KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
15-Mar-2025
On March 15, two bike-borne assailants hurled a hand grenade at the Thakur Dwara temple in the Khandwala area of Amritsar district. CCTV footage revealed that the attackers arrived on a motorcycle adorned with flags and threw the explosive towards the first floor of the temple complex. This incident marks the 13th grenade blast in Punjab over the past four months, with previous attacks primarily targeting police establishments. Police confirmed that forensic teams have collected samples, and efforts are underway to apprehend the culprits.
15-Mar-2025
According to the police, the grenade attack at a temple in Amritsar on March 15 marks the 13th such incident in Punjab since November 2024, with previous cases revealing the involvement of Pakistan-based elements targeting police installations. So far, eight terror modules have been busted—three linked to Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF), four to Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), and one ISI-backed module operated by foreign-based handlers. The police have arrested 20 individuals, including one juvenile, and recovered arms, grenades, and explosives. Officials suspect that the latest attack was intended to disturb communal harmony in the state.
15-Mar-2025
The Amritsar Commissionerate Police on March 15 busted a narco-terror module of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and arrested three operatives, identified as Karandeep Yadav alias Karan Bhaiya, Mukesh Kumar, and Sajan Singh, and seized three mobile phones and 700 Nepali currency notes from their possession, in Madehpur in Mahbubani district in Bihar. The accused, allegedly working under the directions of Pakistan-based BKI terrorist Harvinder Singh alias Rinda, were attempting to flee to Nepal. Their roles surfaced during the investigation into the March 11 arrest of two other operatives, Joban Singh alias Joban and Gurbaksh Singh alias Lala, who were caught with 290 grams of heroin in Amritsar, Punjab.
15-Mar-2025
The acting jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, on March 15 directed the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to convene a meeting of Sikh scholars to analyze the Centre's New Education Policy and propose necessary reforms specific to the panth (Sikh community) and Punjab, in Sri Anandpur Sahib in Rupnagar district. Expressing concerns over threats to Gurmukhi and Punjabi, he called for serious efforts to preserve them. Emphasizing panthic unity, he announced the launch of a religious awareness campaign on Vaisakhi under the banner of Akal Takht, beginning from the homes of economically disadvantaged Sikhs.
15-Mar-2025
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab president Aman Arora, while addressing the media in Chandigarh on March 15, announced that as part of the ongoing campaign against drugs, 1,488 cases were registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in the last 15 days. This led to the arrest of 2,049 individuals involved in drug peddling and smuggling, along with the seizure of 1,270 kg of various narcotics, 7.16 lakh intoxicant capsules and tablets, and INR 63 lakh in drug money from the arrested smugglers. He also stated that the police demolished 28 drug-related illegal properties built using drug money, sending a strong message to those profiting from the drug trade.
15-Mar-2025
On March 15, on the 15th day of the "Yudh Nashian Virudh" campaign, Punjab Police conducted raids at 557 locations, arrested of 114 drug smugglers, after the registration of 72 first information reports (FIRs), and seized 945 grams of heroin, 43 kg of poppy husk, 3,098 intoxicant tablets/pills/injections, and INR 76,310 in drug money from the possession of the arrested smugglers, across Punjab.
15-Mar-2025
Police on March 15 busted a gang of snatchers, and arrested two of its members, identified as Manjit Singh and Manbir Singh, and seized a knife, a black motorcycle without a number plate and chilli spray, along with a stolen gold karrah (bangle), from their possession, in Phagwara in Kapurthala district. The third accused in the case, identified as Sunny is still absconding.
15-Mar-2025
Punjab Police’s State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) on March 15 arrested three operatives of Pakistan-based banned Khalistani terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) identified as Jagjit Singh, alias Jaggi, Shubham Khelbude and Gurdeep Singh, alias Deepa, and seized a pump-action gun with 15 cartridges and a pistol with eight cartridges from their possession, in Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. The arrests follow the earlier detention of three others linked to the February 10 Nanded murder case, bringing the total number of arrests to six. The Police revealed that the suspects were involved in providing logistics, extortion, and shelter to operatives on the directions of BKI terrorist Harvinder Singh alias Rinda
14-Mar-2025
The Bathinda police on March 14 arrested six gangsters following a brief encounter, identified as Gurdeep Singh, Sunil Singh, Satwant Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Hargurn Singh and Arshdeep Singh, and seized a stolen AK-47 rifle and 24 rounds of ammunition from their possession, in Bathinda in Bathinda district. Two of the accused, Gurdeep and Sunil were army jawans posted in Jammu and Srinagar, allegedly stole the rifle before using it in a hotel robbery on March 11. The police tracked the suspects using CCTV footage, leading to the encounter in which one accused sustained a bullet injury. Authorities are coordinating with the army for further investigation.
14-Mar-2025
Police on March 14 arrested three accused, in the case of the murder of Shiv Sena leader Mangat Ram alias Manga, identified as Deeepu, Arun alias Singha and Rajveer alias Laddo, and seized a 32-bore pistol and a 30-bore pistol from their possession, in Malout in Sri Muktsar Sahib district in Punjab. The trio were arrested after an encounter after they opened fire on the police.
14-Mar-2025
Kunnamangalam police on March 14 arrested two Tanzanian nationals, Kilekamajenga David Nteme and Myonga Atka Haruna, involved in a series of inter-state synthetic drug trafficking cases, in Phagwara, Kapurthala district, Punjab. The accused, both students at Lovely Professional University, were linked to the seizure of 227 grams of MDMA in Kerala on January 2. Investigations revealed large financial transactions in their accounts, which led to their arrest from a house near their college. Police stated that efforts to target wholesale drug suppliers have disrupted trafficking networks.
14-Mar-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) on March 14 recovered three packets of heroin weighing 1.7 kg from fields near Awan Vasau village in Ajnala in Amritsar district. An improvised copper wire loop was found attached to each packet indicating that they were smuggled via drones, from across the border.
14-Mar-2025
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), in a joint operation with Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) Jaito on March 14 arrested a shooter of the Davinder Bambiha gang identified as Manpreet Singh alias Mani, and seized a .30-bore pistol, four live cartridges and a motorcycle from his possession, at a naka (checkpoint) near Ghugiana village in Faridkot district. The accused, wanted in multiple cases of murder and arms-related offences, opened fire at the police while attempting to flee but was injured in the retaliatory action before being arrested.
14-Mar-2025
On March 14, a man identified as Zulfan, armed with an iron rod, attacked and injured five people on the premises of the Golden Temple in Amritsar district. Among the injured were two sewadars, three devotees, and a victim from Bathinda who remains in critical condition. The police have arrested the attacker and his yet-to-be-identified accomplice, who allegedly conducted a recce before the assault.
13-Mar-2025
On March 13, Mangat Ram alias Manga, the Moga district president of the Shiv Sena, was shot dead in the Baghiana Basti area of Moga district. Three bike-borne assailants opened fire on him, also injuring an 11-year-old child.
13-Mar-2025
Damdami Taksal head Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa, in a statement in Amritsar on March 13, criticized the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for exceeding its mandate by removing the jathedars of Akal Takht and Takht Kesgarh Sahib. He accused the SGPC of undermining Sikh traditions at the behest of its political bosses. His remarks came ahead of a Panthic congregation at Anandpur Sahib in Rupnagar district, organized by the Sikh seminary during the Hola Mohalla celebrations, to discuss the issue.
13-Mar-2025
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, while addressing the media in Chandigarh on March 13, stated that the ongoing ‘War Against Drugs’ campaign has yielded significant results, with the arrest of 1,759 drug traffickers and the seizure of over 81 kg of heroin, 51 kg of opium, 7.5 lakh intoxicating tablets, and 970 kg of poppy husk, along with other synthetic drugs, in 13 days across Punjab. Additionally, the properties of 29 individuals associated with drug trafficking have been demolished.
13-Mar-2025
Police on March 13, in a raid, arrested five unidentified drug peddlers and seized 3 grams of heroin, 325 intoxicating pills and INR 1.35 lakh in drug money along with three scooters, four motorcycles and a Maruti car from their possession, in Baazigar Basti in Dhuri in Sangrur district. The raids, were part of the ongoing 'War Against Drugs' campaign. The Police warned drug peddlers to either quit the trade or leave the state, assuring support for those willing to reform.
13-Mar-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on March 13 arrested a smuggler, identified as Kuldeep Singh and seized five packets of heroin weighing 2.6 kg from his possession, near Lakha Singh Wala village in Ferozepur district. The operation was launched based on a tip-off, and the recovered packets, wrapped in yellow adhesive tape with nylon threads and illumination strips, indicated that the consignment was dropped using a drone from across the border.
13-Mar-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police on March 13 recovered one packet of heroin weighing 549 grams, from fields near Wan village in Patti in Tarn Taran district.
12-Mar-2025
The head of Damdami Taksal, Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa ‘Dhuma,’ via a video message, strongly opposed the removal of Takht Jathedars by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), calling it a violation of Sikh traditions, and called for a Panthic gathering on March 14 at Anandpur Sahib to protest against what he termed disrespect towards Sikh principles. Without naming anyone, he accused SGPC and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders of making self-serving decisions. Once aligned with SAD-SGPC, the Taksal's political stance shifted after the SAD-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance ended, with Baba Harnam Singh later extending support to the BJP in the Maharashtra elections.
12-Mar-2025
Punjab Police on March 12 conducted raids at 543 locations, arresting 118 drug smugglers and registering 71 First Information Reports (FIRs), arrested 118 drug smugglers and seized 994 grams of heroin, 4,633 intoxicant tablets/pills/injections, and INR 1.47 lakh in drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers, across Punjab. The Police stated that they will continue such operations as part of a three-pronged strategy—Enforcement, De-addiction, and Prevention (EDP)—to eradicate drugs from Punjab.
12-Mar-2025
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) in a joint operation with the Moga police on March 12 arrested an operative of foreign-based gangster Gaurav alias Lucky Patyal, and Davinderpal Singh alias Gopi Lahoria of the Davinder Bambiha gang, identified as Malkit Singh alias Manu and seized one .32 calibre pistol along with four cartridges from his possession, in Moga in Moga district. Manu, who has a criminal background with at least seven cases related to murder and attempt to murder, was injured in an exchange of fire with the police before being arrested.
12-Mar-2025
According to data shared by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) in Parliament on March 12, Punjab registered 9,025 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in 2024, marking a decline from 11,564 in 2023 and 12,423 in 2022. Despite this decrease, Punjab recorded the second-highest number of NDPS cases in the country last year, following Kerala. Meanwhile, the Border Security Force (BSF) has seized approximately 35 kg of narcotics and neutralized over 45 drones originating from Pakistan in 2025 so far. The central government has intensified anti-drug measures, including the establishment of a dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) in every state and a specialized unit targeting darknet and cryptocurrency-related drug trafficking.
12-Mar-2025
The Centre recently informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh has been granted a 54-day leave of absence from the Lok Sabha, preventing his disqualification due to prolonged absence. The approval was sanctioned by a parliamentary committee, ensuring he retains his parliamentary seat despite his incarceration.