KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
After the recent incident of arson at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, US, with miscreants supporting Khalistan ideology, the threat of this narrative has once again emerged. As per law enforcement officials who are tracking and investigating Khalistani operatives, there are 300 active sleeper cells that are operating in the country.
Explaining the modus operandi, sources mention that the real motive is to not take innocent lives but rather be involved in those activities that help in creating a perception that the Indian state is weak, and thereby creating disillusionment in a large number of the citizenry in Punjab. The role of these sleeper cells also becomes significant at a time when most of the top Khalistani proponents are not based in India but rather in Pakistan, Canada, the USA and Australia.
Officials have also stated that recent arrests of some Khalistani operatives have revealed how there is a strong ISI network from #Pakistan
Officials uncover ISI support to Khalistani proponents
Republic Media Network had earlier reported about the old guard of Khalistani leadership that included likes of Wadhwa Singh, Ranjeet Singh Neeta, Bhupinder Singh Bhinda, Gurmeet Singh Bhinda and Lakhbir Singh Rode. Among the prominent names are Harry Chhata, Goldy Brar, Luv Bajwa, Gutjot Singh Garcha, Lovely Ricky Pind and Happy PHD who make up the new leadership in the separatist groups.
The officials have also affirmed that recent arrests of some Khalistani operatives have revealed how there is a strong ISI network from Pakistan that is supporting the separatists.
"It is important to differentiate between Khalistani separatist elements and those operating from Kashmir. Several Khalistani elements do not want to indulge in taking innocent lives but rather want to weaken the Indian state. You, therefore, will see marches being carried out, Indian flag being desecrated and also Indian consulates being targeted," said an official who has probed and arrested several Khalistani operatives from Delhi, Punjab and even Kashmir.
It is important to note that there have been multiple incidents of attack on Indian diplomatic locations ranging from the US to the UK. One such attack was at the Indian Embassy in London in March when several separatists marched toward the building and scaled the balcony to take down the Indian flag and replace it with a Khalistan flag. Currently, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is investigating the case in London since the UK government failed to take concrete action.
Source: https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/general-news/300-khalistan-sleeper-cells-active-across-india-heres-what-officials-revealed-articleshow.html
The United States on Tuesday “strongly condemned” the reported vandalism and attempted arson by pro-Khalistan supporters at the Indian consulate in San Francisco on Sunday (local time).
Diya TV, a local channel, reported that Khalistanis radicals set the Indian consulate on fire between 1:30am and 2:30am. But it was quickly doused by the San Francisco fire department.
The report added that while the damage was limited, no staffers were injured in the incident. Khalistan supporters reportedly released a video in connection with the incident. HT could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.
“The U.S. strongly condemns the reported vandalism and attempted arson against the Indian Consulate in San Francisco on Saturday. Vandalism or violence against diplomatic facilities or foreign diplomats in the U.S. is a criminal offense,” Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the US State Department tweeted.
The incident came months after a group of pro-Khalistani protesters in March attacked and damaged the Indian consulate in San Francisco, prompting sharp condemnation from the Indian government and India-Americans, who demanded immediate action against those responsible for it.
Raising pro-Khalistan slogans, the protesters broke open the makeshift security barriers raised by the city police and installed two so-called Khalistani flags inside the Consulate premises. Two consulate personnel soon removed these flags.
The attack on the Indian consulate came hours after pro-Khalistani supporters pulled down the Indian tricolour flying atop the Indian high commission in London.
On Monday, HT reported that India has asked Canada to urgently act against so-called Khalistan extremists who are planning to take out a protest march to Indian embassies in Toronto and Vancouver after deliberately trying to blame Indian diplomats and security agencies for the killing of designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The 45-year-old Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief was killed in an inter-gang warfare on June 19 in Sikh-dominated Surrey town in Vancouver. Nijjar had links with the proscribed organization SFJ, which is led by a US-based designated terrorist.
India has issued summons to the Canadian High Commissioner as a poster released by pro-Khalistan outfits labelling Indian diplomats as “killers” sparked outrage among the Punjabi diaspora in the country. Canada, on its part, called the “promotional material” circulating ahead of the ‘Khalistan Freedom Rally’ “unacceptable”, and added that it takes its “obligations regarding safety of diplomats very seriously”.
In a statement on Tuesday, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly said, “Canada takes its obligations under the Vienna Conventions regarding the safety of diplomats very seriously. Canada remains in close contact with Indian officials in light of some of the promotional material circulating online regarding a protest planned for July 8th, which are unacceptable.”
“We know that the actions of a few do not speak for an entire community, or Canada,” she added.
A poster titled “Kill India,” released by Pro-Khalistani leaders in Canada, accusing Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and Consul General of India in Toronto, Apoorva Srivastava, of assassinating Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, has sparked widespread outrage among the Punjabi diaspora in Canada.
The poster, which accuses Indian officials, is an invitation to a rally titled “Khalistan Freedom Rally” scheduled on July 8. According to the poster, the rally will start from Great Punjab Business Centre Malton and culminate at the Indian Embassy in Toronto (although Toronto houses the Consulate General of India, not the Indian Embassy). The poster also features photos of both Indian officials in Canada and labels them as killers of Nijjar in Toronto.
On Monday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, “We have already requested our partner countries like Canada, the US, the UK and Australia where sometimes Khalistani activities happen, not to give space to Khalistanis. Because their (Khalistanis) radical, extremist thinking is neither good for us nor for them nor our relations.”
Two Indian diplomats in Canada have been targeted in a poster purportedly circulated by Sikh extremists who have accused them of playing a role in the June killing of Khalistan Tiger Force chief and designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The poster, doing the rounds on social media, features photos of India’s High Commissioner to Ottawa Sanjay Kumar Verma and Consul General in Toronto Apoorva Srivastava. The words ‘Faces of Shaheed Nijjar’s Killers in Toronto’ appear above the photos.
On Monday, External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar commented on the ongoing controversy, saying it will impact bilateral relations.
“We have requested our partner countries like Canada, the United States, the UK and Australia not to give space to the Khalistanis. This will affect our relations. We will raise this poster issue with the government[s] of these countries,” Jaishankar told ANI.
ThePrint reached the Canadian High Commission in Delhi and the Ministry of External Affairs for comment but did not receive a response from either.
On 18 June, Nijjar, who headed pro-Khalistan outfits Khalistan Tiger Force and the Canadian arm of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), was shot dead in Surrey, Canada.
This comes a month after Sikh extremists carried out a demonstration in Brampton that appeared to glorify the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi. It featured a tableau of Indira Gandhi with blood on her clothes and a poster that read: “Revenge of attack on Shri Darbar Sahib.”
At that time, Jaishankar had asked why the Canadian authorities were giving space to separatists, extremists and “people who promote violence”.
“It’s not good for the (bilateral) relationship and it’s not good for Canada,” he said in June.
The demonstration was held to mark the 39th anniversary of Operation Blue Star, which saw the Indian armed forces storm the Golden Temple in Punjab’s Amritsar to flush out Sikh extremist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his followers from the premises.
In March, India-UK ties also came under strain after Sikh radicals attacked the Indian High Commission in London to protest the Indian government’s actions against extremist Amritpal Singh Sandhu.
According to Canadian author-journalist Terry Milewski, such threats against diplomats will put the Justin Trudeau-led Canadian government in the hot seat.
“This will definitely force the Trudeau government, at the very least, to take a harder line rhetorically. Whether it takes real action is less certain,” he told ThePrint. “There is no way the government can countenance threats against diplomats.”
Protest march from Malton to Toronto
The poster, which has reportedly also been doing the rounds among radical Sikh groups in the US, also calls for a protest march on 8 July. The march is scheduled to begin at the Great Punjab Business Centre in Mississauga to the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
A poster, titled ‘Khalistan Freedom Rally’, also features a picture of the state Punjab on top of which an arm labelled ‘Sikhs for Justice’ is colliding with a rifle labelled “India”.
The words ‘Kill India’ also feature on the poster.
Terry Milewski, a retired senior correspondent for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and the author of the book ‘Blood for Blood: Fifty Years of Global Khalistan Project’, took to Twitter to express grave concern regarding the poster.
“This is extremely dangerous. Khalistanis are whipping up anger targeting Indian diplomats they call “Killers” of “Shaheed” (Martyr) Hardeep Nijjar, shot in a Mafia-style hit in Surrey BC June 18. There is zero evidence of any Indian role. Grossly irresponsible,” he tweeted.
“‘Kill India,’ the poster screams. No diplomat should be threatened like this. We have to hope the High Commissioner and the Consul are well protected and that the Nijjar murder is rapidly solved. (Whoever made the poster is no genius. There’s no Indian “embassy” in Toronto),” he wrote in another tweet.
Nijjar was wanted in at least four NIA cases and the NIA had declared a Rs 10 lakh cash reward on him.
While on a trip to India in 2018, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had met then Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, who had given him a list of criminals which included Nijjar’s name. Nijjar was nabbed by Canadian authorities in April 2018. However, he was released later.
The Dal Khalsa activists were on their way to the office of the country’s external intelligence agency RAW to lodge their protest over the killing of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar when they were stopped by police near Town Hall on heritage street
Several activists of radical outfit Dal Khalsa were detained by Punjab Police near the Golden Temple here on Saturday.
The activists were on their way to the office of the country’s external intelligence agency RAW to lodge their protest over the killing of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar when they were stopped by police near Town Hall on heritage street.
Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh claimed that the police detained 86 activists. The protesters also raised pro-Khalistan slogans during their demonstration.
Earlier in the day, the bhog ceremony and antim ardas of Nijjar was organized at Shaheedi Asthan Baba Gurbax Singh in Golden Temple complex.
Nijjar was designated a ‘terrorist’ by India under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in July 2020 and his property in the country was attached by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in September that year. He had allegedly also worked closely with Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, founder of pro-Khalistan outfit Sikhs for Justice.
On the intervening night of June 1-2 pro-Khalistan slogans had come up on the wall of a ticket counter at Moga bus stand along with a Khalistan flag. Police had registered a case of assaulting or obstructing public servant when suppressing riot, imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration and intent to incite, or which is likely to incite, any class or community of persons to commit any offence against any other class or community.
Four weeks after pro-Khalistan slogans were found scribbled on the wall of a ticket counter at Moga bus stand, police arrested two persons from Nanded, Maharashtra. The accused were identified as Daljit Singh of Churchak village and Pritpal Singh of Gholia Khurd village in Moga, both allegedly backed by Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, the US-based founder of banned separatist organization, Sikh for Justice (SFJ). The incident took place on the intervening night of June 1-2. Along with the slogans on the wall, a Khalistan flag had also come up at the bus stand. Police had registered a case under Sections 152A (assaulting or obstructing public servant when suppressing riot), 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration) and 505 (intent to incite, or which is likely to incite, any class or community of persons to commit any offence against any other class or community) of the Indian Penal Code at Moga police station. Punjab director general of police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav in a tweet said, “In a major breakthrough @MogaPolice has busted a gang of anti-social elements writing Khalistan Zindabad slogans in public places backed by mastermind Gurpatwant Singh Pannu. The investigation has been carried out in a professional & scientific manner to trace the culprits.”
Moga senior superintendent of police J Elanchezhian said pro-Khalistan foreign forces had given ₹80,000 through Western Union to the accused for putting up the Khalistan flag and slogans. “After the incident, both fled to Nanded in Maharashtra. During investigation, it was found that they are in contact with pro-Khalistan forces abroad and are planning to disturb peace in Punjab.” “A special team was constituted, which traced the accused with the help of scientific evidence and both were arrested from Nanded on June 24. They were brought to Moga after following due procedure in Maharashtra and produced in the court on Friday. We have secured their three-day remand and now further investigation is under process. Both the accused have no past criminal history,” he added. The SSP said both accused worked with a US-based trucking company. “Prima facie, the money came from an anti-national module being run by foreign-based Pannu, so his role will be investigated in the case,” he added. While SFJ was banned by the Government of India, Pannu has been booked in several sedition and terror cases in Punjab for allegedly running pro-Khalistan campaigns from foreign soil.
Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/police-arrest-two-persons-linked-to-pro-khalistan-slogans-in-moga-backed-by-us-based-founder-of-sikh-for-justice-101688133842886.html
The secret agency ISI of Pakistan is behind the conspiracy against India in the name of Khalistan. According to intelligence sources within Indian intelligence agencies, ISI agent Nasir Khan is in contact with Khalistanis and gangsters involved in criminal activities in India. Based on information received by Zee Media from intelligence sources, it has been revealed that through ISI agent Nasir Khan, Khalistanis and gangsters from around the world are being funded as part of a conspiracy against India, along with the supply of weapons and drugs.
Surveillance from Lahore
Investigations conducted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and various state police forces have uncovered continuous attempts to supply drugs and weapons to gangsters and criminals present in India across the border. According to sources, ISI has also established a control room in Lahore to execute the conspiracy against India.
Based on the analysis of the chips of the drones captured so far by security agencies, it has been found that some drones are being launched in Indian territories from locations near Pakistani ranger camps. Security agencies suspect that ISI is coordinating such operations.
ISI's Supervised Plan
Through the supply of drugs, ISI is not only funding Jaish terrorists but also supplying weapons. It can be observed that since January this year, several drones coming from Punjab and bordering areas with Pakistan have been shot down by the Border Security Force (BSF), which has caused panic among terrorists.
Through technical analysis of the chips in the drones captured by Punjab Police and BSF on the border, crucial information about the routes of these drones has been obtained by security forces. Detecting their routes has made it much easier for the BSF to gain control over such drones compared to previous times.
In Jammu and Kashmir, terrorists are facing a shortage of weapons and ammunition. Due to the high surveillance by security agencies on the Line of Control (LOC) and the international border with Pakistan, it has become difficult for terrorist commanders to infiltrate terrorists into Indian territory. This is why there is a growing trend of conspiring to supply weapons through drones across the Indian border.
Source: https://zeenews.india.com/india/pakistans-big-khalistan-conspiracy-against-india-exposed-weapons-drugs-and-turning-criminals-into-terrorists-2628583.html
Canada’s response to the Khalistani issue appeared to be constrained by its “vote bank compulsion” and India will have to respond if the activities impinge on its national security and integrity, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday.
At an event on nine years of the government at the India International Centre, he said the Khalistani issue has impacted the ties between the two countries in many ways in the last few years. India has been asking Canada against giving space to pro-Khalistani separatist and extremist elements.
“For us, how Canada has dealt with the Khalistani issue has been a long-standing concern. Because very frankly, they seem to be driven by vote-bank politics,” Jaishankar said.
“Their responses have all been, to the best of my understanding, actually constrained by what they regard as vote bank compulsions,” he said. The External Affairs Minister said the government made it clear to Canada that if the activities there impinge on India’s national security, it will respond.
“We made it very clear and I have done so in public, which is that if there are activities that are permitted from Canada that impinge on our sovereignty, territorial integrity and security, then we will have to respond,” he said.
“It is something which is a continuing conversation with Canada; not always a satisfactory conversation but it is something on which we are very clear. You can see that in many ways in the last few years, it has impacted our ties,” he said. Earlier this month, India slammed Canada after visuals surfaced on social media of a float in Brampton that reportedly celebrated the assassination of former PM Indira Gandhi.
The City of Mississauga office lowered its flags at half-mast on Friday in honour of the 38th anniversary of the 1985 terrorist attack on Air India Flight 182 that killed 329 passengers, most of whom were Canadians.
June 23 is remembered as the National Day of Remembrance for victims of Terrorism.
As Canada observed the Kanishka plane crash anniversary, posters across roads in Greater Toronto areas read: "Khalistan ideology brought the largest act of terrorism on Canadians" and "Deadliest Terror Attack in Canadian History - 329 killed by Khalistani Terrorist".
Liberal MP Chandra Arya issued a video message on Twitter saying, "Today is National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism. 38 years back, on this day, Air India Flight 182 operating on the Montreal-London-Delhi-Mumbai route was blown-up mid-air from a bomb planted by Canadian Khalistani extremists. It killed all 329 passengers and crew members, including 268 Canadian citizens who were mostly Indo-Canadians".
Calling the attack the "largest mass killing" in Canadian history, Chandra Arya condemned the recent tableau parade in Ontario celebrating the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
"The bombing of this Air India Flight is the largest mass killing in Canadian history. It was the deadliest act of aviation terrorism in the world until 9/11. Unfortunately, many Canadians are not aware that even today, the ideology responsible for this terrorist attack is still alive among few people in Canada. Recent celebrations of the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by Khalistan supporters, glorifying violence and hate, attacks on Hindu temples, and honouring the convicted killer of the Air India bombing, all these shows that the dark forces have been energized again and point to dreadful times ahead," he said on Twitter.
"I strongly urge authorities at all levels of the government to take note that the ideology responsible for the Air India bombing is very active again in Canada. We need to be vigilant. On this National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, my sympathies are with the families of the victims. Their pain never goes away. I stand in solidarity with them," said Arya.
Canada's MP Marie-Helene Gaudreau also raised a question in the country's parliament demanding a public inquiry into the bombing of the Air India flight, which was believed to be the handiwork of Khalistani terrorists.
MP Gaudreau belongs to Canada's Bloc Quebecois party.
Public Safety Canada's website stated, "On June 23, 1985, a bomb exploded on Air India Flight 182 en route from Toronto to London, England killing all 329 people aboard, most of them Canadians. Thirty-eight years later, the Air India bombing is still the worst terrorist attack in Canadian history."
It further added that the Canadian government has taken multiple steps to investigate the incident and memorials erected will always stand as a reminder of the horrific attack.
"Since that terrible day in June 1985, the Government of Canada has worked to investigate the crash of Flight 182, to bring the perpetrators of this act to justice, and to make the necessary changes to our policies, regulations and legislation to safeguard Canadians from terror. The Government has also continually adjusted its approach to airline and national security, and security intelligence," the website stated.
It added, "In 2007, the Government of Canada established a program to erect three new memorials and to refurbish an existing one in Ottawa so that Canadians would never forget the tragedy. The fourth and final memorial was dedicated in Montreal to remember the victims, following those dedicated in Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa. These memorials will forever stand as a reminder of the innocent lives lost during a very sad chapter in our shared history."
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has announced a cash reward on information leading to the arrest of eight absconding gangsters, including Canada-based designated terrorist Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dalla of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF).
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on January 9 declared Dalla a designated terrorist after it found his involvement in heinous crimes such as murder, extortion and targeted killings besides terror activities.
Confirming the decision, an official said that the NIA has declared a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on Dalla and Gaurav Patyal. “Apart from them, a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh each has been announced on Sandeep alias Bandar, Sukhdool Singh, Gurpinder Singh alias Baba Dalla, Dinesh Sharma, Neeraj Pandit and Dalesh Singh Kotia,” the official said, adding that all of them are absconding and are wanted by the NIA in several cases related to terror activities.
The official added that the accused operate from abroad and the NIA has also moved an application before a Delhi Court, requesting to issue Proclamation (for person absconding) against them under Section 82 of CrPC. During a recent court hearing, the NIA had informed the court that all the accused are absconding and they are not able to execute non-bailable warrants against them.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/nia-announces-cash-reward-on-khalistani-militant-seven-others-8681030/