KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
30-May-2025
On May 30, Border Security Force (BSF) troops, in a joint operation with Punjab Police, recovered a packet of heroin weighing 589 grams from fields near Dal village in Tarn Taran district.
30-May-2025
Amritsar Police on May 30 arrested two operatives of the Kishna gang, identified as Chand Anand and Bachitar Singh alias Likhari, and seized a Glock pistol with three live rounds and a .32 bore pistol with four bullets from their possession, near Sun city road in Amritsar in Amritsar district.
30-May-2025
On May 30, police in Amritsar arrested a man identified as Surinder Yadav on charges of hurting religious sentiments. He allegedly set fire to pictures of the Golden Temple and Sikh Gurus and dumped the burnt images on the roadside. The images were discovered by Sikh activists who raised an alarm, prompting swift police action. Yadav, a tea seller and longtime resident of the city, claimed he was clearing waste from a nearby shop when the incident occurred. Police have also summoned the shop owner to investigate his possible involvement.
30-May-2025
Police on May 30 demolished illegal properties of two brothers identified as Rajiv Kumar and his brother Sajan Kumar, involved in drug smuggling in Patti town in Tarn Taran district.
30-May-2025
On May 30, Punjab Police, on day 90 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 78 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 103 drug smugglers and recovered 3.8 kg of heroin and INR 2.04 lakhs drug money from their possession, across Punjab.
29-May-2025
On May 29, Border Security Force (BSF) recovered one packet of heroin weighing 500 grams, along with one small drone, from fields near Mahawa village in Amritsar district.
29-May-2025
On May 29, Border Security Force (BSF) recovered one drone from fields near Roranwala Khurd in Amritsar district. The recovered drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
29-May-2025
On May 29, a Pakistani intruder was caught near the International Border (IB) by Border Security Force (BSF) personnel and handed over to Narot Jaimal Singh police station, in Narot Jaimal Singh village in Pathankot district in Punjab.
29-May-2025
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, on May 29 in New Delhi, reiterated India’s consistent stance and urged Canada not to provide political space to extremist pro-Khalistan elements promoting violence and secession. He highlighted the ongoing security concerns conveyed to the Canadian side and expressed hope for concrete action.
29-May-2025
A Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) Himdhara bus traveling from Shri Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham to Vrindavan Dham was attacked by three motorcycle-borne assailants near Rupnagar in Rupnagar district on May 29. The attackers pelted stones at the moving bus, shattering its front windshield, but no passengers were injured.
29-May-2025
On May 29, activists of the Dal Khalsa pasted posters announcing the Amritsar Bandh scheduled for June 6, ahead of the anniversary of Operation Blue Star, in Amritsar in Amritsar district.
29-May-2025
On May 29, Punjab Police, on day 89 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 97 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 141 drug smugglers and recovered 3.1 kg of heroin, 10 kg of poppy husk, 51790 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 38700 drug money from their possession, across Punjab.
29-May-2025
The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) on May 29 arrested an arms smuggler and key member of the notorious Anil Banji gang, identified as Dhirendra Singh alias Pintu Dadhi, near the Kankarkheda area in Meerut district, Uttar Pradesh (UP). Singh was allegedly involved in an arms trafficking network operating between Punjab and western UP, linked to the Sanjeev Jeeva-Anil Banji syndicate. His arrest is connected to an ongoing investigation that began with the seizure of 17 firearms and 700 live cartridges from Rohan, the son of a UP Police sub-inspector (SI), on November 23, 2024. During interrogation, Singh admitted that about ten months ago, he procured a .30 bore foreign-made pistol from Rohan for INR 1.5 lakh and later sold it to an acquaintance for INR 2.5 lakh.
28-May-2025
On May 28, wanted gangster Naveen Kumar was killed in an encounter during a joint operation by the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Special Task Force (STF) and Delhi Police’s Special Cell near Hapur Kotwali area in Hapur district, UP. Kumar, a sharpshooter affiliated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, faced over 20 criminal cases, including charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). During the interception attempt, he opened fire on the joint team, resulting in a gunbattle in which he was critically injured and later died in hospital.
28-May-2025
On May 28, Punjab Police, on day 88 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 90 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 141 drug smugglers and seized 959 grams of heroin, 2 kg of opium and INR 3.4 lakhs drug money from the possession, across Punjab.
28-May-2025
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann, on May 28, launched a sharp attack on Akali Dal leader Bikram Majithia, accusing him of hypocrisy and of exploiting a recent tragedy for political gain. Mann cited past incidents during the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) regime, linking Majithia to drug mafias and widespread lawlessness. He contrasted the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) governance with what he termed the Akalis’ 'empire of corruption,' urging the public to reject their false narratives.
28-May-2025
Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala’s father, Balkaur Singh, on May 28 announced that he will contest the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections from the Mansa constituency to seek justice for his son. He criticised Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann’s government for its inaction against gangsters, particularly Canada-based Goldy Brar, the alleged mastermind behind Moose Wala’s 2022 killing.
28-May-2025
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), Amritsar range, on May 28 arrested three drug traffickers—identified as Maninderjit Singh, Peter, and Lovejit Singh alias Raja—and seized 521 grams of heroin, along with four PX5 Storm pistols, seven magazines, and 55 live cartridges from their possession near Shankar Dhaba in Amritsar district. Police revealed that the consignment had been smuggled from Pakistan.
27-May-2025
On May 27, Punjab Police, on day 87 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 97 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 127 drug smugglers and recovered 2.2 kg of heroin, 6.6 kg of opium and INR 1.31 lakhs drug money from their possession, across Punjab.
27-May-2025
The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) on May 27 ordered the formulation of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) within two months to guide investigations into gang-related crimes, citing the absence of a legislative framework in Punjab and Haryana as “baffling”. The bench issued a slew of binding directions, including mandatory First Information Report (FIR) registration upon receiving information of gang activity, investigations by officers not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), and the creation of Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) units in every district.
27-May-2025
Police, on May 27 arrested five youths involved in drug peddling, identified as Ravinder Kumar, Manpreet Singh, Shubham Thakur, Biku and Amit Kumar, and seized 150 grams of heroin, INR 15,000 drug money and a digital weighing scale from their possession, near ITI-Nangal in Nangal in Rupnagar district in Punjab.
27-May-2025
Amritsar Police on May 27 arrested six unidentified individuals, and seized 65 grams of heroin from their possession, and four unidentified persons for consumption of the drug, across Tarn Taran district in Punjab.
27-May-2025
An unidentified suspected terrorist died in an explosion near the Majitha Road area of Amritsar district, Punjab, on May 27. Police stated that the blast occurred while he was attempting to retrieve explosive material and linked the deceased to the banned Khalistani terrorist outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). Forensic teams have collected samples from the site as investigations continue.
27-May-2025
Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Member of Parliament (MP) from Amritsar, on May 27 criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government over the deteriorating law and order situation. Citing three consecutive incidents—a councillor’s murder, the killing of a money exchanger, and a grenade blast—Aujla questioned the effectiveness of Punjab’s intelligence agencies.
27-May-2025
Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president Shwait Malik, on May 27, condemned the worsening security situation in Punjab and demanded a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), along with a public statement from Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann, following the grenade blast near Majitha Road in Amritsar district.