KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
27-Mar-2025
On March 27, Shiv Sena Yuva Sena's (Shinde faction) General Secretary Rahool Kanal accused comedian Kunal Kamra of receiving funding from Khalistani elements to create content against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. In a post on social media platform X, Kanal demanded the demonetization of Kamra’s YouTube channel and claimed to have over 300 screenshots of payments linked to anti-government videos.
26-Mar-2025
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on March 26 criticized the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), stating that it continued its “pattern of issuing biased and politically motivated assessments,” while addressing the media in New Delhi. He accused the commission of misrepresenting isolated incidents to malign India’s multicultural society. The MEA asserted that efforts to undermine India’s status as a “beacon of democracy and tolerance” would fail and suggested that the USCIRF itself should be designated as an “entity of concern.”
26-Mar-2025
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami, on March 26, in Amritsar, criticized the Indian government’s insensitive approach towards the release of Bandi Singhs (Sikh prisoners), calling it a violation of human rights. He stated that despite SGPC’s continuous efforts, the central government’s negative stance remains a major obstacle. Dhami expressed disappointment that multiple requests for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including one by the Akal Takht committee, were ignored. He urged the government to ensure justice for Sikh prisoners, warning that further delays could lead to growing distrust among Sikhs.
26-Mar-2025
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema on March 26 announced two initiatives to combat drug trafficking, including deploying 5,000 Home Guards alongside the Border Security Force (BSF) on the Pakistan border and implementing advanced anti-drone systems. Presenting the state budget for 2025-26, he allocated INR 110 crore for these measures, with INR 60 crore designated for Home Guards.
26-Mar-2025
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema on March 26, while presenting the state budget for 2025-26, announced the first-ever census to collect data on drug addiction and de-addiction centres. Cheema reiterated the state’s commitment to combating drug smuggling by enhancing border security and implementing targeted initiatives to curb the menace.
26-Mar-2025
As part of “Yudh Nashian Virudh”, Punjab Police on March 26 raided 483 locations, arrested 77 drug smugglers after the registration of 55 first information reports (FIRs), and seized recovered 1.1 kg of heroin, 301 grams of opium and INR 13570 drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers across Punjab.
26-Mar-2025
Police on March 26 nominated two more persons in the Jalandhar grenade attack case, identified as Gaurav Gill and Maninder Bobby, in Jalandhar in Jalandhar district. The Police stated that Gaurav Gill, a resident of Canada, was the mastermind behind the attack. The case relates to a grenade being thrown at the house of YouTuber Navdeep alias Rozer Sandhu, in Raipur Rasoolpur village in Phillaur tehsil in Jalandhar district, on March 16.
25-Mar-2025
Punjab Police on March 25 conducted raids at 452 locations, leading to the arrest of 69 drug smugglers and the registration of 47 First Information Reports (FIRs), and recovered 1.2 kg of heroin, 300 grams of opium, 2,200 intoxicant tablets/pills/injections, 375 kg of poppy husk, and INR 13,000 drug money from the possession of the arrested drug smugglers, across the state.
25-Mar-2025
Mohinder Chawla, a member of the Kullu Gurdwara Management Committee, on March 25, in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, expressed regret over the recent incidents between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, attributing them to a handful of miscreants. He emphasized that both states have worked together to restore peace through initiatives such as peace committee meetings in Kullu and Manali. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Kumar Sukhu and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also coordinated to defuse tensions, ensuring swift action against those responsible for vandalizing buses.
25-Mar-2025
An Ajnala court in Amritsar district on March 25 extended police remand of eight associates of Khalistani radical and jailed Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, identified as Basant Singh, Bhagwant Singh alias Pradhan Mantri Bajeke, Gurmeet Singh Gill, Sarabjeet Singh Kalsi alias Daljeet Singh, Gurinderpal Singh Aujla, Harjeet Singh alias Chacha, Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal and Amandeep Singh, for three day.
25-Mar-2025
Forty-two members of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on March 25 submitted a joint petition demanding the revocation of the decision to remove Takht Jathedars, in Amritsar in Amritsar district. The SGPC had previously sacked Jathedars, including Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, leading to political backlash, particularly against Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Former SGPC general secretary Kiranjot Kaur stated that the petition rejects new appointments and seeks restoration of previous Jathedars. The members also urged the SGPC to establish norms for appointing Takht Jathedars after consulting the wider Sikh community.
25-Mar-2025
A local court in Patiala in Patiala district on March 25 acquitted Jagtar Singh Tara and Ramandeep Singh Goldy in the 2009 murder case of Rashtriya Sikh Sangat chief Rulda Singh, citing a lack of sufficient evidence from the Punjab Police. Rulda Singh was shot outside his residence on July 28, 2009, and succumbed to his injuries on August 15, 2009.
24-Mar-2025
The Delhi Police on March 24 informed the Patiala House Court that further investigation is pending in the extortion case against former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) officer Vikash Yadav, who has been charged by the United States (US) Department of Justice (DoJ) with “murder-for-hire” and money laundering in an alleged plot to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The Patiala House Court has listed the case for May 22 for arguments on the point of charge. Yadav, previously arrested in December 2023, was granted interim bail on March 22 and regular bail on April 22, 2024.
23-Mar-2025
Punjab Police on March 23 announced that, the Anti-Narcotic Task Force (ANTF) of the Punjab Police with the support of the central agencies arrested eleven persons and seized 423 grams of heroin, 372 grams of gold and foreign currencies amounting to INR 5.09 crore along with four vehicles from their possession, in Amritsar in Amritsar district. The crackdown followed an extensive investigation into a narco-terror hawala network linked to a Pakistani drug smuggler.
23-Mar-2025
The Punjab Police’s State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) on March 23 busted a major narcotics smuggling network and arrested three Army men, identified as Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi, his brother Sukhpreet Singh and Akashdeep Singh, along with two civilians identified as Kulwinder Singh and Arvinder Singh, and seized 135 grams of heroin and one pistol from their possession, in Gokuwal village in Batala in Gurdaspur district. Gopi, was identified as the chief conspirator. Officials stated that the accused were involved in procuring heroin and arms and ammunition from Pakistan-based smugglers. Their financial transactions were under investigation, and more arrests were likely as the probe continued.
23-Mar-2025
The Amritsar city police on March 23 arrested a woman kingpin along with three drug smugglers identified as Mandeep Kaur, Alam Arora, Manmeet alias Golu, and one unidentified 18-year-old, and seized 5.2 kg of heroin from their possession in Chheharta Sahib in Amritsar district. Mandeep Kaur, who allegedly transported drugs disguised as a police officer, was linked to Pakistan-based smugglers. A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered, and further investigations are underway.
23-Mar-2025
As part of the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh' campaign, Punjab Police on March 23 registered 70 First Information Reports (FIR), arrested 109 drug smugglers and seized 8.6 kg heroin, 3.3 kg of opium, 40 kg of poppy husk and INR 2.9 lakh drug money from their possession, across Punjab.
23-Mar-2025
Counter Intelligence (CI) wing of Amritsar Police on March 23 busted a narco-terror module and arrested four persons, identified as Navjot Singh alias Sahil, Sukhwinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh and Aniket, and seized 4 kg of heroin from their possession, near government hospital at Naraingarh area in Chheharta Sahib in Amritsar district.
23-Mar-2025
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on March 23 filed a chargesheet against four Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) operatives—Pakistan-based Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, US-based Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia, Rohan Masih, and Vishal Masih—in connection with the 2024 Chandigarh grenade attack case, before the special NIA court in Chandigarh. The agency alleged that the attack targeted a retired Punjab police officer and was part of BKI’s terror agenda. The accused have been charged under the UAPA, the Explosive Substances Act, and other provisions.
23-Mar-2025
According to sources, Damdami Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Dhuma is actively mobilizing support for the March 28 gherao of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) head office, demanding the reinstatement of the sacked jathedars. Once a pivotal force in Sikh politics, Damdami Taksal lost its influence after aligning with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD-Badal) but is now seeking to reclaim its position. Amid growing discontent within the Sikh community, Baba Harnam Singh Dhuma’s renewed activism signals a shift in the religio-political landscape.
22-Mar-2025
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on March 22 detained gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act, 1988, for one year and transferred him from Bathinda jail to Silchar Jail in Assam. Bhagwanpuria, a key conspirator in the Sidhu Moose Wala murder case and an accused in 128 cases, allegedly operated a drug network from prison using encrypted communication and international links.
22-Mar-2025
Unidentified persons vandalized parked buses of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) and spray-painted 'Khalistan' at the Amritsar bus stand in Amritsar district on March 22. The windshields of three buses were also shattered. HRTC drivers reported the incident to the authorities and refused to operate buses in Punjab until their safety was ensured. The police have launched an investigation into the matter.
22-Mar-2025
Himachal Pradesh (HP) Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri on March 22 informed the state assembly in Shimla that a decision would soon be taken regarding the growing incidents of attacks on Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) buses in Punjab. He stated that four HRTC buses were vandalized at the Amritsar bus stand, with Khalistan slogans and posters plastered on them. Agnihotri confirmed that an FIR had been lodged with the Amritsar police and that the Himachal government was in contact with Punjab authorities to address the issue.
22-Mar-2025
The court of an additional district and sessions judge in Mohali, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district, convicted two individuals, Lakhbir Singh and Surinder Kaur alias Sukhpreet Kaur, in a case related to anti-national activities linked to the Khalistani terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), while acquitting a third accused, Surinder Singh. Lakhbir Singh was sentenced to seven years in prison under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, while Surinder Kaur received a five-year sentence.
22-Mar-2025
As part of the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh' campaign, Punjab Police on March 22 arrested 75 drug smugglers and recovered 5.2 kg of heroin, 10 kg of opium, and INR 2.2 lakh in drug money from their possession, across Punjab.