KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
29-Apr-2026
On April 29, Punjab Police, on day 424 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 144 drug smugglers, and seized 4.1 kg of heroin, 55 kg of poppy husk, 647 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 1.13 lakh drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
29-Apr-2026
Police on April 29 recovered a cache of sophisticated arms including an rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), a 2.296-kg metallic IED, three detonators with wiring and battery, 1.456 kg of RDX, a P-86 hand grenade, and three pistols, along with magazines, 84 live cartridges, wireless sets, a headphone, and timer switches, from Panjwarh Khurd village in Tarn Taran district. The recovery followed the interrogation of Satnam Singh alias Satta—brother of Jagroop Singh, who was killed while planting an IED near Shambhu on April 27—which helped foil another terror plot. Arrested on April 28 with three others, Satta revealed that much of the consignment had been concealed in a stable and car at the village. Investigations indicate the module was backed by a Malaysia-based handler using the name Jujhar Singh, with financial channels routed through Malaysia, and links to United States (US)-based Surinder Singh Thikriwal and Pakistan-based Ranjeet Singh alias Neeta, a designated terrorist.
29-Apr-2026
On the morning of April 29, several schools in Gurugram, Haryana, received hoax bomb threat emails allegedly sent by a group calling itself the “Khalistan National Army,” prompting police searches across campuses. The email also threatened Haryana Chief Minister (CM) Nayab Singh Saini, demanding April 29 be declared the “40th Khalistan Declaration Day,” and warned of an attack on Red Fort in New Delhi. Police later confirmed the threat was a hoax, as no suspicious items were found after extensive checks.
29-Apr-2026
A local court in Bathinda on April 29 extended the judicial custody of Amritpal Singh Mehron—a Nihang from Mehron village in Moga district and the prime accused in the murder of social media influencer Kanchan Kumari alias Kamal Kaur Bhabhi—by 14 days, till May 13. He was produced via video conference. Amritpal had fled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after the alleged killing in June 2025 and was deported to India on April 10, 2026.
29-Apr-2026
Punjab Police have installed over 2,291 CCTV cameras at 585 locations along the border belt, creating a high-tech second line of defence against organised crime. While the BSF continues to guard the international boundary, police aim to ensure that any contraband that slips through is intercepted before reaching the interior. According to Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, this layer is reinforced by bringing 41 police stations in border districts under comprehensive CCTV coverage, forming a wider real-time monitoring and response network. He added that anti-drone vigilance has also been intensified, particularly in districts prone to repeated arms and narcotics smuggling.
29-Apr-2026
Marking the 40th anniversary of the 1986 declaration, hundreds of activists from various Sikh organisations, led by Simranjit Singh Mann, Daljit Singh, Kanwar Pal Singh, and Narien Singh, marched on April 29 from Burj Akali Baba Phoola Singh to the Golden Temple in Amritsar district. Participants included members of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Dal Khalsa, Panch Pardani Jatha, Akal Federation, and the Jathedar Hawara Committee. A policy document was released outside the Akal Takht Secretariat, stating that their struggle was rooted in the Gurmat ideal of “Sarbat da Bhala.” It emphasised that the Khalsa Panth seeks to achieve its objectives through love, compassion, and the Guru’s grace. Young leaders also underlined their opposition to disorder and called for similar restraint from others.
29-Apr-2026
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on April 29 strongly criticised a march by five Sikh organisations marking the 40th anniversary of the so-called “Khalistan Declaration,” asserting that any attempt to mislead Sikhs and disturb Punjab’s peace would fail. The procession was taken out from Burj Akali Baba Phoola Singh to the Golden Temple. BJP Punjab spokesperson Sarchand Singh said some Sikh leaders were invoking the Sarbat Khalsa congregation of January 26, 1986, at the Akal Takht to serve their political interests.
28-Apr-2026
Khanna police on April 28 arrested 10 suspects in eight separate cases, seizing 80 intoxicating pills, 12 grams of ICE (crystal meth), 19.2 grams of heroin, and 16 grams of narcotic powder, in Ludhiana district.
28-Apr-2026
Patiala Police on April 28 said the low-intensity blast on a railway track near Bothonia village, between Shambu and Rajpura in Patiala district, on April 27 was a “detonation attempt by the accused,” who died in the explosion. Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Varun Sharma said that, “We are working on the case along with the Government Railway Police and the Railway Protection Force.”
28-Apr-2026
Patiala Police on April 28 arrested four “highly radicalised” pro-Khalistan accused, allegedly part of an ISI-backed terror module linked to the April 27 rail track blast in Patiala, identified as Pardeep Singh Khalsa, Kulwinder Singh, Satnam Singh alias Satta, and Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi and recovered military-grade material including a hand grenade, two .30 bore pistols with ammunition, sophisticated communication devices suspected to be intended for further detonations, and laptops used to stay in contact with handlers, from the accused in Tarn Taran district. Another module member was killed while attempting to detonate the explosive and his mutilated body was later found at the blast site near Bothonia village between Shambu and Rajpura in Patiala district on April 27. According to investigators, the arrested individuals are habitual offenders facing multiple FIRs. Police identified Pardeep Singh Khalsa as the kingpin of the module, alleging he maintained links with Malaysia-based pro-Khalistani elements as well as Pakistan-based arms suppliers. Initial investigations suggest Khalsa facilitated the movement of radicalised youth to Malaysia for training before assigning them roles in terror-related activities. The accused are also believed to have formed a radical outfit named “Chalda Vaheer Chakarwarti, Attariye.”
28-Apr-2026
Khalistani terrorist organisation, Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) on April 28, through a social media post, claimed responsibility for the April 27 rail track blast in Patiala, in which a suspect was killed while attempting to detonate the explosive meant to damage the track. A suspected KTF operative, Jaswinder Singh Multani, currently based in Germany, reportedly made the claim. Meanwhile, noting that this was the second blast targeting a freight corridor in the past three months, a senior police officer indicated that a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is likely. While initially treated as a low-intensity explosion, investigators have since concluded that it was an attempted detonation, police said.
28-Apr-2026
According to sources, investigators now believe recent railway track explosions in Punjab were not just meant to create fear, but to disrupt the economy by targeting key freight infrastructure, especially the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) linking Ludhiana to West Bengal. This corridor is vital for moving industrial and agricultural goods, and disruptions could impact supply chains across northern and eastern India. Special Director General of Police (DGP) (Railways) Shashi Prabha Dwivedi said similarities in recent incidents suggest a common network. Both the January 23 blast near Sirhind and the April 27 attempt near Rajpura were timed with passing goods trains, indicating a clear focus on disrupting freight movement rather than harming passengers. DGP indicated that such attacks reflect a shift in strategy, with critical infrastructure like freight corridors—vital to economic activity—being increasingly viewed as high-impact vulnerabilities.
28-Apr-2026
The mother of Jagroop Singh, who died in the April 27 railway track blast near Patiala, on April 28 claimed that her younger son, Satnam Singh—detained by Patiala Police for questioning—is innocent and not involved in any unlawful activity. Jagroop Singh was killed when an explosive device detonated during an alleged attempt to sabotage the track. “He has nothing to do with this. He was living on his own,” she said, referring to Satnam Singh.
28-Apr-2026
On April 28, the 98th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police arrested 251 persons and recovered five weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 80 individuals, while 57 persons were verified and released after questioning. Three proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
28-Apr-2026
On April 28, Punjab Police, on day 423 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 94 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 125 drug smugglers, and seized 474 grams of heroin, 1.5 kg of opium, 55 kg of poppy husk, 3042 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 6,060 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
27-Apr-2026
Two unidentified youths hurled a grenade at a shop owned by BJP leader Ashok Sharma in the Islamabad area of Gurdaspur district on April 27, but it failed to detonate as the pin was not removed. Sharma’s son, Atal Sharma, also a BJP leader, who was present at the shop at the time, escaped unhurt. “The grenade could have caused immense damage had it detonated. People living in the crowded area and nearby shopkeepers had a providential escape,” a senior police officer said.
27-Apr-2026
A drone was discovered inside the premises of Trident Group’s Dhaula village plant on Mansa Road in Barnala district on April 27. It was spotted around 5:30 am in the paper manufacturing division after workers noticed an unidentified object falling from the sky, which was later confirmed to be a drone.
27-Apr-2026
On April 27, the 97th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 486 raids, arrested 240 persons and recovered six weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 56 individuals, while 51 persons were verified and released after questioning. Six proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
27-Apr-2026
On April 27, Punjab Police, on day 422 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 132 drug smugglers, and seized 4.1 kg of heroin, 23 kg of poppy husk, 704 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 38000 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
27-Apr-2026
Bhindi Saida police station SHO (Station House Officer) Shashpal Singh was arrested for alleged procedural lapses in handling a major drug seizure near the India–Pakistan border in Amritsar district. Amritsar (Rural) Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sohail Qasim Mir said a drone carrying suspected heroin and ammunition crashed in Bhagtupura Bet village and was seized by the SHO. However, the SHO failed to record the seizure or file an FIR, and a preliminary inquiry confirmed negligence by him and his gunman.
27-Apr-2026
Waris Punjab De on April 27 alleged that Sikh inmates were being harassed and their religious sentiments disrespected in Punjab’s prisons, urging immediate action from the state government and the Director General of Police (Prisons). In the statement, Tarsem Singh, father of Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, described reports of mistreatment in jails across the state as serious and disturbing, raising concerns over the treatment of Sikh prisoners.
27-Apr-2026
According to reports, Sikh hardline and separatist organisations have announced a series of events in India and abroad to mark the 40th anniversary of Khalistan Declaration. Programmes are scheduled in Amritsar and in cities across Europe and North America, including Brussels, Belgium; the United Kingdom (UK); the United States (US); and Canada. In Punjab, groups led by Dal Khalsa, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Panch Pardani Jatha and Jathedar Hawara Committee have announced that an 'ardas' will be held at Sri Akal Takht Sahib on April 29. Leaders said a policy document outlining the future course of the Sikh sovereignty movement will also be released outside Takht Secretariat the same day. According to organisers, members of the Sikh diaspora will hold parallel programmes in Brussels and the US on April 29, followed by events in Canada on May 2 and the UK on May 3.
27-Apr-2026
Police on April 27 arrested a man, identified as Hardeep Singh alias Deep, for allegedly vandalising gurdwara property and hurting religious sentiments in Nakodar, Jalandhar district. The complainant alleged that the accused damaged glass panes at Gurdwara Sri Phlai Sahib and used abusive language at the site, thereby hurting the religious sentiments of the local community.
27-Apr-2026
A man, identified as Jagroop Singh, was found dead near the site of a low-intensity blast on a railway track near Bothonia village between Shambu and Rajpura in Patiala district around 10 pm on April 27. His body, torn into pieces, was recovered from the spot. Investigators recovered wires, explosive material, two motorcycles, and a damaged mobile phone from the scene. A senior official said the evidence suggests he may have died while attempting to plant the device, adding that the probe is at an early stage. Authorities suspect the involvement of more than two individuals, with forensic and bomb squads deployed for further investigation.
27-Apr-2026
Two persons, identified as Kashmir Singh and Jugraj Singh, were shot dead while another person was injured after unidentified assailants opened fire at them in Bhoma village in Batala, Gurdaspur district on April 27. According to police, preliminary investigations revealed that the attackers fired indiscriminately at the three youths while they were walking through the village. Two died on the spot, while the third victim, Jugraj Singh sustained serious bullet injuries.