KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
26-Apr-2026
On April 26, the 96th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 557 raids, arrested 291 persons and recovered five weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 93 individuals, while 76 persons were verified and released after questioning. Eight proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
26-Apr-2026
On April 26, Punjab Police, on day 421 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 95 drug smugglers, and seized 6.8 kg of heroin and 306 intoxicant tablets/capsules from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
25-Apr-2026
According to official sources, intelligence agencies have issued a fresh alert about attempts by the banned outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) to revive the Khalistan movement in Punjab through a revised strategy focused on rural radicalisation and low-intensity urban attacks. Officials note that several such plots have been foiled in recent years, forcing the group to recalibrate its approach. Earlier efforts to recruit and radicalise youth in urban areas reportedly met limited success due to increased public awareness and tighter security monitoring. As a result, BKI is now shifting its recruitment focus to rural regions, where misinformation is perceived to spread more easily. The group is believed to be targeting unemployed and less-educated youth considered more vulnerable to propaganda, while planning low-intensity attacks in urban centres, including Chandigarh.
25-Apr-2026
Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, accused in the Ajnala police station violence case, has been remanded to five-day judicial custody after his two-day police remand ended on April 24. He was taken into custody following the lapse of his detention under the National Security Act (NSA). Singh appeared before the Ajnala Sub-Divisional Court via video conference from Dibrugarh. As the police did not seek an extension of remand, the court ordered judicial custody. He will be sent back to Dibrugarh Central Jail and is scheduled to appear again on April 30.
25-Apr-2026
Former Deputy Chief Minister and Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has reportedly received a threat message from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang after opposing the release of the documentary “Lawrence of Punjab.” The message warned that the documentary “will be released at any cost” and told those named to “prepare their shrouds,” adding that the group would no longer seek money and would instead resort to violence using bullets and bombs. Randhawa, who had called for a ban on the series, said he has informed Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav about the threat. Similar WhatsApp messages were also reportedly sent to several prominent figures, including Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia, and Balkaur Singh, among others.
25-Apr-2026
On April 25, the 95th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 577 raids, arrested 309 persons and recovered seven weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 64 individuals, while 79 persons were verified and released after questioning. Five proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
25-Apr-2026
On April 25, Punjab Police, on day 420 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 96 drug smugglers, and seized 6.2 kg of heroin and 415 intoxicant tablets/capsules from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
25-Apr-2026
The Amritsar Rural Police on April 25 arrested four alleged members of an extortion gang—Ram Singh alias Roman, Harpreet Singh alias Happy, Satnam Singh, and Sikander Singh— and seized two .30 bore pistols, four live cartridges, and motorcycles used in the crime, in Amritsar district. The accused are reportedly linked to the notorious Happy Jatt gang, whose members face multiple cases of murder, attempted murder, and extortion. The arrests followed a complaint by Surinder Kumar, a property dealer from Jyotisar Colony in Jandiala Guru, Amritsar district, who reported that on the night of April 19, two unidentified youths on motorcycles opened fire at his residence, discharging around a dozen rounds. No injuries were reported, though several bullets hit the gate and boundary wall.
25-Apr-2026
Punjab Police on April 25 arrested an associate of gangster Arzoo Bishnoi and recovered a .32 bore pistol along with three live cartridges from an undisclosed location in Punjab. The arrested individual, whose identity has not been revealed, is wanted in a murder case in Rajasthan and carries a bounty. Arzoo Bishnoi is linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which has been involved in targeted assassinations and the elimination of rival gang members.
24-Apr-2026
Police on April 24 arrested a man, identified as Bahadur Singh and seized 5.101 kg of heroin from his possession in the border village of Gaggobua in Tarn Taran district. Preliminary investigations suggest he had links with cross-border smugglers and was involved in supplying heroin to various parts of the state.
24-Apr-2026
On April 24, the 94th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 602 raids, arrested 288 persons and recovered three weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 87 individuals, while 92 persons were verified and released after questioning. Seven proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
24-Apr-2026
On April 24, Punjab Police, on day 419 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 126 drug smugglers, and seized 992 grams of heroin, 2564 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 23150 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
24-Apr-2026
The arrest of alleged drug peddlers Swaran Singh and Shamsher Singh alias Shera, following the seizure of 64.5 kg of heroin in Mahal village, Amritsar, on April 18, has led investigators to a suspected Pakistan-backed arms trafficking network. During interrogation, the duo reportedly revealed that a weapons consignment—comprising around 20 sophisticated pistols and an AK assault rifle—had been hidden in the Ajnala border area after being smuggled from Pakistan via drones. Joint teams of police and the Border Security Force (BSF) are now conducting search operations in the sector. Investigations indicate that the two were part of a cross-border narcotics and arms smuggling network, with consignments dropped at designated border points using drones. Police sources say they were acting under the direction of Harpartap Singh alias Happo, a Jasraur native currently based in Portugal, who is believed to be linked to Pakistan-based handlers operating under the alias “Moosa.
24-Apr-2026
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on April 24 stated that, following inputs about potential glorification of organised crime, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB) directed OTT platform ZEE5 not to release the documentary “Lawrence of Punjab.” He noted that the film’s mix of dramatization and real footage could mislead youth and disrupt the state’s social harmony. Acting on these concerns, Punjab Police had approached the Ministry, the nodal authority for OTT content regulation in India.
24-Apr-2026
According to reports, a surge in cross-border drone activity along the zero line in Ferozepur district has raised serious concerns among intelligence and security agencies. In recent days, eleven drones and over 10 kg of heroin have been recovered, pointing to a rise in aerial infiltration attempts. Inputs suggest that Pakistan-based traffickers, allegedly supported by state-linked elements, are increasingly using drones to smuggle narcotics and arms across the border, posing a significant challenge to existing security and surveillance mechanisms.
23-Apr-2026
On April 23, the 93rd day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 557 raids, arrested 252 persons and recovered three weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 73 individuals, while 85 persons were verified and released after questioning. Six proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
23-Apr-2026
On April 23, Punjab Police, on day 418 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 79 drug smugglers, and seized 2.3 kg of heroin, 3 kg of poppy husk, 3580 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 13000 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
23-Apr-2026
Police on April 23 arrested three members of a cross-border drug and arms smuggling network—Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukha, Sola Singh alias Sonu, and Karan Singh— and recovered 915 grams of methamphetamine (ICE), five pistols, and two live cartridges, in Gate Hakima area in Amritsar district. Initial investigations indicate that two of the accused were in contact with Pakistan-based smugglers via social media, with drugs and weapons allegedly delivered by drones and dropped in the forested Mamdot area along the Ferozepur sector.
23-Apr-2026
On April 23, police claimed to have solved an extortion case with the arrest of five gang members who had demanded INR 50 lakh from a sarpanch (village head) in Samrala, Ludhiana district. The victim, Baljit Singh of Manjali Kalan village, had received a threat call on April 18 in which the caller warned of shooting him if the demand was not met.
23-Apr-2026
Police on April 23 arrested a drug smuggler, identified as Gurmeet Singh alias Meetu and seized 512 grams of heroin, near Chak Sahu village in Faridkot district. Preliminary investigations indicate he was in direct contact with a foreign-based mastermind and acted as a local handler, distributing drug consignments in the area.
23-Apr-2026
Amritsar Rural Police on April 23 arrested a man, identified as Bikramjit Singh for allegedly spying on Indian Army establishments on behalf of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), from Baba Bakala in Amritsar district. Preliminary investigations suggest he had been in contact with an ISI handler via mobile communication and is suspected of sharing photographs and sensitive information related to military installations.
23-Apr-2026
Kapurthala police on April 23 arrested a person, identified as Lovepreet Singh alias Love and recovered 30 grams of heroin along with INR 11,800 in suspected drug money, near Bhano Langah village in Kapurthala district.
23-Apr-2026
Amritsar Police on Apri 23 arrested Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh from Dibrugarh Jail, Assam, in connection with the Ajnala police station violence case after his detention under the National Security Act (NSA) expired. He was produced before the Ajnala Sub-Divisional Court, Amritsar, via video-conferencing, where police sought a 15-day remand, but the court granted two days of police custody. He will remain lodged in Dibrugarh during this period. Earlier, citing security and law and order concerns, the Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) permitted the state to keep him in Dibrugarh Jail even after the NSA detention ended and allowed all proceedings to be conducted virtually.
23-Apr-2026
A local court in Patiala has declared Canada-based gangster-turned-designated terrorist Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dala, a native of Moga district, a proclaimed offender after he failed to appear in a criminal case, in Patiala district. The FIR, registered on October 4, 2024, at Sanaur police station under provisions of the BNS and the Arms Act, names several accused from Mansa and Muktsar districts. Investigations indicate the group was part of an organised gang involved in extortion, robbery, and intimidation of traders and businessmen using illegal weapons. During the probe, Arsh Dalla’s name also surfaced as a key figure linked to the gang, following which he was formally nominated in the case.
23-Apr-2026
On April 23, four schools in Ludhiana received bomb threat emails, prompting authorities to alert the police in Ludhiana district. The messages also reportedly warned of a blackout in Punjab on April 24. Anti-sabotage checks were conducted and the schools were evacuated as a precaution, with parents asked to take their children home. All premises were later declared safe.