KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
10-Apr-2025
Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, on April 10 issued a warning to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, demanding the cancellation of all Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations in the state, through a public letter circulated to the media. Pannun also announced a reward of INR 11 lakh for hoisting the Khalistan flag at the Ambedkar statue in Chaura Maidan, Shimla. Additionally, he condemned Dr. B. R. Ambedkar for allegedly enabling the marginalisation of Sikhs through Article 25(b) of the Constitution.
10-Apr-2025
According to a senior officer, the Border Security Force (BSF) will launch a large-scale anti–improvised explosive device (IED) sanitisation drive along the India–Pakistan border in Punjab, following the recovery of two such devices from a farming field in Gurdaspur on April 9, which injured one jawan. This marks the first instance of IED recovery in the region, prompting heightened security measures. The area where the explosives were found lies ahead of the border fence, and officials suspect cross-border involvement due to the military-grade nature of the devices. Additional detection equipment and sniffer dogs will be deployed to secure cultivable land frequently accessed by farmers and civilians.
10-Apr-2025
On April 10, Punjab Police, on Day 41 of the 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' campaign, arrested 84 drug smugglers and recovered 2.5 kg of heroin, 86 kg of poppy husk, and INR 70,400 in drug money from their possession across Punjab.
09-Apr-2025
Police on April 9 arrested three individuals, identified as Ranjit Singh alias Rana, Gurdev Singh alias Gedi, and Shailendra Singh alias Selu, and seized 500 grams of heroin, one Glock 9mm pistol along with two magazines, and INR 33 lakh hawala money from their possession, in Lopoke village in Ajnala in Amritsar district.
09-Apr-2025
Punjab Police, on April 9, on Day 40 of its ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ (War Against Drugs) campaign, arrested 111 drug smugglers and recovered 3.7 kg of heroin, 253 kg of poppy husk, and INR 98,800 in drug money from their possession across Punjab.
09-Apr-2025
Punjab Police on April 9 arrested Papalpreet Singh, a close aide of radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, following the completion of his year-long detention under the National Security Act (NSA) at Dibrugarh Jail in Assam. He was immediately taken into custody in connection with the 2023 Ajnala police station attack case and brought to Amritsar for further proceedings.
09-Apr-2025
On April 9, a drug peddler identified as Raj Singh alias Raju died after his motorcycle crashed into a wall at Sadiq village in Faridkot district. While his family claimed he was being pursued by the police, leading to the fatal accident, local officials and villagers refuted the allegation, asserting that Raju lost control due to high speed.
09-Apr-2025
On April 9, Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah reaffirmed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government's resolve to eradicate Naxalism by 31 March 2026 and declared zero tolerance for separatist rhetoric related to the Khalistan movement, while speaking at the Rising Bharat Summit 2025 in New Delhi. Shah cited a sharp decline in Naxal-affected districts—from 120 to 12—as evidence of progress, and highlighted ongoing efforts in states like Chhattisgarh, where hundreds of Naxalites have been killed, arrested, or have surrendered. On the Khalistan issue, Shah stressed that any attempt to divide the nation would be dealt with firmly and urged close cooperation between the Punjab state government and the Centre to counter such threats.
09-Apr-2025
According to senior police sources, Punjab has seen a troubling rise in grenade attacks since November 2024, especially in the border districts of Amritsar and Gurdaspur. Despite the elimination of key suspects in police encounters, such incidents continue, with intelligence agencies linking them to pro-Khalistan terrorist outfits, criminal gangs, and Pakistan-based handlers. Notable counter-terror operations include the December 2024 killing of three Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) operatives and the March 2025 neutralisation of Gursidak Singh, a key accused in the Amritsar temple blast. Investigators believe that vulnerable youth from economically weaker sections are being lured with as little as INR 5,000 to execute these attacks, supported by a continuous influx of grenades through drone drops and cross-border smuggling networks.
09-Apr-2025
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on April 9 announced the arrest of Abhijot Singh in connection with the grenade attack in Chandigarh’s Sector 10. Singh was already lodged in jail for a separate grenade incident. NIA investigations revealed that he was in direct contact with United States-based Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia. Acting under Passia’s instructions, Abhijot conducted multiple reconnaissance missions at the target location in July and August 2024, and procured a stolen motorcycle with a fake number plate to facilitate the attack. Further probes established that Happy had also supplied weapons to Abhijot and co-accused Rohan Masih, with intentions to carry out a firing at the Sector 10 residence.
09-Apr-2025
Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), on April 9 issued threats via a video message targeting the Chief Ministers of Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. Pannun warned them against celebrating the birth anniversary of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar on April 14, threatening grenade attacks if his warning was disregarded. He also claimed responsibility for defacing the Ambedkar Housing Society in Sector 76, Mohali, displaying provocative graffiti and a Khalistan flag in the video. However, Mohali Police, upon investigation, reported finding no physical evidence of vandalism at the site.
09-Apr-2025
On April 9, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) Fauja Singh Sarari, Ranbir Singh Bhullar, Rajnish Kumar Dahiya, and Naresh Kataria strongly condemned Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun for his derogatory remarks against Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution. Addressing a press conference in Ferozepur, Punjab, they urged Sikh organizations to excommunicate Pannun from the panth, stating that he tarnishes the name of both Punjab and Sikhism.
09-Apr-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police on April 9, recovered a packet of heroin weighing 569 grams from agricultural fields near Wan village in Patti, Tarn Taran district.
09-Apr-2025
A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan sustained serious leg injuries on April 9 after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated while a patrol team was attempting to defuse it near the India–Pakistan border fence in Punjab. The device was detected during a night-time area domination patrol aimed at securing routes commonly used by troops and local farmers. Despite the explosion, BSF personnel secured the area, and a Bomb Disposal Squad later neutralised the remaining devices.
08-Apr-2025
On April 8, Punjab Police, on Day 39 of its ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ (War Against Drugs) campaign, arrested 71 drug smugglers and seized 1.8 kg of heroin, 4.9 kg of opium, 13,362 intoxicant capsules/tablets, and INR 9,000 in drug money from their possession across Punjab.
08-Apr-2025
On April 8, Punjab Police, on Day 39 of its ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ (War Against Drugs) campaign, arrested 71 drug smugglers and seized 1.8 kg of heroin, 4.9 kg of opium, 13,362 intoxicant capsules/tablets, and INR 9,000 in drug money from their possession across Punjab.
08-Apr-2025
Police on April 8 busted two Pakistan-backed drug cartels and arrested eight key operatives, including an inspector of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Manjit Singh, and his associate Ravi Kumar, and seized 4.04 kg of heroin and a motorcycle in Amritsar district. Police believe the cartels were operating in coordination with Pakistan-based smugglers. Further investigation is underway.
08-Apr-2025
Punjab Police on April 8 arrested two suspects, Harry and Satish Kumar alias Kaka, in connection with the grenade explosion that occurred at 1 am, targeting the residence of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national executive member Manoranjan Kalia in Jalandhar district. According to police officials, the suspects were acting on the instructions of a terror module backed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), involving Zeeshan Akhtar, an associate of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. A third suspect remains at large.
08-Apr-2025
The official website of the armed wing of Punjab Police (https://armedpolice.punjab.gov.in/) was hacked on April 8 by the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). The defaced site displayed a poster calling to "Liberate Punjab from Indian Occupation" and provided a link to a tweet from SFJ’s handle, which has been withheld in India.
08-Apr-2025
Cabinet Minister Dr. Balbir Singh recently condemned Khalistani terrorist and the chief of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, for making derogatory remarks against Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar. He described it as a deliberate attempt to incite unrest in Punjab. Dr. Singh further stated that anti-Punjab forces like Pannun cannot tolerate the state's progress, but emphasized that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government remains committed to preserving peace.
08-Apr-2025
According to sources, Punjab Police have obtained significant leads in the grenade attack on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national executive member Manoranjan Kalia’s residence on April 8. This marks the 16th such incident since September 2024. The grenades used in the attack, mainly Austrian-made Arges models from Pakistan’s old military stock, have previously been seen in high-profile attacks like the 1993 Mumbai blasts. Investigations suggest a connection between Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Khalistani terrorist groups such as Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF), and foreign-based gangsters like Happy Passia and Harvinder Rinda. These groups have increasingly targeted police posts and political figures to destabilize Punjab.
08-Apr-2025
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on April 8 searched multiple locations linked to Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Satinderjit Singh alias Goldy Brar and seized several electronic and other incriminating materials across Haryana and Uttar Pradesh (UP). The searches were part of an investigation into the December 2024 grenade attacks at Warehouse Club and Human Club in Gurugram, Haryana, which were masterminded by Brar and US-based gangster Randeep Malik.
08-Apr-2025
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on April 8 strongly condemned the grenade attack at senior leader Manoranjan Kalia’s residence in Jalandhar, calling it a glaring failure of the Punjab government’s law and order machinery. BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh criticised the state administration for prioritising security for "failed politicians" over citizens’ safety. BJP Punjab Spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to direct a central agency probe into the attack. BJP leaders Ravneet Singh Bittu and Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal described the incident as a direct assault on democracy and warned of a larger anti-national conspiracy unfolding in the state.
08-Apr-2025
On April 8, five Sikh high priests—Jathedar Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, along with Giani Raghbir Singh (Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib), Giani Jagtar Singh (Takht Damdama Sahib), Giani Rajinder Singh (Takht Patna Sahib), and Giani Baldev Singh (Takht Hazur Sahib)—are scheduled to meet at the Akal Takht Secretariat in Amritsar, Punjab, amid the ongoing controversy over the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) membership drive.
08-Apr-2025
Punjab Police on April 8 arrested two operatives of the Lawrence Bishnoi-Rohit Godara gang, identified as Jashandeep Singh alias Jashan Sandhu and Gursewak Singh, and seized one .32 calibre pistol along with seven cartridges cartridges from their possession Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. Jashan, a murder accused, had recently re-entered India via Nepal after evading arrest abroad. His arrest revealed links to hawala operators and fugitive gangsters. Gursewak was reportedly operating locally on the gang’s behalf, and police said several major crimes were averted with the duo’s capture.