KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
The designated terror group Sikh For Justice (SFJ), on Friday (July 21), announced to 'besiege' Indian missions in several countries worldwide on Independence Day (August 15). The threat was issued in retaliation to recent killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an active member of the Khalistani movement in Canada and wanted by the Indian government, in Canada's Surrey on June 19, sources claimed.
While declaring Nijjar's 'assassination' as 'India's terrorism on Canadian Soil', SFJ General Counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun asserted that “Indian Missions are the terror houses where acts of violence against pro Khalistan Sikhs are hatched and executed through proxies”. He added that from Kanishka Bombing to Nijjar’s assassination, Indian diplomats have been complicit in the acts of sabotage and violence against Sikhs to derail the Khalisan movement.
The designated terror group has issued threat to 'besiege' the Indian Missions in Canada, USA, UK, Portugal, Italy, Germany and Australia. It also designated Indian Mission chiefs Sanjay Verma, Taranjit Sandhu, Vikram Doraiswami and Manpreet Vohra as 'Chief Architects' of sponsoring and inciting violence against pro Khalistan Sikhs.
Nijjar shot dead in Canada
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Khalistani terrorist and wanted by the Indian government, was shot dead in a targeted shooting in Canada's Surrey on June 19. He was gunned down by two armed men in Punjabi-dominated Surrey city of British Columbia province.
He was associated with the separatist organisation, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), which was banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for anti-India activities by the Government of India in 2019. Taking cognisance of his several terrorist activities in Punjab, the Indian government had earlier asked Canadian officials to take action against him.
Waris Punjab De chief and National Security Act (NSA) detainee Amritpal Singh’s wife Kirandeep Kaur on Wednesday said she was allegedly stopped from boarding a UK-bound flight at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi by the authorities without any reason. She said she had been stopped for the third time and termed it as a “violation” of human rights.
A UK citizen, Kirandeep, said, “I have been stopped for the third time from going to England and the law requires me to return within 180 days. Being a British citizen, certain rules are different for me. I booked a flight for July 14 after confirming that I will not face any issues.”
“On July 14, until morning, I was told that everything is clear and I could leave, but later I was stopped from leaving. The authorities told me to wait until July 18 and I booked a flight again for the July 19 but was again stopped,” she said.
She said, “No official has spoken to me directly and they are contacting those in contact with me to convey such messages. They don’t want me to attend Sikh activist Avtar Singh Khanda’s funeral, the details of which are not in my knowledge. They fear that I will give a speech there and create a movement.”
“It is the government and agencies stopping me from leaving. I am trying to make a trip back required by law, which would be only for a week or two. I do not intend to stay there for a long period,” she said.
“Officials say there is a look out circular issued against me but I am not being provided any such document supporting the claim.”
As the decisive war against drugs waged to root out the menace of drugs completing a year, Punjab Police have arrested as many as 16,360 drug smugglers including 2,351 big fish since July 5, 2022. The police have registered a total of 12,218 first information reports (FIRs) of which 1,458 are related to commercial quantity.
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Headquarters Sukhchain Singh Gill said the police teams have recovered 1073.44-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 1220.94 kg in just one year, he said.
Apart from seizing big-haul of heroin, the IGP said that police have also recovered 797.14-kg opium, 902.13-kg ganja, 375.47 quintals of poppy husk, and 65.49 lakhs tablets/ capsules/ injections/ vials of pharma opioids from across the state. The police have also recovered Rs 12.33 crore of drug money from the possession of drug smugglers arrested in the span of the last one year.
Gill said that Punjab Police have also forfeited properties of 66 big smugglers worth Rs 26.72 crore during the last year. Barnala district remains on top where 13 properties worth Rs 2.34 crore were forfeited, followed by 9 properties worth Rs 1.72 crore forfeited by Fazilka district and 6 properties worth Rs 1.13 by Malerkotla district, he said.
Apart from this, IGP Sukhchain Singh Gill said that the law and order situation in the state has also witnessed a significant improvement. The official data from July 5, 2022, to July 16, 2023, reveals that the Punjab Police have busted 18 terror modules with the arrest of 143 terrorist/radicals after recovering 31 rifles, 209 revolvers/pistols, 5 tiffin improvised explosive devices (IEDs), 6.78 kg RDX and other explosives, 10 hand grenades, one sleeve of disposed rocket launcher, 51 drones, and one loaded rocket propelled grenade.
Similarly, the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), since its formation on April 6, 2022, has succeeded in busting 208 gangster/criminal modules after arresting 688 gangsters/criminals and neutralising five, after recovering 667 weapons, 157 vehicles used in criminal activities. Pertinently, immediately after coming to power, CM Bhagwant Mann-led state government formed a special Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) headed by ADGP Promod Ban to wipe out gangsters from the state.
Pertinently, Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab Gaurav Yadav had given strict instructions to all the CPs/SSPs to investigate backward and forward linkages minutely in each and every case, especially related to drug recoveries, even if they recover a meagre amount of drugs.
A 23-year-old Indian student in Australia was reportedly beaten up with iron rods by Khalistan supporters in Australia after he voiced opposition to Khalistani extremist activities.
The attack took place in Sydney's western suburb of Merrylands, where the assailants, chanting "Khalistan Zindabad," targeted the student while he was on his way to work, The Australia Today reported on Friday.
The student, who works as a driver and has requested anonymity, recounted the incident, saying, "Today at 5.30 am, when I was going to work, some 4-5 Khalistan supporters attacked me."
He further explained that the assailants suddenly appeared out of nowhere as he was getting into his vehicle. They opened the left side door and hit him with an iron rod on his cheekbone, just below his left eye.
He was then forcibly dragged out of the vehicle and beaten up with iron rods. Two of the attackers also recorded the assault on a video.
While assaulting him, the assailants continuously chanted "Khalistan Zindabad," the student described.
"Everything happened within 5 minutes, and they left saying this should be a lesson for me for opposing the Khalistan issue. If not, they are ready to give me more lessons like this," the victim said.
The incident was reported to the New South Wales (NSW) Police, who transported the injured Indian student to Westmead Hospital. The report stated that he suffered significant injuries to his head, leg, and arm.
Speaking about the incident, a police spokesperson said, "Police have been told a 23-year-old man was walking along Rupert Street before he was assaulted by four men armed with a metal pole. The 23-year-old was allegedly kicked, punched, and hit with the metal pole repeatedly before the four men left the scene in a grey sedan."
Reacting to the incident, the Member of Parliament for Merrylands said, "There is no place in our local community for extremism or violence of any kind. I have contacted the relevant authorities regarding this incident and will monitor the situation as it unfolds."
This incident follows earlier clashes between Khalistani activists and pro-India demonstrators in Melbourne during the so-called "Punjab independence referendum" in January. Concerned about the rising anti-India activities of Khalistani separatists and frequent attacks on Hindu temples, the Indian government urged the Australian authorities to take action.
In response to these developments, Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry in New Delhi, underscored the need to refrain from granting space to individuals advocating violence or legitimizing terrorism under the guise of freedom of expression. This statement came amidst an increase in anti-India activities by Khalistani groups in several countries.
Pro-Khalistani leader and designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has threatened to disrupt the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India, according to media reports.
In a video circulating on social media, Pannun purportedly threatens to avenge the death of pro-Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was recently killed by unidentified assailants in Canada. With dramatic music and cheap graphics depicting a grenade attack on the Narendra Modi stadium, Pannun calls for stopping the 2023 Cricket World Cup until “Sikhs' right of self-determination is met.”
HT couldn't independently verify the authenticity of the video.
The purported video of Pannun surfaced days after rumours about his death.
Pannun is one of the founders of the US-based separatist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and has been actively lobbying for a separate state for Sikhs, which they call Khalistan, in the US, Canada and the UK.
In July 2020, Pannun was designated a terrorist by the Union home ministry and two months later, the government ordered the attachment of his properties under Section 51A of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Pannun has been running a campaign against India and motivating Sikh youngsters in his home state Punjab to join militancy.
Originally from Punjab's Khankot, Pannun worked as an attorney, law and legal Advisor of the SFJ and ran the so-called 'Referendum 2020' campaign for a separate Sikh state. He worked closely with UK-based Khalistani terrorist Paramjit Singh Pamma and slain pro-Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was recently killed by unidentified assailants in Vancouver.
Amid protests by Khalistani supporters abroad against the recent killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, pro-Khalistani graffiti has been painted outside the office and residence of Deputy Commissioner in Barnala district of Punjab, sources said on Wednesday. The development has left the Bhagwant Singh Mann led AAP government red-faced over an apparent resurgence of the radical Sikh elements in the state.
Sources said that the graffiti hailing Khalistan was seen painted on the walls of the Deputy Commissioner's office and Deputy Commissioner's residence in Barnala. Besides, Khalistani slogans were also written on the forest department building and the public outreach banner of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, sources said.
Soon after the Khalistani slogans were spotted, the district administration painted over the graffiti. Khalistani leader and the chief of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) Gurpatwant Singh Pannu has taken responsibility for the pro-Khalistani graffiti. The SFJ chief has also released a video taking responsibility for the act. In the video, which has gone viral on social media, Pannu has threatened to foil the upcoming Cricket World Cup in India as an act of revenge for the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Nijjar, who headed the Khalistan Tiger Force and the Canada chapter of the SFJ was shot dead outside a Gurudwara in Surrey in June. Pannu has also threatened Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Pertinently, slain Khalistani leader Nijjar was recently designated as a terrorist by the Government of India. He also figured in the list of 40 designated terrorists for his subversive activities.
Two Khalistani protesters were apprehended by police as violence broke out at pro- and anti-India rallies outside the Indian Consulate in Toronto on Saturday.
Around 250 Khalistani supporters had gathered across the street from the building housing India’s consulate for a protest rally, which was backed by secessionist group Sikhs for Justice or SFJ, and had been publicised through online circulation of the infamous “Kill India” posters targeting India’s senior diplomats in Canada.
The pro-Khalistan group was countered by a pro-India rally at the spot across the street. The two sides were separated by Toronto Police personnel, even as barricades were erected to restrain the protesters and the section of Bloor Street, where the building is located, was blocked to traffic.
The pro-Khalistan group attempted to breach the barricade and storm the pro-India contingent, but were pushed back by police. As one protester rushed ahead, he was thrown to the ground and subdued, and taken away by police.
A second protester was also apprehended for allegedly assaulting a police officer on duty. The entire standoff lasted for three hours.
A spokesperson for Toronto Police, in response to an emailed query from Hindustan Times, said both the protesters were released later without charges.
At the protest, the pro-Khalistan group held posters of SFJ leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot by unidentified gunmen in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18. The posters alleged the Indian establishment’s role behind the murder.
Other posters promoted the next phase of so-called Punjab Referendum in Greater Toronto Area or GTA on July 16. Some of the protesters wore jackets bearing the legend Republic of Khalistan and an image of an AK47.
The pro-India group did not flinch despite being outnumbered. As the group was dispersed by police amid light rain, one of them, Arvind Mishra, said: “We were successfully able to demonstrate resistance to the Khalistanis. These Khalistanis continue to violate the limits of freedom of speech.”
Another pro-India demonstrator, Neel Sehgal, said: “The violent side of the Khalistanis was exposed when one of them broke through the police barricade to try and attack our gathering.”
Sehgal called upon Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his government to “act swiftly and firmly to immediately ban such violent rallies and referendums.”
Besides Toronto, protests by Khalistani supporters were also held in Ottawa and Vancouver, although on a smaller scale. Around 30 protestors gathered across the road from India’s high commission in Ottawa but the agitation was peaceful. The protest in Vancouver attracted about 50 protesters and passed without incident.
With security heightened in all three cities, Canadian authorities appeared to be “responsive” to “some of our sensitivities”, an Indian official said.
Police presence was enhanced at various locations in Canada after a set of posters, titled “Kill India”, originally targeted India’s High Commissioner to Ottawa Sanjay Kumar Verma, Consul General in Toronto Apoorva Srivastava and Consul General in Vancouver Manish. Similar posters were also released for the US, UK and Australia.
The SFJ has also threatened to “besiege” the Indian mission in Canada on August 15.
Early on Friday, a poster titled “War Zone” and targeting Indian diplomats in Canada surfaced outside Bharat Mata Mandir in Brampton. The poster was later removed by the temple authorities.
Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly had described the posters as “unacceptable”. Minister of National Defence, Anita Anand, had tweeted, “Canada will continue to ensure the safety of foreign diplomats in this country – and we take this responsibility seriously.”
Earlier, India was particularly irked by Canada’s response to activities of pro-Khalistan groups, and Canadian envoy Cameron Mackay was summoned to the external affairs ministry July 3 and served a demarche over the threat to Indian diplomats.
“Our sense is that these posters inciting violence against our diplomats and our diplomatic premises abroad are unacceptable and we condemn them in the strongest terms,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Thursday.
Nijjar was believed to be the head of the Khalistan Tiger Force by Indian law enforcement agencies and faced several terror-related charges. He was the principal SFJ figure in the Metro Vancouver region.
The National Investigation Agency had announced a reward award of ₹10 lakh for information leading to Nijjar’s capture. None of the charges against him were tested in Canadian courts and SFJ has maintained it does not resort to violence.
Even as a temple in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) was desecrated with a poster targeting Indian diplomats in Canada placed in front of it, a group of Indo-Canadians have planned a rally at India’s Consulate in Toronto to counter that by pro-Khalistan elements on Saturday.
While the controversial anti-India poster from the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice or SFJ has circulated online so far, this was the first instance of a physical version appearing. As in the case of the series of vandalisations of temples in recent months, a video of such a poster being placed in Brampton was amplified by what appeared to be pro-Khalistan elements and multiple Pakistan-based handles.
The poster outside the Bharat Mata Mandir in Brampton was placed in the early hours of Friday and discovered by temple volunteers in the morning and then removed, one of the temple officials confirmed to the Hindustan Times. It featured the images of India’s High Commissioner in Ottawa Sanjay Kumar Verma, Consul General in Toronto Apoorva Srivastava and Consul General in Vancouver Manish. Similar posters also appeared at various other locations in the GTA.
Meanwhile, as pro-Khalistan elements plan their so-called Khalistan Freedom Rally on July 8, to commence from Malton in the GTA to the Indian Consulate in Toronto, a group of Indo-Canadians are organisng a march to counter them. No organisation is putting together the march but it is taking shape organically.
Among those participating will be Toronto-based Virender Singh, who said, “We are a group of concerned citizens of Indo-Canadian heritage. We believe that Canadian values do not align with the threats to Indian diplomats.”
Another person likely to join is Arvind Mishra from Brampton, who said he was concerned over the “extreme rise of hatred” and the lack of action from Canadian authorities. “What would they do if people held rallies under the banner of Al Qaeda or ISIS (Islamic State) with posters of Osama bin Laden or the ISIS chief?” he asked.
The rally on Saturday is being held in the name of Harjit Singh Nijjar. SFJ has blamed India for his “assassination” on June 18. Nijjar was murdered in the parking lot of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Sahib in Surrey, British Columbia, which he headed. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team or Investigation Team or IHIT, which is probing the killing has not ascribed any motive while it seeks the murderers.
Nijjar was alleged to be the head of the Khalistan Tiger Force by Indian law enforcement and faced several terror-related charges, while being the principal SFJ figure in the Metro Vancouver region. The National Investigation Agency or NIA had announced an award of ₹10 lakh for information leading to his capture. However, none of the charges against him were tested in Canadian courts and SFJ has maintained it does not use violence.
However, the posters online, and the one outside the temple in the GTA level the SFJ accusation against India, as their photographs came with the legend, Faces of Shaheed Nijjar’s Killers in Canada.” It also used the phrase ‘War Zone’. The video posted on social media displays a circle around the High Commissioner’s face, with an arrow pointing at him, clearly marking him out as a target. It features pro-Khalistan slogans as well.
Given the palpable threat, India has sought strengthened security measures for its personnel and missions in the country. India has communicated its concerns over security to Canadian authorities including Global Affairs Canada, the country’s foreign ministry, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which is tasked with diplomatic security, as well as local police detachment sin Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver. An official said physical police presence had been enhanced at the locations.
A day after the United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary James Cleverly gave assurance of safety for Indian diplomats in his country, India on July 7 urged the U.K. to act against pro-Khalistan elements who have threatened Indian officials.
The discussion in this regard took place at the Hyderabad House between the two delegations led by the visiting National Security Adviser of U.K. Sir Tim Barrow and his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval. The discussion came a day ahead of the expected pro-Khalistan rally that drew India’s attention as publicity materials for the event threatened to harm Indian diplomats in the U.K., Canada and other countries.
A day after the United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary James Cleverly gave assurance of safety for Indian diplomats in his country, India on July 7 urged the U.K. to act against pro-Khalistan elements who have threatened Indian officials.
The discussion in this regard took place at the Hyderabad House between the two delegations led by the visiting National Security Adviser of U.K. Sir Tim Barrow and his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval. The discussion came a day ahead of the expected pro-Khalistan rally that drew India’s attention as publicity materials for the event threatened to harm Indian diplomats in the U.K., Canada and other countries.
“The Indian side raised the issue of the extremist elements in U.K. threatening individual officers of the Indian High Commission and urged the U.K. government to take strong public action against these elements such as deportation or legal prosecution,” said an informed source explaining that India and the U.K. have agreed to “work closely” on counterterrorism, terror financing and counter-radicalisation.
“There can be no justification for violent extremism and radicalisation in a democracy,” said the source familiar with the discussion that came a day after Mr. Cleverly’s assurance regarding safety of Indian diplomats within the U.K.
Any direct attacks on the Indian High Commission in London are completely unacceptable. We have made clear to High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami and the Government of India that the safety of staff at the High Commission is paramount,” Mr. Cleverly said in a social media post on Thursday. The issue has gathered momentum in the backdrop of pro-Khalistan rallies that are expected to take place in major western cities like London, Toronto, San Francisco and Melbourne. Campaign for the July 8 rallies drew official attention here after publicity materials circulated both offline and online singled out leading Indian diplomats in the U.K., U.S., Canada and Australia as targets and called for pro-Khalistan activists to avenge the June 18 murder of Khalistan proponent Hardeep Singh Nijjar near Vancouver.
The posters for the rally came up during an official briefing on Thursday when the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Arindam Bagchi condemned the threats against Indian diplomats and Indian diplomatic premises in the “strongest” manner. Security for the Indian High Commission came into sharp focus on March 19 when the Indian Tricolour was pulled down from balcony by pro-Khalistan activists. Three days after that incident India reduced security near the residence of the High Commissioner of the U.K. Alex Ellis and the British High Commission. A pro-India rally was organised near the addresses soon thereafter that was however dealt with carefully by the law enforcement agencies here.
The United Kingdom issued a stern warning to the Khalistan lobby in the country. This comes amid reports of calls to carry out a 'kill India' rally on June 8 in London. British Foreign Minister James Cleverly said, "Any direct attacks on the Indian High Commission in London are completely unacceptable." Posters circulating on social media to promote Khalistan's rally also issued threats against top Indian diplomats.