KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
The father and brother of terrorist Harvinder Singh alias Rinda were arrested by Nanded Police in an extortion case on Wednesday. They allegedly used to extort money from people, which prompted the police to register a case against them under MCOCA.
Nanded SP Shri Krishna Kokate said on September 22, 2023, ransom was demanded from a person in the name of Rinda. However, the victim had not filed a complaint in this matter, said the sources.
The police made an arrest after receiving information about the extortion. Inspector Dwarkadas Chikhlikar filed a complaint on behalf of the police and arrested the accused.
Investigation of that case revealed that Rinda's father Charan Singh Sandhu and brother Sarabjot Singh Sandhu were involved in extortion activities. The court sent the duo to police custody for five days.
Rinda is associated with Babbar Khalsa
Meanwhile, the Home Ministry declared Harvinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda a terrorist this year. Rinda is associated with the terrorist organization Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). According to the media reports, he already fled the country. His last location was said to be Lahore. Rinda's father and brother live in Nanded.
A group of Khalistani supporters tried to heckle India’s Ambassador to the U.S., Taranjit Singh Sandhu, at a gurdwara in Long Island in New York on Sunday, but they were escorted out by members of the Sikh community.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr. Sandhu said he was privileged to join the local Sangat, including from Afghanistan, at Guru Nanak Darbar of Long Island in celebrating Gurpurab. He said he listened to Kirtan, spoke about Guru Nanak’s everlasting message of togetherness, unity, and equality, partook langar, and sought blessings for all.
After Mr. Sandhu arrived at the Hicksville Gurdwara, a few nuisance makers tried to heckle him but were escorted out by members of the Sikh community, sources said.
They shouted questions about Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed in Canada in June, show videos being circulated after the incident.
In his remarks at the gurdwara, Mr. Sandhu assured members of the Sikh community that Indian diplomats in the U.S. would provide all help and support to them.
Mr. Sandhu, accompanied by Consul-General in New York Randhir Jaiswal and Deputy Consul-General Varun Jeph, highlighted growth in the India-U.S. partnership in the healthcare, energy, information technology, emerging technologies, semiconductor and the education sectors.
On the occasion, the gurdwara members and officials honoured and felicitated the Indian Ambassador.
Historical linkages
Mr. Sandhu spoke about the historical linkages between Sikh Gurus, Sikhs and Afghanistan. He noted that Afghan Sikhs had shown how to face adversities.
He mentioned that three Saroops of the Sikh scripture Guru Granth Sahib were brought from Kabul to Delhi in August in the year 2021 after the Taliban took over the war-torn country.
Earlier, in a separate tweet, Mr. Sandhu spoke of Guru Nanak Devji’s timeless message of equality and universal oneness in the well-known Shabad of Guru Ravidass as he paid his respects at the Sri Guru Ravidass Temple in New York on November 25.
The United States “thwarted a conspiracy to assassinate” Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil and “issued a warning to India’s government over concerns it was involved in the plot,” UK-based daily Financial Times has reported, citing multiple sources.
This comes two months after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that Canadian security agencies were probing “credible allegations” about a potential link between Indian government agents and the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver in June. The Indian government had rejected Canada’s allegations as “absurd” and “motivated”.
But this time, India has said that it takes the US inputs on security “seriously”, and “issues” in this context were being examined.
Responding to queries on the FT report, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, said on Wednesday: “During the course of recent discussions on India-US security cooperation, the US side shared some inputs pertaining to nexus between organised criminals, gun-runners, terrorists and others. The inputs are a cause of concern for both countries and they decided to take necessary follow-up action.”
“On its part, India takes such inputs seriously since it impinges on our own national security interests as well. Issues in the context of US inputs are already being examined by relevant departments,” he said.
When asked about the report, the spokesperson for the US Embassy in New Delhi said: “We do not comment on diplomatic, law enforcement, or intelligence discussions with our partners.”
According to the FT report, the US, Canada and allies shared details – the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada are part of the intelligence-sharing network “Five Eyes” – and the Nijjar killing and the Pannun assassination plot sparked concerns “about a possible pattern of behaviour” on Delhi’s part.
“Washington shared details of the Pannun case with a wider group of allies after Trudeau went public with details of the Vancouver killing, the combination of which sparked concern among allies about a possible pattern of behaviour,” it said.
The FT report said the US protest was issued after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Washington in June this year. It was not clear “whether the protest to New Delhi led the plotters to abandon their plan, or whether the FBI intervened and foiled a scheme already in motion,” it said.
Separate from the diplomatic warning, US federal prosecutors have filed a sealed indictment against at least one alleged perpetrator of the plot in a New York district court, FT said, quoting sources.
“The US justice department is debating whether to unseal the indictment and make the allegations public or wait until Canada finishes its investigation into Nijjar’s murder. Further complicating the case, one person charged in the indictment is believed to have left the US,” it said.
The report said the US justice department and FBI declined to comment on the matter. “The National Security Council said the US does ‘not comment on ongoing law enforcement matters or private diplomatic discussions with our partners’ but added: ‘Upholding the safety and security of US citizens is paramount’,” it said.
The report said Pannun “declined to say whether US authorities had warned him about the plot, saying he would ‘let the US government respond to the issue of threats to my life on American soil from the Indian operatives’.”
“The threat to an American citizen on American soil is a challenge to America’s sovereignty, and I trust that the Biden administration is more than capable to handle any such challenge,” Pannun was quoted as saying.
Pannun, a dual citizen of the US and Canada, is the general counsel for Sikhs for Justice. Earlier this week, the NIA booked him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly threatening passengers flying via Air India.
While the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had banned the SFJ on July 10, 2019 under the UAPA, Pannun was designated an “individual terrorist” on July 1, 2020.
While Biden had raised the Canadian allegations with Modi at the G20 Summit in India in September, the White House declined to say whether he raised the Pannun case, the report said.
A key difference between the US and Canadian allegations is the fact that the US administration has not aired these allegations in public so far. The robustness of the political ties between India and the US will be tested once again, after their public differences on the Russia-Ukraine war.
The United States has told India that those involved in an alleged foiled plot to assassinate a Khalistan supporter on American soil should be held accountable, the White House said on Wednesday.
This came hours after the Financial Times reported that Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an American and Canadian citizen, was the target of the alleged conspiracy. The newspaper said that Washington had issued a warning to New Delhi about concerns that the Indian government was involved in the plot.
White House spokesperson Adrienne Watson later said the US has raised the matter “at the senior-most levels” with India, Reuters reported.
Indian officials “expressed surprise and concern” when approached by the US about the allegations, Watson said.
“They stated that activity of this nature was not their policy...We understand the Indian government is further investigating this issue and will have more to say about it in the coming days,” she added.
It is not clear how the US authorities became aware of the alleged assassination attempt or how it was derailed. The protest to Delhi was registered after United States President Joe Biden welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a state visit.
Apart from the diplomatic warning to India, US federal prosecutors have filed a sealed indictment against at least one suspect in a New York district court, the Financial Times reported. Prosecutors are debating whether to unseal the indictment.
The report came two months after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that there were “credible” allegations linking Indian agents to the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June.
According to the Financial Times, the US shared details of the thwarted plot to kill Pannun with a wider group of allies after Canada’s public accusation.
India has rejected Trudeau’s allegations as “absurd and motivated”.
Pannun, like Nijjar, is an advocate for Khalistan, an independent state for Sikhs. He is the general counsel of Sikhs for Justice, which was banned in India in 2019. The next year, Pannun was declared an “individual terrorist” in India under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Sikh separatist leader accused the Modi government of “using mercenaries” to target and kill those demanding to carve an independent homeland from India, The Guardian reported.
“The foiled attempt on my life on American soil by the Indian agents is transnational terrorism which is a threat to the US sovereignty, freedom of speech and democracy, so I will let the US government respond to this threat,” he said.
When asked about the Financial Times report, India’s foreign ministry said that the US had shared information about a “nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others” during recent conversations. “India takes such inputs seriously since it impinges on our own national security interests as well,” the ministry said.
On Monday, the National Investigation Agency said it has filed a case against Pannun under charges related to terrorism and criminal conspiracy, among others, for threatening those taking Air India flights after November 19.
Three persons allegedly removed the national flag from a private property in Morni, thrashed the land owner and occupied his land for not supporting the Khalistan cause. Police have registered a case. In his complaint to the police, Bhajan Lal, a resident of Silyo village, Morni, said the accused had encroached his land and removed the national flag from his property.
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The National Investigation Agency, or NIA, has registered a case against “listed terrorist” Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the founder of pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), over his video threatening passengers flying by Air India on 19 November.
Pannun had also threatened Air India Airlines with a global blockade and closure of the operations of the airline from 19 November.
On 4 November, Pannun had asked Sikhs to not fly on Air India planes on and after 19 November as their lives could be under threat.
He also issued a warning to the Government of India that “The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) would remain closed on the 19th of November.”
IGIA, located in New Delhi, is one of the world’s busiest airports.
“We are asking Sikhs not to fly AI on 19th November. There will be a global blockade and AI will not be allowed to fly anywhere across the world on 19th November. Sikhs, you do not travel by AI after 19th. It can be life-threatening,” Pannun had said.
“This is my warning to the government of India. The Indira Gandhi International Airport should remain closed on the 19th of November,” he said.
“It is the same day on which the final match of the World Terror Cup will be played. It will be shown to the world that a genocide of Sikhs happened in India and India did it. When we will liberate Punjab, the name of these airports will be Shahid Beant Singh and Shahid Satwant Singh Airport,” Pannun had said.
On Monday (20 November), the NIA has booked Pannun under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.
The SFJ founder has also been charged under sections 10 (member of an unlawful association), 13 (for taking part in or committing or advocating any unlawful activity), 16 (terrorist act), 17 (funding terrorist act), 18 (conspiring or attempting to commit, or advocating, abetting, advising or inciting a terrorist act), 18B (for recruiting of any person or persons for terrorist act) & 20 (for being a member of a terrorist gang or a terrorist organization) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
“Pannun, the self-proclaimed General Counsel’ of the outlawed ‘unlawful Association’, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), is in the eye of the storm yet again following the release and circulation of video messages on various social media platforms urging the Sikhs not to fly on Air India planes on and after 19th November claiming threat to their lives if they flew on Air India. Pannun also threatened that Air India would not be allowed to operate in the world. Pannun’s assertions and threats have triggered a high alert as well as investigations by security forces in Canada, India and certain other countries where Air India flies,” NIA said in a release.
“As part of his concerted plan to promote terror acts in India to revive terrorism in India, Pannun has been creating a false narrative around the issues prevailing in the state of Punjab, especially with regard to Sikh religion, by promoting enmity between the Sikhs in the country and other communities. The latest threat is in line with the same narrative, which Pannun has actively promoted in the past by threatening and attempting to disrupt essential transportation network systems, including the Railways, as well as Thermal Power Plants in India,” the NIA said.
SFJ was banned by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India (GoI), on 10 July, 2019, as an ‘unlawful association’ under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for its activities.
On 1 July, 2020, Pannun was listed as an ‘individual terrorist’ by the Indian government.
Pannun has been under NIA lens since 2019, when the anti-terror agency registered its first case against him. In September 2023, the NIA had confiscated his share of the house and land of the lister terrorist in Amritsar (Punjab) and Chandigarh UT. Non-Bailable warrants of arrest were issued against Pannun by the NIA Special Court on 3rd February 2021 and he was declared a ‘Proclaimed Offender (PO)’ on 29 November 2022.
Talking about the state of Khalistan, Balwinder Kaur, mother of the pro-Khalistan activistand self-styled preacher Amritpal Singh, said that to her, Khalistan signified a governance model reminiscent of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's era characterised by harmonious coexistence of individuals from diverse faiths. She said that the state would include Sikhs, Hindus and other communities living without fear.
Amritpal is currently detained in Assam’s high security Central Jail in Dibrugarh under the National Security Act.
Balwinder Kaur said this while talking to mediapersons about the ‘ardas’ ceremony scheduled to be held at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib on November 19 for the release of Bandi Singhs (Sikh prisoners).
“Khalistan is not exclusively intended for Sikhs. It encompasses Hindus as well. The call for Khalsa Raj is not misguided, it extends to everyone, including Hindus and others. This vision aligns with the inclusive governance of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's era” said Balwinder.
Calling for ‘amrit sanchar’ (Sikh initiation), to Sikh youth, she appealed to them to converge at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib in large numbers for initiation on November 19. The government disapproved of Bhai Sahib’s (Amritpal’s) initiative of Khalsa Vaheer and amrit sanchar as it was fostering awareness among the youth, enabling them to understand their rights,” she remarked.
A purported video of a mob of Khalistan supporters clashing with a Hindu crowd during a Diwali celebration in Canada's Brampton has gone viral on social media.
In the video, a group of men, carrying Khalistan flags, are seen picking up objects from the ground and reportedly throwing them at a Hindu crowd celebrating Diwali, according to the Toronto Sun.
According to a social media user who shared the video on X, the incident took place at Westwood Mall in Malton. Later, in the video, the police are seen telling the crowd to move back.
Peel Regional Police, in a statement on X, said that it was investigating the incident that took place at Westwood Square Mall on November 12.
"We are taking the appropriate measures and working with the City of Mississauga on any further actions required," the police said.
This alleged incident came a week after India recommended Canada to strengthen its framework to prevent "misuse of freedom of expression" for triggering violence, attacks on places of worship and racial minorities, and address hate crimes and speeches.
KS Mohammed Hussain, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India, put forth the recommendations while addressing the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) review meeting in Geneva last week.
"In the spirit of constructive dialogue, India recommends the following to Canada - one, further strengthen the domestic framework to prevent misuse of freedom of expression for inciting violence and disallow activities of groups which are promoting extremism. Two, effectively prevent attacks on places of worship of religious and racial minorities, strengthen legislative and other measures to address hate crimes and hate speech," Mohammed Hussain said at the UNHRC meeting
Members of the banned pro-Khalistan group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) on Monday disturbed an Indian High Commission event organised by the Vancouver Consulate General in Abbotsford, Canada, even attacking a family for attempting to pick up an Indian flag fallen on the ground, said local sources.
Organised by the Khalsa Diwan Society Abbotsford, with the help of local gurdwara, the camp to issue life certificates to community members getting pension, so they don’t have to struggle to reach Vancouver saw a huge turnout.
However, goons of SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who has been designated terrorist in India, targeted a local Sikh family of grandfather, father and small son, which had come to the Gurudwara Sahib to obtain a life certificate for their aged father, said sources. “They were attacked because they attempted to pick up an Indian flag from the ground which was being disrespected by these referendum goons," said sources.
US-based Sikh leader Sukhi Chahal told CNN-News18: “In light of this, I humbly appeal to all Canadian Gurudwara Management committees to consider boycotting individuals associated with Khalistani SFJ, including Gurpatwant Pannu and their followers. This step is crucial to safeguard the Sikh society from further radicalisation and maintain the sanctity of our places of worship."
Top Indian government sources said this only confirms what they have been maintaining for long. “Only SFJ goons are involved in attacks against India. Sikhs have been always an integral part of India and this family felt bad about the disrespect to Indian flag," they said.
“The SFJ goons and their wanted leader, who is funded by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), is doing all these things…Police are watching it without any reaction. These incidents suggest that the Canadian government also want all these things to happen against India. This validates the Indian stand of expelling Canadian diplomats," sources said.
CNN-News18 had earlier reported how Pannun is being funded by Pakistan’s ISI, citing top intelligence sources.
A fortnight ago, Pannun in a statement said that “Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has created more open conversations around India and its handling of the Khalistani independence movement".
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Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the founder of the banned Sikhs for
Justice (SFJ), has made yet another controversial comment targeting Indian
diplomats in Canada by offering to pay cash reward of $100K for arresting
Sanjay Verma, the Indian High Commissioner to Canada.
The pro-Khalistani separatist accused Verma of
"maliciously" fabricating a terror threat against Air India in order
to justify the "reward."
A video that Pannun recently shared threatened travellers on Air
India planes on November 19, the day of the Ahmedabad ICC World Cup final. It
was previously announced by the Canadian government and the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police that they are looking into a potential terror threat.
Pannun has charged Verma with fabricating a terror threat against
Air India in order to "divert attention" away from the inquiry into
the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist.
SFJ chief's threat follows Trudeau 's fresh
statement
Pannun's threat came a day after Canadian Prime
Minister Justin Trudeau in a fresh statement stated that Ottawa does not desire
a "fight" with India.
Since Justin Trudeau's
charges in September about the June shooting of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep
Singh Nijjar in the Canadian town of Surrey, diplomatic ties between Canada and
India have been strained.
Days following Trudeau's
charges, India issued a temporary suspension of visa issuance to Canadian
citizens and asked that Ottawa reduce its diplomatic personnel in India in
order to achieve parity. Since then, India has started issuing four categories
of visas to Canadians. Canada has already removed 41 diplomats and their
families from India.
"From the very
beginning when we learned of credible allegations that agents of the Indian
govt were involved in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil, we
reached out to India to ask them to work with us in getting to the bottom of
this matter. We also reached out to our friends and allies like the US and
others to work on this really serious violation of international law and of
sovereignty of a democracy. This is something that we are taking very
seriously,” Trudeau told local reporters in Ottawa. “We will continue to work
with all partners as law enforcement and investigative agencies continue to do
their work. Canada is a country that will always stand up for the rule of law
because if might start to make right again, if bigger countries can violate
international law without consequences, then the whole world gets more
dangerous for everyone,” he added.