KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR

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.

According to a Khalsa Vox report published on January 19, Pakistani cinema is increasingly being used to promote anti-India propaganda and advance the Khalistani agenda by exploiting religious symbols and sacred sites. It notes that filmmakers restricted in India find refuge in Pakistan to produce unrestricted pro-Khalistan content that spreads widely on social media. The report also highlights how state-backed filmmakers, influencers, and media houses use cinema to deflect attention from Pakistan’s domestic failures, including corruption and misgovernance in Punjab. Additionally, it points out that Pakistani films have long portrayed Sikh characters—especially women—through controversial tropes such as Islamization and “conversion romance,” which Sikh leaders denounce as insulting.

According to reports, Indian Sikh woman Sarabjit Kaur, who married a Pakistani national during a pilgrimage, is likely to be deported after being taken into custody by Pakistani authorities on January 4 for overstaying her single-entry visa.

According to reports, a Canadian police officer on May 28 revealed that the India-based Lawrence Bishnoi gang, allegedly linked to Canada’s growing extortion crisis, had sent a letter to a police station in Abbotsford, British Columbia, in August 2025 claiming it had 1,000 foot soldiers willing to carry out shootings. Testifying at a deportation hearing, Constable Kevin St. Louis told the Immigration and Refugee Board that the letter outlined the gang’s criminal network and its role in extortion activities. He said the letter also stated that “every business needs to pay their tax,” indicating the group’s financial motives behind the threats and extortion racket. The Abbotsford Police Department later confirmed receiving the letter.

Dinesh Patnaik, in an interview published by The Globe and Mail on May 26, strongly rejected allegations of Indian state involvement in crimes on Canadian soil, describing several of the claims as “fantasy.” He also questioned the credibility of Canadian intelligence agencies over their handling of the Khalistan issue. Patnaik alleged that sections of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) had been influenced by Khalistani separatist groups operating from Canada and claimed there was a widespread perception in India that Canada’s security establishment had been “compromised.” Referring to the Nijjar investigation and broader allegations of Indian interference, Patnaik stated that Khalistani groups had turned Canada into a base for separatist activities directed against Punjab. He further argued that intelligence narratives against India had been shaped by political considerations, while distinguishing what he termed “real issues” related to extremism and security concerns from allegations linking the Indian government to criminal acts in Canada.

Peel Regional Police arrested 17 suspects, most of them young men of Punjabi origin, linked to a violent criminal network allegedly involved in extortion, shootings and arson attacks targeting South Asian business owners in the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada. According to police, the group, known as “Four Brothers,” was involved in multiple violent incidents targeting restaurants, trucking companies and other businesses in Brampton, Mississauga, Caledon and parts of British Columbia, with links extending to California in the United States (US). Investigators alleged that the network used intimidation, threats and escalating violence to extort local businesses. The investigation began in December 2025 as a joint operation involving Ontario Provincial Police, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre (FINTRAC) of Canada. Police said the 17 accused were linked to 24 incidents, including 16 violent attacks allegedly connected to the “Four Brothers” group, involving arson and multiple shootings in which 324 rounds were fired. Authorities further stated that six of the accused could face immigration action, including possible deportation following the conclusion of criminal proceedings.

According to reports, gunshots fired at the residence of Arvinder Khosa in Surrey, Canada, on May 20 were reportedly linked to an extortion case, with probe agencies investigating the possible involvement of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The Surrey Police Service (SPS) has launched an investigation into the shooting incident.

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.

United Kingdom (UK)-based Sikh activist Harman Singh Kapoor, a vocal critic of Khalistani extremism, on January 2 alleged that his London home was attacked multiple times within an hour while police failed to respond. Kapoor, who was abroad at the time, posted urgent messages on X seeking public help, claiming his property was repeatedly vandalised and accusing the Metropolitan Police of not attending despite his calls. He said his family had to be safeguarded as attackers smashed the windows of his cars parked outside. Kapoor has earlier stated that his opposition to radical Khalistani elements has made him a target of threats and attacks.

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.

United States (US)-based Khalistani activist Surinder Singh Thikriwala on May 2 denied involvement in the April 27 Shambhu railway track blast in Patiala, calling the allegation “completely fabricated.” However, he confirmed the role of Pakistan-based Ranjeet Singh alias Neeta, head of the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF). Speaking to The Indian Express, Thikriwala said he was unaware of any communication by the Indian government with the US regarding his deportation. Thikriwala, a US-based truck driver, said he had no personal contact with Jagroop, who was killed while he was allegedly attempting to plant an IED, adding that he had shared his photos on social media only as a gesture of sympathy.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of the banned pro-Khalistan outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), claimed in a statement that India is a place where the Sikh community has faced prolonged persecution. He endorsed remarks attributed to United States President Donald Trump, asserting that Sikhs have been subjected to injustices across successive governments, and alleged that under the current administration they face economic hardship and discrimination.

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.

At least 11 people were injured after a violent clash broke out at a gurdwara in Moers, near Duisburg in Germany on April 19. Reports indicate that over 40 individuals were involved, prompting a large police response. Videos circulating online, reportedly from inside the gurdwara, show two groups engaged in a physical altercation, with some participants allegedly using sharp weapons, including knives and kirpans. Authorities stated that at least one suspect has been detained, and investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the violence and those responsible.

Two Indian men, Rajinder Singh and Gurmit Singh, were shot dead by an unidentified assailant as they were leaving a warehouse used as Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur Ji during a Baisakhi gathering in Covo, Bergamo province, Italy, on April 17. A third person was also injured in the attack. The assailant allegedly approached the victims, opened fire, and fled in a car. Around 10 shell casings were recovered from the scene, with authorities probing the possibility of a “coldly planned execution.” A witness told reporters that the shooter was “an Indian” who also frequented the gurdwara.