KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) was formed in
1993 by Ranjeet Singh, a small-time criminal who was involved in smuggling and
a resident of Simbal camp in Jammu. He formed KZF after he developed contacts
with cross-border smugglers in RS pura and Samba areas and encouraged Sikh
youths of Jammu area to join terror ranks. Ranjeet Singh was arrested in 1993
in Maharashtra. However, he escaped from Police custody in December 1995 and
reached Pakistan via Nepal. Currently the KZF founder resides in Lahore and has
been involved in cross-border weapons smuggling.
KZF was created with the objective of creating
independent ‘Sikh homeland’ through armed violence. Despite its objective for
creation of ‘Sikh homeland’, KZF have been involved in sectarian violence. One
such example was the killing of Sant Ramanand of Dera Sach Khand Ballan in a
Gurudwara by KZF militants in May 2009 in Vienna (Austria). KZF has also
attempted to target Baba Gurinder Singh Dhillon, Chief of Radha Swami Sect in
Vienna in July 2010. They have also been involved in extortion, looting,
killings and attacks in public places. In February 2008, KZF planned an attack
on the convoy of Dera Sach Sauda leader Baba Gurmeet Singh Ram Rahim in
association with Harmnder Singh and Baba Bakshish Singh.
The initial Area of Operation (AO) was in Jammu
and later spread to Punjab. The outfit is mostly operating in the district of
Punjab adjoining Jammu. However, it has also carried out terror attacks in the
National Capital of India. KZF also has international presence in Switzerland
Italy, Germany, UK, USA, Austria, Belgium, Canada and Nepal. Although KZF has
been unsuccessful in executing any terror attacks in India in the recent years,
it still has a considerable hold in Sikh dominated Simbal camp in Jammu. Pro-secessionist
supporters are found highly amongst the Jammu based Sikh community,
particularly in Poonch District. In June 2014 Neeta tried to recruit cadres for
KZF from Simbal Camp region (Jammu) through his old associates namely Harpreet
Singh Ranjeet Singh (based in Spain) who were to be sent to Pakistan for arms
training via Malaysia.
The revenue generated from narcotic smuggling from Pakistan to India is one of the main revenue sources for KZF. Additionally, cross border smuggling of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICNs) and donations from sympathizers to the Khalistani cause is are also the primary source of revenue generation for the terrorist group.
KZF has linkages with Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan as well as Jihadi groups such as Hizbul Muzahideen (HM), Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). It also has nexus with multiple Khalistani groups such as Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). It has been reported that ISI has been encouraging Khalistani militant groups such as BKI, KZF and Khalistan Liberation Front (KLF) to coordinate their operations in Punjab.
KZF has predominantly targeted unarmed
civilians by executing blasts in public places and target public transport
vehicles with an objective to disturb the social fabric of Punjab. They have
also targeted political functionaries, Government officials and religious
figure heads. KZF has used social media
to target susceptible individuals to join its ranks. Ranjeet Singh and his
associates attempt to recruit Sikhs via social media platforms, besides
targeting those visiting Pakistan with Sikh pilgrim jatha. The KZF ‘chief’ with
connivance of ISI has been actively involved in imparting IED making and
weapons training to Sikh youths visiting Pakistan.
Although lately they haven’t been successful in
executing any terrorist incident in India, KZF had orchestrated and executed at
least five explosions in India between January 2000-06. Between 2007-2010 Ranjeet Singh succeeded in
forming four KZF modules in Punjab. In 2007 Ranjeet Singh had supplied a large
quantity of explosives and detonators to its module members to carry out
attacks in Punjab
In 2019, four KZF militants were arrested along
with a cache of arms and ammunition from Chohla Sahib village in Tarn Taran
District in Punjab. The recovered arms and ammunition includes Five AK-47
rifles, 16 magazines and 472 rounds of ammunition, four Chinese-made 30 bore
pistols, eight magazines and 72 rounds of ammunition and nine hand grenadesFICN
worth INR one million was also recovered from the arrested militants. One of
the arrestees identified as Balwant Singh was earlier a member of BKI. They
were planning to execute attacks in Punjab and its adjoining states
KZF is currently headed by Pakistan based
Ranjeet Singh alias Neeta. Additionally, some of its top militants are based in
USA, Europe and West Asia. They coordinate KZF’s activities by providing
monetary and logistical assistance.
Germany based Gurmit Singh alias Bagga,
Bhupinder Singh alias Bhinda and Avtar Singh Hundal, Shaminder Singh alias Sherry,
USA based Balwinder Singh Possi, Harjap Singh alias
Japhi
UAE based Satnam Singh alias Satta
KCF
is banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 by the Union
Ministry Home Ministry, Government of India.