has also announced Rs 10-lakh reward on the Germany-based Multani.
India 09-Feb-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) on February 9 recovered over 4 kg of RDX, a pistol and bomb-making items dropped in two packets by a drone that flew from Pakistan into an Indian farm along the border in Ajnala sub-division of Amritsar district of Punjab. According to BSF spokesperson, troops fired after they heard a "buzzing sound of a suspected flying object coming from the Pakistani side to the Indian side" around 1 am in the Panjgrain area of Gurdaspur sector. A search was later conducted and the BSF party recovered two yellow-coloured packets, lying about 20 m apart embedded in the wet soil, which contained about 4.7 kg RDX, a China-made pistol, two magazines with 22 bullets, three electronic detonators, timer device, detonating cord (cordtex wire), splinters, cells, steel container, nylon thread, plastic pipe, packing material and ₹ 1 lakh cash. The drone that dropped the packets about 2.7 km into the Indian side from the border fence is suspected to have escaped to the Pakistani side.
India 10-Feb-2022
During the fourth India- United Kingdom (UK) home affairs dialogue held via virtual mode, India raised concerns with the UK on anti-India activities being carried out by certain extremist and radical elements from its soil, and urged the UK authorities to keep vigil over such activities and take appropriate proactive action. The home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla led the Indian side and UK permanent secretary, home office, Mathey Rycroft, headed the UK delegation.
India 10-Feb-2022
The Election Commission of India (ECI) told Punjab and Haryana high court that drugs worth Rs 312.8 crore (3,999 kg) have been seized in Punjab since poll code was enforced on January 8, 2022.
India 10-Feb-2022
Punjab Police’s special task force (STF) busted an international drug racket with the arrest of three people, including a former deputy superintendent of police, an NRI kabaddi player and an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) in Mohali in SAS Nagar district. The key accused, NRI kabaddi player Ranjeet Singh, alias Jeeta Maur, was allegedly running the drug racket in connivance with police officials and politicians and was parking the drug money in the real estate business. STF also recovered 100-gram heroin and a weapon from Ranjeet. Besides Ranjeet Singh, other accused are his wife Rajinder Kaur, former DSP Vimal Kant, Canada-based NRI Davinder Singh, two ASIs Munish Kumar and Jagdish Singh, Gurjant Singh and Bhupinder Singh of Tarn Taran, Simranjit Singh of Phagwara, Jalandhar-based chartered accountants (CAs) Dinesh Sarna and Manoj Sarna and Arendeep Singh of Kapurthala.
India 11-Feb-2022
Using the ongoing Hijab controversy as an opportunity, the banned pro-Khalistan outfit, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) provoked the Muslim community in India and appealed them to protest. SFJ, in its message, asked the people of India to ‘learn from Pakistan’ that created a Muslim country. SFJ led by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun asks Muslims in the country to use the row as an opportunity for the Balkanisation of India. Furthermore, the group has also stated that the group will fund the movement for Hijabs and fight for creating a separate country. The pro-Khalistan terror group has allegedly provoked the people of the Muslim community over Hijab row and said that the Modi government will ban Aazan and Quran after Hijabs.
India 11-Feb-2022
The state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Dr S Karuna Raju said that various Enforcement Agencies have recovered 1.18 lakh litre of licit liquor, 34,650 litre of illicit liquor, 15.53 lakh litre of lahan (raw material used to make liquor), 4170 kg of poppy husk, 32.70 kg of opium, 164 kg ganja, 33,141 grams of heroin, 263 grams of smack, 7456 grams of charas, 10,784 capsules, 479 vials of syrup, and 4,73,733 tablets till February 11.
India 12-Feb-2022
Intel inputs warned that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is trying to fuel the hijab controversy in India, through banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SJF). The Intel note said, "ISI is pushing the concept of hijab referendum in India." The Intelligence Bureau (IB) has also warned police forces and law enforcement agencies to keep a close watch on the 'Hijab Refrendum' being pushed by the ISI through terror group SFJ. "Some anti-India elements might join the chorus of Sikhs for Justice chief Gurupatwanr Singh Pannun in organising the hijab referendum and celebrating the concept of urduistan," the intel inputs warned. It also said that the SFJ has called upon Muslims in India to start a 'Hijab Refrendum' movement to carve out 'Urduistan' in areas of Rajasthan, Delhi, UP, Bihar and West Bengal.
India 12-Feb-2022
According to reports, there has been a huge recovery of narcotics in the run-up to the Punjab elections, beating the 2012 record when drugs emerged as a major issue for the first time. Since the imposition of the model code of conduct in the state, security forces under the command of the Election Commission have seized 33 kg of heroin and 4,707 kg of poppy husk. During the 2017 elections, 11.92 kg of heroin and 2,342 kg of poppy husk were seized and in 2012, the quantity was 23.54 kg and 2,707 kg.
India 13-Feb-2022
Issuing a warning to concerned judges of the Karnataka High Court (HC) that have prescribed a student dress code, the chief of the banned extremist group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) threatened that it would start a 'hijab referendum' similar to the 'Khalistan referendum'. In the audio message, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said, "This message is for Karnataka High Court judges... do not ban the hijab. this message is from Sikhs For Justice general counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, from Washington DC." After Pannun warned against bad consequences, the pro-Khalistan terror group referred to the reaction of Rashad Hussain, US Ambassador of Advance Religious Freedom worldwide. Referring to Hussain's tweet, the SFJ chief said, "The Biden administration has also condemned the ban on hijab." Further, he said, "Karnataka High Court judges, remember! Do not ban the hijab. It is against the freedom of the Muslim community. If you do ban hijab, like Khalistan referendum which we are doing to liberate Punjab. We will start the hijab referendum for Muslim states. Do not ban the hijab."
India 14-Feb-2022
According to reports, amid threats from Khalistani and Pakistan supported terror outfits, the Union Government has decided to deploy a large number of security forces in Punjab for the forthcoming Assembly elections scheduled on February 20. Sources revealed that around 455 companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) will be deployed in the border state, and the process of deployment has already begun. This would be in addition to Punjab police personnel who will be responsible for managing the law-and-order situation in the state. The sources also said that over 200 companies have already reached Punjab for election duty, while the rest of the forces will be deployed in the state latest by February 16.
India 14-Feb-2022
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested three persons, identified as Sarbjeet Singh, Shamsher Singh and Baldev Singh, allegedly involved in the smuggling of 33kg heroin recovered by the Border Security Force (BSF) along the India-Pakistan border in Tarn Taran in December 2021. According to NCB, all the three smugglers were detained from Khemkaran area of the Tarn Taran district.
India 15-Feb-2022
Actor Deep Sidhu, the prime accused in last year’s Republic Day violence case, was killed in a road mishap on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) expressway. Sidhu was facing a criminal trial for spearheading the Red Fort violence.
India 15-Feb-2022
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Director General SN Pradhan revealed that India has witnessed an exponential increase of 300 percent in heroin seizures -- from 2146 kg in 2017 to 7282 kg in 2021 -- in the last five years. Similarly, there is an increase of 172 percent in the seizure of opium - from 2551 kg in 2017 to 4386 kg in 2021 - and a 191 percent increase in the seizure of cannabis from 3, 52, 539 kg in 2017 to 6, 75, 631 kg in 2021.
India 15-Feb-2022
The Digital Forensics, Research and Analytics Center (DFRAC) reported that Pakistan is using the digital medium to fulfill their 'wicked agenda' and defame India on the ongoing Hijab row controversy. This "dirty trick" is being played by Pakistan to disturb India's internal peace and distract common people from the problems in their own country, the report said.
India 15-Feb-2022
According to reports, separatist Sikh body, Dal Khalsa decided to boycott the February 20 Punjab assembly polls, stating that it believes that the resolution to the state’s problems lies in referendum under the United Nations (UN) and not elections under the Indian dispensation. The president of Dal Khalsa, Harpal Singh Cheema said that despite Sikhs forming governments in Punjab and sending members to the Parliament, the Punjab problem has remained the same even after 40 years. Party leaders also urged the people to think before casting their vote, saying Punjab does not have its own capital city, the waters of Punjab unabatedly flow to Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan without royalty to the riparian state.
India 16-Feb-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered some bottles containing 3.950 kg heroin worth Rs 20 crore along with Chinese pistols, besides two magazines and 26 live rounds, in Tarn Taran in Tarn Taran district. According to the report, the BSF jawans observed some suspicious movement and heard a thumping sound during the wee hours following which a search operation was carried out.
India 16-Feb-2022
Police arrested a drug peddler, identified as Gurjeet Singh alias Jeeta and recovered 10 kg of opium from him in Kapurthala in Kapurthala district.
India 16-Feb-2022
Few youths from Ambala and nearby Punjab village areas gathered to pay homage to actor-turned-activist Sandeep Singh Sidhu alias Deep Sidhu and raised slogans including "Deep Sidhu Zindabad" (long live Deep Sidhu), "Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akal", "Deep Sidhu amar rahe", "Deep Sidhu teri soch te pehra devange thok ke" (Deep Sidhu will stand firm on your vision), "Raj Karega Khalsa", and "Khalistan Zindabad". Some of the youths also raised the slogan "Shaheed Deep Sidhu Zindabad", while terming him as a martyr.
India 17-Feb-2022
The Counter Intelligence wing of the Punjab Police arrested a former militant, Harjant Singh alias DC, along with 3 kg of heroin smuggled from across the International Border. Police recovered the contraband allegedly smuggled via a drone at Ghonewala village, falling under the Dera Baba Nanak police station in Gurdaspur district. Later it was found that the heroin was smuggled by a Pakistan-based smuggler.
India 17-Feb-2022
Three men, identified as Jagtar Singh, Harjinder Singh and Daljit Singh were arrested with 13kg of opium at a checkpoint on the Sidhwan-Swaddi Kalan Link Road in Ludhiana district. Police also recovered ₹12,900, allegedly earned from the sale of drugs, from them.
India 17-Feb-2022
The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC), in connection with the drug menace in the state, has made it clear that Punjab — once known as one of the prosperous states — was on the brink. The assertion came as the HC called for dealing stringently with the accused even at the stage of granting a bail in drug cases involving commercial quantity.
India 17-Feb-2022
According to officials, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has been asked by various states to investigate 25 important drug cases to unearth a larger pan-India conspiracy. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had recently urged states to work jointly with the NCB to unearth the larger conspiracy of drug rackets having national and international links. NCB Director Satya Narayan Pradhan had written a letter to various states in November last year, requesting them to hand over important cases to the agency.
India 17-Feb-2022
According to top Intelligence sources, the current Hijab controversy in Karnataka seems to be fuelled by Pakistan as more than 100 Twitter accounts in the name of Muskan Khan have been created since February 9, after her video went viral on the Internet where she is seen chanting ‘Allah Hu Akbar’ when allegedly heckled by a group of miscreants. One of the multiple fake accounts has nearly 5,000 followers with earlier location traced to Pakistan, the sources said.
India 17-Feb-2022
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), alleged that the top leaders of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had fudged the letter “of him supporting AAP” to garner support of radicals. This comes after the letter was circulated on social media which read that Pannun has announced that he will be supporting the Aam Aadmi Party as Punjab goes to polls on February 20.
India 18-Feb-2022
Intelligence agencies have sounded a nationwide alert after Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun released a video on Facebook where he issued a call for 'Rail-Punjab Bandh' on February 19. Voting for Punjab's 117-member assembly is set to take place in a single phase on February 20. Pannun has also asked his followers to install "Kesri Khalistan" flags at polling stations in Punjab and shout slogans of "Khalistan Zindabad" on the day of the election. In the video, Pannun also termed the recent death of Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu as a "political murder". Blaming the Government of India for his death, he also asked his followers to avenge the actor-turned-activist's death. Pannun also said that Deep Sidhu was a "true follower" of Jarnail Singh Bhrindanwale and always supported the demand for a separate Khalistan.
United States 19-Feb-2022
According to reports, a bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi in New York was defaced earlier this month by unknown culprits, igniting outrage and condemnation from the Indian American community in the city. The 8-foot-tall statue, located in Union Square near New York University, did not suffer permanent damage from the incident on Feb. 4. People investigating the incident said that the vandals reportedly covered the statue with a cloth and wrote obscenities on it, saving it from permanent damage and extensive cleanup. “The Consulate condemns this act of vandalism in the strongest terms," the Consulate General of India in New York said in a statement issued after the incident. “The matter has also been taken up with the US State Department for immediate investigation and urged appropriate action against those responsible for this despicable act.”
India 19-Feb-2022
Four persons who are allegedly associated with Khalistani terrorist groups, identified as Sunil, Jatin, Sagar and Surendra, were arrested with a cache of illegal weapons in Sonipat in Sonipat district of Haryana on February 19. An automatic AK-47, four foreign pistols, one country made pistol, and 56 cartridges were recovered from their possession. Sonipat Superintendent of Police (SP) Rahul Sharma said that primary probe revealed that the illegal weapons had been provided by Khalistani terrorists, who had deposited lakhs in the accused’s bank accounts as well. “The accused were connected to the main leaders of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) through social media,” SP said. The arrested accused also admitted to killing one Avtar Singh in Udhampur Kalan village of Punjab on the behest of Khalistani leaders, Sharma added.
India 19-Feb-2022
Just hours before the Punjab Polls the Khalistani secessionist organization, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) made some revelations regarding the Punjab Assembly Elections that are due for February 20. SFJ claimed that around 20 thousand Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in Punjab who are on election duty are in constant contact with the SFJ and they will also be conducting polling on the Khalistan referendum. "Thousands of BLOs have assured their support to SFJ ion Campaigning for Khalistan on 20th February and also pledged to organise the Khalistan referendum voting in Punjab," said Gurupatwant Singh Pannun, in a video message. Pannun also launched an attack on Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu asking if he is a "terrorist" or an "ISI" agent citing his contacts with Pakistan PM Imran Khan and General Bajwa.
India 19-Feb-2022
The intelligence agencies issued a nationwide security alert after pro-Khalistan outfit, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) call for a bandh. As Punjab is set to go for polling on February 20 Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is the founder of SFJ, issued a video and called for a ‘Rail-Punjab Bandh’ on February 19. In the video, Pannun has also asked his followers to install "Kesri Khalistan" flags at polling stations in Punjab and shout slogans of "Khalistan Zindabad" on the day of the election.
India 19-Feb-2022
The Ludhiana Commissionerate Police claimed that Rs 2.02 crore, a huge cache of arms, ammunition, liquor and drugs were seized during the Model Code of Conduct enforced in Ludhiana district since January 8. Besides, 546 anti-social elements, troublemakers, law-breakers and proclaimed offenders have been arrested while 19,112 licensed arms have been deposited with the police, the officials said. The Commissioner of Police, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, said that cash amounting to Rs 2,02,45,835, which is a record seizure so far, was recovered during the search and seizure operations during the poll code. While Rs 1,71,25,655 were released after verification, the remaining cash of Rs 29.96 lakh is still under investigation. He disclosed that nine illegal arms, 33 cartridges, 6,000 litres of licit liquor, 120 litres of illicit liquor, 1,99,920 litres of lahan, 82 kg of poppy husk, 128.5 gram heroin, 480 intoxicating tablets, 2.2 kg of opium, 2 kg of charas, and 14,950 kg of ganja have been seized during the poll code.
India 20-Feb-2022
Amid polling in Punjab for 2022 Assembly polls, the Border Security Force (BSF) recovered three packets of contraband suspected to be heroin weighing 3 Kgs in the Abohar sector in Fazilka district on February 20. According to the official statement, observing suspicious movement ahead of the Border Security Fence in AOR of Abohar Sector, the troops fired to stop 'further misadventure' and the smuggler managed to flee away to Pakistan territory.
India 20-Feb-2022
According to reports, with the arrest of four youths on February 19, the Sonepat police claimed to have busted a gang which was involved in ‘contract killings’ in Punjab on the directions of banned terrorist group handlers of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). Sources said that prima facie, it was revealed that the accused were in contact with the banned terrorist groups for the past three or four months and they were searching for youths who have criminal records in Haryana but not in Punjab. They were preparing such criminals for contract killings in Punjab on the directions of their handlers in Canada and Australia. The CIA unit of the district police also recovered an AK-47 rifle, 49 rounds of cartridges of AK-47, three foreign-made automated pistols and cartridges from the possession of the accused. Besides, teams of Punjab Police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA), along with other intelligence agencies, arrived at Sonepat to interrogate the accused.
India 20-Feb-2022
Remembering the sacrifice of over 150 Sikhs who laid down their lives during the Saka Nankana Sahib on February 20, 1921, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandak Committee (SGPC) organized a function to pay homage to the martyrs.
India 21-Feb-2022
More than 30 lakh people in Punjab are currently consuming one or the other kind of drug, mainly among the men, revealed a survey conducted by PGIMER. Alcohol is the maximally abused substance by more than 20 lakh people, followed by tobacco consumed by more than 15 lakh people. The second edition of ‘Roadmap for Prevention and Control of Substance Abuse’ in Punjab edited by Dr J S Thakur, professor of community medicine at PGIMER, was released by Punjab governor and Chandigarh administrator Banwarilal Purohit.
India 22-Feb-2022
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting took down several mobile applications, social media accounts and websites of foreign-based news outlet Punjab Politics TV for having links with proscribed organization, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), after reviewing “intelligence inputs that the channel was attempting to use online media to disturb public order during the ongoing state assembly elections”. The I&B Ministry’s statement said that, “The ministry of information and broadcasting has ordered blocking of apps, website, and social media accounts of foreign-based Punjab Politics TV for having close links with Sikhs For Justice, an organisation that has been declared unlawful under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA).” It added that the contents of the blocked apps, website, and social media accounts had the “potential to incite communal disharmony and separatism”. “[They] were found to be detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the state, and public order. It was also observed that the launch of new apps and social media accounts was timed to gain traction during the ongoing elections,” it said.
Canada 23-Feb-2022
India Government has formally expressed its 'serious concern' to Canada over the appearance of an elected mayor of a city in Canada’s Greater Toronto Area at an event that featured Khalistan flags as well as anti-India slogans. The Indian government’s concern was related to flags of the Khalistan movement being seen in the backdrop to Brampton mayor Patrick Brown’s speech. The demarche issued by India’s High Commission in Ottawa, was related to the mayor of Brampton Patrick Brown attending and addressing a vigil at City Hall for Deep Sidhu, who emerged as a significant figure during the protests against farm laws in India, was arrested for violence at Red Fort on Republic Day last year, and died in an accident this month. The Indian government’s concern was related to flags of the secessionist Khalistan movement being seen in the backdrop to Brown’s speech, as other attendees held placards reading ‘#IndiaKills’.
Canada 23-Feb-2022
A wanted drug smuggler, Sarbjit Singh Sander was found murdered in Langley, Canada, on February 10, central and state security agencies confirmed on February 23. Sander was a co-accused in the Rs 6,000-crore drug smuggling case, in which dismissed cop Jagdish Bhola’s name also cropped up. He was among 11 wanted drug smugglers hiding in Canada. In February 2018, then Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had handed over the list of the 11 smugglers to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for their speedy extradition. The Punjab Police and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had also moved applications for the extradition of the accused. According to Police, the murder of Sander ahead of the Assembly elections in Punjab was a curious development. “Sander’s murder is a setback to the investigation into the international drug smuggling that involves big fish,” said a police official.
India 23-Feb-2022
Police arrested three persons, identified as Prem Singh, Paramjit Singh and Bittu Singh and recovered 160-kg poppy husk from their car in Fazilka district. According to police, they were trying to smuggle poppy husk from Rajasthan to Jalalabad. Police claimed that the accused brought poppy husk from Bikampur Bikaner for delivery in Rattewala village of Jalalabad.
India 23-Feb-2022
A biker, identified as Naresh Odh was arrested for carrying 400 intoxicating tablets in Abohar in Fazilka district.
Canada 23-Feb-2022
An Indo-Canadian media person and host of a Punjabi-language talk show network in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Deepak Punj was assaulted by a group of three persons, for apparently criticising pro-Khalistan elements in Canada. Deepak Punj, host of Frontline Radio, was accosted by three young men at around 12.30pm local time on February 23, while he was preparing to enter the building housing his studio. The day prior, he had featured a show during which he had criticised the display of Khalistan flags and anti-India slogans during a vigil in Brampton, a GTA town, on February 20. Deepak said, that appeared to be the provocation for the attack. “They asked me if I did a show on this topic, and then attacked me,” he said. One of the as yet unidentified assailants was armed with a handgun, while another hit Punj on the head with an empty beer bottle and punched him. Punj said he reported the assault to local law enforcement and it was being investigated. He said the attackers spoke to him in English and Punjabi. “I’m being harassed because I’m from Punjab and I oppose Khalistan,” he added.
India 24-Feb-2022
The ‘bhog’ ceremony of actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu, who had died in an accident in Haryana’s Sonipat district, was held at the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) run Gurdwara at Fatehgarh Sahib in Fatehgarh Sahib district. A large number of followers of Sidhu, including leaders like Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann, paid tributes to Sidhu. Youth carrying posters of Deep Sidhu on way to the Gurudwara raised pro-Khalistan and Deep Sidhu “amar rahey” slogans. “Saadi majboori hai, Khalistan zaroori hai”, they said raising the slogans. During the bhog ceremony too, some youth raised “Khalistan Zindabad” slogans several times.
India 24-Feb-2022
The Delhi Police arrested 13 terrorists, including two of Pakistan-trained Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Module, in 2021, officials said. In 2020, 32 terrorists were arrested, the highest since 2016. A total of five terrorists were arrested in 2019, eight in 2018, 11 in 2017 and 16 in 2016. Police said that 13 terrorists belonging to different terrorist organisations like the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Pak-trained ISI module, Kuki National Front (KNF) and Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) were arrested and their plans to execute terror strikes in Delhi were foiled. A sizeable quantity of explosives, arms, ammunition and other incriminating material were recovered along with these arrests, they said.
India 24-Feb-2022
A new report by Chandigarh-based Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) revealed that one in seven (15%) in Punjab are currently dependent on addictive substances, both licit and illicit. In absolute numbers, it translates into 40 lakh people. The major concern, as observed by the report, is that among those consuming opioids or chitta (as it’s called in colloquial Punjabi), the number of injecting drug users (IDUs) has gone up considerably.
India 24-Feb-2022
Taking note of drug peddling and use in their area, the residents of Kaljharani village in Bathinda district threatened people in the illicit trade with dire consequences if they are caught. The local villagers threatened to take the law in their hands, saying that they would “break the legs” of anyone found selling drugs.
India 25-Feb-2022
The Nurmahal police arrested two drug peddlers, identified as Jaskaran Singh alias Raju and Jagtar Ram alias Sunny and recovered 470 intoxicant tablets in Jalandhar district.
India 25-Feb-2022
According to reports, at a time when drug addiction is on the rise, the residents of Kaljharani village in Bathinda district have literally waged a war against “chitta”, a highly addictive synthetic drug. Many youngsters have died due to drug overdose in the district in the recent past and the issue had been raked up by various political parties during the recently concluded Assembly elections.
India 25-Feb-2022
After a teenager allegedly died of drug overdose at Gurusar village in Gidderbaha in Muktsar district, the panchayat decided not to help anyone secure bail if found selling drugs. The decision was taken after villagers assembled in protest.
India 26-Feb-2022
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) termed the alleged denial of admission to a six-year-old Sikh boy by a private school in Karnataka’s Mangaluru as an attack on religious freedom of the community. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami has also reportedly written to the Karnataka Chief Minister (CM), seeking an appointment to discuss the issue.
United Kingdom 26-Feb-2022
According to intelligence sources, the banned “Punjab Politics TV” operating from the United Kingdom (UK) had been spreading hate against India and propagating pro-Khalistani sentiments in the country and in Punjab for the last one year. Sources confirmed that this social media channel and application was launched by pro-Khalistan sympathisers just ahead of the Punjab elections, and was being widely circulated in the hinterlands of Punjab with the agenda of keeping some political party out of power in the state and to spread Khalistani sentiments among the people of Punjab. The digital platform “Punjab Politics TV” bears the company name “Politics Punjab Broadcasting Ltd” and is registered in the UK with the Companies House, under the government of the United Kingdom. The company was incorporated in March 2021 and since then, it has been active both in the UK and in Punjab. Intelligence agencies have said that they were tracking the activities of this digital media since the last six months when it became quite active in Punjab, keeping in mind the recently held Assembly elections in the state. The intelligence agencies had shared a detailed report with the Ministry of Home Affairs about the activities of this media company and how they had been propagating hate, fake news against Sikhs in India.
India 26-Feb-2022
The Focal Point police arrested a factory worker, identified as Sone Lal Mahato and recovered 1.05-kg opium from him in Gobindgarh village in Ludhiana district. Sone Lal Mahato, who hails from Bihar, had procured the drug from Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.
Australia 28-Feb-2022
The Australian Hindu Association (AHA) revealed how four Victorian Gurudwaras had jointly planned a pro-Khalistani and anti-India event that took place on February 20, 2022, in Australia in the memory of Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu. It also revealed that these Gurudwaras regularly organize incendiary pro-Khalistani, anti-India, and anti-Hindu speeches and events to radicalize young Sikhs on the foreign land. On 20th February 2022, a Sikh Gurudwara in Australia showcased an Anti-India/Hindu poster blatantly in between two so-called Khalistan flags. The poster had hate-filled slogans like ‘End Hindu Fascism’ and ‘India kills Sikhs’ printed on it. It also bore the image of the deceased Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu, one of the accused in the 2021 Republic Day riots. The poster was found hanging at the entrance of the Craigieburn Sikh Gurudwara in Australia.
India 28-Feb-2022
According to reports, Ulsoor Gurdwara in Karnataka has written to the Karnataka government to issue a government order (GO) to protect the five Kakkar’s (articles of faith) and the constitutional rights of the Sikh minority community of Karnataka.
India 28-Feb-2022
To mark the 1921 Nankana Sahib massacre, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) organised a ‘gurmat samagam’ at Shaheed Sikh Missionary College in Amritsar.
Pakistan 01-Mar-2022
According to reports, Pakistani authorities have set up a joint committee to decide on the handing over of an over 100-year-old gurudwara in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to the Evacuee Property Trust Board (EPTB) for its restoration and proper preservation. Officials said that the team constituted by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government would visit Sri Guru Singh Sabha gurudwara in Mansehra district before finalising its report and submitting it to the authorities.
India 01-Mar-2022
The Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the states of Punjab and Haryana, along with the Union Territory of Chandigarh, to file status reports on the disposal of case properties in drug matters under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The direction came after Justice Augustine George Masih and Justice Sandeep Moudgil issued notice to Haryana Advocate-General and UT Senior Standing Counsel for May third week. The case revolves around the disposal of contraband in a timely manner as per the directions already issued by the Supreme Court (SC)/ Government of India.
India 01-Mar-2022
The Crime Investigation Agency arrested a person, identified as Ravinder Singh (23) and recovered 1.57 kg heroin worth Rs 7.87 crore from his possession in Ferozepur district. Two of his accomplices, Shiva and Anmol, were on the run.
India 01-Mar-2022
A study conducted by the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGI), Chandigarh, revealed that every seventh person in Punjab is consuming one or the other kind of drug, which makes up 15.4% of the population in Punjab. The study was done by the Department of community medicine of PGI.
India 02-Mar-2022
Police arrested five drug peddlers and seized 55-kg poppy husk and 600 intoxicating pills from them in Abohar in Fazilka district.
Ukraine 02-Mar-2022
Pro-Khalistani outfit, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) announced its support for Ukraine and urged Khalistanis to raise an army of ‘foreign fighters to defend Ukraine. SFJ released a video message and a letter supporting Ukraine. In the letter, SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun urged the Ukrainian President to raise a Sikh Regiment as part of the international legion of foreign fighters. Pannun said in the letter that, unlike India, is supporting Russia in the conflict by abstaining from voting at UNSC, Khalistani Sikhs were ready to “defend Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”. He further claimed that this was the right time for Sikhs to “liberate Punjab” by siding with the “anti-India block at international level”.
Australia 28-Mar-2022
A video surfaced on YouTube in which a group of pro-Khalistani Sikhs accused the Craigieburn Gurudwara committee members of calling the Police on them. According to the reports, the committee members had called the Police as they felt threatened by the behavior of the pro-Khalistani group that was scheduled to hold a function inside Gurudwara premises. Australian Hindu Media (AHM), the media wing of the Australian Hindu Association, identified a few of the people in the video as Gurbax Singh Bains, Charanjit Singh, Kuldip Singh and Gurvinder Singh Randhawa. A man armed with a sword accused the committee members of committing sacrilege against the Gurus and weapons of Sikhism.
United Kingdom 31-Mar-2022
United Kingdom (UK) regulator Ofcom suspended the license of Khalsa Television Limited which broadcasts to the Sikh diaspora on its pro-Khalistan Punjabi TV channel KTV after one of its programmes called on UK-based Sikhs to travel to Punjab to engage in violent crime and disorder to achieve a separate Khalistan state. The license was suspended with immediate effect on March 31 when UK foreign secretary Liz Truss landed in Delhi. “The presenter of the programme made a number of statements throughout the programme which, taken together, promoted violent action, including murder, as an acceptable and necessary form of action to further the Khalistani cause. This was a serious breach of our rules on incitement of crime and disorder,” Ofcom said in its written decision.
India 01-Apr-2022
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami said that the incident of allegedly stopping an Amritdhari Sikh youth from entering a metro station in Delhi with his kirpan is in violation of the Constitution of the country. Seeking strict action into the matter during a press conference, he added that there are frequent incidents of hurting the religious sentiments of Sikhs but unfortunately the governments are not taking exemplary action against the accused.
India 01-Apr-2022
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann claimed in the Assembly that 'Chitta' is made in Punjab itself and those responsible for this will be busted soon. According to data from the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, 836 out of one lakh people in Punjab are drug addicts. This figure is much higher than the national average of 250 addicts per one lakh people. The death toll due to drugs or its disease in the state has been recorded at 112 per month, while 1344 youth die every year due to this.
United States 01-Apr-2022
More than a dozen lawmakers, including Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, introduced a resolution in the United States (US) House of Representatives to designate April 14 (Baisakhi) of each year as the National Sikh Day. Observing that the Sikh community, which began immigrating into the United States over 100 years ago, has played an important role in developing the US, the resolution supports the designation of ‘‘National Sikh Day’’ to honour and celebrate the important role played by the Sikh community in strengthening and inspiring the people of the US.
India 01-Apr-2022
The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) issued a notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) over the regular bail petition filed by an accused, Dharminder Singh Dhanna, for his alleged involvement in a narco-terror case. The petitioner has been accused in a case registered by the NIA in New Delhi in 2020, under sections 13 and 17 of the UAPA Act, NDPS Act. According to NIA, Dharminder used to receive heroin, which was smuggled from Pakistan, from Jajbir Singh and would then sell it to local traffickers.
India 02-Apr-2022
Sikh scholars at the Kendri Singh Sabha urged the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to take up the job of reproducing standardized copies of Guru Granth Sahib in its own hands and debarred all printing and publishing companies from doing so and stop commercialization of Gurbani through PTC channel.
India 03-Apr-2022
Police arrested 10 drug peddlers in separate cases in Abohar in Fazilka district. In the first case, 89 kg of poppy husk was seized from truck driver Budh Ram and helper Vikas. Brij Bhushan was arrested with 9.8 kg ganja, 1.5 kg opium was seized from Manish and Sanjay, 250 gm opium from Rakesh, 140 gm opium from Sunil and 100 gm opium was seized from Suresh and Amar. Ajay was held with 200 pills.
India 04-Apr-2022
Former Union Minister and currently MP of Bathinda, Harsimrat Kaur Badal demanded the release of all Sikh prisoners incarcerated across Indian jails beyond the completion of jail terms. Harsimrat Kaur, raising issue in Parliament, said following the 1984 “attack on Sri Harmandir Sahib by the Congress Government, several Sikhs were swayed and took the law in their own hands.” She said the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) had been seeking the release of the detainees after the completion of their sentences but many continued to be in prisons even after 25 years.
India 04-Apr-2022
The President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami expressed grave concern over the racially motivated attacks on Sikhs in the United States (US) and called on the Gurdwara Committees and Sikh leaders to speak out against the practice.
India 04-Apr-2022
A local court in Chandigarh sentenced two Ferozepur residents to 10 years in jail for possessing heroin. The duo, Saraj alias Babu (30) and Arjun alias Ajju (22), hailing from Khalchia Qadeen village, Ferozepur in Punjab, were caught with 304 gm heroin in Chandigarh in 2017.
India 04-Apr-2022
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued orders for blocking 22 news channels on YouTube, three Twitter accounts, one Facebook account and one news website. The order alleged that the YouTube channels, with a cumulative viewership of over 260 crore, were being used to spread fake news and disinformation on India’s national security, foreign relations and public order. Of the total 22 YouTube channels, 18 are Indian and four are from Pakistan. “This is the first time action has been taken on the Indian YouTube based news publishers since the notification of the IT Rules, 2021, in February last year,” the order stated.
India 04-Apr-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) chased and fired at a group of smugglers and recovered over 2 kg of contraband, suspected to be heroin, from them, during their search operation in Ferozepur.
India 05-Apr-2022
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann directed police chief V K Bhawra to set up a task force to wipe out gangster networks across the state. The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) will be headed by a police officer of Additional Director-General rank. According to an official release, the CM assured the police force of all requisite manpower, latest equipment and information technology, besides adequate funds "to break the unholy nexus which has already spread its wings in the drug trade and Kabaddi world". Mann said the AGTF would have integrated collection of intelligence, manning and execution of operations, registrations of FIRs, investigation and prosecution on the lines of similar specialized units in the country.
India 05-Apr-2022
The District and Sessions Court has sentenced a drug peddler to 10 years of imprisonment while his associate got one-year jail in a case of possessing 26 intoxicating pills in Moga district.
United States 06-Apr-2022
Delhi Police found in its probe that a United States (US)-based telecom service provider was used by Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, to make pre-recorded threat calls to several Supreme Court (SC) lawyers on the day the apex court was to hear the case related to the security lapse during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab on January 5. According to reports, Police are now procuring more details under a mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT) with the US. A senior police officer said that “during investigation, we initially found that calls were made using a US-based telecom service firm. We then approached them and they provided details of an account holder, who had booked the account to make all these calls. All the documents belonged to Pannun, but the account holder’s name was not Pannun.” Later, after multiple communications with the service provider, the police were told that the account holder had changed his name to Pannun. It was found that the firm intimated the account holder about the probe following which he changed his name. “After establishing Pannu’s role, the police are now procuring more details under MLAT and communicating with the concerned agency for further help,” an officer said.
India 06-Apr-2022
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) will send a 'jatha' (group) of Sikh pilgrims on April 12 to participate in the congregations to be held at Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Pakistan on the occasion of Baisakhi. The group will return to India on April 21. Earlier, the 'jatha' was scheduled to visit gurdwaras in Pakistan from April 11 to April 20, but the schedule was changed.
India 06-Apr-2022
Various Sikh organisations blocked the Bathinda-Amritsar national highway in Faridkot, seeking justice in the 2015 desecration cases and subsequent police firing incidents. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Faridkot MLA Gurdit Singh Sekhon and former Pradesh Congress Committee chief Navjot Singh Sidhu also joined the protesters to express solidarity.
United States 06-Apr-2022
Puneet Sahani, a Sikh activist who coordinates the content on Sikhs for Enlightenment Values Association (SEVA), on April 6, 2022, received a death threat from Khalistanis on Twitter. The Twitter user utf8tty (Name mentioned as ‘Eintmaar’ that means ‘someone who throws bricks’) shared a recording clip in which a person who has the same Display Picture (DP) and name as Twitter handle utf8tty says, “They do not know who I am. Listen to me. I have hired two private investigators to find the whereabouts of Puneet Sahani. I will perforate him the day we find the address. These people are nothing in front of us.” Later, the Twitter user utf8tty was suspended on April 7. Sahani is on a mission to highlight the ‘real Sikh history’. He has actively criticized the Khalistan movement and its sympathizers, making him one of the prime targets of the Khalistani elements.
India 06-Apr-2022
Punjab police registered a case against Pakistan-based chief of the banned Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) Lakhbir Singh Rode for allegedly smuggling arms and ammunition in the border areas of Amritsar district by using drones in the recent days to “attempt a big terror activity” in the state. State special operation cell (SSOC) wing of the Punjab police registered the case against Rode, who is also the chief of International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), on April 6, but the first information report (FIR) was available on April 10. The case has been registered under Sections 25 of the Arms Act, Sections 3, 4, 5 of the Explosive Substance (Amendment) Act, Sections 120, 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Sections 13, 18, 18-A, 18-B and 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in Amritsar on the complaint of SSOC’s Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Harvinder Pal Singh. According to the FIR, the DSP received a tip-off that Rode, who is wanted in various criminal cases in Punjab, has been active in various anti-national activities and in contact with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency and other separatist organisations. “With the help of the ISI and other separatist organisations, Rode has been sending contrabands of arms and ammunition in Punjab to attempt a big terror activity. He has been working, with the help of criminals and gangsters, to destabilise the peaceful atmosphere by targeting social and religious leaders,” it said.
India 07-Apr-2022
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed the reply against the bail application of United Kingdom (UK) national Jagtar Singh alias Jaggi Johal who is one of the accused in the targeted killing cases. The court fixed April 21 as the next date of hearing. The NIA termed Johal a chronic offender and said in its reply that during the investigation of the case, it came to light that Johal had played an important role in the eight targeted killings which were carried out by banned terrorist organisation Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) during 2016-2017 in order to destabilize law and order situation in Punjab. The NIA also said that Johal’s involvement was also found in distribution of funds to other accused and in the translation of incendiary material online fanning the fires of secessionist sentiments in Punjab.
Pakistan 07-Apr-2022
The Pakistan High Commission has issued over 2,200 visas to Sikh pilgrims for Baisakhi on April 14.
India 07-Apr-2022
Urging the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to allow the state government to install advanced broadcast and communication technologies at the Golden Temple, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on April 7 said that the Punjab government can provide all possible help in disseminating the ‘Sarb Sanji Gurbani’ across the globe.
India 07-Apr-2022
Border Security Force (BSF) arrested two women - mother and her daughter - and recovered two packets of heroin weighing 1.2 kg from them on April 7 near an outpost along the Indo-Pakistan border in Ferozepur.
India 07-Apr-2022
Police arrested two persons, Sunil alias Titu Rajput and Sohan Lal and recovered 120 kg of poppy husk from their car in Peelibanga of Hanumangarh in Abohar in Fazilka district.
India 07-Apr-2022
Police arrested two persons, Sunil alias Titu Rajput and Sohan Lal and recovered 120 kg of poppy husk from their car in Peelibanga of Hanumangarh in Abohar in Fazilka district.
India 07-Apr-2022
According to a report by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), the recovery of various drugs, including opium and heroin, in India in 2020, the first year of Covid, was the highest since 2016. Data compiled by the federal anti-narcotics agency states that the seizure of opium went up from 4,488 kg in 2019 to 5,212 kg in 2020. Similarly, the seizure of heroin (extracted from opium) shot up from 3,231 kg in 2019 to 3,838 kg in 2020, ganja (cannabis) from 3,42,045 kg to 5,81,644 kg, ephedrine (a stimulant drug) from 686 kg to 841 kg, and hashish (drug extracted from cannabis) from 3,572 kg to 6,643 kg, the recently published NCB report for the year 2020 said.
India 07-Apr-2022
Chief Minister (M) Bhagwant Mann told the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) the state was willing to take the responsibility of installing the state-of-the-art broadcast/communication technologies at Darbar Sahib in Amritsar to broadcast ‘Gurbani’. The government offered to bear the entire cost of setting up the infrastructure. However, rejecting the offer, the SGPC asked the CM to concentrate on “fulfilling own responsibilities, instead of indulging in tasks pertaining to religion”.
India 07-Apr-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) handed over two women from the Border Security sector in Ferozepur to the Punjab police after recovering 1.2 kg heroin from them. According to the BSF, the recovery was made on April 7 evening.
India 08-Apr-2022
Chairing its first meeting, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on April 8 asked the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) to utilize the services of State Special Operation Cells (SSOCs) at Mohali, Amritsar and Fazilka in addition to the services offered by 361 police stations across the state to stamp out the gangsters. SSOCs have been established by the Punjab Police to interrogate accused involved in the terror-related cases. The CM reiterated his government’s firm commitment to wiping out the menace of gangsterism from the state. He said the task force would be empowered with requisite manpower, advanced technology, vehicles and adequate funds. Mann said the responsibility of providing security to three crore people in Punjab lies with him and he will leave no stone unturned to boost their morale on this count.
Pakistan 08-Apr-2022
In a bid to facilitate a number of Sikh pilgrims arriving in Lahore from India via Wagah, the Pakistan Railways (PR) has decided to run nine special trains. The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) said that as many as 2,500 Sikh pilgrims will enter Pakistan on foot via the Wagah border to attend the Vaisakhi festival. Some pilgrims will also reach Pakistan from the UK and Canada too. At Wagah, the ETPB officers and Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) office bearers will welcome the pilgrims.
India 08-Apr-2022
A day after the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) rejected Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann’s offer to allow the telecast of Gurbani at the Golden Temple on various communication platforms, the Akal Takht on April 8 asked the State Government get a nod from the Centre for the SGPC launching its own channel. Akal Takht acting Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh also directed the SGPC to launch its own web channel to telecast live Gurbani till permission for the TV channel is granted.
India 08-Apr-2022
Police arrested a person, identified as Gurpreet alias Gopi, who reportedly supplied weapons, including AK-47, to associates of banned Khalistani terrorist groups, from Sonipat in Sonipat district of Haryana. Earlier, on February 19, the CIA unit of the district police had arrested four persons along with weapons. The probe revealed that the accused were involved in “contract killings” in Punjab on the directions of the banned terrorist group handlers — Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). They had relations with terrorists through the social media platforms. Gopi had supplied the weapons to them at Ambala. The court sent Gopi on four-day police remand.
India 09-Apr-2022
The Special Task Force on April 9 arrested two persons allegedly carrying 600-gm heroin near Warring village on Kotkapura Road in Muktsar in Sri Muktsar Sahib district.
India 09-Apr-2022
After holding a meeting with the Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit and Sarpanchs of Punjab’s border areas, Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on April 9 informed that he will be meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah on April 12 to discuss the menace of cross border smuggling in the state. In his first meeting with Home Minister Shah as Punjab CM, Mann will put forth the demand to provide the state police with the best technology to nip the issue in the bud.
Pakistan 10-Apr-2022
According to Pakistani media report, a life-size statue of the first ruler of the Sikh Empire Maharaja Ranjit Singh has been restored and is soon expected to be reinstalled at a safer place at Lahore Fort, months after it was last vandalised by an activist of a banned Islamist party.
India 29-Apr-2022
Khalistani elements hoisted a Khalistani flag outside Deputy Commissioner (DC) office in Malerkotla in Malerkotla district in the wee hours of April 29. A video surfaced on social media platforms in which Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) took the responsibility for the incident. He said in the video, “On the occasion of Khalistan Day, Singhs hoisted Khalistni flag on Deputy Commissioner’s office in Malerkotla. This is a message to Bhagwant Mann’s government. The date of the Khalistan Referendum to free Punjab from India is closing down in Punjab. Prepare yourself to go on the other side of Yamuna.” Later, the flag was removed by the police from the office. While the police officials are sticking to the version that was done by miscreants to create law and order problems in the region, the security agencies are not taking the issue lightly and investigating the matter to avoid such incidents in the future.
India 29-Apr-2022
According to reports, a Khalistani banner was pasted outside the Superintendent of Police’s (SP) residence in Kurukshetra and outside Police Line in Kurukshetra, in Kurukshetra district of Haryana. In a video message, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ)’s chief Pannun said, “Today, the movement of ‘Haryana Banega Khalistan’ has been started across the world. Haryana and Himachal were parts of Punjab till 1966. A website has been launched for the movement. We will not give up an inch of Punjab’s land.” The video also used a photograph of Khalistan supporter and actor Deep Sidhu, who had died in a road accident a few months ago. Later, the Police confiscated the banner and initiated an investigation.
India 29-Apr-2022
Four persons were injured when a clash took place outside the Kali Mata temple in Patiala in Patiala district on April 29 between the members of an outfit called Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) and some Khalistan supporters. Brandishing swords and sticks, the miscreants espousing the separatist cause were seen taking on the Sena workers and this was followed by stone-pelting from both sides. Subsequently, the local authorities imposed a curfew in Patiala.
India 29-Apr-2022
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, while addressing a 100-member Sikh delegation on April 29, said that Sikh tradition is a living example of one India, strong India and the community has become synonymous with the national spirit of courage, prowess and diligence. “The Sikh tradition is a living tradition of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’. The nation remains grateful for the community’s contribution to India’s Independence and later. India’s history is incomplete without the mention of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s contributions, Sikhs’ struggle against the British and the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy,” the PM said. Saluting the Sikh spirit of service and enterprise, he said India’s rising stature made diaspora the proudest and opened new horizons for them as the world viewed them with greater respect.
United States 29-Apr-2022
The National Commission for Minorities on April 29 has urged the Ministry of External Affairs to raise with the US the issue of attack on Sikhs there and ensure that appropriate steps are taken to prevent and combat hate in America.
India 30-Apr-2022
Punjab police on April 30 arrested two more persons, identified as Daljeet Singh and Kuldeep Singh, allegedly involved in the clash over an anti-Khalistan march in Patiala in Patiala district and identified a Rajpura resident with criminal antecedent as the mastermind behind the incident. Earlier hours after the clash on April 29, the police had arrested Harish Singla, the “working president” of a group called “Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray)” on charges of taking out the procession without permission and instigating violence. The new Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Patiala range, Mukhwinder Singh Chhina said that six FIRs have been lodged in connection with the April 29 incident and a total of 25 people have been named in them. He also said that police have identified Barjinder Singh Parwana, a resident of Rajpura in the district, as the main accused and one of the masterminds of the incident.
India 30-Apr-2022
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary Tarun Chugh said that anti-national forces sitting across the border are plotting to attack the brotherhood of Punjab. He said that permanent peace has been established in the state after thousands of sacrifices, now a conspiracy was hatched to fight the brotherhood who have been together for centuries. He said that the people of the state got caught in the trap of a handful of conspirators. Chugh said that even when there was a specter of terror in the state, both the communities did not let the limits of each other's religious sentiments get hurt.
United States 30-Apr-2022
The United States (US) state of Connecticut recognized April 29 as the ‘Anniversary of the declaration of Sikh Independence Day’. The letter reads, “Be it hereby known to all that: The Connecticut General Assembly offers its sincerest congratulations to the World Sikh Parliament in recognition of the 36th anniversary of the declaration of Sikh Independence. We join with you, your friends, and your family in commemorating the historic resolution passed on April 29th, 1986 by the collective Sikh Nation gathering known as ‘Sarbat Khalsa,’ Sikhs Political Centre, situated in the holy city of Amritsar in Punjab.” However, the Connecticut general assembly’s decision has attracted sharp criticism by leaders across party lines in India. The controversial declaration came in the backdrop of violent clashes which broke out between Shiv Sena and pro-Khalistan groups on April 29 in Patiala in Punjab, India.
United States 01-May-2022
The Indian World Forum raised concern over the US State provocation of pro-Khalistani groups. The forum stated that the resolution passed by the US State of Connecticut influences and promotes Khalistan and thereby challenging the sovereignty of India. The Indian World Forum President, Puneet Singh Chandhok condemned the resolution and said, "The Sikhs living in India are the law-abiding citizens who even have any differences or grievances with the government still remain within the system and seek their demands within the judicial system. Unfortunately, Anti-India elements sitting outside the country and working at the behest of different countries and security agencies have been again and again trying to sabotage and disturb the communal harmony in the state of Punjab in particular". "With such resolution being passed by the state of Connecticut in the US, it will be clearly influencing a separatist ideology that Sikhs of India don't advocate. There were certain differences during the 1984 riots, certain resolutions were passed. Sikhs always thrive for a progressive and prosperous India and never strive to disrupt the peace of any country. It's shocking to know that the state of Connecticut's general assembly has passed an official citation and the Mayor has tendered his resignation. Such activities clearly instigate a separatist ideology that we don't advocate. I was brutally attacked on August 25, 2018, by the Khalistan agents working at the behest of ISI Pakistan and by the activists of Sikhs for justice. To date, I have not received justice from the US authorities instead they are more interested in passing such a kind of resolution which indirectly promotes Khalistani ideologies," said Indian World Forum President.
India 01-May-2022
The Punjab School Education Board banned three books for allegedly distorting facts related to Sikh history. Punjab Education Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer on May 1 said that action will be taken against writers and publishers for allegedly distorting facts related to Sikh history in the books.
India 01-May-2022
Border Security Force (BSF) on May 1 arrested a farmer, identified as Dilbag Singh with two packets of suspected heroin weighing approximately 1.2 kg near the international border in Amritsar sector in Amritsar district. According to sources, alert BSF troops arrested the farmer, while he was trying to conceal suspicious narcotic packets when he had gone ahead of the fence for farming.
India 01-May-2022
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) of the Punjab Police on May 1 arrested three aides of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and Canada-based outlaw Goldy Brar from Bathinda in Bathinda District. Those arrested, identified as Lovepreet Singh, alias Sachin, Himmatveer Singh Gill and Balkaran, alias Vicky, were planning to target a prominent businessman of the Malwa region for extortion. The police have recovered four pistols and 20 cartridges, besides an i20 car from their possession.
India 02-May-2022
A politician from Himachal Pradesh, Harpreet Singh Bedi, supported the demand for a separate Sikh homeland 'Khalistan' in his social media posts. Bedi shared several tweets in support of Khalistan on microblogging site Twitter and then deleted the account. "According to the constitution, Sikh can demand for Khalistan, then how it is wrong if you want to stop this issue, try to change the act otherwise shut the...," one tweet read. He also shared pictures of the currency of the 'Republic of Khalistan'. The Mandi-based politician deleted his Twitter account after he was criticised for supporting Khalistan. Bedi was formerly associated with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) but is no longer with the party.
India 02-May-2022
India on May 2 condemned the “official citation” made in the General Assembly in the state of Connecticut in the United States (US), recognising the 36th anniversary of the declaration of ‘Khalistan’, saying “vested interests seek to divide communities and promote bigotry and hatred. Their agenda of violence has no place in democratic societies like the US and India”. The Consulate General of India at New York tweeted a statement, saying the Embassy of India in Washington DC and the Consulate General of India in New York would take up this issue appropriately with US lawmakers.
India 02-May-2022
The Khalistani terrorist outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) warned Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann and Director General Police (DGP) Viresh Bhawra against taking action against the Khalistan supporters who are accused in the April 29 Patiala violence case. In a video, SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun was heard inciting communal tensions by claiming that Sikhs gave a fitting response to the "Hindu extremists" in Patiala. He also cautioned Mann and Bhawra against following a policy pursued by the late CM Beant Singh failing which they will have to face consequences. Beant Singh was assassinated in a bomb blast on August 31, 1995. In the video, Pannun also asked the police to not disrespect family members of the Sikhs named in connection with the Patiala clash. Moreover, he warned that the children of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and police officials studying in Australia, the UK, Canada and the US will be forced by SFJ to return back home if the children of the accused are harassed.
India 02-May-2022
Police arrested a Tanzanian woman, identified as Rahma and recovered 300 gm of heroin from her possession in Zirakpur in Mohali district.
United States 02-May-2022
The Chairman of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), Thomas Abraham said that the group's Connecticut chapter will meet the legislators behind the General Assembly's pro-Khalistan statement and explain the situation. He deplored the statement calling it "terrible". Abraham, who is based in Connecticut, said that a "fringe group got it adopted at the tail-end of the Assembly session without the knowledge of most elected officials". GOPIO's Connecticut chapter "deplores such act by Connecticut legislators who initiated and/or endorsed this legislation and will meet them personally to correct the situation", he said.
India 02-May-2022
According to reports, Akal Takht is all set to initiate action against US-based Thaminder Singh Anand for allegedly distorting the Gurbani while printing the saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in an unauthorised manner. Thaminder, who runs SikhBookClub.com, has been accused of not only getting published the copies of the ‘saroop’, but also uploading its PDF on the website.
India 02-May-2022
Punjab police on May 2 identified the key accused in the smuggling of drugs at the India-Pakistan border, a day after the Border Security Force (BSF) arrested a farmer with 1 kg heroin when he was returning back after tilling his fields between the barbed wire fence and the zero line. Pooran Singh of Hardo Rattan village situated near the Attari border, who owns around five acres of agricultural land on both sides of the barbed wire fence, was identified after police got inputs from Dilbagh Singh of the same village, who was arrested on May 1. “Dilbagh has told us that he was clearing the consignment of heroin from his field at the instance of one Pooran Singh of his village. We have found that Pooran also owns around five acres of agricultural land on both sides of the barbed wire fence,” an unnamed senior Punjab police official said.
India 02-May-2022
According to reports, the Khanna police gave cash awards of just Rs 1,350 to 36 police personnel involved in the ongoing anti-drug drive. Each police personnel got Rs 20 to Rs 60. Khanna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ravi Kumar said that as per the Punjab Police Rules, an SSP can distribute maximum Rs 150 in each case. If five police personnel are involved in nabbing the smugglers, the SSP has to divide Rs 150 among all of them. The copy of the order reveals that on May 2, Khanna SSP Ravi Kumar approved cash awards for 36 police personnel who apprehended at least 10 smugglers and seized heroin, poppy husk and opium from their possession. An Assistant of sub-inspector (ASI) -rank officer said, “I got Rs 30 for my efforts in nabbing a heroin smuggler, one of my juniors got Rs 20, while my senior got Rs 35. This amount has no relevance in present times. Instead of encouraging the policemen, this ridiculous amount may discourage them.”
India 03-May-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered 2.98 kg of heroin worth Rs 15 crore (international market) adjacent to the border fence near Jodhewala village in Jalalabad subdivision of Fazilka district on May 3. According to sources, jawans of the 52 Battalion noticed suspicious movement and challenged the suspect who fled on a bike. During search, two bottles filled with heroin and wrapped in green cloth were recovered near the fence.
India 03-May-2022
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on May 3 said that hatemongers have no place in Punjab and seeds of hatred don't bloom on this land.Anything can be planted in the fertile land of Punjab but not the seeds of hatred, he said addressing a gathering in Malerkotla in Malerkotla district after offering prayers at the local Idgah on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. The CM said, "Punjab's social bonding is very strong. We live in brotherhood and those who spread hatred find no place here". "Punjab is the land of gurus, pir, fakirs, poets and martyrs, seeds of hatred don't bloom here," he said giving a stern warning to elements trying to disturb peace and harmony of the State.
United States 03-May-2022
The Akal Takht on May 3 declared a United States (US)-based Sikh publisher, Thaminder Singh Anand, a “tankhaiya” (guilty of religious misconduct) for making distortions in the Gurbani (hymns) and asked the community to boycott him till he appears before the Takht to apologise for his offence.
India 03-May-2022
The Hoshiarpur district police arrested four smugglers by recovering a huge quantity of narcotics from them from different places on May 3. Police arrested Amandeep Singh alias Aman, a resident of Jagatpura, and recovered 78 grams of intoxicating powder from him. Gurpreet Singh alias Guru a resident Basant Bihar, was arrested by the police and 22 grams of heroin was seized from him. During a naka in the area, Mehtiana police arrested Jatinder Singh Jimmy and Lakhwinder Singh and recovered a large number of sedative capsules from them.
India 04-May-2022
Seven drug peddlers were arrested and 300g of heroin was recovered from them after a video was shared widely on social media of a man selling drugs to addicts on a rail track in Faridkot in Faridkot district on May 4. The accused were identified as Shivam, Ravi, Deepak, Baljeet Singh, Hira Singh, Amritpal Singh Jinda and Pardeep Kumar, all residents of Faridkot. Police rounded up the alleged drug supplier, Jagdeep Singh and impounded three two-wheelers of the accused.
India 04-May-2022
The Special Task Force (STF) of the Punjab Police arrested two gangsters, identified as David alias Laddi Shooter and Lovepreet Sandhu alias Akash and recovered two pistols, three magazines, 12 rounds, 60-gm heroin and Rs 6.3 lakh drug money from their possession in Ferozepur district.
India 05-May-2022
According to reports, after a major Pakistan-Khalistan terror plot was thwarted in Karnal on May 5, with the arrest of four terror suspects, the banned pro-Khalistan outfit, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has warned Haryana Chief Minister (CM) Manohar Lal Khattar against branding the arrested accused as Pakistan terror suspects. SFJ issued a warning against CM Khattar and Home Minister Anil Vij against labelling Khalistan activists as an “ISI backed-terrorist”. The group has also claimed to provide legal aid to the arrested terrorists. The SFJ has now issued an open warning against Haryana CM over branding the arrested accused in Karnal as Pakistan terror suspects. In a video message released by SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, under its “Haryana BanayGa Khalistan” campaign, the group issued a warning to the Haryana CM against the Pak-Khalistan terror nexus. SFJ also informed that it will provide legal aid to the four terror suspects arrested in Karnal.
India 05-May-2022
Four Punjab-based terror suspects on way to Adilabad in Telangana to deliver a consignment of explosives in an Innova car with Delhi registration were arrested at Bastara toll plaza in Karnal District of Haryana on May 5 morning. Police have seized three Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in a metallic case (2.5 kilograms each), a Pakistan-made pistol, 31 live cartridges and INR 130,000 in cash from them. Those arrested have been identified as Gurpreet Singh, Amandeep Singh, Parminder Singh (all residents of Vinjoke village of Zira in Ferozepur district of Punjab) and Bhupinder Singh of Bhatian village in Ludhiana in Punjab. Punjab, Director general of Police (DGP), VK Bhawra claimed that the State Police, acting on inputs from the central intelligence agencies, averted a possible terrorist attack by giving a hot chase of over 300 kilometres and getting four suspects arrested in Karnal. They were arrested by Haryana Police following inputs from Punjab Police, he added. Karnal, Superintendent of Police (SP), Ganga Ram Punia said the suspects were in touch with a Pakistan-based gangster-turned-terrorist, Harvinder Singh Rinda, who used to send locations through an app to them to deliver explosives and weapons. Rinda used to drop weapons and explosives at pre-designated locations in the fields in Ferozepur with the help of drones.
India 05-May-2022
According to report, the recent probe into pro-Khalistan modules busted in Punjab has revealed that foreign-based terrorists and their local handlers are using money to lure the state’s youth, who in fact lack ideological conviction. According to an internal analysis of the intelligence wing of Punjab Police, most of those arrested in these cases belong to non-Sikh families with poor financial backgrounds. A senior official of the internal security wing, which deals with such cases, said the arrested youths were mostly unemployed and had been promised money or a future abroad. The recent arrests and recoveries pertain to grenade attacks at an army camp in Pathankot and a similar attack on a CIA police station in SBS Nagar, both in November 2021, besides another grenade attack on a police post in Rupnagar on March 9, the eve of assembly election results in Punjab. Among the six suspects identified by the SBS Nagar police in the Pathankot grenade blast — in which International Youth Sikh Federation (IYSF) chief Lakhbir Singh Rode, who is based in Pakistan, has been identified as the mastermind —four belong to very poor families. Police officials who have quizzed these suspects claim that while one Gurwinder Singh of Kharal village in Gurdaspur was promised a job in Dubai and free travel from India, another Raman Kumar (19), was a drug addict and was paid a meagre amount of Rs 12,000 to join the module. Similarly, in the CIA police station case, the module members were ordinary youths apart from one Kuldeep Kumar alias Sunny, from Ludhiana who had motivated them to carry out the grenade attack in SBS Nagar on November 7, 2021. Sunny lured the local youth having petty criminal record using personal links or distant friendships and would allocate money as per their role, found the police probe. Sandeep Sharma, senior superintendent of police (SSP), SBS Nagar, said those who performed the task under the guidance of their masters are neither radical nor they know much about Khalistan. “Sunny lured them with money on behalf of Rinda. The money involved ranges from Rs 15,000 to Rs 1 lakh,” said the SSP.
India 08-May-2022
The chief of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has been named as the main accused in connection with the appearance of 'Khalistan' banners and graffiti on the walls of Himachal Pradesh Assembly in Dharamshala on May 8. Pannun has been charged under the stringent anti-terror law Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Himachal Police have stepped up security in the State after SFJ gave a call for holding a 'Khalistan' referendum on June 6. Inter-state borders have been sealed and security stepped at key Government buildings. "Keeping in view the incidents of Khalistani elements in neighboring States and also incident of tying a Khalistani banner took place in Una district on 11.04.2022 and recent incident of hoisting banners & graffiti of Khalistan on the outer boundary of Vidhan Sabha in Dharamshala as well as the threat posed by Sikhs for Justice (SJF) regarding announcement of 6th June, 2022 as voting date for Khalistan Referendum in Himachal Pradesh, the DGP-HP has issued directions to the field formations to remain on high alert from today," an order issued by State Police Chief Sanjay Kundu said
India 09-May-2022
A rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) hit the Intelligence Wing headquarters of Punjab Police in Mohali on May 9 night, shattering windowpanes on one of the floors of the building. However, no one was injured in the explosion. The explosion took place at around 7.45 pm [IST] at the office located at sector 77 in Mohali. The windowpanes on one of the floors of the building were shattered because of the explosion. The Mohali police said in a statement, “A minor explosion was reported at the Punjab Police Intelligence Headquarters in sector 77, SAS Nagar at around 7.45 PM. No damage has been reported. Senior officers are on the spot and an investigation is being done. Forensic teams have been called.” The explosion came close on the heels of the recovery of an explosive device near Burail Jail in Chandigarh on April 24. A senior official associated with a Central intelligence agency said that it is suspected that a RPG was used in the attack and it is an unusual thing. "In the past grenade attacks have happened but the use of RPGs is worrying for everyone," said a senior official. "Some suspects taken into custody," Punjab Police, Director General of Police (DGP), Viresh Kumar Bhawra said at meeting headed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
India 10-May-2022
The banned outfit, Sikh for Justice (SFJ) claimed responsibility for the Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) attack at Punjab Police's Intelligence wing in Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar District of Punjab on May 9. In a suspected audio message to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister (CM), Jai Ram Thakur, SFJ's Gurpatwant Singh Pannun issued a warning. The voice message transcripts, "Lesson for Himachal chief minister - learn from grenade attack at Mohali police headquarters - attack could have been at Shimla headquarters. CM Thakur SFJ advise - we raised flag at Dharamshala HQ, do not provoke the Sikh community. SFJ is going to announce Khalistan referendum 20-20 on June 6 in Himachal on day of voting. Do not provoke Sikh community and start violence because violence begets violence, CM Thakur. Message is from Gurpatwant Singh Pannu SFJ General Counsel." The Punjab Police are verifying the authenticity of the voice message. A probe is already ongoing and 20 suspects have been arrested in the RPG attack at Punjab Police's Intelligence wing case. Police are also planning to issue a red corner notice for Pannun
India 10-May-2022
The Punjab Police, on May 10, have so far detained at least 18-20 suspects in connection with the Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) attack at Punjab Intelligence HQs in Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar District of Punjab on May 9 night. A high alert has been sounded in Mohali as the Police did not rule out it as a terror attack. The Police have picked up 6,000 to 7,000 mobile dumps of three mobile towers in the vicinity of intelligence headquarters building between 7pm [IST] and 8pm [IST]. Police are scrutinising the mobile dumps, said an Police officer.
India 11-May-2022
According to reports, Haryana Police has invoked Section 124A (sedition), the law whose operation the Supreme Court put on hold on May 11, in 41 cases in recent years. The individuals booked form a wide spectrum, from the founder of the pro-Khalistan group, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), and terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) to the leader of a khap [a community organisation representing a clan or a group of related clans], a Congress Member of Parliament (MP) and senior journalists. Chargesheets have been filed in at least 19 cases and six have gone to trial. Most sedition cases registered in the State in the last two years have been against SFJ and its founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who has included Haryana, which he claims to be part of Punjab, in his separatist messages. The first of these cases was filed in July 2020 in Gurgaon and Kurukshetra. Pannun was declared a terrorist on July 1, 2020 by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA).
India 12-May-2022
Pro Khalistan banned terror group Sikh for Justice (SFJ) on May 12 issued a fresh threat to the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister (CM) Jairam Thakur and Director General of Police (DGP), Sanjay Kundu. The legal counsel of SFJ, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in an audio message announced a reward of around INR 2 million to anyone providing information about the CM and the DGP's foreign visits. Prompting that the 'war is on', Pannu reminded the CM to not take action against activists who raised ‘Khalistan flags’ at the State Assembly building in Dharamshala. "The SFJ had asked you not to take any action against the activists who hoisted Khalistan flag at Vidhan Sabha. Now the war is on. SFJ will give USD 25,000 for providing information of foreign visits of CM Thakur and DGP Kundu, or any other minister of Himachal or their family members," the SFJ counsel said. "We will hold you and your family accountable under the Foreign Human Rights Violation Act," Pannu added. Notably, in an earlier message, SFJ had claimed responsibility for raising ‘Khalistan flags’ at the State Assembly building in Dharamshala and warned Himachal CM Jairam Thakur to 'learn something from the Mohali attack, it could have been Shimla too.' Responding to SFJ's threat, DGP Kundu informed that the police had already sought Interpol's assistance in issuing a red corner notice against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. "We will not be cowed down by these threats. We are doing our job. The police have already sought assistance from the Interpol to get a red cornered notice against him," he said.
India 13-May-2022
Five suspected persons were arrested in connection with the Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) attack at its intelligence headquarters in Mohali, the Punjab Police said on May 13, adding that the act was carried out by a nexus of militant outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), Pakistan spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and gangsters. Director General of Police (DGP), V K Bhawra said a sixth accused is in Police custody in a separate case. “In addition, two people — Mohd Nasim Alam and Mohd Sharaf Raj — have been brought for questioning from Noida. They originally hail from Bihar. We have not arrested them yet and they are being questioned.” The five suspects arrested were identified as Jagdeep Singh Kang, Baljit Kaur alias Sukhi, Baljinder Singh alias Rambo, Kanwarjit Singh alias Kanwar Bath and Anant Deep Singh alias Sonu. DGP, Bhawra said the role of BKI and gangsters at the behest of the ISI has come to the fore. “The key conspirator who organised all logistics is Tarn Taran resident Lakhbir Singh, alias Landa, who used to be a gangster and had shifted to Canada in 2017,” the DGP said, adding, “He is a close associate of gangster-turned-terrorist Harvinder Singh Rinda, who operates from Pakistan.” Landa provided the RPG, AK-47 and the local network of criminals for logistic support to carry out the attack, the Punjab Police chief said, adding that the three suspects who carried out the attack were still on the run.
India 13-May-2022
Pro-Khalistani posters were seen pasted on the Budhalada city over bridge in Mansa District of Punjab. The Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has claimed responsibility for the posters with an intent to provoke distress in the region. As per reports, the Mansa Police are tracking the phone numbers through which the video, promoting anti-India messages, is being circulated.
India 16-May-2022
A local court, on May 16, extended the Police custody of two Punjab men accused of putting up Khalistan flags on the gate of the Vidhan Sabha complex in Dharamshala and scrawling graffiti on its boundary wall, till May 19. The accused, Harbir Singh and Paramjit Singh Pamma, were produced before the court of judicial magistrate Shubhangi Joshi, who extended their Police custody after the Police said the accused were yet to be taken to the spot together for collecting and reconciling evidences. Reportedly, Khalistan flags were put up at the Vidhan Sabha gate on the intervening night of May 7 and May 8 and graffiti was painted on its boundary wall.
India 16-May-2022
Ahead of 38th anniversary of Operation Blue Star, pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) issued a “tourist alert” advising people against visiting Taj Mahal in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Himachal Pradesh (HP) on May 16. The group said that the chief ministers of three States had initiated a conflict with pro-Khalistan Sikhs by filing false terror charges which could escalate to a law and order crisis in Uttar Pradesh (UP), Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. “During heydays of Khalistan movement in 1990s Indian agencies, using “black cats” frequently orchestrated massacres of Hindus to malign and crush the popular Sikhs’ demand for right to self-determination,” SFJ’s Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said in a mail sent to media houses. Alleging double standards in celebrating Bhagat Singh as a hero for bombing Delhi assembly while labelling Sikhs as terrorists, Pannun said: “We believe in ballot not bomb and will announce Khalistan Referendum Voting Date in Punjab on June 6 from Sri Akal Takht Sahib”. He said the areas earmarked for secession from India through Khalistan Referendum, include Haryana, HP and Sikh populated areas of UP
India 19-May-2022
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of Sikh for Justice (SFJ) again threatened the advocates of Himachal Pradesh and has sent a threatening letter and voice message by e-mail to advocate in Jubbal and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Mandal President Umesh Sharma. In his audio threat, Pannun was heard saying, "This message is for Himachal advocates. You have failed in your legal duty. You have failed your oath, advocates. Now you will face Sikhs for Justice. We will hold you accountable. We are going to make a list of advocates from Himachal. CM Thakur [Jai Ram Thakur], no Jail in Himachal can hold pro-Khalistan Sikhs forever," adds republicworld.com. Umesh has given a complaint about the matter to Monika Bhatungru, Superintendent of Police (SP), Shimla. Threatening e-mails and voice messages have also been sent to the advocates of District Court Una. He has supported the accused who wrote slogans of Khalistan at the gate of Assembly Dharamshala.
India 22-May-2022
The intelligence agencies warned that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is planning to target railway tracks in and around Punjab in India. Intelligence agencies issued an alert warning that Pakistan’s ISI has hatched a big conspiracy to target railway tracks in Punjab and its surrounding States and said the plans to blow up railway tracks were being formulated to hit freight trains. Intelligence agencies also stated in the alert that ISI is funding its operatives in India on a large scale to target railway tracks. Pakistan’s sleeper cells present in India are being paid hefty amounts to carry out terror activities.
India 23-May-2022
An Intelligence Bureau report has sounded an alert about the possibility of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) backed terrorists are likely to target tracks in Punjab for sabotaging railway tracks to cause major accidents. The Intelligence says that the ISI has directed the Khalistan groups to undertake this operation and in particular target the goods trains.
Malaysia 24-May-2022
The Special Task Force (STF) of Punjab Police has asked the Centre to issue a lookout circular against a Malaysia-based handler in connection with the Ludhiana court blast after it was revealed that he allegedly played a crucial role in establishing contact between the accused in India, Pakistan-based entities and Khalistani terrorist Harvinder Singh alias Rinda. Harpreet Singh alias Happy Malaysia is a cousin brother of Surmukh Singh alias Samu of Panju Kalal village in Amritsar, one of the key accused in the case.
India 25-May-2022
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the investigation of the Karnal Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and ammunition recovery case in which four terror suspects were arrested earlier this month by Haryana Police. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) handed over the case to the NIA to probe the matter and the anti-terror agency registered an FIR this week. “We took over Karnal IED recovery case this week,” a senior NIA official, privy to the development said.
India 25-May-2022
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted bail to two persons, Dharminder Singh alias Fauji and Kirpal Singh, allegedly with links to the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) being tried under the sedition law. The duo, Dharminder and Kripal were booked for various offences in an FIR in May 2018, including 124-A (sedition) and under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), 1967, at Police Station Rangar Nangal in Batala.
India 26-May-2022
After pro-Pakistan separatist leader Yasin Malik was sentenced to life imprisonment in a terror funding case on May 25, Khalistan terror outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) issued fresh provocation, calling on terrorists in the Valley to block the upcoming Amarnath Yatra. In a video released on May 26, SFJ founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun came out in defense of Yasin Malik, who was sentenced to life-time imprisonment for terror funding and secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Pannun said that "funding separatism is not terrorism" and accused the Indian government of committing crimes against the minority community. "This is my call to Kashmir freedom fighters, come out in support of Yasin Malik and block Amarnath Yatra. This will highlight the Kashmir Independent movement internationally. We (SFJ) will support your blocking of Amarnath Yatra," Pannun is heard saying in the provocative video.
India 29-May-2022
Hours after the murder of Punjabi singer and Congress leader Sidhu Moosewala, Canada-based banned separatist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has issued a threat letter, in which in a threat aimed at Punjabi singers, urged them to support the Khalistan movement. The SFJ threat came after the Directorate General of Police (DGP) of Punjab Viresh Kumar Bhawra acknowledged that the murder of Moosewala was a result of inter-gang rivalry. Following the killing of Sidhu Moosewala, Pannun, in a threat letter directed to Punjabi singers, stated that “death is imminent” and now is the time to support the “Khalistan Referendum” for the liberation of Punjab from India.”
India 31-May-2022
Indian World Forum President Puneet Singh Chandhok filed a criminal complaint with Delhi Police against Sikh for Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun for "instigating violence, planning to disturb the communal harmony and national security” and sought action in coordination with Interpol.
Pakistan 31-May-2022
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has strongly condemned the murders and said in a statement that, "This is not the first time that the Sikh community in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, (KP) has been targeted and we demand that the KP police identify and arrest the perpetrators promptly." The brutal incident took place on May 15, in which two Sikh traders--Kuljeet and Ranjit Singh got killed on the outskirts of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. This was the 'twelfth' such incident since 2014 when Sikhs were targeted by extremists in KP province alone.
India 31-May-2022
The Ludhiana unit of STF, the anti-narcotic cell of Ludhiana city police and the Khanna cops have arrested three drug peddlers in separate cases. In this first incident, accused Rohit, 27, a resident of Mohalla Peeru Banda, was arrested, near Sandhu Nagar and recovered 432g of contrabands which has costs Rs 2.16 crore in international market from him. In another case, the anti-narcotic wing of Ludhiana Commissionerate arrested drug peddler Baldev Singh of Pratap Singh Wala along with 1.10kg opium from Ayali Khurd. In the third case, Sadar Khanna police arrested a Rajasthan resident, Guddu Lal Gujar, with 1kg opium near Mandiala Kalan village.
India 31-May-2022
In a letter to Jathedar Akal Takht Giani Harpreet Singh, Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Prof. Sarchand Singh Khiala said that the actions of Pannun, a degenerate Sikh and Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) leader who had been disrespecting the case on a daily basis, were a violation of the code of conduct. Needs to be tamed. He said that even in today's gloomy situation, Pannun's statement on Sidhu Musewala's death while engaging in disgusting politics has come to light which has created fear in the minds of the people.
India 01-Jun-2022
In the wake of 38th anniversary week of Sikh for Justice (SFJ)’s rail roko call on June 3 in Punjab and Haryana, Government Railway Police (GRP) Superintendent of Police (SP), operations, Amandeep Kaur, on June 1, directed GRP deputy superintendents and Station House Officers (SHOs) across Punjab to patrol the Government buildings from the Khalistani supporters.
India 03-Jun-2022
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of Sikh for Justice (SFJ), threatened Haryana Chief Minister (CM) Manohar Lal Khattar and Home Minister Anil Vij. In a threat to the Government Railway Police (GRP), Pannun said that on June 3, no train would be run in Haryana, otherwise the Haryana Government would be responsible for any accident.
India 03-Jun-2022
Pro-Khalistan posters have been spotted at a flyover in Mansa District of Punjab on June 3. The posters have surfaced ahead of the anniversary of Operation Blue Star on June 6. The posters spotted at the flyover mention the banned Pro-Khalistan group, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).
India 04-Jun-2022
Ahead of the Operation Blue Star anniversary on June 6, Khalistani posters have been found in Kalanaur area in Gurdaspur District of Punjab. In the posters slogans of ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ are written, and on the other hand, Amritsar bandh (general shut down strike) has been declared on June 6 by some extremist groups. Posters have also been pasted on the walls and shutters of shops. It is learned that some unidentified persons have put up these posters at some places in Kalanaur. Along with Bhindranwale's name on the poster it is written that the real rightful owner of Punjab is Khalistan and Hindustan Murdabad.
India 07-Jun-2022
Exposing the links between Pakistan and Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), a video emerged of the terror outfit's general counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun holding a virtual press conference in Lahore. This development comes two days after the anniversary of Operation Blue Star. In the video, Pannun thanked Pakistani media for giving him a platform to talk about Khalistan Referendum. "The referendum seeks to liberate Punjab from India. On June 6, 1984, the Indira Gandhi government attacked Darbar Sahib and killed Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his followers," he said.
India 09-Jun-2022
Interpol issued a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against gangster-turned-terrorist Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda for involvement in Ludhiana Court Blast, Mohali Blast and many terrorist incidents in Punjab and the recent arrest of terrorists from Karnal. Rinda, who is responsible for inducting and operationalising many terrorist modules in Punjab in the recent past, is now based in Pakistan. Backed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Rinda has also been responsible for smuggling huge quantities of arms and ammunition into India. Rinda is wanted by Chandigarh Police in four criminal cases including murder, attempt to murder, extortion and Arms act. These cases were registered between 2016 to 2018.
India 19-Jun-2022
According to reports, some slogans such as “Referendum 20-20, January 2023 and Punjab da hall Khalistan SFJ 26 January” were written on the back gate and wall of Shri Kali Mata Mandir in Sangrur in Punjab with black spray paint. A video went viral on social media in which Gurpatwant Pannun took responsibility for the act.
India 20-Jun-2022
Chandigarh Police booked Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), for trying to spread hatred and enmity among communities and conspiring to disturb the peace of Punjab State. According to reports, Pannun has been booked under sections 153 A, 153 B, 120 B, section 13, 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and section 3 of the Punjab Prevention of Defacement to Public Property Act.
India 22-Jun-2022
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on June 22, conducted raids at seven locations in the cities of Punjab in connection with the case of four alleged terrorists arrested in Karnal of terrorist organization Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and recovered explosives and weapons. During this raid, many digital devices including financial transaction property have been recovered.
India 24-Jun-2022
The Jalandhar rural Police, on June 24, claimed to have busted an extortion and arms smuggling racket affiliated to the 'Pinda' gang with the arrest of its all 13 members. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Swapan Sharma said a close aide of the dead gangster Vicky Gounder, Palwinder Singh alias Pinda, whose role had link in the 2016 Nabha jailbreak, is the kingpin of the gang. He was apparently handling the gang with the help of Paramjit alias Pamma, a native of Shahkot and currently residing in Greece, he said. The arrested persons are history-sheeters and have been facing criminal cases, murder, attempt to murder, extortion, and arms smuggling, he said, as per an official statement. In addition, six other persons were arrested for harboring and providing logistic support, he said. Police have also recovered seven .32 bore pistols, three .315 bore pistols, one .315 bore gun, one .12 bore gun, and two SUVs besides foreign currency amounting to INR 800,0000. "Paramjit, alias Pamma, allegedly used to finance the gang and send foreign currency via hawala route to Amarjit, alias Amar, who further used to distribute among the gang members to carry out various criminal activities," he said
Italy 03-Jul-2022
According to reports, Sikh for Justice (SFJ), which has been demanding Khalistan, held a vote for the Khalistan ‘referendum’ in Rome, the capital of Italy. According to reports, more than 17,000 Sikhs took part in it, and on the same occasion, SFJ also announced the Khalistan plebiscite in Indian Punjab on January 26, 2023, on the occasion of India's 74th Republic Day. SFJ chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said in a statement that the polling in Rome coincided with the 38th anniversary of Operation Blue Star. Raising questions on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pannun said that Narendra Modi has given a clear message to the government that the will of Sikhs cannot be broken by repression. Pannun said that the Indian Government has made every effort at every level to stop the Khalistan plebiscite, but it could not happen.
India 05-Jul-2022
Karnal Police, on July 5, has arrested a Patiala-based man, identified as Manjeet, hailing from Patiala in Punjab, for writing “pro-Khalistan slogans” on the walls of two educational institutions on June 20, and said that the accused was promised to pay USD 1,000 by a US-based person for accomplishing the job. Manjeet was produced before the court which remanded him to 5-day Police custody for further probe.
India 07-Jul-2022
Pro-Khalistan slogans were found scribbled on the walls of Dera Sacha Sauda’s Punjab headquarters at Salabatpura village, 40 kilometres from Bathinda city in Bathinda District on July 7 morning, reports Hindustan Times. Phul, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Aaswant Dhaliwal said a Police team deployed in the sensitive area noticed the slogans written on three sides of the dera’s compound. “Four teams have been constituted to investigate the matter. CCTV cameras in the area are being scanned to get clues,” said the DSP. A case has been registered against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, co-founder of the banned US-based Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) after his purported video claiming responsibility for the incident was shared on social media.
India 11-Jul-2022
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on July 11 filed a chargesheet against two accused in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Dharamsala, for putting up banners of Khalistan outside the Himachal Pradesh (HP) Vidhan Sabha at Tapovan on the intervening night of May 7 and 8. A case under Section 153-A, 153-B of the Indian penal Code (IPC) and Section 3 of the HP Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1985 was registered after a video message and a letter of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of Sikh for Justice (SFJ) went viral on social media claiming responsibility for the act.
India 12-Jul-2022
According to reports, Punjab Police, on July 12, detained some persons (identity undisclosed) in Malerkotla for questioning after 75 kilograms of heroin was found in their consignment of clothes at Mundra Port in Gujarat. The contraband was kept concealed in a container of unstitched clothes using a cardboard pipe, which was further camouflaged by an oversized plastic pipe. The container, which was loaded from Jebel Ali port in the UAE, was booked by an importer from Malerkotla. Following specific intelligence input regarding the smuggling of heroin from the UAE to Punjab, the State Police in a joint operation with the Anti-Terror Squad (ATS), Gujarat, and central agencies seized 75 kilograms of heroin from a container at Mundra Port, said Punjab, Director General of Police (DGP), Gaurav Yadav on July 12.
Canada 14-Jul-2022
Canada-based Sikh leader and businessman Ripudaman Singh Malik, who was acquitted in the 1985 Air India bombing case, was shot dead in British Columbia’s Surrey in Canada on July 14. Local Police said that the shots were fired at 9:30 am local time and that the man succumbed to his injuries at the scene. They added that the shooting appeared to be targeted attack. While no arrests have been made, the Police found a burnt vehicle around 2 kilometers from the scene of the crime.
India 15-Jul-2022
Sources said that over two months after a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) was fired at the intelligence headquarters in Mohali, the Punjab Police claim to be closing in on the two attackers. According to a senior Police officer, privy to the investigations, the two suspects who carried out the attack on “direct instructions” from Pakistan-based Khalistani terrorist Harvinder Singh Rinda have been identified as Divanshu and Deepak. While Divanshu belongs to Haryana’s Jhajjar, Deepak is from Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh (UP). Their last known location is also somewhere in UP, said the officer. Rinda had allegedly also used the duo to execute two murders — one in Maharashtra’s Nanded (where the gangster-turned-terrorist group is mainly active) and another in Amritsar. “Although six men were already arrested for the conspiracy, they had no idea about the exact identity of the two attackers, who were specially hired and given online training to fire an RPG by Rinda,” the officer cited above said.
India 16-Jul-2022
Haryana Police, on July 16, registered a case of sedition among other charges against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of the pro-Khalistan organisation Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), and his accomplices for damaging the railway track dedicated to supply coal to the thermal power plant in Khedar village of Hisar District of Haryana. Police said unknown persons removed pandrol clips at around 60 points on the railway line about 400 yards from the Rajiv Gandhi Thermal Power Plant in Khedar, which is meant to supply coal to the power plant and is connected to the Hisar railway track. A video clip surfaced on social media in which Pannun is seen claiming the responsibility for damage to the railway track. The speaker, in the video, said this was the beginning of their designs to block the coal supply to many thermal power plants in the country. He claimed his aides had removed the clips of the railway line to stop the coal supply. The 2.40-minute video also has visuals of two persons removing the clips of the railway line.
India 19-Jul-2022
The banned terror organization, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), tried to arrange shelter for some of the killers of singer Sidhu Moosewala in Ambala (Haryana), phone recordings of US-based SFJ chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun with two persons arrested in Patiala on July 19 have revealed. The multiple audio recordings have also revealed that the SFJ was planning to paint anti-India slogans on buildings on the Independence Day in Haryana, besides disrupting the August 15 functions in Punjab and New Delhi, especially those of the Delhi and Punjab Chief Ministers.
India 19-Jul-2022
Punjab Police, arrested two persons, Harwinder Singh alias Prince and Prem Singh alias Prem in connection with the proscribed Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), four days after a pro-Khalistan poster was found pasted on the wall of the Kali Mata temple in Patiala District of Punjab. Police have also recovered 13 posters of the SFJ, two mobile phones and a bike used for committing the offence.
India 26-Jul-2022
The special court of National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar District of Punjab framed charges against eight Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) terrorists, on July 26, for the murder of Shaurya Chakra awardee comrade Balwinder Singh Sandhu. The charges were framed against Sukhraj Singh alias Sukha of Lakhanpal in Gurdaspur, Ravinder Singh alias Ravi Dhillon of Hussainpura in Ludhiana, Akashdeep Arora alias Dhaliwal of New Janakpuri at Salem Tabri, Jagroop Singh of Karamsar Colony near New Subhash Nagar in Basti Jodhewal, Sukhdeep Singh alias Bhura of Kharal in Gurdaspur, Gurjit Singh alias Bhaa of Lakhanpal in Gurdaspur, Inderjit Singh alias Inder of Rashiana village in Tarn Taran, and Sukhmeet Pal Singh alias Sukh of Bhikhariwal in Gurdaspur.
Canada 29-Jul-2022
The Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) announced to begin the Canadian Phase of ‘Khalistan Referendum’ on September 18 from Toronto, Ontario in which Canadian Sikhs will vote on the question “Should Indian Governed Punjab Be An Independent Country”. Khalistan Referendum Voting Centre in Toronto, named after, ‘martyred’ Harjinder Singh Pahra, who was killed in an encounter in 1988, to honor the young pro-Khalistan Sikh who went back to India from Canada to participate in the then ongoing armed struggle for Khalistan in the wake of the Indian Army’s June 1984 attack on the Golden Temple. Terming September 18 voting as “Journey From Khalistan Rocket To Referendum”, the SFJ’s General Counsel, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, stated that the “ballot is the most potent weapon of this century through which we will balkanize India and liberate Punjab”
India 31-Jul-2022
Professor Jagmohan Singh, nephew of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, on July 31 said the statement made by Sangrur MP (Member of Parliament) Simranjit Singh Mann that Bhagat Singh was a terrorist is continuation of the narrative which served the ruling class during the British rule. He said this discourse was driven by “people who had always cooperated with the government” and questioned Sangrur MP’s own past related to the killings of Nihangs. Jagmohan said he did not recommend filing an FIR against MP Simranjit Singh Mann as it would unnecessarily make him a “hero.”
India 31-Jul-2022
According to reports, Police have managed to get 10-day custody of gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria in the murder case of rival Ranbir Singh alias Rana Kandowalia, on July 31. In August 2021, Rana Kandowalia was shot at a private hospital, where he had gone to meet a relative. Jaggu had allegedly taken responsibility of the crime on his social media account.
India 31-Jul-2022
Moga police raided a rented house and arrested four drug dealers along with 1 kg of heroin and drug money worth INR 10 lakh from Dusanjh Road in Moga district.
India 31-Jul-2022
According to reports, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on July 31 met Border Security Force (BSF) Director General Pankaj Kumar Singh to discuss border security and discussed reducing drugs and weapons flowing through drones across the border. Currently, drugs and weapons coming from the Pakistani side via drones are a big challenge in front of Punjab and the central government.
India 31-Jul-2022
The pro-Khalistani organization Dal Khalsa’s spokesperson Paramjit Singh Mand on July 31, in a video message, urged Sikhs not to hoist Tiranga under the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ movement from August 13 to August 15. The video of a meeting of Sikh Groups at Bargari Morcha, Behbal Kalan, on July 31 was published by Rehmat TV.
India 01-Aug-2022
A large group of people, including women, stormed into the Chavinda Devi police check post in an area that falls under the jurisdiction of the Amritsar Rural police in Amritsar district, on August 1 night, allegedly attacked the four policemen on duty, and freed a ‘drug smuggler’ from police custody. The accused allegedly claimed that Akashdeep Singh, who was arrested with 9 grams of heroin, was not a smuggler but an addict. However, Majitha Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Manmohan Singh said that the police are identifying those who freed Akashdeep.
United Kingdom 01-Aug-2022
According to reports, a section of British Sikhs has written to the United Kingdom (UK')s Prime Minister (PM) contenders Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, asking them to clarify their views on issues faced by the community. The national press secretary of Sikh Federation (UK), Jaspal Singh on August 1 said that the community's main issues were the release and return of Scottish national Jagtar Singh Johal who has been jailed in India for five years, UK home secretary Priti Patel's alleged comments labelling British Sikhs as extremists, and addressing anti-Sikh hate in the same way as antisemitism and Islamophobia.
India 01-Aug-2022
Punjab Police on August 1 arrested five members belonging to the gang of Lawrence Bishnoi, the alleged mastermind behind singer Sidhu Moosewala’s murder, along with weapons from Fatehgarh Sahib district. The arrested persons were identified as Sandeep Sandhu, Harpreet Singh, Sandeep Singh, Charanjit Singh and Gurmukh Singh. Eight weapons, including five 0.32 bore country made pistols and three 0.315 bore country made pistols, along with 30 cartridges, were recovered from the arrested gangsters.
India 01-Aug-2022
The Inspector General of Police (Headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill on August 1 disclosed that over 2,200 drug smugglers were arrested while 30 kg of heroin and other narcotics were seized in Punjab in the last one month as part of an ongoing anti-drug drive in the state. Police also seized cash worth INR 48.95 lakh from the smugglers arrested during this period. In addition to this, police also arrested 99 proclaimed offenders and absconders wanted in drug cases in the last one month, said Gill. He also said that police recovered 30 kg of heroin, 75 kg of opium, 69 kg of ganja, and 185 quintals of poppy husk, besides seizing 12.56 lakhs tablets, capsules, injections, and vials of pharma opioids from across the state. Since July 5, police registered a total of 1,730 first information reports (FIRs) of which 145 are related to commercial quantity.
India 02-Aug-2022
Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) chief Baljit Singh Daduwal on August 2 asked the Sikh youths, especially baptized ones, to stay away from dollar dreams shown by a secessionist organisation in the name of Khalistan. In a video message he said that “It is tragic that the Sikhs, mainly Amritdhari youths, have got swayed by these promises and end up in jails. They are not even getting bail. Many youths have been in jail for over two years. The organisation that got this unlawful work done didn't even pay them.” Daduwal also said many Sikh families were suffering because their young sons were getting lured by payment of a few hundred to thousand dollars and promise of a job made by a US-based secessionist organisation in exchange for hosting Khalistan flags or painting its slogans.
India 02-Aug-2022
Madhya Pradesh Police arrested one person, identified as Asan Singh for allegedly supplying arms to Khalistani terrorists in Burhanpur in Burhanpur District of Madhya Pradesh. Several country-made pistols were also recovered from him. According to sources, police was looking for him for the last seven months.
India 02-Aug-2022
The Malout city police arrested five persons, identified as Rachpal Singh, Sewak Singh, Manphool Singh, Dharamvir Singh and Husanpreet Singh along with 20-gm heroin and Rs 22,000 drug money in Muktsar district on August 2.
India 03-Aug-2022
The Sikhs For Justice (SFJ)’s general counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in an email send to media houses, said that “Shimla will be the capital of independent Punjab and Sikh sovereigntists will raise Khalistani flags there”. He also urged the people of Himachal to refrain from raising the tricolour on August 15. “The issue is between Sikhs and India and since Modi government is determined to use violence, people of Himachal should stay out of this conflict,” Pannun said. He said that the SFJ had released the map of areas earmarked for secession from India through the Khalistan Referendum on July 26, 2022, and Shimla was declared as the future capital of Sikh homeland Khalistan. SFJ’s map encompasses the areas of pre-1966 Punjab, which include Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Sikh majority areas of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, he added.
India 03-Aug-2022
The Nurmahal Police on August 3 arrested a widow, identified as Sandeep Kaur and recovered six grams of heroin, 290 intoxicant tablets and drug money of INR 1, 41, 340 from her possession in Mohalla Rungrra in Nurmahal in Jalandhar district.
India 04-Aug-2022
The Special Task Force (STF) recovered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in polythene under a tree beside a hotel at Ambala-Delhi Highway near Chandigarh on August 4. One accused from Tarn Taran District of Punjab has been taken into custody. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the arrested suspect was allegedly involved in terror activities and had placed the IED recently, the SP said.
India 11-Aug-2022
Security has been heightened at all Railway Stations across Punjab in wake of recent threats from Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of banned terror outfit, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), ahead of Independence Day on August 15. An Assistant Inspector General (AIG)-level meeting was held by Government Railway Police (GRP) on August 11 with regards to security arrangements at railway stations. AIG GRP Harmeet Hundal issued directions to all officials to keep strict vigil and patrol the railway tracks and key areas under the railways’ jurisdiction. These directions have been issued after a video of National Flag being burnt on tracks in Manawala near Amritsar came to fore recently. Pannun had threatened to take off National Flags installed at railway stations and Government offices and hoist Khalistani flags. “Jalandhar, Amritsar and Ludhiana are the most vulnerable places as National Flags are installed here and moreover these are among the busiest railway stations in Punjab,” said a senior Police officer, privy to the development. According to Police officials, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has also threatened to kidnap prominent politicians and Police officers of the State
India 21-Aug-2022
The chief of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, released a video challenging Prime Minister (PM), Narendra Modi ahead of his visit to Mohali of Punjab on August 24. Notably, PM, Modi is all set to visit Punjab on August 24 to inaugurate the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre at Mullanpur in Mohali. However, SFJ chief Pannun released a video in which he challenged PM Modi and asked him to stay away from Punjab. In the video he also used words to insult PM Modi. Defaming Modi, Pannun also stated that biggest cancer is that of slavery in Punjab. The Indian government is giving this cancer by dissolving poison in the water of Punjab. Pannun provoked people to assemble on August 24 with holding the flag of Khalistan in hands.
India 01-Sep-2022
The Amritsar rural Police arrested an interstate drug peddler along with his accomplice, identified as Gurjant Singh and Ranjit Singh Rana and seized 2-kilograms heroin and drug money to the tune of INR 493,000 from their possession in Amritsar District of Punjab on September 1. The consignment was a part of the 126-kilogram heroin which was seized by the anti-terrorist squad (ATS) of the Gujarat Police from a fisherman at the Dwarka seaport in March this year.
India 01-Sep-2022
Police arrested Gurpinder Singh and his brother Gurtejpal Singh of Khanpur village and recovered 262 grams and 263 grams of heroin from their possession, respectively, in Amritsar District of Punjab on September 1. Also, another person, Gurcharan Singh Gora of the same village, was arrested with 80- grams heroin.
India 05-Sep-2022
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) probing the Ludhiana court bomb blast case in Punjab has nominated Malaysia-based Harpreet Singh alias Happy Malaysia as the prime accused for the first time and announced a cash reward of INR 1 million for information on him. Earlier, a Germany-based terrorist, Jaswinder Singh Multani, had been named as a conspirator in the case, and also named in the planting of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) outside the Burail Jail, Chandigarh, on April 24 this year. Harpreet, is said to have hatched the conspiracy, provided logistics and funded the terror operation. In May this year, the NIA and Ludhiana Police arrested nine persons, including a juvenile who was an expert in generating Internet calls, in different operations. The Police had claimed the explosive device was delivered from Pakistan via a drone.
India 08-Sep-2022
In a major blow to Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-backed terror module, jointly handled by Canada-based gangster Lakhbir Singh alias Landa, and Pakistan-based gangster Harvinder Singh Rinda, the Police have arrested three of their close aides. The Police have recovered one IED containing RDX weighing 1.5 kilograms along with detonator, two pistols, eight cartridges, and a motorcycle without a registration number from their possession. The DGP said that as per preliminary investigation, it has been revealed that the accused were in direct contact with Lakhbir Landa, and were involved in extortion and cross-border smuggling of arms, explosives, and drugs on a large scale.
India 23-Sep-2022
The Punjab Police, on September 23, claimed to have busted an Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-backed Khalistan terror module with the arrest of its two operatives, identified as Baljit Singh Malhi (25) and Gurbaksh Singh alias Gora Sandhu, from Ferozepur District of Punjab. Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, Gaurav Yadav said the two were considered to be close aides, who had joined hands with Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), and they had ties with the ISI. The Police teams also recovered one AK-56 assault rifle along with two magazines, 90 live cartridges and two bullet shells from a location pinpointed by Gurbaksh from his village Buh Gujran in Ferozepur District.
India 24-Sep-2022
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), on September 24, filed a supplementary ‘challan’ in the designated court at Mohali District of Punjab in the case of the targeted killing of a Hindu priest by terrorists in Phillaur Tehsil (revenue unit) in Jalandhar District in January 2021. The NIA has in its charge sheet named one Gagandeep Singh alias Gaggu resident of Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, who is a member of banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) led by Canada-based Hardeep Nijjar. Gaggu, on the instructions of Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh, an associate of Nijjar, extended help to other assailants in executing the plan for the targeted killing. Gaggu was the supplier of arms and ammunition to the gang members who were charge-sheeted in July 2022.
India 10-Oct-2022
According to the Police Punjab, they have busted five terrorist modules in the State and also arrested 17 terrorists in the last 10 days. The Police have also recovered four rifles including AKs/MP-9/MP-5 and 25 revolvers/pistols from their possession. Apart from this, the Police teams have also recovered three hand grenades and one Improvised Explosive Device (IED), said a Police official.
India 14-Oct-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops shot down a drone that entered India in Gurdaspur sector in Gurdaspur District of Punjab from the Pakistan side on the International Border (IB) in the early hours on October 14. A senior BSF officer said that the drone was spotted at 4.35 am by BSF troops on patrolling duty. They immediately opened fire and it was shot down.
India 20-Oct-2022
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) in a joint operation with the Delhi Police, arrested three operatives of a terrorist module and recovered one AK-47 assault rifle and three pistols along with ammunition from their possession from a hotel at Ghee Mandi area in Amritsar District on October 20. The arrested operatives were identified as Balraj Singh of Bhikhiwind in Tarn Taran, Aatish Kumar and Avinash Kumar, both residents of village Sarhali Kalan in Tarn Taran. All three accused were working as security guards at a Tile Factory in Gujarat. Few days earlier the Delhi Police had arrested Harminder Singh of Kot Isse Khan in Moga District who revealed that he had picked a consignment of one AK-47 and three pistols on the directions of Landa and handed it over to Balraj, Aatish and Avinash.
India 28-Oct-2022
A drone was spotted by the Border Security Force (BSF) coming from the Pakistan side along the International Border (IB) near Joginder Border Outpost (BOP) in Ferozepur District on the intervening night of October 28 and October 29. Reportedly, the BSF troops fired almost 18 rounds towards the drone with INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) assault rifles but it managed to return to Pakistan.
India 31-Oct-2022
Inspector General of Police (Headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill on October 31 said that Punjab Police have arrested 6,997 drug smugglers since July 5 and the police have registered a total of 5,346 first information reports (FIRs) of which 580 are related to seizure of commercial quantity of drugs. According to him, police teams had recovered 259.7 kg heroin from across the state after carrying out cordon and search operations in drug-affected areas besides laying nakas at vulnerable routes across the state. Additionally, 147.5 kg heroin was recovered by the teams of Punjab Police from seaports of Gujarat and Maharashtra, taking the total effective recovery of heroin to 406.5 kg in just four months, he said.
India 31-Oct-2022
The Dal Khalsa has announced that it will observe 38 years of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots by organizing a ‘march’ in Kapurthala on November 3. The Dal Khalsa leaders said that the march will highlight the state-sponsored violence unleashed on Sikhs in November 1984 in Delhi and other states, the role of leaders in engineering the carnage, the mockery of justice and the failure of the United Nations in holding this country accountable for the killings. The leaders also urged the SGPC to make pictures and paintings depicting the 1984 November horrendous event part of the Central Sikh Museum.
India 31-Oct-2022
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) has awarded the 16-member team of Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), Punjab with the “Union Home Minister’s Special Operation Medal” for the year 2022. The awardees include the AGTF chief ADGP Promod Ban and his team members. Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav, while congratulating the AGTF Team, expressed gratitude to the UMHA for recognizing the services of these officers. “This recognition will boost the morale of the entire Punjab Police force and encourage them to work with more dedication and devotion,” he said.
India 01-Nov-2022
Jalandhar Rural police and the Delhi Police in a joint operation arrested five persons having links with Canada-based gangster Lakhbir Singh Landa at Chak Jhandu village of Bhogpur in Jalandhar district. Those arrested were identified as Sanjeev Kumar alias Nanu, and Sandeep Kumar alias Sabi, both of Kartarpur in Jalandhar; Gurbir Singh alias Ginni, of Adampur; and Manpreet alias Mann, and Lovepreet Singh alias Chinni, both of Chheharta in Amritsar. The gangsters, six in all, were reportedly hiding inside a vacant house when the police raided the village around 6 am. As the cops were about to enter the house, a brief encounter took place. The accused managed to escape after firing three rounds and hid in sugarcane fields. Using drones, ropes and dog squads, the police managed to arrest five of them, while the sixth managed to flee. One Glock pistol, two .32 bore revolvers, cartridges and three motorcycles were seized from their possession.
India 01-Nov-2022
Police arrested one person, identified as Balwinder Kumar and recovered 5 gm of heroin from his possession at near the Kangdiwal flyover in Jalandhar.
Pakistan 01-Nov-2022
According to intelligence sources, pro-Khalistan terrorist groups have infiltrated gurudwaras in Pakistan’s Lahore under a “new game plan” by Pakistan in a bid to promote extremism in the Indian Sikh community against Hindus and the Indian government. The intelligence inputs said that the alleged hijacker of the Srinagar-Lahore flight in 1984 was seen meeting Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh in Panja Sahib Gurdwara in Lahore. Pakistan’s game plan as such is to keep Khalistani extremists in gurudwaras in Lahore so that they can “radicalize” Sikh devotees, sources said. Intelligence sources further said the alleged flight hijacker Ravinder Singh Pinka and his associates were meeting Sikh devotees from India, who have gone to Pakistan to observe the 100th anniversary of Saka Panja Sahib. Pinka deliberately clicked a photo with Giani Harpreet Singh. Later, however, when officials of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) were informed about Pinka, the video was immediately taken down from the SGPC website. Sources also said the Jathedar belonged to the entire community and nobody was prohibited from meeting him, and that Giani Harpreet Singh might not even know or recognize Pinka.
India 01-Nov-2022
Police arrested two suspects, identified as Anil Raju Powra (29) and Anveer Jam Singh Powra (24), for allegedly manufacturing and supplying weapons to gangsters in Mohali and recovered 20 country-made pistols and 20 live rounds from them at Kalalda village near Sedwa city in Madhya Pradesh. Police also recovered 20 (.32 and .30 bore) country-made pistols from them. Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Vivek S Soni and Superintendent of Police (SP) (Investigation) Amandeep Singh Brar said at least 70 weapons had been seized from Mohali district alone that were supplied by this gang. They have been sent to a five-day police custody.
India 02-Nov-2022
The High Commissioner of Canada to India, Cameron MacKay, said that Canada “does not support and does not recognise” the so-called ‘Khalistan referendums’ being carried out frequently in that country by banned Sikh outfits and supports a “united India”. MacKay, said in an interview that holding of such so-called referendums are considered to be a “private activity” in that country and according to Canadian laws “people have right to freedom of assembly, people have the right to freedom of expression”. However, the High Commissioner also said that the Justin Trudeau government strongly believed in and stood for a “united India”.
India 02-Nov-2022
The Jalandhar rural police have got a five-day remand of five persons associated with Canada-based gangster Lakhbir Singh Landa. They were arrested after an encounter and a massive search operation on November 1 from a Bhogpur village in Jalandhar. The police are still on the lookout for another associate, who could not be traced after he went into hiding in sugarcane fields near the house where the six gangsters were staying.
India 02-Nov-2022
The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently observed that the drug peddlers have successfully destroyed the social fabric of society and led youth to the wrongful path. "Such type of persons need to be dealt with firmly and sternly and no sympathy can be shown to them lest that should prove to be counterproductive and result in increased drug trafficking," Justice Ashok Kumar Verma said, while ruling that the petitioner does not deserve the concession of regular bail.
India 02-Nov-2022
A Pakistani drone was spotted thrice inside Indian territory near the SS Wala border outpost area in Jalalabad subdivision of Fazilka district. According to official sources, soldiers of the Border Security Force (BSF) 52 battalion heard humming sound of drone inside the Indian territory on the intervening night of November 2 and 3. They fired some rounds after which the drone returned to Pakistan. A similar sound was again heard by the BSF personnel after some time and they fired upon the object, which again escaped. The sources said the drone was spotted again by the BSF personnel, who fired on it for the third time but it again returned to Pakistan.
India 03-Nov-2022
In a joint operation with Maharashtra Police, Punjab Police arrested three drug smugglers wanted in the 72.5-kg heroin seizure case in Gurdaspur district. Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav in a tweet said, "In a crucial breakthrough, Gurdaspur Police arrests three high profile drug smugglers wanted in 72.5 kg heroin seizure case at Nhava Sheva Port, Mumbai effected jointly by ATS Mumbai and Punjab Police on July 22."
United Kingdom 03-Nov-2022
According to reports, Khalistani supporters of Jaggi Johal (34) who is lodged in Delhi’s Tihar jail, have launched a fresh worldwide campaign to get him freed from India. Johal is a citizen of the United Kingdom (UK). Jaggi Johal alias Jagtar Singh Johal was arrested by Punjab police on November 4, 2017, in Jalandhar under the arms Act. Under the campaign christened “Free Jaggi Now” the Khalistani activists have announced holding protests on November 4, in 5 cities of the United States (US) including New York and California. The Canadian radicals will gather in two cities, Toronto and Vancouver while In the UK protests will be held in four main cities including London and Manchester. The free Jaggi protests are now directed toward the British – earlier they were targeting India – as a recent BBC report revealed that Jaggi was arrested in India on the basis of information provided by the intelligence agencies of the UK. According to the BBC Johal’s activities in the UK as a fundraiser for Sikh separatists active in Punjab were in the knowledge of the British intelligence agencies. He was also involved in translating pro-Khalistan Punjabi literature into English for publication in newspapers and on websites. This information was passed over to the Indian intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) following which Johal was arrested by the Punjab police. Jaggi has been named as an accused in seven cases, five of those being murder charges (targeted killings) and two being attempt to murder charges (attempted targeted killings). Activists and members of right-wing Hindu outfits, the Dera Sirsa followers, and even a Christian activist (a pastor) were targeted in these killings.
India 03-Nov-2022
Stressing the need for solving the Sikh issues, farmers under the banner of Kirti Kisan Union organised a rally at the local Gandhi Municipal Park in Tarn Taran district on Novemebr 3. They also took out a protest march in different parts of the town.
India 03-Nov-2022
India reiterated its concern over certain forces planning a so-called Khalistan referendum in Canada on November 6 and asked to prevent anti-India activities by individuals and groups. The pro-Khalistan group, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) has proposed the referendum in Mississauga, near Toronto, on November 6. India has also urged Canada to designate as terrorists under its laws those individuals and entities who have been declared as terrorists under Indian laws. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "I think we have made our position clear a couple of times. Our position on the efforts by anti-India elements to hold a so-called Khalistan referendum is well known. It has been conveyed to the Canadian government both in New Delhi and in Canada." The Canadian government has conveyed to India that Canada will not recognise the objectionable 'Khalistan' referendum organised by the proscribed organisation Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) in Ontario on November 6, the MEA said.
India 04-Nov-2022
The head of Punjab-based right-wing outfit called Shiv Sena (Taksali), Sudhir Suri was shot dead by a local shopkeeper in the middle of a public protest in Amritsar. According to police, Suri was staging a protest outside a temple in Amritsar’s Kashmir Avenue when he was shot at five times by Sandeep Singh alias Sunny, who ran a garment shop outside the same temple. Later, Singh was arrested by the police. Police didn’t immediately attribute a motive but said that they will swiftly move to investigate all aspects of the crime. “The accused told the police that he had never met Suri before. What triggered the accused to kill the Shiv Sena leader is part of the investigation. We are probing the case from all angles and interrogation of the accused is underway,” the Director general of police (DGP) said. However, a car was also parked near the crime spot with stickers on its windows that appeared to be linked to Waris Punjab De Chief Amritpal Singh, who has courted controversy in the past for his comments backing the creation of Khalistan. But the police refused to confirm if the crime was linked to the outfit.
India 04-Nov-2022
According to officials, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet against six suspected terrorists of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) in a case related to the seizure of arms and explosives from a vehicle in Haryana in May. The charge-sheeted accused included Pakistan-based Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda of the proscribed terrorist organization, BKI, who has sent the weapons through drones into the Indian territory for executing terrorist acts in India, a spokesperson of the NIA said. According to officials, the case was initially registered on May 5 at Madhuban police station in Haryana under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Explosive Substances Act and the Arms Act, and re-registered by the NIA on May 24.
Pakistan 04-Nov-2022
According to reports, Pakistan issued visas to nearly 3,000 Indian pilgrims under the framework of the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974 to participate in celebrations in several cities in the bordering nation on the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak from November 6-15.
India 04-Nov-2022
According to report, the Border Security Force (BSF) troops deployed near the Jagdish border outpost (BOP) in Ferozepur sector in Ferozepur district spotted another drone. According to official sources, the troops heard humming sound of the drone near the Indo-Pakistan border. As per information, the drone first entered the Indian territory at around 10.05 pm, followed by another sortie at around 10.32 pm.
Canada 04-Nov-2022
Member of the Provincial Parliament (MPP) of Canada’s Ontario state, Deepak Anand, while condemning the attempts of the extremist Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) to spread hatred among the Hindu and Sikh communities settled in Canada has asked the Justin Trudeau government to bridle such activities that have the potential to trigger violence. Meanwhile, a poster displayed in Mississauga city of Canada on November 3 by the Khalistani outfit SFJ alleging, “An 8 days old Sikh infants burnt alive by Hindu mobs” in 1984 and demanding that the Canadian government declare incidents of 1984 as a “genocide of Sikhs” is evoking sharp reactions. The SFJ holds such demonstrations abroad every year to remind people of the aftermath of Indira Gandhi’s assassination on October 31, 1984, resulting in the killings of the Sikhs in Delhi and elsewhere in the country. Holding a demonstration in support of its demand the SFJ extremists alleged that trained and paid Hindu mobs killed Sikhs quoting a book written by some obscure writer. The name of the book was not mentioned.
India 05-Nov-2022
According to reports, Media accessed a video that showed the accused murderer of Shiv Sena leader Sudhir Suri, Sandeep Singh, taking the blessing of pro-Khalistan hardliner Amritpal Singh. As per the media report, the meeting between Amritpal and Sandeep allegedly occurred just days before Suri's murder. Earlier, the Shiv Sena leader's family accused Amritpal Singh. They alleged that the pro-Khalistan hardliner had given death threats to Suri.
India 05-Nov-2022
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann, during his roadshow in Gujarat's Ahmedabad, issued a statement saying that the accused (Sudhir Suri murder case) has been rounded up. Bhagwant Mann said, "The accused has been rounded up. The investigation is in the preliminary stage. Police are carrying out an investigation. There will be justice."
India 05-Nov-2022
In a video, which was widely circulated on social networking sites, Gopal Singh Chawla, a pro-Khalistan leader hidden in Pakistan had threatened to kill Hindu outfit leader Amit Arora and national joint coordinator of All India Congress Committee (Kisan Congress) Gursimran Singh Mand. The video was released after the murder of Hindu outfit leader Sudhir Suri. Arora is already on terrorist groups’ target and had survived an attack in 2016. Police restricted these leaders from stepping out from their houses. Police have also increased vigil outside residences of various Hindu outfit leaders.
India 06-Nov-2022
Police said on November 6 that the main accused in the Shiv Sena (Taksali) leader Sudhir Suri murder case was “self-radicalised” and committed a hate crime. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to further probe the case, police said. Police Commissioner Arunpal Singh said, “According to the investigation conducted so far, Sandeep Sunny got self-radicalised through Facebook and other social media and committed a hate crime”. He, however, said it was not the conclusion and that an in-depth investigation will be conducted. Police will probe various angles. Technical and financial investigations will also be conducted, he said. The commissioner said only one person has been named in the murder case so far.
India 06-Nov-2022
The pro-Khalistan group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) announced a legal aid of Rs 10 lakh to defend the man who shot and killed Shiv Sena leader Sudhir Suri in Punjab's Amritsar. Suri was on a sit-in protest outside a temple over alleged sacrilege of Hindu idols and images when he was shot by Sandeep Singh alias Sunny, who was taken into custody from the spot itself. SFJ has termed the shooting of Sena leader Suri "assassination" and not "terrorism". SFJ's General Counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in a video message from Paul Coffee Arena in Canada, said, "SFJ stands behind Bhai Sandeep Singh who took down Suri with referendum by bullet."
Canada 06-Nov-2022
According to reports, Canada's city of Brampton mayor, Patrick Brown was hackled in a temple by the Hindu community for allowing anti-India elements to conduct their ‘Khalistan Referendum’. The mayor was asked by the Hindu diaspora to remove hateful banners against Hindus from all over the city that read "Sikh Infants burnt alive by Hindu Mobs". However, Patrick Brown when asked that would he remove those banners by Khalistanis - "We love everyone," he answered. Brown was shamed in front of four federal parliamentarians, three provincial parliamentarians, and two city councilors. Liberal MP Chandra Arya appealed to the audience to cool down and said that "We do have strong differences but Mr. Brown is our guest in the temple".
India 07-Nov-2022
Days after Punjab Shiv Sena Sudhir Suri was killed by unknown persons, Punjab Police advised Hindu leaders to not come out of their homes following death threats by pro-Khalistan leader Gopal Singh Chawla, who is reportedly hiding in Pakistan. According to sources, Police also registered a First Information Report (FIR) against a person, identified as Kulwinder Singh alias Golu in Ludhiana for allegedly celebrating the murder of Suri by distributing sweets in the city.
India 07-Nov-2022
Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on November 7 claimed that propaganda is being spread against the Sikhs after the murder of Shiv Sena (Taksali) leader Sudhir Suri and the government should take a strong notice of it. He said, in a video message, “For the last few days, hate propaganda is being spread against the Sikhs in Punjab on a large scale over social media. The Sikhs are getting death threats from the people who are indulging in spreading venomous propaganda.”
India 08-Nov-2022
According to sources, during the interrogation of Sandeep Singh alias Sunny, who had gunned down Shiv Sena (Taksali) president Sudhir Suri and was arrested from the spot with the murder weapon, it was revealed that the murder was an outcome of hate crime and no organization has been found behind the incident so far. However, police said that the five-member special investigating team (SIT) was still investigating the case. Sunny is in police remand for seven days.
India 08-Nov-2022
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) on November 8 said that a total of 2,420 Indian Sikh pilgrims have traveled to Pakistan to participate in the Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrations in different prominent religious sites.
India 08-Nov-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops deployed at Border Outpost (BOP) Jagdish spotted three drones coming from the Pakistani side in Ferozepur sector in Ferozepur District of Punjab on November 8. The BSF personnel fired several rounds and used illuminating bombs to bring down the drones spotted, however, of the three drones only two returned to the Pakistani side, whereas the third drone hasn’t returned to the Pakistani side yet, at the time of reporting.
India 09-Nov-2022
Days after Hindu leader Sudhir Suri was shot dead, the Shiv Sena (Taksali) Punjab chairman Sunil Kumar alias Bunty on November 9 received a life-threatening call saying, "you are next." The anonymous caller, who called him on WhatsApp, said, "tera number lagne wala hai, aur ab tera kya banta hai dekhta ja." (You are next. Just wait and watch what happens to you.)
India 09-Nov-2022
The Union Home Minister Amit Shah on November 9 instructed the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the internal security apparatus to make full use of anti-drone technology to stop the smuggling of narcotics from across the border. The minister, who chaired a meeting of IB and Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB) officers to review the internal security situation across the country, focused on “fighting terrorism as well as its support system” within India.
India 10-Nov-2022
According to reports, the central government sees an upward trend in Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and pro-Khalistan elements forging close links with terror nodes abroad, mainly in countries like Canada and Germany, to create unrest in Punjab. The report said, for the security agencies who are keeping a close eye on cross-border attempts to vitiate the communal harmony and disturb the law and order in Punjab, the latest sacrilege killing at Kotkapura in Faridkot district on November 10 is a worrying development. The worry has been compounded with Canada-based gangster Satwinder Singh alias Goldy Brar claiming responsibility for the killing of Pradeep Singh. Meanwhile, the Additional Director General (ADG) (law and order) in Punjab Police, Arpit Shukla said, “Six teams have been constituted to investigate the crime. Some motorcycles used by criminals have been seized. It is too early to pinpoint who is behind the murder, but all angles are being investigated.”
India 10-Nov-2022
Unidentified gunmen killed Dera Sacha Sauda follower Pardeep Singh at Kot Kapura in Faridkot District in a shootout on November 10. Pardeep Singh was facing the case of sacrilege in the incident of theft of the Bir of Guru Granth Sahib from Burj Jawahar Singh Wala village on June 1, 2015, and was out on bail. The five persons on two bikes are learnt to have fired indiscriminately when Pardeep was opening his milk dairy at Hari Nau Singh Road in Kot Kapura. Pardeep’s gunman and another person sustained injuries in the incident. Meanwhile. hours later, in an alleged Facebook post, gangster Goldy Brar said, " I, Goldy Brar from Lawrence Bishnoi gang, takes the responsibility of murder of 2015 Bargari Beadbi (sacrilege) case."
India 17-Nov-2022
The Police arrested two suspects, identified as Parkash Singh of Barke village in Ferozepur and Angrej Singh of Alike village in Ferozepur, and seized a hand grenade and INR 100,000 from them, at a checkpoint on the Amritsar-Pathankot Road in Daburji under Majitha-3 Tehsil (revenue unit) in Amritsar District of Punjab on November 17. The hand grenade was reportedly smuggled from Pakistan through a drone.
India 19-Nov-2022
A drone from Pakistan was spotted close to the International Border (IB) between India and Pakistan in the Kassowal area in Gurdaspur District. The drone back to Pakistan after Border Security Force (BSF) troops fired at it on November 19 night, the BSF said, adding that the personnel fired at least 96 rounds at the drone and also used five illumination bombs.
India 19-Nov-2022
A drone was spotted in the Channa Patan area in Amritsar District. The drone went back after the Border Security Force (BSF) troops fired 10 rounds, the BSF said.
India 25-Nov-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) shot down a drone that entered from Pakistan near Daoke village in Amritsar District. BSF fired at the drone after they noticed it sneaking into the Indian territory near Daoke village, 34 kilometres southwest of Amritsar city, on November 25 evening, the BSF said. During the search, the BSF seized a Quadcopter DJI Matrice 300 RTK (Chinese drone) in a partially-damaged condition, according to officials.
India 26-Nov-2022
A special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) sent Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) terrorist Kulwinderjit Singh alias Khanpuria – who was allegedly involved in attacks on establishments connected to the Dera Sacha Sauda and Punjab Police, to three-day custody on November 26. The NIA sought his custody to probe a case registered against him at the Rajasansi Police Station in Amritsar after a bag with two hand grenades and a mobile phone was recovered from two bike-borne men at a check post in Amritsar in 2019.
India 28-Nov-2022
Two Pakistani drones were gunned down by the Border Security Force (BSF) on November 28, along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab, foiling the cross-border drugs smuggling bids in Amritsar and Tarn Taran Districts. The two hexacopters were carrying around 10 kilograms of heroin which were recovered by the BSF troops.
India 29-Nov-2022
In a joint operation, sleuths belonging to Counter Intelligence (CI) wing and troops of the 136th Battalion reportedly found arms and ammunition near the Dona Telu Mal Border Outpost (BOP) in Ferozepur sector in Ferozepur District. During the joint search operation, a cache of arms and ammunition, including five assault rifles, five pistols were found from the fields along the Indo-Pakistan border.
India 29-Nov-2022
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on November 29, filed a charge sheet against two accused in a case relating to a bomb explosion at Jalalabad in Fazilka District. The NIA in an official statement said those who are named in the supplementary charge sheet in the case include Surat Singh, a resident of Mahatam Nagar village and Gurucharan Singh, a resident of Noore Ke village, in Fazilka district. The case pertains to a bomb explosion in Jalalabad town of Fazilka district on September 15, 2021, in which one person was killed. The case was initially registered by Punjab Police, which was re-registered by NIA on October 1, 2021
India 30-Nov-2022
Unknown persons wrote separatist slogans in the office premises of Block Development and Panchayat Officer in Malout in Muktsar district on November 30 night. On December 1 morning, when informed, policemen reached the spot and erased these slogans. At the same time, through a video, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun took responsibility for the incident and threatened Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann to meet the same fate as late former CM Beant Singh. Pannun alleged that Bhagwant Mann's government is forcing the farmers of Punjab to commit suicide. The then CM Beant Singh was killed in an explosion on August 31, 1995.
India 30-Nov-2022
Police on November 30 arrested Ashish Masih, a terrorist wanted in more than 10 cases and an absconder from a Hospital in Gurdaspur District. Pistols and cartridges have also been recovered from the arrested terrorist. Police said that Ashish Masih, who was arrested in the case of RDX and hand grenade found in Dina Nagar of Gurdaspur last year, was lodged in Gurdaspur jail. On August 28, stating that he was mentally disturbed, he had reached Amritsar's Mental Hospital for treatment, from where he had absconded.
India 30-Nov-2022
Punjab Police and Border Security Force (BSF) after shot down a drone in Kalas village in Khemkaran border area in Tarn Taran District.
India 30-Nov-2022
Punjab Police during a joint operation with the Border Security Force (BSF), recovered five AK-47 rifles, five pistols and nine magazines from Ferozepur District.
India 30-Nov-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF)’s Additional Director General (ADG), Western Command, PV Rama Sastry in Amritsar District of Punjab on November 30, said that the force is effectively responding to the drone threat at the International Border (IB), and in one month, six drones have been shot down by security personnel. While replying to a media query, regarding the movement of drones at the Punjab border, being used for smuggling of arms, ammunition, explosives and drugs, the ADG said, “Drone has become a challenge, but we have been giving an effective response. Recently, two drones were shot down in a single day. Similarly, last month six drones were brought down. So, we are effectively responding to the drone issue.”
India 01-Dec-2022
Police arrested two gangsters, identified as Ravi and Robin, suspected to be part of a narco-terror module while three of their accomplices managed to escape in Kapatgarh area falling under the Chheharta police station in Amritsar on December 1. The police confiscated five pistols, including three foreign-made weapons, and 17 live cartridges from their possession. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigations), Mukhwinder Singh Bhullar, said as per the preliminary probe, the suspects were allegedly part of a narco-terror module.
India 03-Dec-2022
Border Security Force (BSF) recovered about 25 kilograms of heroin, which was airdropped by a Pakistani drone in the Fazilka District on December 3.
India 04-Dec-2022
A drone along with 3 kilograms of heroin was recovered near the India-Pakistan border under Valtoha Police limits in Tarn Taran District on December 4.
India 05-Dec-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered a broken quadcopter with three kilograms of Heroin near Roranwala Kalan village under Chogawan-2 Tehsil (revenue unit) in Amritsar District, near the India – Pakistan border in Punjab on December 5.
India 06-Dec-2022
Punjab Police on December 6 neutralized an extortion racket run by Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) operatives Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala and Hardeep Singh Nijjar, and arrested four gang members identified as Balwinder Singh, Gurjant Singh, Gurlal Singh and Kamardeep Singh from Moga District. Three live cartridges, one 30-bore pistol, one magazine along with INR 300,000 was recovered from them.
India 06-Dec-2022
Punjab Police on December 6 arrested two cross-border smugglers identified as Bhagwan Singh alias Bhaga and Harpreet Singh alias Pittu, from an unspecified location in Punjab and recovered drug money worth INR 5,100,000 and two cars from their possession.
India 07-Dec-2022
Punjab Police on December 7 arrested gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in connection with an extortion case filed in Punjab on March 22, 2021.
India 07-Dec-2022
Punjab Police on December 7 arrested three gang members, identified as Lovepreet Singh alias Laddi, Gagandeep Singh alias Gagan and Sukhwinder Singh associated with gangster Lakhbir Singh Landa from Apra in Jalandhar District. Seven pistols, 35 live cartridges, one revolver of 32 bore, one pistol of 315 bore and two cartridges and an i20 car have been recovered from them.
India 08-Dec-2022
Punjab Police on December 8 confirmed that Yuvraj Sabharwal alias Yash and two other individuals identified as Fatehdeep Singh and Bhavneet Micky had received a sum of INR 30,000,00 from terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa in connection with the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) case in Amritsar District in Punjab on August 16, 2022.
India 09-Dec-2022
A drone coming from the Pakistan side was spotted by the Border Security Force (BSF) along the International Border (IB) in the Jalalabad subdivision of Fazilka District. Reportedly, the BSF troops fired almost six rounds towards the drone, which returned to Pakistan. Following this, a search operation, jointly with the Punjab Police, was carried out in the area to check dropping of narcotics by the drone.
India 10-Dec-2022
A Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) was fired by unidentified individuals at Sarhali police station in Sarhali Kalan in the Patti subdivision of Tarn Taran District on December 10. No casualty was reported.
India 11-Dec-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) on December 11 recovered a cache of arms and ammunition, including two AK-47 assault rifles, two pistols, and 40 bullets from Chandi Wala village in Ferozepur District in Punjab near the International Border (IB).
India 12-Dec-2022
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) along with Punjab police on December 12 recovered the Russian-made Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG-22) which was used to target the Sarhali police station in Tarn Taran District in Punjab on December 9, 2022. According to Gaurav Yadav, the Director-General of Police (DGP) Punjab, who visited the site, the grenade recovered seemed to have been smuggled from across the border and there is a clear indication that "the neighbouring nation's objective is to bleed India by a thousand cuts”.
India 13-Dec-2022
The Punjab Police on December 13 detained four persons on charges of providing logistic support to the militants who carried out a Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) attack on Sarhali Police Station in Tarn Taran District of Punjab on December 9.
India 13-Dec-2022
The Punjab police on December 13 arrested four associates of gangster Lakhbir Landa, identified as Gurlal Singh, Rajbir Singh Raja, Armandeep Singh and Gurlal Singh from Vallah Bypass G T Road in Amritsar District. Four country-made weapons, four magazines and nine bullets were recovered from them.
India 16-Dec-2022
Punjab Police’s State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) on December 16 arrested a suspected spy of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) from Mohali District. The suspect, identified as Tarpinder Singh, has been working with ISI agents for more than three years and provided sensitive documents, locations, photographs and other information about various police buildings and army bases located in Punjab. According to sources, the ISI has chosen gangster Harry Chatha alias Supreet, the mastermind of the 2016-Nabha Jailbreak, to replace the slain Khalistani terrorist, Harvinder Singh Rinda, for carrying out anti-India activities in Punjab.
India 16-Dec-2022
Punjab Police on December 16 arrested seven persons, including two juveniles who were involved in the December 9 Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) attack at the Sarhali Police Station in Tarn Taran District. Apart from the two juveniles, five others are identified as Ajmeet Singh, who is already lodged in Goindwal jail in a murder case, Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi Numberdar; Gurlal Singh; Surlalpal Singh alias Gurlal, alias Lali; and Jobanpreet Singh alias Joban. Police have also recovered three pistols - two .32 bore and one .30 bore - along with ammunition, one hand grenade and one motorcycle from the arrested persons. Police said the attack was carried out at the directions of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in coordination with a Canada-based terror module run by Lakhbir Singh alias Landa Harike, and his Europe-based accomplices Satbir Singh Satta and Gurdev Singh Jassal.
India 19-Dec-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) on December 19 spotted drones in two BSF posts, in Chandu Wadala and Kassowal at around 10.30 pm in the Gurdaspur District.
India 19-Dec-2022
The Punjab Police on December 19 arrested two persons in connection with the murder of Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) follower Pardeep Singh, who was accused of 2015 sacrilege cases, at Kotkapura in the Faridkot District of Punjab. The accused have been identified as Parvinder Singh, alias Kala, and Manpreet, who supplied vehicles for the main accused to escape after the crime was committed.
India 20-Dec-2022
'Khalistan Zindabad' was found written on the walls of Government College in Sri Muktsar Sahib District on December 20. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), reportedly claimed responsibility for the incident.
India 20-Dec-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) on December 20 shot down a drone that had entered India from the Pakistani side along the International Border (IB) in the Amritsar District.
India 20-Dec-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) on December 20 shot down a drone that entered into the Indian side from Pakistan near the Harbhajan border post in the Ferozepur sector of Ferozepur District. BSF officers identified the drone as a quadcopter MATRICE 300 RTK used by Pakistan-based agencies to drop arms and contraband into Indian territory.
India 23-Dec-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) on December 23 shot down a drone near Mulankot border in Gharinda village in Amritsar District.
India 24-Dec-2022
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on December 24 conducted multiple searches at different locations in Punjab pertaining to the case relates to terror activities of chiefs/members of proscribed terrorist organizations, such as Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) etc. NIA said the terror activities include smuggling of terrorist hardware such as arms, ammunition explosives and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) across International Borders (IB) for use by operatives and members of terror outfits and organized criminal gangs operating in various parts of the country for carrying out terrorist acts like bomb explosions, targeted killings etc. Incriminating materials, including digital devices and documents have been recovered during the raids.
India 25-Dec-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) on December 25 shot down a quadcopter coming from Pakistan side along the International Border (IB) near the Rajatal Village in Amritsar District.
India 26-Dec-2022
Inspector General of Police (IG) Punjab Sukhchain Singh Gill on December 26 said that during 2022, the Internal Security has neutralised 18 terror modules with the arrest of 119 terrorists/radicals after recovering 43 Rifles, 220 Revolvers/Pistols, 13 Tiffin Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs), 24.5 kilograms Royal Demolition eXplosive (RDX) and other explosives, 37 Hand Grenades, two Sleeves of disposed Rocket Launcher, 22 Drones, and 23 vehicles. He added that the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), since its formation on April 6, 2022, has succeeded in neutralizing 111 gangster/criminal modules after arresting 428 gangsters/criminals and neutralizing two, recovering 411 weapons, 97 vehicles used in criminal activities, 44.21 kilograms heroin and INR 1,30,00,000 money. Giving yearly updates on drugs, the IGP said that from January 1 to December 25, 2022, Punjab Police have arrested 16798 drug smugglers/suppliers, including 2316 big fish after registering 12171 first information reports (FIRs), including 1374 commercials.
India 27-Dec-2022
Punjab Police on December 27 neutralised a sub-module of Canada-based terrorist Lakhbir Landa and arrested three operatives, identified as Kulbir Singh, Hira Singh, and Davinder Singh from Billianwala bridge in Tarn Taran District in Punjab. The Police have also recovered a loaded Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) and a rocket launcher buried along the banks of River Beas at Kiriyan village in Tarn Taran District in Punjab. According to Police, terrorist Lakhbir Landa is the main conspirator of RPG attacks at the Sarhali police station on December 10, 2022 and claimed the neutralised sub-module was being handled by militant Yadwinder Singh operating from Manila in Philippines on Landa’s instructions.
India 28-Dec-2022
According to data compiled by the Border Security Force (BSF), there have been 254 drone activities in Punjab from January 1 to December 28, 2022 as compared to 67 in 2021. This includes 221 activities detected inside Indian territory and 22 inside Pakistan. The activity in Punjab accounts for about 84 per cent of the total drone activities reported along the entire western border in 2022. In 226 out of the 254 incidents in 2022, the spotted drones were fired upon by BSF personnel. The data also shows that nine drones were shot down by the BSF and another 12 may have landed or fallen due to other reasons. Another four drones were recovered by the Punjab Police in 2022. Across the western front running through the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), the number of drone activities has witnessed a three-fold increase, from 100 in 2021 to 304 in 2022.
India 28-Dec-2022
The Punjab Police on December 28 arrested two people, identified as Jashnpreet Singh and Sarwan Singh alias Sabba, from Gurdaspur District in Punjab and recovered 10 kilograms Heroin along with two pistols, four magazines and 180 live cartridges. “The arrested persons were in contact with Pakistan based operative who pushed the consignment through the fences into India”, the Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab Gaurav Yadav stated.
India 29-Dec-2022
The separatist organisation Lashkar-e-Khalsa Khalistan on December 29 threatened to kill Abhilakshya Khanna, son of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Jalandhar District Vice-President Vivek Khanna and Councilor Shaili Khanna, through its spokesperson, identified as Sandeep Singh Khalistani. Through a Whatsapp call, the Khalistani supporter demanded that Khanna leave the BJP, join the Congress, and only cast his vote for the Congress party, failing to which he and his family will be killed. The Indian Army and ministers have also been targeted, as per the Whatsapp message delivered by the Khalistani.
India 30-Dec-2022
The Intelligence Agencies issued an alert about a terrorist attack in Punjab on New Year's Eve. According to reports, several terrorist organisations can execute attacks with the aim of spreading terror across Punjab at the behest of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), reports Daily Guardian on December 31. Aside from court complexes, there is information that the Deputy Commissioner (DC) office, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) office, Police stations, and government offices might be targeted. Following the input, security has been tightened in key locations around Punjab.
India 31-Dec-2022
According to reports, Intelligence agencies have received information that pro-Khalistan elements are planning to detonate IEDs in court premises in Delhi, Ludhiana and Jalandhar. Sharing this input with the local police, the security system has been asked to be strengthened. Intelligence also warned that the possibility of a similar attack on any other court complex in Punjab (except Ludhiana and Jalandhar) cannot be ruled out. Sources said that the alert was issued based on some chats related to Germany-based Khalistan terrorist Jaswinder Singh Multani. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has offered a reward of Rs 10 lakh to Multani.
Canada 31-Dec-2022
The Canadian law enforcement on December 30 issued a danger to public safety alert over the alleged involvement of two Indo-Canadians in gang activity and the violence associated with it. Both individuals, identified by the Surrey unit of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) as Karnvir Garcha (24) and Harkirat Jhutty (22) are residents of the town of Surrey in the province of British Columbia (BC). A statement from Surrey RCMP said the warning was being issued due to “a significant threat to the public posed by these individuals through their connection to criminal activity and high levels of violence, police believe that anyone connected to or in proximity to them may be putting themselves at risk”. The police warning comes during the culmination of a year that has witnessed a surge in violent gang activity, particularly in British Columbia, with several incidents involving Indo-Canadians.
India 31-Dec-2022
According to report, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) registered as many as 73 terrorism-related cases in 2022, including 11 in Jammu and Kashmir, and seven related to the outlawed Popular Front of India (PFI). This is about a 20% increase compared to 2021 when the federal anti-terror investigative agency registered 61 cases. Officials said that this is also the highest number of cases registered by the NIA since its inception in 2009 following the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack of 2008. As many as 59 charge sheets were filed in 2022 against 368 people. For 2022, 456 accused persons, including 19 absconders, were arrested. Deportation of gangsters and pro-Khalistani suspects from Malaysia and Austria were also part of this.
India 31-Dec-2022
According to latest report, the year 2022 witnessed over two hundred drone intrusions from Pakistan in the Indian Punjab even as the Border Security Force (BSF) is yet to install an effective anti-drone technology all along the 553 international borders with Pakistan in Punjab and is currently dependent on troops' alertness in detecting the "bee like" buzzing over Indian skies in the border towns of Punjab which has become a new terror symbol. BSF Inspector General (IG), Punjab Frontier, Asif Jalal informed that during 2022 BSF had downed 22 Pak drones. “This is due to maintaining extremely high level of alertness and vigil by our troops that we have successfully detected and captured 22 drones," said the IG. He further informed that BSF had also seized around 317 kg of heroin besides 67 different types of weapons and 850 rounds. The border guarding force had also killed 2 Pakistani intruders and apprehended 23 Pakistani nationals in different incidents. "Displaying a humanitarian approach BSF has also handed over 9 Pakistani nationals back to Pak Rangers, these Pak nationals had inadvertently crossed the international border to India", he said.
India 31-Dec-2022
According to sources, while the drone incursions penetrating into the Indian airspace from across the border multiplied three times in Ferozepur sector this year (2022), the amount of heroin seized reduced to almost half as compared to last year (2021). Sources said, 63 drone intrusions were reported this year (2022) along the Indo-Pakistan border in this sector, while 77.78 kg heroin was recovered by the BSF troops. In 2021, only 13 such incidents of drone incursions were reported in this sector; besides 214.955 kg heroin was recovered. This quantity of heroin does not include the contraband seized by other law enforcing agencies operating along the border, including CIA, Narcotics Control Bureau, Punjab Police, Counter Intelligence and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, SSOC and newly formed STG, besides others. Besides heroin, the BSF troops in this sector also recovered 40 firearms (all types), 290 live cartridges, 60 magazines in 2022. “Our forces have thwarted several attempts by anti-national elements to push consignments of contraband and arms inside our border, but we are determined to preserve the sanctity of the borders at all times,” said BSF official, admitting that Pakistani smugglers have been desperate to push drugs into the Indian territory, taking advantage of the standing crops and dense fog during the winter season.
India 31-Dec-2022
Police on December 31 arrested four more persons, identified as Kuldeep Singh Laddoo, Ashokdeep Singh Arash, Gursewak Singh Sewak Khalli and Harman Singh, in connection with the RPG attack on the Sarhali police station along with illegal weapons. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gurmeet Singh Chauhan said Harman Singh provided shelter to the main accused at his tube well room, while the other three dealt with the money sent by the mastermind of the attack. Two pistols were seized from Kuldeep Singh and Ashokdeep Singh, while parts of an air gun used in the manufacture of illegal revolvers were seized from Gursewak Singh. With the arrest of the four, the count of those involved in the attack has gone up to 14. Seven juveniles, who had a minor role in the attack, had been let off by the police on humanitarian grounds. Canada-based gangster Lakhbir Singh, alias Landa Harike, is the mastermind of the attack.