KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
26-May-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), on May 26 recovered two packets of heroin weighing 957 grams from fields near Tibbi village in Amritsar district.
26-May-2025
The Counter Intelligence (CI) wing of Amritsar Police on May 26 arrested three operatives of Canada-based drug smuggler Sonu, identified as Ajaypal Singh, Hardeep Singh and Milap Singh, and seized 2.5 kg of heroin and INR 42 lakh drug money along with a motorcycle and a car from their possession, in Amritsar in Amritsar district.
26-May-2025
On May 26, Punjab Police, on day 86 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 104 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 142 drug smugglers, recovered 4.4 kg of heroin and INR 57.4 lakhs of drug money from their possession across Punjab.
26-May-2025
On May 26, Amritsar Commissionerate Police dismantled an organised crime network linked to the foreign-based Kishan gang and arrested four operatives, identified as Jobanjit Singh alias Joban, Amit, Gurpreet Singh, Gopi Singh, in Amritsar in Amritsar district in Punjab. Amit and Gurpreet were arrested from a hotel in Amritsar city, while Gopi, who opened fire on police, was injured and arrested near Fatehpur in Amritsar district, and Joban was arrested from Dhunda village in Tarn Taran. The arrests came within eight hours of the murder of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) councillor Harjinder Singh in Amritsar.
25-May-2025
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on May 25 appealed to the public to actively join the fight against drugs and corruption, calling it a crucial battle for the future of Punjab’s youth, while speaking at a function organised by the Aggarwal Sabha in Patiala district. He emphasised that the government’s anti-drug campaign “Yudh Nashian Virudh” requires collective responsibility and public cooperation to succeed.
25-May-2025
A Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) councillor, Harjinder Singh Bahman, was shot dead by three unidentified masked assailants in Chheharta area in Amritsar in Amritsar district on May 25. The family alleged prior threats and earlier attacks on his residence had been ignored by authorities. The incident sparked political outrage, with SAD leaders blaming the Punjab government for negligence and demanding accountability.
25-May-2025
On May 25, Punjab Police, on day 85 of their “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 104 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 158 drug smugglers and recovered 10.1 kg of heroin, 1.3 kg of opium and INR 19040 drug money from their possession, across Punjab.
25-May-2025
The Jalandhar Commissionerate police on May 25 arrested an individual, identified as Barinder Singh alias Babbu, and seized 1 kg of heroin along with two illegal .32 bore weapons, six live cartridges and three luxury vehicles and INR 22,000 drug money from his possession, in Jalandhar in Jalandhar district.
25-May-2025
The Jalandhar Commissionerate police on May 25 recovered an additional 7 kg of heroin, following the interrogation of Shivam Sodhi, who was arrested on May 21 with 5.5 kg of heroin, in Jalandhar in Jalandhar district.
25-May-2025
Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar, on May 25, revealed that he spoke to his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand and described the call as productive. The interaction marks the first high-level diplomatic engagement since Canada’s new Prime Minister (PM) Mark Carney took office. The conversation has raised hopes of a thaw in bilateral ties, which soured after the 2023 killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Reports suggest both nations may restore their High Commissioners by June 2025.
25-May-2025
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), Punjab, in a joint operation with the Ferozepur police on May 25 arrested three associates of the Ashish Chopra gang, identified as Manpreet Singh alias Mannu, Ramandeep Singh and Sonu, and seized three pistols along with seven live cartridges and four shells from their possession, in Gulabe Wala village in Sri Muktsar Sahib district.
24-May-2025
Amritsar Municipal Corporation on May 24 demolished the property of a known drug peddler identified as Sunny, in Amritsar in Amritsar district.
24-May-2025
Police on May 24 arrested two individuals, identified as Mohit and Malkiat Singh and seized 1.25 kg of heroin from their possession, at a naka (checkpoint) on Jattwali-Rana road, near Fazilka in Fazilka district. A case under Sections 21(c), 29, 61 and 85 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered at Sadar Police Station, Fazilka, and further investigation is ongoing to trace the drug network.
24-May-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on May 24 recovered a packet of heroin weighing 567 grams, from near Mahawa village in Amritsar district.
24-May-2025
According to top government sources, India is set to approach the World Bank in June 2025 to demand a review of its proposed USD 20 billion assistance package for Pakistan, while also advocating for Pakistan’s return to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list. India is expected to submit a detailed dossier highlighting Pakistan’s continued involvement in terror financing. The move follows objections to recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) disbursements to Pakistan, which Indian officials argue have historically coincided with increased arms procurement and cross-border hostilities.
24-May-2025
According to sources, a faction within the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is reportedly lobbying for the appointment of Balwant Singh Rajoana as the Jathedar of Akal Takht, citing his longstanding support for the Badal family’s leadership. This move comes amid continued efforts by Sarbat Khalsa organisers to gain recognition for Jagtar Singh Hawara—currently imprisoned in Tihar Jail—as the legitimate Jathedar. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee’s (SGPC) recent decision to defer the installation of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s portrait at the Central Sikh Museum, following objections raised by Rajoana from Patiala Central Jail, further highlights his influence within certain party factions.
24-May-2025
Former Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, Giani Harpreet Singh, in Amritsar on May 24 accused the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) of deliberately stalling Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) elections to retain its control over the Sikh body. He blamed Sukhbir Singh Badal for the party’s decline and alleged that both the SGPC and SAD were being run as personal fiefdoms by the Badal family.
24-May-2025
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President, Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, on May 24 strongly condemned the Punjab Government for publishing a distorted, AI-generated image of Sri Harmandir Sahib in an advertisement seeking suggestions for upcoming Sikh centenary celebrations. He demanded an immediate apology and urged the state to consult the SGPC before using any religious imagery in future.
24-May-2025
Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Shashi Tharoor in New Delhi on May 24, stated that the multi-party delegation he is leading to Guyana, Panama, Colombia, Brazil, and the United States (US) aims to deliver a clear message that India "will not be silenced by terrorism". The delegation, comprising members from various political parties, seeks to counter Pakistan’s narrative by highlighting its links to global terrorism, including the 9/11 attacks and the recent Pahalgam terror strike. Tharoor described the visit as a mission of peace, democracy, and hope.
23-May-2025
The Amargarh police on May 23 arrested two persons, including a woman, identified as Manpreet Singh Laddi and Deepa Kaur for indulging in the illicit drug trade and committing thefts, and seized 6 grams of heroin and stolen goods from their possession, near Bagrian village in Malerkotla district.
23-May-2025
Punjab Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains on May 23 stated that Punjab Police had arrested 11,000 drug traffickers in the past three months (March–May 2025), while addressing a gathering in Basowal village, Rupnagar district. Bains added that over 100 drug traffickers had been arrested in the Anandpur Sahib Assembly constituency alone.
23-May-2025
On May 23, Punjab Police, on day 83 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 118 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 161 drug smugglers and recovered 6.2 kg of heroin and INR 76270 drug money from their possession, across Punjab.
23-May-2025
The Jalandhar Commissionerate Police on May 23 dismantled a Pakistan-backed smuggling network with the arrest of three individuals—identified as Rinku alias Gandhi, Vikramjeet Singh, and Lovepreet Singh—and seized 5.5 kg of heroin from their possession in Jalandhar district. Police stated that the accused were involved in cross-border drug trafficking using drones.
23-May-2025
On May 23, Jagdish Singh Jhinda was elected president of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) in Kurukshetra, Haryana. Alongside Jhinda, Gurmeet Singh Mitta was elected senior vice-president, Harjeet Singh as general secretary, Gurbir Singh as vice-president, and Balwinder Singh Bhinder as joint secretary. The election took place four months after the committee's inaugural polls, held on January 19.
23-May-2025
Police on May 23 arrested four policemen belonging to a Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) team of Phagwara Police, identified as sub-inspector (SI) Bisman Singh Sahi, assistant sub-inspectors (ASIs) Nirmal Kumar and Jaswinder Singh and head constable Jagroop Singh, for allegedly accepting a bribe of INR 2.5 lakh to release a drug smuggler identified as Sukhwinder Kumar alias Honey, in Phagwara in Kapurthala district in Punjab. The accused allegedly faked an escape narrative to shield the suspect.