KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
30-Mar-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police, recovered 535 grams of heroin from the premises of Government Senior Secondary School in Chak Wazida village in Jalalabad in Fazilka district.
30-Mar-2025
Tarsem Singh, father of radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, on March 30 stated that while Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) aims to elect its president on April 13 at Talwandi Sabo, the process may be delayed if district-level committees are not formed in the remaining six districts. He confirmed that preparations for the Baisakhi rally venue are underway. Singh also expressed hope that Amritpal Singh’s detention under the National Security Act (NSA), set to expire on April 22, would not be extended.
30-Mar-2025
Ferozepur police on March 30 arrested two individuals, identified as Sukhpreet Singh alias Captain and Baljinder Singh, and seized one .32 bore pistol with a magazine and three live rounds from their possession, in Ferozepur in Ferozepur district.
30-Mar-2025
Ferozepur police on March 30 arrested two individuals, identified as Lovejot Singh alias Kalu and Akashdeep Singh alias Aakash and seized a pistol and seven live rounds from their possession in Zira in Ferozepur district.
30-Mar-2025
Punjab Police on March 30 arrested 72 drug smugglers, registered 9 First Information Reports (FIRs) and recovered 8.8 kg of heroin, 500 kg of ganja and INR 99410 drug money from their possession, across Punjab.
29-Mar-2025
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami on March 29 urged all Sikh organizations to submit suggestions on the appointment and service rules of the Akal Takht jathedar by April 20. The SGPC seeks inputs on qualifications, tenure, jurisdiction, responsibilities, and retirement to establish clear guidelines. This initiative follows long-standing community demands for standardized rules.
29-Mar-2025
On March 29, Punjab Police conducted cordon and search operations (CASO) at 428 identified drug hotspots across the state as part of the Yudh Nashian Virudh 2.0 campaign, where they arrested 217 drug smugglers after the registration of 157 first information reports (FIRs), and seized 7.7 kg of heroin, 500 kg of ganja, 10,992 intoxicant tablets/capsules, and INR 2.17 lakh drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers, across Punjab.
29-Mar-2025
Punjab Police on March 29 arrested three individuals identified as Abhishek, Gurjant Singh and Gursharan Singh and seized 6 pistols- One Glock Pistol 9mm, two .30 bore Pistols, three .32 bore Desi Pistols) and 9 live rounds of .32 bore from their possession, in Amritsar in Amritsar district.
29-Mar-2025
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on March 29 announced that its organisational elections to elect office-bearers and a new president would begin on April 2, despite a directive issued by former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh. During a meeting of the party’s parliamentary board in Chandigarh, it was decided that in the first phase, district and state delegates would be elected by April 6. Party spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema stated that members who had not submitted enrolment slips have until 5 PM on March 31. A meeting of party observers will be held on April 1 to finalise delegate lists.
29-Mar-2025
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff of the Amritsar (Rural) police on March 29 arrested four persons, identified as Jagroop Singh alias Baba, Hardeep Singh, Rajbir Singh alias Gullu and Arsal Singh alias Rasal Singh, and seized four 9 mm Glock pistols along with five magazines and INR 3.05 lakh hawala money along with two mobile phones and a bike from their possession, in Khasa in Amritsar district.
28-Mar-2025
Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh on March 28 informed Parliament that multiple Hindu temples in the United States (US) have been defaced with anti-India graffiti in recent years. He stated that these incidents have been taken up with the US government through diplomatic channels and that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has condemned the attacks while urging local law enforcement to take strict action.
28-Mar-2025
According to ThePrint sources, Gurjant Singh alias Gurjant Jenta, a close associate of gangster-turned-terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala, has become a major concern for law enforcement in Delhi and Punjab. Jenta, who accidentally shot Dala in October 2024, is linked to recent grenade attacks in Punjab and an extortion racket in Delhi, expanding his criminal network. He was arrested in Canada alongside Dala last year but later granted bail. Now operating from abroad, he is reportedly working with the pro-Khalistan gangster-terrorist nexus spanning Canada, the United States, and Pakistan.
28-Mar-2025
An investigation by India Today Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) has revealed that the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) has launched an online campaign to collect personal data of Sikhs in India ahead of a planned separatist referendum. The campaign, which began in January 2025, gathers sensitive details such as names, WhatsApp numbers, and family information. SFJ, known for its provocative actions, including threats and propaganda, poses a serious security concern as this large-scale data collection could be exploited to radicalize individuals or incite violence. Despite being banned in India since 2019, SFJ continues its activities through online platforms and international referendums.
28-Mar-2025
Former diplomat and a scholar of Sikhism and South Asian religious traditions at Harvard University, KC Singh on March 28 emphasised the need to locate original sources before making any definitive judgement on serious issues of Sikh history, while speaking at Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan in New Delhi.
28-Mar-2025
According to sources, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Damdami Taksal, once close allies, are now on a collision course, with the Sikh seminary intensifying its opposition to the SAD-controlled Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) over the ‘unceremonious’ removal of Takht jathedars following the December 2, 2024 hukamnama (Sikh decree). Led by Harnam Singh Dhumma, Damdami Taksal has planned a protest outside the SGPC head office in Amritsar during its budget session on March 28, demanding a reversal of the decision and reforms in the appointment process of jathedars. The rift has deepened as Taksal has previously supported Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led factions, drawing criticism from SAD leaders. Experts believe Taksal is leveraging the controversy to reclaim its influence in Sikh politics.
28-Mar-2025
Police on March 28 arrested two smugglers after a brief encounter, identified as Veerbhadar Singh, alias Kalu and Kewal Singh, and seized a Glock pistol, a .32 bore pistol and a bag of contraband capsules, at a naka (checkpoint) near Barnala in Barnala district. Veerbhadar Singh sustained a bullet injury in his leg during the exchange of fire and was admitted to the hospital, while Kewal Singh was arrested on the spot.
28-Mar-2025
On March 28, as part of Yudh Nashian Virudh (war against drugs) plan, Punjab Police conducted raids at 463 locations, lodged 33 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 56 drug smugglers and seized 1.6 kg heroin, 3046 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 62940 drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers across Punjab.
27-Mar-2025
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), in a joint operation with the Himachal Pradesh (HP) police on March 27 arrested four members of the Harpreet Happo gang, identified as Amrit, Onkar Singh alias Golu, Prince and Gurpreet Singh, and seized two pistols, 20 rounds, the car from their possession, in McLeodganj in Kangra district in HP. The accused were involved in the murder of Kharar gym trainer Gurpreet Singh alias Guri, who was shot dead on January 31. All four have multiple criminal cases registered against them, including charges of murder, attempt to murder, and violations under the Arms Act.
27-Mar-2025
The Ajnala sub-divisional court on March 27 remanded Varinder Singh Fauji, an aide of jailed Khalistani radical and Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, to five-day police custody, in Ajnala, Amritsar district. A former Army personnel and Amritpal’s personal security guard, Fauji was brought from Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam after his detention under the National Security Act ended. He was part of the mob that attacked Ajnala police station in February 2023. The police had sought a seven-day remand, and he will be produced in court again on April 1.
27-Mar-2025
On March 27, in Chandigarh, Neena Singh, a member of Sikh Legal Aid (SLA), urged the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to adopt more proactive methods for religious advocacy amid rising conversions to Christianity in Punjab. She suggested door-to-door preaching, similar to Christian missionary efforts, and called for greater transparency in SGPC's budget allocation for dharam parchar. The SGPC, set to finalize its annual budget on March 28, has earmarked INR 100 crore for religious propagation in 2024-25. Sikh scholars have also emphasized the need for stronger outreach and social welfare initiatives to preserve Sikh heritage.
27-Mar-2025
In a written response to Parliament, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that it has raised concerns with the United States (US) over respecting the religious sensitivities and food preferences of Indian nationals being deported. However, the US authorities denied instructing deportees to remove religious head coverings and confirmed that only vegetarian meal requests were made. The response came following a query by Punjab Member of Parliament (MP) Harbhajan Singh. The MEA also objected to the use of shackles on deportees, particularly women, and noted that the US has used military aircraft for deportations this year.
27-Mar-2025
Punjab Police Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, while addressing a press conference in Chandigarh on March 27, stated that the supply of drugs on the streets has reduced following a crackdown under the ongoing war against drugs. He emphasized that the police are now focusing on dismantling high-level drug networks by targeting key suppliers and kingpins. He also reported that since the launch of the anti-drugs campaign on March 1, 4,142 drug smugglers have been arrested.
27-Mar-2025
The Hoshiarpur police in association with the district administration on March 27 demolished an illegal building constructed on encroached land of a woman drug peddler identified as Gurmeet Kaur, in Nainowal Vaid village in Hoshiarpur district. The demolition was carried out following complaints from the village panchayat, which reported her involvement in drug smuggling.
27-Mar-2025
A submission by the state of Punjab in the Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) on March 27 revealed that 971 accused in drug cases registered before August 31, 2024, remain absconding in Punjab. During the hearing before Justice NS Shekhawat’s Bench, the state counsel informed the court that out of 1,846 absconding accused, only 875 had been arrested so far. The court observed that Punjab Police had a legal obligation to arrest the accused, initiate PO proceedings, and attach properties, but such efforts were lacking in several districts.
27-Mar-2025
Amritsar Rural Police on March 27 arrested seven unidentified members of an international drug syndicate and seized 4.5 kg of heroin in Amritsar district. Preliminary investigations revealed their links to Gurdeep Singh alias Rano, a key operative of the syndicate currently detained under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act. Further investigations are underway to dismantle the entire network.