KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
Days ahead of the Cricket World Cup fixture, pro-Khalistan slogans were found written on the outer wall of a government office in Dharamshala. The graffiti was painted on the boundary wall of Jal Shakti Department late on Tuesday.
Police rushed to the spot and erased the graffiti after being alerted by some passersby.
Police said that banned pro-Khalistan group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) has claimed responsibility for the act.
SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannu had recently threatened to disrupt the ICC Cricket World Cup tournament.
Director general of police Sanjay Kundu in a press statement said that a case under Section 3 of Himachal Pradesh Open Place (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act-1985 and Section 3 of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act 1984 has been registered in the matter at Police Station Dharamshala.
Kundu said that in view of the incident, five additional patrolling teams and local intelligence units have been activated in Dharamshala and Mcleodganj areas.
Kundu said that two suspects have been identified after checking the CCTV footages. It is observed that the suspects clicked photographs of the graffiti after writing it. Thus, cell phone analysis is also being conducted, he said.
The DGP said that a video was being circulated on social media wherein a voice message reportedly of SFJ leader Pannu claims to target the final match of the ongoing One Day International World Cup-2023.
Kundu said that a joint intelligence sharing meeting was also conducted at Dharamshala on Tuesday with officers from military intelligence, IB and CID units sharing intelligence for coordination during the upcoming World Cup matches.
Intensified vigil and surveillance shall be maintained throughout the district. All possible efforts are being made to nab the culprits in the matter and investigate the case, he added.
Earlier in May 2022, some people had tied Khalistan flags on the main gate of Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha’s Dharamshala complex and scrawled separatist slogans on its boundary wall. The Dharamshala police had arrested two men from Morinda of Rupnagar district, Punjab for painting the graffiti.
A group of pro-Khalistan protesters on Monday gathered outside the High Commission of India here, waving anti-India placards and chanting slogans amid strong Scotland Yard presence.
The protest, which was promoted by British Sikh groups on social media, was organised to draw attention to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations last month of alleged Indian involvement in the killing of wanted terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
The allegation has been strongly rejected by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) as "absurd and motivated".
"Sikhs will raise domestic issues including the suspicious death of activist Bhai Avtar Singh Khanda,” reads the call for Monday's protest.
There were several uniformed Metropolitan Police officers on guard and patrolling on foot outside India House, which was cordoned off to restrict the small group of turbaned men and some women opposite the building outside Waldorf Hotel at Aldwych in central London.
Several police vehicles also patrolled the area throughout the roughly two-hour-long demonstration during which the protesters made speeches in Punjabi and raised pro-Khalistan slogans.
Earlier on Monday, the Sikh Federation (UK) organised a press conference in London to announce a formal request being submitted to the Chief Coroner for England and Wales to open an inquest into the death of Avtar Singh Khanda, a pro-Khalistan UK-based Sikh activist who died in Birmingham in June.
"Given the timing of Khanda's death, and the fact that death threats had been made by those with connections to Indian politics before his death, his case is at the very least suspicious,” said Michael Polak, the family's barrister.
Following speculation around the 45-year-old's passing earlier this year, the local West Midlands Police had stated that there were “no suspicious circumstances” surrounding the death. The official cause of death post-mortem was stated as acute leukaemia or blood cancer.
A Sikh restaurant owner, who earlier received threats from Khalistani elements for being vocal against them, has now claimed that his car was shot at and vandalised by the extremists in West London.
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 Harman Singh Kapoor, adding that his family has been subjected to constant threats of violence and rape by alleged Khalistan supporters
However, there has been no formal statement from the UK police on these claims.
Notably, the claims came to the fore on the very day elements from outside Scotland deliberately disrupted a planned interaction organised for the Indian High Commissioner, Vikram Doraiswami.
“They were threatened and abused by these elements. In an effort to prevent any potential altercation, the HC and CG decided to leave the premises shortly upon their arrival,” India’s High Commission to UK said in a statement.
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.
Earlier in the day, she also questioned the decision of removing the panic alarm from the car of family amid the diplomatic fallout of Canada's claim of an Indian hand in the killing of Sikh separatist leader 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.
Meanwhile, INSIGHT UK, also alleged that Khalistani extremists were threatening Sikhs in the UK.
It also alleged that no arrests were made despite several months of alleged torture of Harman Kapoor’s family.
“The Police have made no arrests in what has been months of torture for this family. When will action be taken against these Khalistani extremists who pose a serious law and order threat @metpoliceuk,” INSIGHT UK posted on X, adding, “Why is the UK government not taking stringent action against an extremist ideology with a history of terrorism.”
Earlier, on May 4, Kapoor and his family 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.
Harman'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.
Harman 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.
Harman 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.
Harman said his wife and his daughter even received several rape threats. "Our address was put online with calls to rape and kill them. Videos of miscreants licking the pictures of my wife and daughter were posted as well," he added, according to Bitter Winter, a magazine on religious liberty and human rights.
An independent report commissioned by former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson had expressed concerns over the rising influence of pro-Khalistan extremists within the British Sikh community, Khalsa Vox reported.
The Bloom Review, an independent report commissioned by former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, meanwhile, called on the Rishi Sunak government to address the issue urgently and safeguard most of the Sikhs in the UK who do not support their extremist ideology.
The report stressed time-bound action on the issue. The report noted that the Sikh communities in the UK face coercion and intimidation by fringe Khalistani elements, Khalsa Vox reported. These pro-Khalistan groups artificially inflate their influence and attract disproportionate attention by lobbying political bodies under the guise of human rights activism.
According to the news report, the actions of pro-Khalistan groups create a false image of legitimacy which is not in accordance with the beliefs of the Sikh faith.
It is important to understand that Khalistani separatists do not represent the views of most of British Sikh communities, as per the Khalsa Vox report.
The Indian envoy's Gurdwara visit was reportedly disrupted to demand the release of Jagtar Johal. The Khalistani radicals allegedly heckled high commissioner Vikram Doraiswami for India's action against Johal. The radicals claim that Jagtar Singh Johal's arrest by Indian forces is illegal. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) also cited the same reason for heckling. This report has full information about Jagtar Singh Johal.
Days before the Cricket World Cup 2023 is set to begin in India, a high alert has been sounded across Delhi after pro-Khalistan graffiti appeared in the national capital allegedly by those associated with the banned organisation Sikhs For Justice (SFJ).
Security agencies have intensified patrolling in several places where pro-Khalistan activists may conduct such activities. Security agencies in Delhi are also verifying the authenticity of a video allegedly issued by Sikh For Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun claiming defacement of walls across the national capital.
Besides, several people in India have received a call from a UK phone number with a pre-recorded audio message allegedly by Pannun. In the newly issued threat message, Pannun purportedly says, “On Shaheed Nijjar’s assassination, we are going to use ballot against your bullet. We are going to use the vote against your violence. This October, it will not be the World Cricket Cup. It will be the beginning of the World Terror Cup. The message is from Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the SFJ general counsel.”
On the video regarding the pro-Khalistan graffiti, a senior security official said: "Yes, we are ascertaining the authenticity of such video. During the G20 summit as well, a similar video was released. In that case, two youths were arrested". In August, pro-Khalistani messages and slogans were found on the walls of five to six Delhi metro stations.
In the latest video that was circulated on social media, Pannun was referring to some walls and subways, where anti-India and pro-Khalistan slogans have been inscribed. In the video, Pannun claimed that pro-Khalistan elements from Canada had already reached Delhi and their mission was to "create sabotage" in Delhi.
"On many occasions, we found their video as fake. However, we are not keeping any stone unturned and accordingly tightened the security arrangements in the national capital," the official said. The ICC world cup matches in Delhi and Ahmadabad are also the target of Khalistani supporters, Pannun claimed.
The surface of the new video came amid a diplomatic standoff between India and Canada over the killing of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. "We have taken all security arrangements to maintain law and order. We have tightened the security in and around Arun Jaitely Stadium," the official said.
The Arun Jaitely Stadium was earlier known as Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium. A few matches of the ICC 2023 World Cup will be held in Arun Jaitely Stadium. To assist the Delhi police, the Home Ministry has deputed BSF, CRPF, RAF, and ITBP to maintain the law and order situation.
Of late, India's security agencies especially the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have launched a massive operation against Khalistani terrorists and supporters across India and abroad. On many raids, assets and properties of Pakistani terrorists and supports have been seized by the security agencies.
Darshan Singh Dhaliwal, the recipient of this year’s Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, the highest honour for overseas Indians, expressed his belief that India was justified in dismissing the allegations made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the Canadian parliament without any substantiated evidence.
“It is very hard to believe that the Prime Minister of a country would level such allegations in parliament without any evidence. No solid proof has emerged so far,” Dhaliwal told The Indian Express over the phone when asked for his views on the diplomatic dispute between India and Canada and its potential impact on the Sikh and Punjabi diaspora and those living in Punjab.
The diplomatic rift began after Trudeau linked the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada to “agents of India.” Dhaliwal added, “Just making allegations without evidence doesn’t benefit anyone.”
Regarding the likely impact and the suspension of visa services for Canadian nationals by India, Dhaliwal remarked, “I am in America, and I feel concerned for people on both sides. People are quite worried about it, that’s all I can say.”
He further noted, “Festivals and the marriage season are underway. Those who require visas [to travel to Punjab] will be affected by this suspension of visa services. This is a matter of concern and is not a positive development.”
Before receiving the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award in January this year, Milwaukee-based Dhaliwal made headlines when he was sent back to the US from Delhi’s airport on the night of October 23-24, 2021, allegedly due to his involvement in the farmers’ agitation at the national capital’s borders.
Meanwhile, Amritsar-based businessman Gunbir Singh commented, “The suspension of visa services is affecting those from Punjab who have obtained Canadian citizenship, and there is indeed a significant number of such individuals. The majority of them have no connection to Khalistan, an issue that is repeatedly raised.”
Sikh scholar Gurpreet Singh emphasized, “It is unfair to paint all Sikhs with the same brush, as the Khalistan issue is being brought up without cause. Who is demanding Khalistan here in Punjab? Undoubtedly, there is a sense of injustice among Sikhs who went abroad in the 1980s. They still hold that grievance since there has been no justice or resolution for what occurred at that time.”
The diplomatic tensions between India and Canada escalated recently over the murder of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot dead in Canada’s Surrey in June this year. The matter intensified on September 19 after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused agents of the Indian government of having a “potential link” in the assassination of the Khalistani separatist.
As the stand-off between the two nations rages on with Canada adamant on its stand and the Indian authorities asking for evidence of the claims made by Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, the focus has now shifted to the 2018 sting operation conducted by Republic TV unmasking the ‘Break-India’ plot of the Khalistani front.
‘We do want India to break up, Naxals to be free’
In an exclusive sting operation conducted by Republic TV‘s Senior News Editor Shawan Sen in London, Shamsher Singh the founding member of the National Sikh Youth Federation, a pro-Khalistan front organisation based in the UK revealed how Pakistan is fomenting the secessionist Khalistan demand.
Shamsher Singh, is on tape, saying ‘Pakistan is our ally. And Pakistan has not committed any genocide against Sikhs.’ He goes on to assert that “Pakistan recognises Khalistan as a legitimate nation.” On being asked “So, it's a natural ally you would say?” by Republic TV‘s Senior News Editor Shawan Sen, the only response of Shamsher Singh is “Yeah, 100%.”
Openly acknowledging the use of armed movement against India, Singh said, "Armed struggle is the only way. Investing in armed struggle and destabilising India, how they have been operating for the last 30 years, assassinating Indian government officials, attacking military bases, attacking police officials and you know - soldiers. And Khalistanis have a hitlist somewhere of all these people running around like Saini and Alam and all these black cats and all the police officers that escaped so many commissions. We have killed 2,700 police officers of various ranks. We have killed the PM, CM, and Generals of the Army. These are all targeted killings."
Shamsher Singh also revealed Khalistan links to killings of RSS members. He almost boasted about the RSS killings and said, “Leaders of Punjab RSS, they are being shot on the street by motorcycle-borne assailants. This is a reality,” he further added, “Yes, Khalistan Liberation Force has admitted that they have killed.”
An interesting narrative forms when Shamsher Singh’s narrative is strung alongside the claims made by Gurcharan Singh, the member of once banned Dal Khalsa who expressed panic over the possibility of the victory of PM Narendra Modi-led-BJP government in the upcoming general elections. “You see, if Modi wins next year, we are worried because the RSS will go crazy throughout India. That's one of the concerns we've got. We wouldn't like that. We won't like that,” he said. On being asked how they plan to stop the ruling regime from coming to power again, the Dal Khalsa member says, “We can't stop them and that is the problem.”
Delhi Police registered a case under appropriate sections of the Indian Penal Code in the incident where pro-Khalistani graffiti was written on walls under the Kashmiri Gate flyover on September 27, according to ANI reports.
However, the pro-Khalistani graffiti has now been removed from the area.
This came amid ongoing tensions between India and Canada over the killing of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar that took place in Canada on June 18 this year.
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently announced that intelligence agencies were investigating “credible" allegations linking Indian agents to the death of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
These allegations have heightened the problems between the two nations, leading to reciprocal expulsions of diplomats and India's temporary suspension of visas for Canadians.
India's response has been dismissive, labelling Trudeau's claims as "absurd" and issuing a travel advisory that warned its citizens about rising "anti-India activities" in Canada.
Earlier in August, Delhi Police also detained two persons in connection with writing pro-Khalistan messages on the walls of at least five Delhi Metro stations ahead of the G20 Summit. The cops informed that the two persons were detained from Punjab by the Delhi Police's Special Cell.
Pro-Khalistan messages including "Delhi Banega Khalistan" and “Khalistan Zindabad" were found on the walls of Shivaji Park, Madipur, Paschim Vihar, Udyog Nagar, and Maharaja Surajmal Stadium metro stadiums on August 27. A wall of a government school in Nangloi was also found defaced.
A purported video was also released by the banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) which showed the defaced walls of the metro stations.
“G20 nations, when you will be meeting in Delhi on September 10, we will be organizing a Khalistan referendum in Canada," Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, spokesperson for the SFJ, had said in the video.
Prior to this incident, "anti-national" and "Khalistan-related" graffiti also appeared on walls in some areas of west Delhi, including Vikaspuri, Janakpuri, Paschim Vihar, and Peeragarhi on January 19, ahead of Republic Day.
As tensions continue to deepen between India and Canada over the June 18 killing of pro-Khalistan Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, crucial details have started coming out about his murder. Things took a sharp turn when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that India has "potential links" with the murder. Now, a report in the Washington Post, which quotes several witnesses to the incident and the security camera footage of the gurdwara, says that 50 bullets were shot at Nijjat and 34 hit him.
According to the report, members of the local Sikh community said that authorities have told them little about their investigation. They added that police were slow in their response and disagreement between agencies caused further delays. The Post mentioned that several business owners and residents near the gurdwara say they have not been quizzed or asked for security video by any agency so far.
Nijjar's Killing Captured In 90-Second Video
The security camera of the gurdwara recorded a 90-second footage covering the entire incident, the Post reported. It said that the video has already been shared with the investigators. According to the report, the footage begins with Nijjar’s gray pickup truck pulling out of a parking space. Later, a white sedan appears in an adjacent lot. It pulls up and drives parallel to the truck.
The footage shows the sedan matching up with the pace as soon as Nijjar's truck speeds up. Then the truck merges into the sedan’s lane and for a moment they’re side-by-side. As per the Washington Post, before the truck could reach the parking lot, the sedan pulls in front and brakes to block the truck.
Two men wearing hooded sweatshirts come out from under a covered waiting area and move toward the truck. They point a firearm at the driver’s seat. Soon, the sedan exits the parking lot. Then the two men run in the same direction after shooting Nijjar.
Recalling the scary moment, Bhupinderjit Singh, a volunteer at the gurdwara, said that he was playing soccer near the site when he heard what he first believed were fireworks. "My second thought was gunshots — and our president," he was quoted as saying by the Post.
He ran and opened the driver’s side door, he said and grabbed Nijjar’s shoulders. The gurdwara leader did not seem to be breathing, as per the report. It added that community members said investigators have told them that the assailants fired about 50 bullets and thirty-four hit Nijjar.
Chasing The Five Men
Soon after the shooting, Malkit Singh, a Gurdwara committee member who was also playing soccer, spotted two hooded men running toward neighboring Cougar Creek Park. He chased them through the park. He said he did not recognise them but said they were wearing "a Sikh get-up," with hoodies pulled over small pughs on their heads and masks over their "bearded faces".
Singh said the men ran out of the park to a cul-de-sac, and got into a waiting silver car. Surprisingly, he said, three other men were waiting inside the silver car. He couldn’t see their faces.
"One of the [running] men pointed his pistol at me right before getting into the car. The smell of gunpowder in the air shocked me and reminded me how dangerous they were," he said adding that the five men then drove off.
Delay In Police ASction, Alleged Community Members
Charanjeet Singh, the gurdwara’s caretaker, saw the assailant but didn't recognise them. He stayed with Nijjar’s body as the news of the killing engulfed social media.
According to the Washington Post, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s (RCMP) Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said police received the first report of the shooting at 8:27 p.m. Witnesses told The Post that it took between 12 and 20 minutes for the police to arrive. They described the interval as shocking, saying that a large number of police regularly patrol the neighborhood.
According to the Post, Bhupinderjit Singh said, "There was an hours-long tussle between Surrey police and the RCMP. They couldn’t decide who would head the investigation, so there was a delay."
Community members said they were most concerned that authorities did not offer Nijjar more protection, adding that they’ve been given little information since.
Khalistan supporters in Canada organized minor demonstrations outside India's diplomatic mission on Monday. This followed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's recent statement suggesting a potential connection between New Delhi and the assassination of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.
One week ago, Trudeau said in parliament that domestic intelligence agencies were actively pursuing credible claims linking agents from India to the shooting of Nijjar, aged 45, which occurred in June.
In Toronto, approximately 100 protestors symbolically burned an Indian flag and expressed their discontent by striking a cardboard cut-out representing Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a shoe. Meanwhile, around 200 demonstrators assembled outside the Vancouver consulate.
In Ottawa, fewer than 100 individuals gathered in front of the Indian High Commissioner's office, displaying yellow flags bearing the word "Khalistan," signifying their support for the idea of establishing an independent Punjab region—a cause that Nijjar had championed.
One protester in Ottawa, Reshma Sing Bolinas, expressed gratitude towards Justin Trudeau, urging Canada to leave no stone unturned in uncovering the truth behind this heinous act and putting pressure on India to prevent the killing of innocent people in the future, reported Reuters.
Canada is home to approximately 7,70,000 Sikhs, representing the largest Sikh population outside of Punjab. In recent years, there have been numerous protests that have strained relations with India.
India had dismissed Trudeau's accusations as "absurd" and issued a travel warning last week due to increasing "anti-India activities" in Canada, advising travellers to exercise "utmost caution" without providing specific evidence or details of incidents.
Canada's accusations have triggered a diplomatic tit-for-tat, resulting in both nations expelling diplomats and New Delhi suspending visas for Canadians.
Some protesters in Toronto and Ottawa called for the expulsion of the Indian High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, who had earlier stated that authorities were aware of the protests and providing security.
Nijjar, a plumber who emigrated from Punjab a quarter-century ago and became a Canadian citizen, had been an advocate for Khalistan.
In July 2020, India designated him a "terrorist."