KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
11-Jul-2019
The legal adviser of the pro-Khalistan group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun had approached the Chinese authorities and claimed that there was ‘suppression of indigenous people's democratic movements of self-determination’ not only in Punjab but also in Kashmir and north-eastern states. According to an intelligence report, SFJ had started new propaganda warfare against India through social media,especially by launching “Burn the tricolour” videos to instigate the Khalistan issue, disrupt peace, social harmony and to create unrest in India. The report says,"Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, attorney of law, New York, legal adviser, SFJ, wrote a letter to Yao Jing, ambassador of China to Pakistan informing them about the role of an Indian intelligence agency in attack on Chinese consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, on November 23, 2018”.
10-Jul-2019
The Government of India banned the pro-Khalistan radical group, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) for five years and declared it as an “unlawful association” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The US-based secessionist outfit with the primary objective of establishing an independent and sovereign country has its top leadership based in US, UK and Canada, with just 8-10 active members and negligible support base in India. SFJ enjoys strong online presence through social media accounts run in its own name or by its leaders — main promoter Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a New York-based attorney, apart from Hardip Singh Nijjar and Paramjit Singh Pamma who are principal proponents of “Referendum 2020” in Canada and UK respectively. A senior Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) official said all the major Sikh bodies consulted ahead of the five-year ban had supported the action and that the Centre had largely relied on the “material” sent by Punjab Government to impose the ban.
10-Jul-2019
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) special court in Lucknow convicted five operatives of the ‘Babbar Khalsa’ outfit facing charges under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and also conspiring to assassinate former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in 2018, apart from supporting the Khalistan movement. The NIA had filed charge sheet against five accused, Gurjant Singh alias Jinta of Saharanpur, Amrit Singh of Haryana, Karam Singh, Karamveer Singh and Jarman Singh, who belong to Shamli. They were lodged in Lucknow District jail.
08-Jul-2019
The incidents of Sikh pilgrims being recruited by Pakistani intelligence agencies for pushing the pro-Khalistan movement have become a matter of concern for Indian security establishment. The issue of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) supporting the "Referendum 2020" campaign has come to the fore a week before India meets Pakistan to discuss Kartarpur Corridor operations.
08-Jul-2019
A senior Indian security official revealed that though Pakistan banned the pro-Khalistan activities, the ISI has been promoting the agenda under the guise of Sikh pilgrimage. He revealed that Indian Sikh ‘Jathas’ (pilgrimage groups), who visit Pakistan under the Bilateral Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, are targeted by the separatist organisation. "Sikhs coming directly to Pakistan from Canada, UK and Germany are tutored on the so-called referendum campaign, which is largely funded by Islamabad," he said.
07-Jul-2019
The interrogation details of Sukhwinder Singh Sidhu, revealed that Sidhu was recruited by Rawalpindi when he visited the neighbouring country as part of a Jatha from India to visit Sikh holy shrines in Pakistan in November 2015 as part of Guru Parab celebrations. It is seriously concerned over Sikh pilgrims being recruited by Rawalpindi and used for promoting pro-Khalistan campaign “Referendum 2020”, Indian sources said.
04-Jul-2019
Indian intelligence agencies apprehend that Pakistan is more concerned and interested in opening of the Kartarpur Corridor because it wants to exploit Sikh sentiments to support the Khalistani agenda in India. The security agencies also apprehend that after opening of the corridor, Sikh radicalization will be increased manifold in the State of Punjab.
02-Jul-2019
India and Pakistan will have a second round of meeting to finalise the Kartarpur corridor modalities at Wagah on the Pakistan side of the border, on July 14. India had last week proposed that the meeting be held between July 11 and 14. Confirming the date, Pakistan asked the Indian side to convey the composition of its delegation. Pakistan also said it remained committed to expediting progress on the matter to ensure that the corridor is operationalised in time for the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak in November 2019.
01-Jul-2019
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh strongly condemned the sharing of a morphed picture of Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on social media platforms. The Pakistan-based pro-Khalistan leader and member of Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Gopal Singh Chawla has shared the Sidhu's morphed image sporting green turban with a star and crescent on his Facebook page. The photo was shared by many on social media platforms including Twitter.
01-Jul-2019
A mega exercise to fortify the ‘anti-infiltration grid’ along the Pakistan border in Punjab and Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) has been launched by the Border Security Force (BSF). The operation, code named Sudarshan, was launched on July 1, 2019, and will cover the entire over 1,000-kms length of the India-Pakistan International Border (IB) in Punjab and Jammu. While Jammu shares about 485-kms of the IB with Pakistan, about 553-kms of the front is in Punjab.
30-Jun-2019
After weeks of an impasse on the Kartarpur corridor, the Government of India has written to Pakistan, proposing the next round of talks to be held from July 11 to 14 on the Pakistani side of the Attari-Wagah border. The meeting would discuss the draft agreement on the modalities for movement of pilgrims along the Kartarpur corridor and resolve outstanding technical issues related to alignment and infrastructure along the corridor.The target was to complete the road by end September 2019 and the passenger/ pilgrim terminal by end October 2019, in time to operationalize the Kartarpur corridor on the occasion of the 550th birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev falling in November 2019. Meanwhile, India has also urged Islamabad to not promote secessionist activities while carrying out work on the corridor meant to facilitate pilgrimage to the Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan.
30-Jun-2019
The Punjab Police arrested a 28-year old person, identified as Sukhwinder Singh Sidhu alias Sukha who was working as a spy for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and allegedly passing on sensitive military information to his Pakistan based intelligence operatives from Dharamkot area in Moga District of Punjab.
29-Jun-2019
The Customs Department had seized 532 kg of suspected heroin, worth around 2,700 crores, being smuggled from Pakistan in a truck through the trade route at the Attari border. The consignment was hidden under bags of salt in the truck which had come from Pakistan and one person was also arrested while another was detained.
28-Jun-2019
India informed Canada that there is little hope for improving frosty bilateral relations if Ottawa doesn’t address New Delhi’s concerns about the burgeoning activities of Khalistani operatives and organizations. The message was conveyed by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar when he held a bilateral meeting with his Canadian counterpart, Chrystia Freeland, on the margins of the G20 Summit in Japan. However, there was no official comment on the matter from Indian and Canadian officials.
24-Jun-2019
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh lambasted Canada for its “overt and covert” support to the Khalistan movement, warning that its failure to check anti-India activities being carried out from its soil would be detrimental to its own security. Citing findings of the John Major Commission into the 1985 Kanishka Bombing as a clear endorsement of Canada’s failure to act against Khalistanis operating from its soil, the Chief Minister said that by allowing the conspirators of the “mass murder”, the Canadian government had exposed its true intent.” “It is more than apparent that Canada has been extending its support to Khalistanis despite New Delhi’s protestations,” said Singh. He also cited the Canadian Security Intelligence Service’s 2018 Public Report to express concern over the fact that anti-India activities were on the rise in Canada
18-Jun-2019
Micro-blogging site Twitter has suspended pro-Khalistan propagandist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun's account following a complaint by the Indian Government. The legal adviser of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) -Pannun's account was suspended after a complaint by Sikh community claiming that Pannun is radicalizing Sikh youth with the help of illegal immigrants in the US and Canada. UK police arrested him in 2000, when he was entering England via Germany while returning from Pakistan after receiving terror training. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison as he was associated with proscribed organization Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).
11-Jun-2019
An intelligence report has revealed that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is helping pro-Khalistan militant group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) to strengthen its network across Britain. The BKI has expanded its presence in cities like Birmingham, Derby and Coventry.
06-Jun-2019
A delegation of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) met Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking the return of rare manuscripts and documents taken from the Sikh Reference Library at the Golden Temple complex by the Army during Operation Blue Star. SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal sought return of antiques, artefacts and books allegedly taken away by the Army during the operation, pension to those from the Sikh community who quit the Army in protest, and permission for a religious procession to Pakistan on the occasion of Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary.
06-Jun-2019
Around 5,000 security personnel have been deployed across Amritsar ahead of the 35th anniversary of Operation Blue Star. Also, 500 Policemen would be present inside the Golden Temple during an event to observe the anniversary. Apart from coordinating security arrangements with the Police, the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) will also be keeping a tab on the situation with the help of CCTV cameras. Parallel Sarbat Khalsa JathedarDhian Singh Mand is also expected to reach Akal Takht and read message to the community.
05-Jun-2019
An intelligence report submitted in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) claims that Canada-based Khalistani activists, backed by the Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence(ISI), is planning to target retired Police and Army Personnel to spread terror in Punjab. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh reviewed the state’s internal security and took stock of the law and order. He ordered the police to take all possible steps to verify such reports and check the spread of rumours, which could lead panic among people.
04-Jun-2019
Dal Khalsa and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)’s annual ‘Sikh Genocide Remembrance’ march got support from Students for Society (SFS), a left leaning student body. This is the first time SFS has lent support to the march. Punjab University Student council president Kanupriya took part in the march and extended her support to the cause of Dal Khalsa, that raised demand of Khalistan during the march. “It is a time when fascism is in control of power and there is need to stand with minorities. SFS supports demand of self-determination of Dal Khalsa,” said Kanupriya. Activists led by Dal Khalsa youth leader Paramjit Singh Mand were carrying photographs of damaged Golden Temple and Akal Takht and those killed in the army action. Addressing the protest march, Dal Khalsa chief H S Dhami said: “The sentiments of sovereignty that were strengthened by the Army attack have not been buried with the passage of time and change in the political scenario.”
02-Jun-2019
Police recovered two hand grenades from a bag that was hurriedly dropped by two unidentified motorcycle borne youth at a naka (temporary check post) laid on Ajnala- Amritsar road in Amritsar District.
01-Jun-2019
Police arrested Nishan Singh, belonging to a Sikh radical organisation, in Amritsar District and recovered .32 bore revolver from his possession.
31-May-2019
As several Sikh bodies, including separatist outfits, have started preparations for observing the 35th Anniversary of the Operation Bluestar on June 6, authorities are taking all security measures to turn the holy city into a fortress. Besides, 5,000 police personnel from Amritsar and the neighboring districts of Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur and Pathankot were already deployed, the Amritsar Commissionerate Police have called six companies of paramilitary forces to maintain law and order in the city.
30-May-2019
Pro-Khalistan groups like the Dal Khalsa and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) led by Simranjit Singh Mann will hold ‘genocide remembrance marches’ across the city on the eve of the anniversary. The Dal Khalsa has also given a call for ‘Amritsar bandh’ on June 6 to mark the anniversary.