KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR

Police on June 18 arrested Sher Shah, the prime suspect in the double murder of a Sikh caretaker couple who were shot dead at a gurdwara in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan on June 17. According to police, investigations have so far found no evidence linking the accused to any banned outfit, terrorist organisation, or organised network.

A Sikh caretaker couple, Jagannath and his wife Asma Wanti, were shot dead inside a gurdwara in the Babu Mohallah area of Mardan, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan on June 17. According to Mardan District Police Officer Masood Ahmed, unidentified assailants opened fire inside the gurdwara, killing the couple. Police have launched an investigation and are working to determine the motive behind the attack and identify those responsible.

On April 29, marking the 40th year of the Khalistan Declaration, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), speaking from the Karachi Press Club in Pakistan, announced the launch of Khalistan Referendum voter registration for Sikhs in India. The group issued a message reaffirming what it described as a global Sikh commitment to the “liberation of Punjab” and the establishment of Khalistan. SFJ chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun claimed that Pakistan’s response to India had enhanced its global standing, alleging that recent developments had positioned the country as a rising power. He also stated that Field Marshal Asim Munir had emerged as a voice for peace during the US-Iran tensions, and asserted that former US President Donald Trump had acknowledged his role on multiple occasions.

Banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun alleged in a statement that India’s intelligence agency sponsored and orchestrated recent terrorist attacks in Balochistan, Pakistan. He claimed the attacks were aimed at destabilizing Pakistan, undermining the interests of Pakistan and the United States (US), and discouraging US investment in the country.

On June 17, Canada enacted Bill C-9 after it received Royal Assent from the Governor General. The legislation amends the Criminal Code to strengthen measures against hate propaganda, hate crimes, and intimidation that obstructs access to religious and cultural institutions. The law creates new offences for intentionally provoking fear to impede a person's access to places of worship or facilities used by identifiable groups, as well as for obstructing or interfering with lawful access to such locations. The amendments have been welcomed by some community groups, who argue that they could help address incidents involving protests and intimidation outside religious sites. The legislation comes amid concerns over demonstrations by pro-Khalistan groups outside Hindu temples in Canada, including a recent protest at the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey, British Columbia.

On June 11, gunshots were reportedly fired at a sweet shop in Brampton, Canada, with a purported video of the incident widely circulating on social media. The video allegedly shows an individual loading a firearm inside a vehicle before firing six to seven shots at the shop. Following the incident, a social media post from an account operating under the name Aarzoo Bishnoi claimed responsibility for the attack, alleging that it was carried out by Aarzoo Bishnoi, his younger brother Tyson Bishnoi, and Shubham Lokar. The post claimed that the shop owner had ignored their calls for several days and that the firing was intended to “teach him a lesson.” It also rejected rumours of a rift between the Bishnoi brothers, asserting that they remained united. Authorities had not independently verified the claim at the time of reporting.

Three Punjabi youths, identified as Taranveer Singh, Harjot Singh, and Dayajeet Singh Billing, were sentenced by Surrey Provincial Court, on June 9 for their involvement in a February 1 extortion-linked shooting at a residence in Surrey, in British Columbia, Canada. Taranveer Singh received a five-year prison term for reckless discharge of a firearm, while Billing and Harjot Singh were each sentenced to just over two years for throwing an explosive substance. The attack, which involved gunfire and a small fire outside the residence, was linked by police to ongoing extortion-related threats in the area. The three will serve their sentences in Canada, after which deportation proceedings may be initiated.

Canada’s CBC's premier investigative documentary series, The Fifth Estate, reported that a man shot dead in a targeted daylight attack at an office building in Surrey, British Columbia on May 4 was allegedly a key handler of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and had purported links to cricket-fixing activities. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Integrated Homicide Investigation Team confirmed that the victim was killed inside an office in a commercial complex in Surrey but did not disclose his identity or a motive for the shooting. According to The Fifth Estate, the victim was Gurvikramjeet Singh Warring alias Satveer Singh Warring alias Sam Canada alias Sam. Sources cited by the programme alleged that gunmen entered the building, shot Warring, and left without attempting to conceal their actions. The identities of the sources were withheld due to concerns over possible retaliation.

According to reports, pro-Khalistan activists disrupted an outreach consular event organised by the Indian High Commission in Sutton, South London, United Kingdom (UK), last weekend. The activists reportedly entered the venue—a primary school building—waving Khalistan flags, confronted organisers, and objected to the event, arguing that Indian officials had no right to hold it there. They also raised pro-Khalistan slogans and demanded access to the visiting officials. The all-day event, organised by Indian Friends of Sutton, was intended to assist members of the Indian community with passport renewals, Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards, and visa-related services. Approximately 500 people attended the programme. Reports further indicated that a Tamil-language class for children was underway in another part of the building when the disruption occurred.

Indian-origin restaurateur Harman Singh Kapoor has been arrested days after announcing the closure of his 16-year-old restaurant Rangrez in the United Kingdom (UK), citing threats from Pakistani individuals and a lack of support from the police. Responding to a post on social media, Kapoor confirmed his arrest but did not disclose the exact reason. He stated, “All I did was protect my family, yet I was the one arrested. Instead of protecting us, the police targeted my religion—my Sikh faith and my beliefs. This is deeply troubling.”

An Indian-origin drug dealer, Naginder Gill, was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment by Bolton Crown Court in northwest England, United Kingdom (UK) on January 29 for plotting multiple firearms and drug offences. Using the EncroChat handle “indianoceon,” Gill conspired with Carl Ian Jones and Harly Wise to trade military-grade weapons. Jones was sentenced to 30 years and Wise to 25 years in the same case, following an investigation by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA).

According to reports, pro-Khalistani activist Paramjeet Singh Pamma was advised by United Kingdom (UK) police to install security cameras and reinforce door locks at his residence following alleged threats from Hindu nationalist elements, raising renewed concerns about transnational repression on British soil. Pamma stated that police had visited him and issued verbal security advisories based on intelligence inputs indicating potential threats to his safety. He further accused UK ministers of failing to take what he described as “relentless” transnational repression by India seriously.

A pro-Khalistan demonstrator was arrested after jumping onto the stage with a flag and disrupting a concert by Diljit Dosanjh in San Francisco, United States (US) on June 19. The incident briefly caused panic before venue security personnel and local police intervened, restrained the individual, and took him into custody. Dosanjh continued his performance during the disruption and resumed entertaining the audience after the protester was removed. The incident occurred amid reports of online threats and attempts by hardline pro-Khalistan elements, including supporters of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), to target Dosanjh over his appearances in mainstream Indian media.

According to United States (US) court records, the sentencing of Indian national Nikhil Gupta, who pleaded guilty in February to charges related to a plot to assassinate Khalistani separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US, has been postponed to September 25 from its original date of May 29. Gupta faces a potential prison sentence of 19 to 23 years. His legal team requested the delay to allow additional time to review case records and prepare arguments seeking the lowest possible sentence.

A Punjabi-origin man, Jashanpreet Singh, founder of the outlaw motorcycle club ‘Punjabi Devils’ in Stockton, California, was sentenced on May 12 to five years and four months in a United States (US) federal prison for illegal firearms trafficking and possession of a machine gun. The Stockton-based gang, reportedly linked to the ‘Hells Angels’, used patches featuring a map of Punjab and a turbaned skull, reflecting the group’s Punjabi identity. According to the US Department of Justice, Singh attempted to sell a cache of weapons, including assault rifles, machine gun conversion devices and a revolver, to an undercover officer on June 6, 2025. A search of his residence led to the seizure of additional firearms, explosives, a silencer, high-capacity magazines and a suspected Claymore mine. Singh was arrested at San Francisco International Airport on July 26, 2025, while allegedly attempting to flee to India after skipping a court appearance.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), released a video threatening Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh and warned that the group would oppose his upcoming music shows in the United States. The threat followed Dosanjh’s remarks during his Aura 2026 concert in Calgary, where he reportedly confronted pro-Khalistan supporters for waving Khalistan flags and raising anti-India slogans. Dosanjh also allegedly directed security personnel to remove the individuals from the venue, drawing applause from sections of the audience.

According to reports, French security forces on June 16 detained several individuals allegedly linked to the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) near the G7 Summit venue in Évian-les-Bains, France. The suspects were reportedly intercepted following intelligence inputs indicating a plan to disrupt the movement of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's motorcade after his bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. French anti-terror and local police units secured the area and took the suspects into custody without any reported disruption to the summit proceedings. Reports further stated that the detained individuals are facing legal action for allegedly breaching security restrictions around a protected diplomatic convoy.

The Lawrence Bishnoi Gang has reportedly claimed responsibility for two shooting incidents targeting Indian nationals in Portugal. In a social media post, Rahul RK Meena, allegedly linked to the Sunil Meena Gang, claimed the attacks were carried out by an alliance of international criminal syndicates. The group claimed responsibility for a recent shooting at the residence of Gurpreet Singh Gill in Vila Nova de Milfontes and an earlier attack on Gurdeep Singh in Sintra on May 6. Describing the shootings as warning attacks, the post threatened further violence and asserted the syndicate's reach across multiple countries. The claims remain unverified, and authorities are reportedly investigating possible links to transnational criminal networks.

According to reports in sections of the Pakistan media, Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi faced protests by pro-Khalistan activists during his reported visit to Oslo, Norway, where he was said to be receiving the country’s “Grand Cross” award. Demonstrators allegedly gathered outside the venue, raising slogans against the Indian Prime Minister and accusing his government of promoting “Hindutva extremism.” Protesters reportedly displayed banners and chanted slogans targeting Modi, while heavy security arrangements were in place during the visit.

Investigators believe the April 17 shooting of two Punjabi-origin men outside a gurdwara in Covo, Bergamo province, Italy, was premeditated. Preliminary findings indicate that the main shooter, also of Indian origin, and his accomplices were known to frequent the gurdwara. Eyewitnesses reported that four suspects arrived in two cars and opened fire around 11:50 pm before fleeing the scene in their vehicles.