KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
In an unusual development, calls for the creation of Khalistan have surfaced in the heart of Karachi, with slogans proclaiming, "Pakistan banega Khalistan, Karachi banega Khalistan, Mulla banega Khalsa." This unexpected occurrence reflects the persistence of the Khalistan movement's ideals even beyond India's borders.
Pakistan has been accused of fomenting separatist sentiments in Punjab, particularly by supporting the Khalistan movement and aiding Khalistani terrorists. This situation has reached a point where pro-Khalistan slogans have started to appear in the region. The video showcasing these slogans has gained significant traction on social media, amplifying concerns about the influence of such ideologies.
Earlier in August, Delhi witnessed a disturbing incident where the walls of several metro stations were marred by pro-Khalistani graffiti in the lead-up to the G20 summit. Delhi Police issued a statement noting that these slogans, which included sentiments like 'Khalistan is a part of India' and expressions against PM Modi, appeared on the walls of various metro stations.
Photographs released by Delhi Police vividly showcased the pro-Khalistani slogans that defaced the metro stations. The slogans read, "Delhi Banega Khalistan" and "Khalistan Zindabad." Additionally, "Sikhs For Justice (SFJ)" published unedited footage highlighting the defacement of Delhi Metro stations with pro-Khalistan slogans, further emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
Canada granted citizenship to a man who admitted to providing food and shelter to Khalistani terrorists during the Punjab militancy, a period of heightened tensions between Hindus and Sikhs in Punjab that lasted from 1982 to 1992. The man, identified only as Kamaljeet Ram, reportedly admitted to providing food and shelter to terrorists on his farm in Punjab during the militancy period. He said that he did so out of fear for his own safety and the safety of his family.
The Indian Union Ministry of Home Affairs has upgraded the security of the nation's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to Z category, after a Khalistani group in Canada put up posters labelling the minister and two others, 'enemies of Canada'. As per reports, some posters also call for his assassination.
The posters feature images of Jaishankar, along with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Indian high commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma.
These posters were put up by a Khalistani group called Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) on Tuesday, reports Hindustan Times.
Indian EAM Jaishankar will now be guarded by the VIP security wing of the Central Reserve Security Force (CRPF), which guards around 176 people in the country. His protection detail will consist of 22 personnel, including 4-6 NSG commandos and police personnel.
The report further cites a Delhi Police officer, who, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that police had also received inputs of threats to Jaishankar from separatist groups.
As per the report, the posters also announce that a 'referendum' over the carving out of a separate state of "Khalistan" out of India will be held outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Surrey, British Columbia.
The Gurudwara is where Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed by unidentified men on June 18th.
This comes as Khalistani extremist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in a video threatened India of a Hamas-like attack.
Pannun, a designated terrorist under India's Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), can be heard saying: "People under illegal occupation from Punjab to Palestine will react. And violence begets violence."
He further addresses the Indian PM and said: "Modi, learn from Israel-Palestine conflict... If India is going to keep occupying Punjab, there will be a reaction and, Modi and India, you will be responsible. SFJ believes in ballot. SFJ believes in vote. Liberation of Punjab is on the cards."
Calls for 'referendum'
Quoting people in the know, the Indian media publication reports that the referendum will be held in Vancouver on October 29. Before that, on October 21, a protest is slated to be launched from Surrey to the Indian consulate in Vancouver.
A sign outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara temple is seen after the killing on its grounds in June 2023 of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Surrey, British Columbia.
Reportedly, similar poster previously called for the assassination of Indian high commission to Canada Sanjay Verma and consul generals Manish and Apoorva Srivastava.
The Amritsar (Rural) police in a joint operation with the city police and the State Special Operation Cell today arrested three operatives of US-based criminal Harpreet Singh from Ajnala for planning target killings in Punjab. The police have seized two pistols, three magazines and 11 bullets from them. They were produced before the Ajnala sub-division court, which sent them to police remand.
The police officials revealed that Harpreet, who hails from Pachhia village in Ramdas area here, and his two accomplices Harbir Singh and Navroop Singh, also from the same area and currently living in the USA, were in touch with Pakistan-based Harvinder Singh, member, Babar Khalsa International outfit. Harvinder has already been designated as a terrorist by the Indian Government.
Meanwhile, DGP, Punjab Police, Gaurav Yadav has confirmed the arrest of Jaswinder Singh of Ramdas, Lovepreet Singh of Pandori village (Ramdas) and Gurpartap Singh of Jassar village (Ramdas) in a social media message.
Besides, the police have also booked their three accomplices. As per the FIR registered with Ajnala police, the group had recently received a consignment of weapons from across the Indo-Pak border and were planning to target various political and socio-religious leaders in different parts of Punjab. The informer had told the police that the armed persons were roaming in a Swift car.
Source: https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/3-of-bki-backed-terror-module-held-552443
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of the banned US-based Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) outfit, is known for making inflammatory statements and issuing threats against Indian leaders. In a chilling video that has surfaced online, he threatens Prime Minister Narendra Modi to learn from the Israel-Palestine war lest a similar "reaction" unravels in India. He further added that “we will do a Hamas-like attack on India.”
Hamas carried out a barrage of air strikes in Southern Israel on Saturday, killing over 1,000 people so far.
Pannun's video comes at a time when India is facing an increasing threat from Khalistani terrorism. In recent months, there have been several attacks on Hindu temples and Sikh leaders in Punjab. The Indian government has blamed the SFJ for these attacks.
"People under illegal occupation from Punjab to Palestine will react. And violence begets violence," Pannun said, adding that if India continues to "occupy" Punjab, there will be a "reaction" and "India and PM Modi will be responsible for it".
In the video, Pannun stirred drama and signaled potential change, claiming that "the liberation of Punjab is on the cards." Pannun further stated that SFJ believes in the power of "ballot and vote," effectively advocating for peaceful democratic processes as a means to achieve their objectives. While making a shooting gesture at the camera, Pannun said, "India, choice is yours. Ballot or bullet."
The new threat message comes amid a diplomatic stand-off between India and Canada over the alleged assassination of designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Gurdwara in Surrey in the western Canadian province of British Columbia on June 18.
The Ahmedabad police recently registered an FIR against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun over his threat to disrupt a World Cup match between India and Pakistan to be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Gujarat. The FIR was registered in Ahmedabad under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The action came from police after threatening pre-recorded messages were published on various social media handles and an attempt was made to spoil the atmosphere. "FIR registered against Pannu under 121(A),153(A)(B), 505 IPC,UAPA and IT Act 66 F," ANI quoted Ajit Rajian,Cyber Crime DCP, Ahmedabad as saying.
In the clip, Pannun can be heard saying, "Pro Khalistan Sikhs from Canada are in Delhi to avenge the assassination of Shaheed Najjar.”
The SFI leader had earlier threatened Indian diplomats in Canada, particularly Sanjay Verma, India's High Commissioner to Canada. The Khalistani terror organisation 'recommended' India to close its embassy in Ottawa and recall the envoy stationed there.
Meanwhile, on September 23, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) confiscated considerable assets in Chandigarh and Amritsar linked to Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in Punjab under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Pannun, who lives in Canada, was named as a wanted terrorist in 2020. He is facing more than 20 criminal counts in Punjab. He has threatened Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on numerous occasions.
Pannun was given non-bailable arrest warrants by the Special NIA Court on February 3, 2021, and he was declared a "Proclaimed Offender" (PO) on November 29, last year.
Following the allegations of receiving foreign funds from the banned terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Amarpreet Singh, the India chief of the UK-based non-governmental organisation Khalsa Aid, has resigned.
A letter dated October 8, claimed to have been issued by Khalsa Aid on social media, says the organisational changes in the NGO's structure were necessary.
"We constantly try to ensure that its management structure runs smoothly and we always try to be accountable to the Sangat (people). With this objective, changes have been made in our operations at the Khalsa Aid India Charitable Trust Board and Khalsa Aid India in recent days. This change was necessary to ensure the smooth running of the operations in Punjab and across India," says the letter.
Notably, in August, the anti-terror agency National Investigation Team (NIA) had raided the premises of Khalsa Aid's India headquarters in Patiala. The agency seized some documents and two mobile phones owned by Amarpreet Singh.
The NIA team had also conducted a search at Amarpreet Singh's house, located in the Patiala area, after the attack on an Indian mission in London on March 19. He was also questioned over the source of money and the details of volunteers associated with the NGO.
As per sources, Khalsa Aid came under the NIA's radar after a case was registered against the US-based terrorist organisation Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) in 2021 during the farmer agitation.
The probe agency alleged that SFJ had sent foreign funds through NGOs to “pro-Khalistan elements” for spreading “propaganda against India”.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed in Canada in July this year, was a prominent member of the SFJ.
While Amarpreet Singh was unavailable for comment, Patiala CID officials confirmed that he had resigned as Khalsa Aid's India chief.
Harman Singh Kapoor, a Sikh restaurant owner in London said for the last nine months, he has been getting threats from Khalistani elements.
Harman Singh Kapoor, a Sikh restaurant owner in London, UK, who was seen in a viral video where his cars were allegedly vandalised by Khalistani elements recently, claimed on Saturday that he has been getting threats for the last nine months.
Last month, a video posted on X by Insightuk2 which describes itself as a social movement of British Hindus and Indians, claimed that some unidentified assailants allegedly opened fire at the car of Kapoor, adding that his family has been subjected to constant threats of violence and rape by alleged Khalistan supporters.
Speaking over the issue, Kapoor, who is currently in New Delhi, told news agency ANI that the pro-Khalistan elements are defaming Sikhs, Hindus and India.
Explaining why the pro-Khalistan elements started targeting him, Kapoor said, “I have been staying in the UK for 26 years. In the last 1.5 years, the Khalistani movement has been active in the UK. I posted a video on this and it went viral. For over nine months, I have been getting threats and there have been attacks on me as well. They wanted me to remove this video and apologise to them, but I refused. Since I was staying in London, I thought I was safe, but I was wrong. They tortured me mentally, sent online threats and on February 25, 2023, they attacked me.”
Kapoor added that the people who had come to attack him were Sikhs. “They are defaming Sikhs, Hindus and India. I want this fight to end. No actions were taken by the officials, they only recorded my complaint. Police are not arresting them, the Khalistanis are roaming free. Khalistanis have support from the police. Khalistanis are their political assets there. If a countryman is attacked, the accused should be arrested but in my case, these Khalistanis were not arrested by Police,” Kapoor claimed.
Kapoor's vehicles were vandalised on the day elements from outside Scotland deliberately disrupted a planned interaction organised for the Indian high commissioner Vikram Doraiswami.
A UK-based journalist and researcher, Charlotte Littlewood, in a post shared on X, claimed that the attack on Kapoor’s family was ongoing.
“Attack on Harman Singh Kapoor family is ongoing. They are awaiting police as Khalistani extremists are thought to have shot at their vehicle in London. As feared the Canada row has emboldened extremists - we will see more of this,” her post read.
She also questioned the decision to remove the panic alarm from the car of the family amid the diplomatic fallout of Canada's claim of an Indian hand in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
"At this heightened time of threat following the India-Canada row. Where the Khalistani extremists are threatening India High commissions in the West and assassinating Indian officials in India. How was the decision made to remove their panic alarm? (sic),” her post added.
When Harman Singh Kapoor was first targeted
On May 4, Kapoor and his family had alleged that they have been receiving constant online threats after they posted a video about the Khalistan movement on social media, Khalsa Vox reported.
The alleged threats were made despite repeated assurances by the police of safety and special safeguarding measures. The family had experienced three attacks, and do not feel safe, according to Khalsa Vox, a portal on news related to Punjab politics, history, culture, and heritage.
Kapoor's restaurant was attacked by pro-Khalistan supporters, an incident that occurred just days after the Indian high commission in London was vandalised in April 2023.
He then posted a video which garnered two million views in two days, leading to abusive calls, social media trolling, and threats against him and his family.
Kapoor said following the video, he received death threats and his restaurant was attacked. The attackers demanded that he remove the video, raise pro-Khalistan slogans and burn the Indian flag, or face death.
Kapoor said his wife and his daughter allegedly received several rape threats.
An independent report commissioned by former UK PM Boris Johnson had expressed concerns over the rising influence of pro-Khalistan extremists within the British Sikh community, Khalsa Vox reported.
The radical Sikh activity against India and in support of so-called Khalistan continues unabated in British Columbia in Canada with posters calling for the assassinations of Indian diplomats posted in the country back at the Surrey Gurudwara two days after they were pulled down. The Guru Nanak Sikh Gurudwara at Surrey was under the management of Khalistan Tiger Force terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar before he was gunned down on June 18, 2023.
Posters calling for the assassinations of Indian diplomats were put back at Surrey Gurudwara two days after they were pulled down.
Proscribed terrorist G S Pannu has written a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau demanding the expulsion of Indian Ambassador Sanjay Kumar Verma even as a full-fledged campaign is being run by radicals in B C stating that Canadian Intelligence has asked Sikhs to remain safe as Indian agents are out to assassinate particular members of the community.
With the Canadian police and intelligence looking the other way, the radical Sikhs are organizing a “Kill India” car rally on October 21 to protest outside the Indian Consulate at Vancouver while targeting the Indian Consul General Manish and others for terrorist Nijjar killing. The October 21 protest is to drum up radical support in the name of Nijjar for the October 28 so called referendum done within the Sikh extremists and with support from the Pakistani deep state operating in Canada.
With the Indian diplomats and staff cornered by Sikh extremists with Trudeau government acting as a facilitator in the name of freedom of speech, Canada is playing a double game in the Nijjar episode. It is fanning a secessionist movement against India in Canada and at the same time trying hard to drive a wedge between India-US bilateral relations by citing the involvement of Indian agencies in the murder of thug turn-terrorist Nijjar. Given that Canada and US have umbilical relations with umbrella security ties, Trudeau is doing his best to defame India but also consolidating his radical Sikh vote bank with the moderate community having no voice on the issue. The fact is that Sikh extremists are running a riot in Canada and the moderates are hopelessly polarized with no support to confront the radicals.
The Canada and US-based propaganda media is also adding fuel to fire by calling Nijjar, a designated terrorist with no less than 10 FIRs and Red Corner Notice issued by Interpol, a religious priest instead what he actually was—a Jallandhar thug turned terrorist who captured the management of Surrey Gurudwara with the help of Moninder Boyle and G S Pannu. Luring Sikh youth from Punjab in the name of Canadian visa, the Sikh radicals have managed to radicalize a large number through social media platforms and have raised huge funds within Canada, UK, US and Germany in the name of discrimination against Sikhs in India.
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One person has been arrested in Canada for his involvement in the August 12 desecration of temples in the country. This is the first arrest made by the Canadian police in connection with the August 12 incident. Pro-Khalistan graffiti was spraypainted on the walls of temples and anti-India posters were plastered on them.
According to a Hindustan Times report, a spokesperson for the Surrey detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said an “individual” was arrested in connection to incidents on August 12 and August 14.
The police, however, did not identify the person taken into custody.
On August 12, Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey was desecrated with posters featuring photographs of India’s High Commissioner to Ottawa as well as its Consul Generals in Toronto and Vancouver with the word ‘Wanted’ written under them. The posters were pasted on the front gate of the temple.
Another poster stuck to the rear gate of the temple, called for Canada to investigate India’s “role” in the “assassination” of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Another temple was targeted on August 14 with a series of posters referring to the June 18 killing of Nijjar.
Tensions between New and Ottawa escalated after Canadian PM Justin Trudeau claimed India’s involvement in the Khalistani terrorist’s murder.
India termed the allegations as “absurd” and “motivated” and expelled a Canadian diplomat from the country in a retaliatory move. New Delhi further suspended its visa service in Canada and asked Canada to withdraw 41 of its diplomats posted in the country.
Paramjeet Singh Pamma, a Birmingham-based Sikh separatist wanted by the NIA for promoting secessionism and radicalising the youth of Punjab, amongst other serious offences, was leading the pro-Khalistan anti-India chanting with a mic at the front of Monday's protest outside the Indian high commission in London, it has emerged.
The Indian flag was defiled in various ways at the protest by different protesters and slogans were raised against PM Modi and PM Rishi Sunak.
Pamma is one of 16 foreign people accused — in a case before the NIA Special Court in New Delhi in December 2020 — of launching a concerted secessionist campaign under the banner of “Referendum 2020” for the creation of Khalistan. The same year he was designated a terrorist, under the UAPA, for being a key leader of the proscribed terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International.
He is also linked with the Khalistan Tiger Force.
Apart from being a leader of Sikhs for Justice, which is outlawed in India for being anti-national and for subversive activities, he is also accused of radicalising the youth of Punjab to commit acts of violence.
The Punjab police have registered criminal cases against him. The Indian government tried to extradite him in 2015 to face charges for involvement in the 2009 murder of Rashtriya Sikh Sangit leader Rulda Singh and the 2010 Patiala and Ambala twin bomb blasts but the extradition was rejected by Portugal and he was freed.
Pamma (49) was born in Bhakku Majra, Chamkaur Sahib, Rupnagar, Punjab.
He left India in the mid-1990s, when he is believed to have travelled to Pakistan, before being granted political asylum in Britain in 2000.
A metropolitan police spokesperson told TOI that one man was arrested at Monday’s protest on suspicion of violent disorder relating to a protest at the same venue on a different date.