KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, currently based in Pakistan and affiliated to Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) was on Friday declared a terrorist by the ministry of home affairs, officials said. The notification in this regard was issued by the MHA today. Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) has also been declared as terrorist organisation.
Rinda, a resident of Rattoke village in Tarn Taran district in Punjab, is said to be currently based in Lahore and associated with the banned group BKI. He is alleged to be one of the masterminds behind an attack on the intelligence headquarters of the Punjab Police in Mohali in 2021. Rinda was first arrested in 2008 after a scuffle during a family feud, intelligence officials said. After getting in touch with criminals during his time in prison, Rinda shifted his base to Maharashtra’s Nanded. He moved to Pakistan in 2020 using fake passports after getting in touch with pro-Khalistan terror groups where he was provided security cover, a second intelligence official said. Last year in August, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had announced a cash reward of ₹10 lakh for information on Rinda.
A Red Corner Notice was also issued against Rinda by Interpol. The home ministry further said Rinda is also involved in cross-border smuggling of arms, ammunition and militant hardware, besides drugs on a large scale.
He (Rinda) was involved in various criminal offences as well like murder, attempt to murder, contract killing, robbery and extortion in Punjab, Maharashtra, Haryana, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, the ministry said.
Rinda is now the 54th individual to be designated as a terrorist by the government.
Last month, the central government had banned two proxy organisations the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammad and declared four individuals as terrorists. On January 5, The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, was declared a banned group.
Last year in November media reports emerged that Rinda, who has been named in at least 10 terror-related cases in Punjab, died in a hospital in Pakistan’s Lahore.
“Though the exact reason behind his death is not known yet, the information we are getting from the central agencies is that Rinda, a heroin addict, was undergoing treatment for a drug overdose at a hospital,” the top state police official had said on condition of anonymity, terming Rinda’s death reports as a “huge relief” for Punjab.
However, in December last year, Punjab director general of police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, in a media interaction, said there was “no authentic input” regarding gangster-turned-terrorist Rinda dying in Pakistan.
KTF is a militant outfit and it aims to revive terrorism in Punjab and challenges the territorial integrity, unity, national security and sovereignty of India and promotes various acts of terrorism, including targeted killings in Punjab. With the declaration of KTF as terrorist organization, there are now a total of 44 designated terrorist organizations under the Ist Schedule of the Act.
Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/mha-bans-khalistan-tiger-force-declares-rinda-as-terrorist-101676654389502.html
A special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Mohali Thursday charged Kulwinderjeet Singh Khanpuria, a member of the proscribed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), of waging war against the country, criminal conspiracy and sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
The court of special NIA judge Rakesh Kumar Gupta charged Khanpuria under 121 (Waging, or attempting to wage war or abetting waging of war, against the Government of India), 121-A (Conspiracy to commit offences punishable by section 121), 122 (Collecting arms, etc, with intention of waging war against the Government of India), 123 (Concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Sections 3 and 25 of the Arms Act and Sections 17, 18, 18-B, 38 and 39 of the UAPA.
The chargesheet said that Khanpuria, along with his accomplices Ravinderpal Singh, Jagdev Singh and Harcharan Singh entered into a larger criminal conspiracy to initiate larger terror attacks in the territory of India with an intention to wage war against the government of India and to revive Khalistani wave of terrorism with an ultimate objective of establishing an independent Khalistani state through violent means.
Khanpuria, who was booked by the NIA in 2019 in the case, was arrested by the Indian authorities from the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi on November 21, 2022 after he landed from Bangkok.
Khanpuria was produced in the
court through video conferencing through his counsel Jaspal Singh Manjhpur.
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The anti-terror federal probe agency NIA today announced a cash reward of Rs 15 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Canada-based gangster-turned-terrorist Lakhbir Singh Sandhu alias ‘Landa’, who is wanted in connection with a terror case in Punjab.
Sharing the reward notice with media a spokesperson in the NIA said, “A cash reward of Rs 15 lakh is announced for any information leading to arrest of Lakhbir Singh Sandhu alias ‘Landa’. The identity of the informer will be kept secret, the official added.
A resident of Tarn Taran in Punjab, Sandhu, believed to be residing in Edmonton in Alberta in Canada, has been an absconder and is wanted by the NIA in a case related to the grenade attack on the Punjab Police intelligence headquarters in Mohali in 2022.
The NIA registered the case in 2022 after it emerged that terrorist outfits and terror elements based abroad were operating in tandem with leaders and members of organised criminal gangs operating in northern states of the country to commit targeted killings and violent criminal acts.
“It had emerged that the terror-gangster-drug smuggler network was also engaged in smuggling terrorist hardware such as arms, ammunition, explosives, IEDs across border through a widespread inter-state network of gunrunners, illegal arms and ammunition manufacturers and suppliers and explosive traffickers,” the NIA spokesperson said.
The NIA has succeeded in getting Canada-based Arsh Dalla designated as an “individual terrorist” by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on January 9, 2023 in a separate case.
Radicalisation of the UK Muslims on the issue of Kashmir and “potentially toxic” pro-Khalistan extremism are major concerns for the country, a review into the UK’s Government scheme set up to prevent terrorism has flagged. It also made recommendations for improvements to tackle Islamist extremism as the “primary threat” to the country.
The review into the Government’s counter-terrorism early intervention “Prevent” strategy published this week warned that rhetoric from Pakistan is impacting UK Muslim communities when it comes to “inflaming anti-India sentiment, particularly around the subject of Kashmir”.
The review carried out by Commissioner for Public Appointments William Shawcross also warns against a false narrative being disseminated by a tiny number of pro-Khalistan groups operating in the UK.
“There is an element of crossover between those who seek to impose limits around blasphemy with those who voice incendiary rhetoric on Kashmir.
“I have seen evidence of UK extremist groups, as well as a Pakistani cleric with a UK following, calling for the use of violence in Kashmir. I have also seen evidence demonstrating that flashpoints related to Kashmir lead to a significant surge in interest from UK Islamists,” says Shawcross in the review. It noted that there is no reason to believe this issue will disappear as a grievance that Islamists will seek to exploit in years to come.
“This has potential relevance to ‘Prevent’, as there are examples of those convicted of terrorism offences in the UK who had first fought in Kashmir. This includes those who subsequently joined al-Qaeda.”
On the issue of pro-Khalistan extremism, the report adds, “Prevent should also be mindful of pro-Khalistan extremism emerging from the UK’s Sikh communities. A false narrative is disseminated by the tiny number of pro-Khalistan groups operating in the UK that the Government is colluding with its counterpart in India to persecute Sikhs.”
“Such groups’ narratives glorify violence carried out by the pro-Khalistan movement in India. While the current threat is low, praise for violence overseas and a simultaneous belief in a State-led campaign of repression domestically is a potentially toxic combination for the future.”
It comes as the review found that Islamist extremism represents the “primary terrorist threat” to the UK -- “consistently accounting for the majority of terrorist attack plots both carried out and thwarted by the intelligence services”.
It noted that at present, 80 per cent of the Counter-Terrorism Police network’s live investigations are Islamist while 10 per cent are Extreme Right-Wing.
UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman told the House of Commons on Wednesday that she intends to “swiftly implement” all of the recommendations from the review into the Prevent strategy, a UK-wide system set up as an early warning system against terrorist threats.
The review is unflinching. Prevent needs major reform. It needs to better understand the threats that we face and the ideology underpinning them, the Indian-origin Minister told MPs.
“The truth is that there is nothing anti-Muslim about tackling Islamism, and we must continue to work closely with Muslim communities if we are to do so effectively,” she said.
“While obscuring the Islamist threat, Prevent
has defined the extreme right-wing too broadly, encompassing the respectable
right and centre-right. The threat from the extreme right-wing must not be
minimised. It is serious and it is growing; it must be robustly addressed. But
it is not the same, either in nature or in scale, as the threat from Islamism,”
Braverman added.
Delhi Police on Saturday identified a father-don duo - associated with the terror outfit Sikh for Justice (SFJ) - accused of funding their sleeper cell members in Delhi to put up anti-India posters ahead of India’s 74th Republic Day.
Gagandeep and his father, Jasbir Singh, are believed to be residents of California in the United States. The duo conspired with the SFJ terrorist Gurupatwant Singh Pannu.
The father-son duo funded their sleeper cell members, along with Gurpant Singh Pannu, to put up posters to further Khalistani propaganda, threatening terrorist attacks at 12 places across the national capital.
“Stay indoors on January 26, or you’ll be thwarted by the SFJ. Delhi will be our target, and we will unfurl the flag of Khalistan,” said Pannu. He also offered 5,00,000 dollars to anyone who unfurls Khalistan’s flag on the Red fort.
Jasbir Singh was declared a fugitive in 2004, following which he fled to America. In 2018, he even made failed attempts to kill the Akali leader Manjeet Singh GK. He was arrested by the US agencies only to be released later.
Jasbir was also supposed to testify against a
congress leader accused of the 1984 anti-Sikh riot but purportedly refused in
exchange for money.
India has told Canada that the Khalistan issue is of “national security concern” for New Delhi and that Ottawa should take stringent action against those who continue to pose threats to the Indian community there, even as both sides vowed to boost strategic ties between them under the Indo-Pacific construct, ABP Live has learnt.
The issue was raised during Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly's hurricane trip to India during which she held one-on-one as well as delegation-level meetings with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Tuesday, sources told ABP Live.
Joly's visit comes months after India issued a rare- and strongly-worded travel advisory on Canada, talking about rising incidents of “hate crime” in that country and attempts to “terrorise the Indian community” thereby Khalistani extremists.
The advisory was issued in September last year when a statue of Mahatma Gandhi was vandalised at a Hindu temple in Ontario and desecrated, with the word “Khalistan” inscribed on it.
According to the sources, the tensions around Khalistani activities there has become a “major issue of concern” and it continues to be a “burning issue” even though both sides have sought to take their ties to the next level boosting their defence and security partnerships.
The Khalistan issue even threatened to jeopardise diplomatic ties last November when the Sikh separatist group – Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) – held a referendum in the Canadian city of Brampton seeking the creation of Khalistan, a separate country of the Sikh community. The SFJ is banned in India.
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar spoke about the “centrality” of people-to-people ties between India and Canada, signalling the fact that the Khalistan issue needs to be immediately tackled by the Justin Trudeau government, which has so far not taken any credible action apart from a few arrests.
‘Advancing Security Cooperation’
During the Canada-India Strategic Dialogue, which took place during Joly's visit, both sides also discussed the roadmap to boost security cooperation between India and Canada.
“During the meeting, the Ministers discussed strengthening the economic partnership between Canada and India, advancing security cooperation, facilitating migration and mobility between the two countries, and growing our strong people-to-people ties,” said a readout by the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada.
It also said: “The Ministers also discussed furthering Canada-India cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, following the announcement of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy in November. Canada and India share a common vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, anchored in our shared values of democracy, pluralism, and the rule of law.”
According to Jaishankar, both “exchanged views on the global situation, in particular the Indo-Pacific and Ukraine conflict”.
“Welcomed Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy,” Jaishankar said in a tweet.
“Dr S Jaishankar and I are committed to seek new opportunities through which to engage. We will build on our people-to-people ties, commitment to a rules-based order and our desire to expand our commercial relationship. We look forward to supporting India in their G20 presidency,” tweeted Joly.
The Canadian minister is expected to visit India again next month for the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in New Delhi. India is the G20 chair for this year.
Canada To Increase Naval Presence In Indo-Pacific Region Under its Indo-Pacific strategy, Canada has said it will increase its naval presence in the region while also enhancing the participation of its armed forces in regional joint military exercises.
The first five years of the strategy include new initiatives and investments of almost $2.3 billion over five years. Out of this, $493 million will be used to reinforce its Indo-Pacific naval presence and increase Canadian Armed Forces' participation in regional military exercises over a span of five years.
“As a Pacific nation, Canada recognizes that the Indo-Pacific region will play a significant and profound role in Canada’s future. Every issue that matters to Canadians—national security, economic prosperity, respect for international law and human rights, democratic values, public health, protecting our environment—will be shaped by the relationships that Canada, along with its partners, have with countries throughout the Indo-Pacific,” said the document.
It added, “Decisions made in the region will impact Canadians for generations, and it is critical that Canada be at the table.”
India on Thursday condemned recent attacks by pro-Khalistan elements against people of Indian origin in Australia, saying Australian authorities had been requested to ensure the safety and security of the Indian community.
India has already lodged a protest with Australian authorities over attacks by Khalistani activists on people of Indian origin who were protesting against a so-called “Khalistan referendum” organised by the outlawed Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) in Melbourne over the weekend.
“We strongly condemn such attacks by extremist elements and we urge local authorities to investigate and punish the perpetrators. We have been repeatedly taking up with the Australian authorities our concerns about actions by such elements, including those that are proscribed terrorist organisations,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told a weekly media briefing.
“We conveyed our firm rejection of the so-called Khalistan referendum and politically motivated exercises by extremist elements,” he said.
India has requested Australia to “ensure the safety and security of members of the Indian community and their properties” and to not allow the use of Australian territory for “activities that would be detrimental to the territorial integrity, security and national interests of India”, Bagchi said in response to questions.
Bagchi said the Indian side has noted comments by some Australian leaders condemning the violence in Melbourne and will continue to take up this issue with Australian authorities.
Indian high commissioner Manpreet Vohra took up Sunday’s violent incidents in central Melbourne with the premier of Victoria state, Daniel Andrews, at a meeting on Monday. In New Delhi, Australian envoy Barry O’Farrell said he was “appalled” by the incidents and that Victoria police are investigating a number of people for “criminal acts of violence”.
Bagchi also said India had also denounced the desecration of Gauri Shankar Mandir in the town of Brampton in the Greater Toronto Area of Canada on Monday.
“In Canada, you would have seen comments by the Canadian foreign minister denouncing the vandalism. We reaffirm this position strongly and we condemn such acts of vandalisation,” he said.
Canadian foreign minister Mélanie Joly said in a tweet on Wednesday: “Everyone should be able to practice their faith in peace, free from violence and intimidation. I stand with Hindu communities in denouncing the vandalism at Gauri Shankar Mandir in Brampton. We have a collective responsibility to denounce hateful acts, which have no place in [Canada].”
Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/probe-punish-them-india-tells-australia-on-attacks-by-pro-khalistan-groups-101675345054568.html
A video has been shared by BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa that shows pro-Khalistan forces attacking Indians carrying the national flag in Australia.
The video shows a group of men waving the Khalistani flag and attacking Indians carrying the Tricolour, leaving five injured. The pro-Khalistani forces are also seen carrying rods and attacking the men carrying the Indian flag.
Taking note of the incident, BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that the activities of the anti-social elements must be dealt with strongly.
“I strongly condemn anti-India activities by pro-Khalistani in Australia. Anti-social elements that are trying to disrupt the peace and harmony of the country with these activities, must be dealt with strongly and culprits must be brought to books,” Manjinder Singh Sirsa tweeted.
Condemning the attack, the Victoria Police informed that as of now 2 people have been arrested following the violent attack. The two arrested men are in their 30s and have been issued a penalty notice for "riotous behaviour". They said the five injured people have been admitted to the hospital.
This comes just weeks after Hindu temples were vandalised in Australia. Three temples were defaced with pro-Khalistan and anti-India slogans in the past few weeks in Melbourne.
The Indian High Commission in Canberra had called these attacks blatant attempts to promote animosity and discord among the Indian community.
The
Indian Mission had also noted that such incidents signal that pro-Khalistan
elements are stepping up their activities in Australia, actively aided and
“abetted by members of proscribed terrorist organisations” such as the Sikhs
for Justice (SFJ) and other “inimical agencies” from outside Australia.
A temple in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) was desecrated as pro-Khalistan and anti-India graffiti was spray-painted on a wall in the early hours on Monday.
The vandalisation of the Gauri Shankar Mandir occurred deep in the night and was discovered by temple authorities on Monday morning following which they informed the Peel Regional Police (PRP). Investigators from the PRP visited the temple twice, while the chief of police also called the temple officials.
This is the third such instance of a temple in the Toronto region being desecrated within the past nine months, while similar instances have also been reported from the United States, and more recently, in Australia.
India’s high commission in Ottawa has already formally communicated its concern over the incident to Global Affairs Canada, the country’s foreign ministry. India’s consulate in Toronto tweeted, “We strongly condemn defacing of Gauri Shankar Mandir in Brampton, a symbol of Indian heritage, with anti-India graffiti. The hateful act of vandalism has deeply hurt sentiments of Indian community in Canada. We have raised our concerns on the matter with Canadian authorities.”
Temple president Dhirendra Tripathi told the Hindustan Times that the graffiti was sprayed on to the wall at the rear of the building housing the temple and was later covered and then painted over by volunteers, though it remains partially visible.
“People will be angry because this is an emotional issue,” he said of the community’s reaction to the latest such incident of this kind. While the front of the building does have security cameras installed, the rear does not have such coverage.
Chandra Arya, MP for the ruling Liberal Party, tweeted that this was the “latest in attacks on Hindu temples in Canada by anti-Hindu and anti-India groups”.
“From hatred on social media, now physical attacks on Hindu temples, what next? I call on govt at levels in Canada to start taking this seriously,” he added.
Expressing outrage, the National Alliance of Indo-Canadians tweeted that it “‘denounces continued attack on Hindu places of worship by #Khalistani extremists with impunity, reflective of lawlessness. Extremists are emboldened to freely engage in #hatecrimes.”
Reacting to the latest incident, Brampton resident Vijay Jain, who lives close to the temple, said, “This is happening now. The concern within the community is that Hindu temples are becoming soft targets, they are very vulnerable. Action from police has not been enough.”
In July last year, a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, located at the Vishnu Mandir in Richmond Hill, was similarly defaced. The 20-foot tall bronze statue was situated in the temple’s Peace Park. Weeks later, in September, an episode of such vandalisation occurred at the front entrance to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Toronto.
Each incident attracted a strong protest from India. However, no arrests of the perpetrators have yet been reported by local police.
As
had happened earlier, a video of the incident was posted on social media by
purportedly pro-Khalistan handles and amplified by pro-Pakistan users.
Someone painted pro-Khalistan slogans on the board of Beant Singh Memorial at Sector 42 here, on Republic Day.
The slogans were written in Punjabi on both sides of the board installed on the road opposite the furniture market.
The suspects also wrote SFJ Zindabad on the board.
SFJ
(Sikhs for Justice) is a US-based banned organisation.