KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
26-Aug-2024
United States (US) National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan on August 26 described the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada last year as an 'assassination' and stated that the US and Canada are cooperating at every level on the case. Sullivan made these comments while attending a Canadian Cabinet retreat in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He also met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the retreat and emphasized that both countries take a firm stance against attempted or actual assassinations.
24-Aug-2024
In an interview with the Canadian daily The National Post, Khalistani separatist Satinder Pal Singh Raju, a close associate of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, claimed that the Indian government was behind the attack on him. Raju was shot at while traveling on Interstate 505 in Yolo County, California, United States (US) on August 11.
20-Aug-2024
Indo-Canadian community groups, including the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) and Canadian Hindu Volunteers (CHV), issued statements condemning pro-Khalistan elements (PKE) for targeting Hindus at the India Day Parade on August 18 in Toronto, Canada. During the event, PKEs shouted slogans such as 'Canadian Hindus go back to India.' These organizations highlighted the persistent Hinduphobia in Canada and urged authorities to take immediate action against such hate-filled acts, which they claim are often overlooked.
18-Aug-2024
The recent protests by Khalistan extremists in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, highlight a troubling trend where extremist agendas are disrupting India-Canada diplomatic and economic relations. The Canadian government's apparent tolerance of these activities, possibly for political gains, risks undermining both nations' interests and emboldening other extremist groups globally. To uphold its stance on human rights and international diplomacy, Canada must take firm action against such extremism.
18-Aug-2024
The India Day Parade, organized by Panorama India and co-hosted with the Indian Consulate, took place in Toronto, Canada, on August 18, attracting nearly 150,000 visitors and featuring the largest Indian flag outside of India. Nearby, Khalistanis gathered to disrupt the event, promoting a 'face-off' between 'Khalistani Sikhs' and 'Canadian Hindus,' leading to a significant security presence at the parade to manage the heightened risk.
18-Aug-2024
A viral video on social media captured the disruption of the India Day Parade on August 18 by dozens of Khalistani extremists shouting 'go back to India' at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto, Canada. The incident follows a similar confrontation in Surrey, Canada, on India's Independence Day, August 15.
15-Aug-2024
According to a report by News 18, one of the accused in the murder case of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was attacked by a fellow inmate inside a detention centre in Surrey, Canada. The individual, who remains unidentified, is reportedly safe and did not sustain serious injuries. Canada's Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) had arrested three Indian nationals—Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karanpreet Singh—on May 3 in connection with Nijjar's killing.
15-Aug-2024
Toronto Police Deputy Chief Robert Johnson on August 15 announced the arrest of 32 individuals and the seizure of over CAD 1 million worth of cocaine and methamphetamine as part of 'Project Foxx,' an investigation into the Jamestown Crips gang in Toronto, Canada. The operation, which began in September 2023, involved searches of 35 homes across various locations, including Toronto, Hamilton, Vaughan, Brampton, Mississauga, Guelph, and Thompson. It led to the confiscation of nine guns, 4.7 kg of cocaine, 6 kg of methamphetamine, and CAD 320,000 in cash. The gang, long-established in Toronto's Rexdale neighbourhood, was using Canada Post to distribute drugs across multiple provinces, including Ontario, Manitoba, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
15-Aug-2024
On August 15, an event where a large Indian crowd had gathered to celebrate India's Independence Day was disrupted by counter-protests from a pro-Khalistan group in the Strawberry Hill area of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. The situation escalated as both groups clashed, prompting police intervention. Despite the confrontation, no injuries were reported, and the police successfully dispersed the crowds without making any arrests.
11-Aug-2024
A report by the Digital Forensics Research and Analytics Center (DFRAC) on the Khalistan Referendum, which entered its fourth year with the latest event held on July 28 at Calgary Municipal Plaza in Alberta, Canada, reveals significant digital activity related to the event. The referendum, organized by the Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), received extensive promotion on social media platforms, particularly X, by Khalistani extremists, including Jagjeet Singh, Gurpreet Sahota, and Sarbraj Singh Kahlon. Pakistani media and accounts also contributed by amplifying the referendum and spreading misinformation. Google Trends data shows a peak in interest on the day of the event, reflecting the growing digital influence of the Khalistan movement.
10-Aug-2024
On August 10, the residence of Raghbir Nijjar, former president of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurudwara and a close associate of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was fired upon in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) reported that the incident occurred around 3:10 a.m.
07-Aug-2024
The trial against four Indian nationals accused of murdering pro-Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar—identified as Karanpreet Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, Karan Brar, and Amandeep Singh—resumed on August 7 in Surrey, Canada. The trial was then adjourned until October 1.
05-Aug-2024
A Sikh social media account sparked a humorous debate by suggesting that if the Khalistani movement fails in India, Khalistan could instead be established in Canada. The post, which was quickly deleted, proposed that the Sikh diaspora in Canada could outnumber the native population and claim Canadian resources. This idea, met with mockery and amusement online, highlights the opportunistic nature of some Khalistani supporters and raises concerns about their shifting ambitions. The incident underscores the potential for extremism to disrupt even nations that offer refuge.
05-Aug-2024
The Hindu and Sikh communities in Canada marked the fifth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 at a celebratory event on August 5 in Mississauga, Ontario. Over 150 attendees praised the decision, which ended Jammu and Kashmir's (J&K) special status and divided the region into two Union Territories (UTs). Speakers, including Hindu Forum Canada President Rao Yendamuri and Canadian Jewish commentator Daniel Boardman, highlighted the positive impacts of the abrogation and celebrated the Modi government's actions. The event featured prayers, dinner, DJ music, and Punjabi bhangra dances.
02-Aug-2024
According to a recent poll by the agency Leger for the Association of Canadian Studies, 60 percent of Canadians now believe there are “too many” immigrants, marking a notable increase from previous years. This shift in sentiment, which has risen from 35 percent in March 2019, has coincided with a rise in xenophobia, particularly targeting Indian and Sikh communities. The increase in racist incidents, including physical attacks and online harassment, reflects broader concerns over immigration and cost-of-living issues. Experts warn that this backlash, driven by discontent with government policies, risks fostering a climate of open racism.
02-Aug-2024
A Pakistani-origin man allegedly linked to Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and anti-India elements, identified as Rahat Rao, was set on fire near the 10200 block of City Parkway in Surrey, Canada, on August 2. Rao, who has been associated with pro-Khalistan activities and drug trafficking, is suspected of playing a role in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, whom Rao and Tariq Kiyani reportedly targeted due to competition in the drug trade.
01-Aug-2024
Canadian law enforcement, specifically the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s (RCMP) South Community Response Unit (SCRU), seized several firearms on August 1 from a residential property linked to a pro-Khalistan activist in Surrey, British Columbia. This action followed a video circulating online that showed people with weapons at a pre-wedding event, which was connected to Harjit Singh Pattar, an associate of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and the secessionist group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ).
01-Aug-2024
According to sources, the recently held Khalistan Referendum in Calgary, Canada, fell flat, attracting only a few hundred attendees and highlighting the movement's lack of support. This failure underscored the Sikh community's rejection of extremism and their commitment to peace and unity. The referendum's poor turnout revealed the movement's desperate bid for relevance, disproving the claims of its proponents.
31-Jul-2024
According to a report by Bloomberg, Indian and Canadian intelligence officers have been holding multiple meetings and collaborating after five men were arrested near Brampton, Canada, on firearms charges on November 3, 2023. The arrests came a day before the wedding of a prominent Sikh leader's son, raising concerns that the men might have been targeting key attendees, including Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Khalistani terrorist and the chief of the banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ).
28-Jul-2024
According to Pakistani sources, on July 28, over 53,000 Sikhs participated in the Khalistan Referendum organized by the banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), at the Municipal Plaza in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The event was dedicated to Khalistani terrorist Talwinder Singh Parmar, the mastermind behind the 1985 Air India bombings. SFJ leader and Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in his speech at the rally, accused Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi of targeting Sikhs. He promised to pursue their homeland through voting and warned of "Khalsai Insaf" (Khalsai Justice), along with chants of “Delhi Banega Khalistan.”