KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
08-Apr-2025
On April 8, armed assailants opened fire at the residence of an East Delhi businessman, just two weeks after he received an extortion call allegedly from the Jaipal Bhullar group. Investigations revealed that the suspects used a United Kingdom (UK)-based SIM card, possibly virtual, and uncovered links to Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) terrorist Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dala, who is currently based in Canada.
08-Apr-2025
An unidentified miscreant hurled a grenade at the residence of former Punjab minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national executive member Manoranjan Kalia in Jalandhar district around 1 am on April 8. The grenade landed near the gate, causing damage to a side door; however, Kalia escaped unhurt. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage showed the attacker arriving and fleeing in an electric rickshaw. A police investigation is currently underway.
08-Apr-2025
On April 8, anti-Ambedkar slogans were found painted on the walls of Major Hardev Singh Secondary School in Nasrali village, Khanna in Ludhiana district, with Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, claiming responsibility and issuing threats of explosions if Ambedkar Jayanti is celebrated, via a video message.
07-Apr-2025
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Chandigarh on April 7 granted a two-day remand of Abhijot Singh alias Babbi, to the agency in connection with the grenade attack case in Sector 10, Chandigarh. The NIA stated that Singh had facilitated the movement of co-accused Rohan Masih for reconnaissance and played a crucial role in executing the conspiracy. The court remanded him to police custody till April 9 for further interrogation and recovery of key evidence.
07-Apr-2025
Gangster and Khalistani terrorist Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia, on April 7 claimed via a social media post that his associates had attacked the Kila Lal Singh police station using a rocket launcher, in Batala, Gurdaspur district, Punjab. However, the police refuted the claim, stating that no evidence of any such incident was found.
07-Apr-2025
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on April 7 attached assets worth INR 1.22 crore belonging to international drug trafficker Jasmeet Hakimzada, who operates from Dubai and is linked to the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF). He is wanted by the United States (US) and faces charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. The seized assets include gold, diamonds, and properties.
07-Apr-2025
Organisers of Pride Amritsar on April 7 announced the cancellation of the 2025 Pride Parade, originally scheduled for April 27, following widespread opposition—particularly from the Sikh community—in Amritsar, Punjab, with Ridham Chadha and Ramit Seth stating that the decision was made in the interest of members’ safety and with no intention of hurting religious or political sentiments.
07-Apr-2025
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) Ashok Parashar Pappi, Daljit Singh Grewal (Bhola), Jeevan Singh Sangowal, and Rajinder Pal Kaur Chhina on April 7 condemned Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s remarks about Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar and announced statewide celebrations on April 14, vowing to guard his statues and uphold communal harmony in Punjab, while addressing a press conference in Chandigarh.
07-Apr-2025
The Customs Department at Sri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport seized 7.7 kg of ganja from an Indian passenger, identified as Chanan Singh, on April 7 in Amritsar district.
07-Apr-2025
Punjab Police on April 7 arrested a smuggler, identified as Tamandeep Singh and seized 2 kg of heroin and 900 grams of ICE drug (Crystal Meth) from his possession, in Amritsar in Amritsar district.
07-Apr-2025
Punjab Police on April 7, as part of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” (War Against Drugs) conducted a cordon and search operation (CASO) at 225 Bus Stands along with 466 locations, and arrested 38 drug smugglers after the registration of 31 first information reports (FIRs), and seized 2.2 kg of heroin, 1.8 kg of opium and INR 17600 drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers, across Punjab.
07-Apr-2025
According to sources, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) recently detained at least eight major drug traffickers from Punjab and West Bengal under the stringent Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PITNDPS) Act, transferring them to high-security prisons in Assam and Jharkhand over the past eight months to disrupt their networks, while also planning to shift habitual traffickers to remote prisons in states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to further weaken their influence.
07-Apr-2025
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of Punjab Police on April 7 arrested two smugglers, identified as Dharmendra Singh and his associate Tejinder Singh, and seized a large quantity of illegal substances, including 35 kg of poppy husk, 77 kg of cannabis, 240 grams of opium, 50 opium plants, INR 13 lakh in drug money, and four luxury vehicles in Mohali, in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. Dharminder Singh, a history-sheeter with 11 prior cases, is the husband of Sarabjeet Kaur, the sarpanch of Raipur Mandlan village in Patiala tehsil, Patiala district.
07-Apr-2025
Amritsar police on April 7 arrested two unidentified drug peddlers and seized 310 grams of heroin from their possession in Ghumtala area in Amritsar in Amritsar district. The accused were using a Delhi-registered vehicle with a “Punjab Police” sticker to evade checks.
06-Apr-2025
Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, on April 6 continued his six-day padyatra against drugs, urging citizens to unite in the fight against drug abuse, in Amritsar in Amritsar district in Punjab. Emphasising that the drug menace is a national issue, he highlighted ongoing government efforts, including anti-drone systems and village defence committees.
06-Apr-2025
Police on April 6 arrested a drug smuggler, identified as Arun Setia and seized 2 kg of heroin, a .32 bore pistol, four live cartridges and two empty shells along with a motorcycle from his possession, near Ladhuka village in Jalalabad in Fazilka district. Setia was injured in retaliatory firing after he shot at the Police team while trying to flee, and was admitted to a local hospital for treatment.
06-Apr-2025
Punjab Police on April 6, as part of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh" (war against drugs), conducted raids at 337 locations, registered 37 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 54 drug smugglers and seized 411 grams of heroin, 1617 intoxicant tablets/pills and INR 34,400 drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers across Punjab.
06-Apr-2025
The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment recently announced the launch of the ‘Youth of Punjab’ campaign to intensify efforts against drug addiction. Set to roll out across all districts, the initiative aims to raise awareness, engage youth, and provide structured rehabilitation support. It will be launched from Amritsar in collaboration with the National Consultative Committee on De-addiction and Rehabilitation (NCCDR). Sukhwinder Singh Bindra, member of the National Institute of Social Defence, stated that the second phase will include seminars, sports events, and outreach programs to promote drug-free lifestyles.
06-Apr-2025
On April 6, in a historic first for Nagpur’s Sikh community, Sardarni Kashmir Kaur was unanimously elected as the Pradhan Sewadar of Gurudwara Guru Granth Sahib, Baba Deep Singh Nagar, Nari, in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Elected for the 2025–2028 term, her selection marks a significant step toward gender inclusion in religious leadership. The announcement was met with pride and celebration across the city’s Sikh community, with her appointment hailed as a breakthrough for women’s empowerment and a reflection of Sikhism’s core principles of equality.
06-Apr-2025
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur, while addressing a press conference in Chandigarh on April 6, strongly condemned Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s disgraceful remarks against Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar. She asserted that Punjab’s communal harmony remains unshakable and that divisive forces will never succeed. Dr. Kaur criticised Pannun for his ignorance of Sikhism and Ambedkar’s legacy, calling his comments shameful and unacceptable.
05-Apr-2025
Amritsar Rural Police on April 5 arrested a smuggler, identified as Jarman Singh, and seized one Glock 9mm pistol, one .30 calibre pistol, three magazines, and INR 2.15 lakh in Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) from his possession in Gharinda village in Amritsar district.
05-Apr-2025
Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, in an interview with The Indian Express, stated that the Punjab government’s anti-drug campaign, ‘Yudh Nashe De Virudh’ (War Against Drugs), has significantly curtailed street-level drug supply, prompting many smugglers to flee and abandon their homes. He noted that intensified enforcement has driven a 1.5-fold increase in street drug prices, reflecting reduced availability. Simultaneously, de-addiction efforts have expanded, with a 70.47% rise in new registrations at Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) clinics. Yadav further emphasized that the Punjab Police, in coordination with central agencies, is now targeting high-level traffickers and cross-border smuggling networks.
05-Apr-2025
On April 5, Punjab Police, as part of its “Yudh Nashe De Virudh” (War Against Drugs), conducted raids at 429 locations across the state, registered 48 FIRs, arrested 71 drug smugglers, and seized 1.5 kg of heroin, 500 grams of opium, and INR 6,020 in drug money from their possession.
05-Apr-2025
Lawrence Bishnoi gang member and Kuchaman resident Aditya Jain was produced in court under heavy security in Kuchaman City, Rajasthan, on April 5. Jain, arrested in Dubai and deported to India, is accused of managing the gang’s extortion network and faces seven criminal cases across Rajasthan. Police confirmed his involvement in high-profile extortion, intimidation, and providing support to jailed gangsters.
05-Apr-2025
The Barnala police on April 5 arrested four smugglers, identified as Nirmal Singh, Beant Singh, Inderjit Singh, and Harjinder Singh, and seized 15 quintals of poppy husk packed in 75 bags near Barnala in Barnala district, while a fifth accused, truck driver Jagsir Singh, managed to escape and remains absconding.