KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
As Operation Bluestar completed 37 years, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) displayed the bullet- ridden saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) at Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj Baba Gurbaksh Singh, near Akal Takht. The bullet, which had hit the holy book, was displayed by the Sikh body.
The saroop of SGGS was hit by a bullet during the Army operation, code named Operation Bluestar, in June 1984, to flush out armed militants holed up inside the Golden Temple and Akal Takht. The decision to display the holy saroop was taken by the SGPC’s executive body during a meeting held here on Wednesday.
SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur said future generations of Sikhs needed to know about the attack on the shrine by the country’s own Army. She said the executive committee had also decided to display other relics, including gold plates hit by bullets. The bullet-ridden saroop of SGGS would be displayed till June 5, following which further decision would be taken, she informed.
Head granthi, Akal Takht, Giani Gurmukh Singh elaborated on the preservation of the “injured” saroop of SGGS for the congregation.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/sgpc-displays-bullet-ridden-saroop-of-holy-scripture/articleshow/83218074.cms
An operative of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) was arrested in Moga district of Punjab on Tuesday, days after his two other accomplices were nabbed, police said on Tuesday.
Kamaljeet Sharma alias Kamal was apprehended from a place near Nathuwala Jadid village in Moga district, they said. Four pistols with 10 live cartridges were recovered from his possession, Director General of Police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta said in an official statement here.
On May 22, police had said they arrested Lovepreet Singh and Ram Singh, allegedly involved in several heinous crimes, including murder.
Working on instructions of outfit's Canada-based chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the three KTF operatives are also involved in killing a Dera follower and firing at and critically injuring a priest in January this year, police said.
Nijjar has been notified as a 'designated terrorist' under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) by the central government, they said.
His name had figured in the list of Khalistani operatives handed over by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the latter's visit to India in 2018.
Gupta said besides Nijjar, three other KTF co-conspirators/masterminds, identified as Arshdip, Ramandip and Charanjit, are hiding in Surrey in Canada and the Punjab Police has been making all-out efforts to deport them to India to face prosecution and criminal trial.
Moga Senior Superintendent of Police Harmanbir Singh Gill said preliminary investigations revealed that Kamal had allegedly received huge funding via 'hawala' from his Canada-based associates in lieu of committing crimes.
Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/another-khalistan-tiger-force-operative-held-in-punjab-s-moga-1809714-2021-06-01
Moga police have booked three activists of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) for killing gangster Sukha Lamme in June last year. The accused have been identified as Arshdeep Singh, Lovepreet Singh and Kamaljeet Singh of Dala village of Moga.
Lovepreet and Kamaljeet were arrested on Saturday for their involvement in several heinous crimes in the past. Arshdeep, who is living abroad, is yet to be arrested.
According to the FIR, the accused were booked on the complaint of a 38-year-old resident of Moga. The complainant told police that in June last year, he was going to Moga from Loppo village and when he reached near the bridge of Daudhar canal, he saw these accused throwing something in the canal.
He said recently he read in newspapers that the accused had murdered Sukha Lamme and threw his body into the canal. A case under Section 302 (murder) has been registered against them at the Badhni Kalan police station.
In an audio message circulating among Sikh groups of Pakistan, a Sikh religious leader has cautioned the community members based in Lahore and Nankana Sahib to not move out of their houses late at the night due to threat from Taliban.
The religious leader of Pakistan said he has been informed about these threats by the officials of Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) after the culmination of religious services at Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Lahore on Monday.
The leader appealed to the Sikhs of Lahore and Nankana Sahib to furnish their credentials with the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGC) and Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) for security arrangements.
“We have been told to submit our details including residential address, mobile number etc. with ETPB so that the issue of our security can be discussed with police,” the religious leader told TOI on the condition of anonymity.
Intelligence sources said on Monday Pakistan Punjab’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) had arrested a terrorist of a proscribed organization Balochistan Republic Army, an Afghanistan-based militant organization having links with Taliban, and recovered explosives and weapons from his possession.
According to Pakistan media reports, the CTD had in April also arrested four militants - two each from Lahore and Rawalpindi who also were aligned with Afghanistan-based militant organization.
The threat to Sikhs in Lahore and Nankana Sahib is being seen in context of rising incidents of violence in Afghanistan, added sources.
A Sikh resident of Nankana Sahib who didn’t wish to give his name said he had furnished his details with police. “We didn’t receive any threat directly but we have been told by ETPB that Sikhs face threat from the militant organization. So the government was collecting our data for making security arrangements,” he said.
Despite repeated attempts PSGPC president Satwant Singh didn’t respond to an inquiry made by TOI.
However, the chairman of ETPB Dr. Aamer Ahamd
denied the reports of asking Sikhs to furnish their details with them. “ We
vehemently deny such reports, there is no threat to Sikhs in Pakistan, “ said
Aamer.
Punjab Police have arrested two activists of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), allegedly involved in the murder of a Dera Sacha Sauda follower and other heinous crimes, from near a railway crossing in Mehna village of Moga on Saturday night.
The two were acting on the directions of KTF’s Canada-based chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar, whose name figured in the list of Khalistani operatives handed over by chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the latter’s visit to India in 2018.
Those arrested have been identified as Lovepreet Singh, alias Ravi, and Ram Singh, alias Sonu. Police said with the arrests, they have foiled KTF activists’ plan to kill another dera follower, who they were targeting to take revenge for the sacrilege cases.
Three 0.32 bore pistols with 38 live cartridges, one 0.315 bore pistol with 10 live cartridges and two magazines, were seized from the suspects, said the police.
Director general of Police Dinkar Gupta said that Nijjar, three other conspirators, identified as Arshdeep Singh, alias Arsh, of Dalla village in Moga, Ramandeep, alias Raman Judge, of Ferozepur and Charanjit, alias Rinku Bihla, of Barnala are hiding in Surrey, Canada, while one Kamaljeet Sharma, alias Kamal, is still absconding.
He said while Arshdeep and Ramandeep went to Canada legally in 2019 and 2017, Rinku Bihla migrated to Canada illegally between 2013 and 14.
According to initial investigations, which were led by Moga senior superintendent of police Harmanbir Singh Gill, the DGP said Lovepreet and Kamaljeet were known to Arshdeep, as they all belonged to the same village. Ram Singh, a student at ITI Moga, was known to Kamal since college days. All were given money by Arshdeep, who sent it through Western Union money transfers.
On November 20 last year, Sonu and Kamal killed Manohar Lal, a dera follower, at Bhagta Bhaika in Bathinda, said the DGP.
Sonu and Kamal were also involved in firing at a priest, Kamaldeep Sharma, in Bhar Singh Pura village in Phillaur on January 31 this year. The priest, who was shot at thrice, was seriously injured along with a girl in the attack, allegedly carried out by the suspects on the directions of Nijjar, said the DGP.
In September 2020, Nijjar was designated a terrorist by the Union ministry of home affairs and the NIA had also attached his properties in Bhar Singh Pura village.
Kamal and Ravi, along with Arshdeep (who had come to India at that time), were involved in the murder of their associate, Sukha Lamme, on June 27, 2020. On July 14, 2020, Ravi and Kamal killed Tejinder, owner of cloth store, to terrorise the people of Moga city. In the latest incident on February 9, the duo attempted to kill owner a sweets shop in Moga.
The DGP said investigations were in progress to trace their involvement in other crimes. A hunt has been launched to arrest Kamal. He said a Red Corner Notice was issued against Nijjer, who has also been put on the “No Fly List” by the Canadian authorities. He added that the state government would also seek their deportation to India to face trial.
Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/two-khalistan-tiger-force-activists-nabbed-for-drea-follower-s-murder-101621799886373.html
The Delhi Police has filed a 3000-page chargesheet against 16 persons including Punjabi actor and activist Deep Sidhu in connection with the violence took place at Red Fort on Republic Day. About 524 police persons and 11 farmers were injured in this violence.
The chargesheet was filed on May 17 before a magistrate and is listed for May 28 in Tis Hazari court for further hearing. Deep Sidhu, Iqbal Singh, Maninder Moni, Khempreet and Lakha Sidhara are among the main accused named in the chargsheet. 13 people named in the chargesheet have been released on bail.
Sidhu and Sidhana has been named as the key conspirators behind the violence. Delhi Police Police had lodged a case in the case at PS Kotwali under various sections of IPC including sedition, rioting, attempt to murder, dacoity and violence. The case was later transferred to Crime Branch. The chargsheet also mentions names of some farmer leaders.
The violence took place on 26th January when some farmers breached the routes and guidelines given by the Delhi Police to the farmers to take out a rally. They clashed with the police, broke barricades, vandalised property and entered Red Fort and creates ruckus and vandalised the heritage site. About 43 FIRs were filed by different branches and around 150 persons were arrested in the case.
Source: https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2021/may/21/delhi-police-files-chargesheet-against-deep-sidhu-others-in-republic-day-violence-case-2305804.html
The Border Security Force (BSF) Punjab Frontier on Sunday informed that the troops of the second battalion have recovered three packets weighing 2.580 kilograms which are suspected to be heroin and one pistol from Punjab's Abohar.
According to BSF, an intelligence-based search operation was carried out by personnel of the second battalion leading to the recovery of the packets with a pistol, made in Turkey and one magazine.
Informing about the seized drugs and other items, BSF wrote on Twitter, "Intelligence based search operation carried out by alert troops of second Bn BSF resulted in the seizure of three packets (Total Weight Approx-2.580 Kilogram) suspected to be heroin, one Pistol (Made in Turkey) and one Magazine."
"ANEs' smuggling attempts are being foiled
by active BSF" it added. (ANI)
Car-borne drug smugglers shot dead two assistant sub-inspectors (ASIs) and injured another in the new grain market in Jagraon, about 45 km from here, on Saturday.
The accused also opened fire on a group of youths, who tried to record the incident on their phones, while fleeing the spot. The youngsters, however, escaped unhurt.
Jagron DSP Jatinderjit Singh said ASI Bhagwan Singh died on the spot while critically injured ASI Dalwinder Singh succumbed on the way to hospital. Both were posted in the state’s crime investigation agency (CIA) in Jagraon.
Ludhiana rural senior superintendent of police (SSP) Charanjit Singh Sohal said the assailants have been captured in the CCTVs installed in the area. An alert has been sounded and special teams have been formed to nab the accused.
Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh has condemned the attack. “Unfortunate fatal attack on two of our brave CIA policemen in Jagraon. Intensive manhunt is on and the culprits would be nabbed soon. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and we will ensure that they are taken care of in every possible way,” the CM tweeted.
According to the SSP, the police received a tip-off about a drug deal at the new grain market. “A team reached the spot around 6.30 pm and saw the accused shifting drug packets from a truck to their car. The police asked them to surrender but the accused opened fire. In the shootout, two ASIs were killed, and another cop Rajwinder Singh suffered injuries,” he added.
The police suspect that the accused have fled towards Moga, said the SSP. Later, police managed to recover the truck that was spotted during the deal at the grain market.
A resident of Arjan Manga village, in a police complaint, claims to have been receiving threat calls from unidentified persons on a social media app from different mobile numbers of Pakistan. The callers accuse him of using objectionable remarks Khalistan sympathisers.
A case against unidentified persons has been registered at the Mehta police station here following a probe by the DSP (Detective) in this connection.
The complainant alleged on April 13 he got a message in Punjab language from a Pakistan number accusing him of being anti-Sikh. He said he was getting threats by way of recorded messages and video calls. They threatened to kill him and his family.
The family approached the police and sought a probe. Following a preliminary inquiry, the police registered a case under relevant law.
Source: https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/man-gets-threats-calls-from-pak-fir-lodged-250134
The special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court at Mohali has granted bail to eight accused arrested in connection with the killing of Shaurya Chakra awardee comrade Balwinder Singh Sandhu as charge-sheet was not presented against them within the stipulated 180 days.
Sandhu,
who was conferred with the bravery award for fighting terrorism in Punjab, was
gunned down by two bike-borne men at his home in Bhikhiwind town of Tarn Taran
district on October 16, 2020.
Seven
of the accused—identified as Chand Kumar aka Bhatia (32), Rajbir Singh aka Raja
(29), Rakesh Kumar aka (29), Manpreet Singh aka Manni (23), Jobanjeet Singh aka
Joban (22), Kirpal Singh (28) and Sunny (23)—were granted bail on Tuesday while
the eighth accused, Ravinder Singh alias Gian (26), was given the bail on April
30. The counsel of the accused, Jaspal Singh Manjpur said, “Raja, Kirpal and
Gian have other cases pending against them while the other five will be
released soon as their surety bonds have been furnished.” Gian, who is an
accused in Nabha jailbreak episode, was termed as the key accused in the case
by Tarn Taran police.
The NIA has also submitted in the court that five of the eight accused—Raja, Manni, Joban, Kirpal and Sunny—“have not been arrayed as accused in the final report under section 173 of the CrPC and closure report has been filed against them”. Manjhpur said, “I had argued in the court that if the closure report was filed why these accused were not released.” All the eight accused, who have got the bail, were arrested by the Punjab Police.
In
total 23 accused were arrested for Sandhu’s killing. A case under Sections 120B
(conspiracy), 201 (disappearance of evidence), 212 (harbouring offender) and
302 (murder) of the IPC and Sections 25 (1B) and 27 of the Arms Act, and
Sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) was registered
against the accused at Bhikhiwind police station in Tarn Taran. Earlier, Tarn
Taran police had got an extension from 90 days to 180 days for filing a charge
sheet against the accused. The NIA had taken over the case from Tarn Taran
police on January 26.
Earlier,
on April 27, the NIA had filed a charge sheet against eight other accused,
allegedly connected to Pakistan-based proscribed terrorist organisation
Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), for killing Sandhu. Gangster Sukhmeet Pal
Singh alias Sukh Bhikhariwal was among these eight accused.