KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
07-Feb-2025
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab chief Aman Arora on February 7 asserted that AAP will win the Delhi elections. He questioned why Punjab should consider only a Jat Sikh as Chief Minister (CM), emphasizing the need for inclusive leadership. With two years left for the Punjab Assembly polls, he highlighted the party’s focus on industrial investment and improving law and order.
07-Feb-2025
The Police on February 7 busted an inter-state drug cartel operating in Punjab from Uttar Pradesh (UP) via Haryana with the arrest of six persons, identified as Parvinder Singh, Sahil, Pankaj Chaudhary alias Virat, Shubham, Shahid and Wasim, and seized 2.57 lakh tablets, capsules, 21,364 injections and 738 vials containing banned medicines, along with three cars, motorcycle and scooters from their possession in Fatehgarh Sahib in Fatehgarh Sahib district in Punjab.
07-Feb-2025
Punjab Minister for Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Affairs Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on February 7 reaffirmed the state government’s zero-tolerance policy towards travel agents involved in human trafficking and vowed strict action against them. He condemned the handcuffing and shackling of 104 Indian nationals deported from the United States (US), calling it a human rights violation. Following a complaint by a deportee, an Amritsar-based travel agent, Satnam Singh, has been booked, and his office sealed. Dhaliwal urged more victims to come forward and sought intervention from Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar for better treatment of deportees.
07-Feb-2025
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff of Punjab Police on February 7 arrested an individual, identified as Happy Singh, and seized two unlicensed .32 calibre pistols, four live cartridges, and a bike from his possession at a naka (checkpoint) near the Abohar-Killianwali bypass in Fazilka district. Police intercepted Singh while he was en route to Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan and suspect him of smuggling illegal weapons. A case has been registered under the Arms Act, and further investigation is underway.
06-Feb-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on February 6 recovered a Pakistani drone from the outskirts of Mahawa village in Amritsar district. The recovered drone was identified as a DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
06-Feb-2025
Langroya village, once a major drug hotspot in Nawanshahr, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district, has shown signs of improvement due to police crackdowns and rehabilitation efforts. Since January 1 last year, 33 First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered, leading to key arrests and community outreach programs. Former peddlers have been rehabilitated with jobs, while women previously involved in the trade have taken up goat rearing. Police have also introduced sports activities to keep youth engaged. Encouraged by Langroya’s progress, authorities plan to extend similar strategies to other drug-affected villages in the district.
06-Feb-2025
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Jalandhar Range on February 6 arrested an unidentified smuggler and seized 10.163 kg of heroin from his possession in Mohali, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district, Punjab. Further investigations are underway to uncover the entire network.
06-Feb-2025
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Chief Secretary Kulwant Singh Manan on February 6 confirmed that the executive body meeting will be held on February 10 at its headquarters in Amritsar, Punjab. The agenda includes discussions on the inquiry against suspended Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, along with other Panthic and administrative matters.
05-Feb-2025
On February 5, family members and supporters of gangster Sagar Newton blocked the Ferozepur Road highway in Ludhiana, alleging he died under mysterious circumstances while in judicial custody. They placed his body on the road, demanding action against jail officials before cremation. His family rejected claims that he died of a diabetes attack and kidney failure, insisting he was fit during his last court appearance in January. The protest caused heavy traffic congestion in the area.
05-Feb-2025
According to reports, despite harsh conditions abroad, Punjabi youth remain eager to migrate, often risking their lives for the promise of better opportunities in Western countries. The recent deportation of illegal immigrants from the United States (US), including 30 from Punjab, and the return of Indians who served as helpers in the Russian Army underscore this desperation. Experts attribute the large-scale migration to limited job opportunities and security concerns in Punjab, emphasizing that migration should be a last resort. They advocate for skills development and local employment initiatives to address the root causes of this trend.
05-Feb-2025
Amritsar Rural Police on February 5 arrested a serving Army constable and two others on charges of spying and cross-border drug peddling, identified as Amritpal Singh, Mandeep Singh alias Maddy, and Madhav Sharma, along with 500 grams of heroin, a .30 bore pistol, INR 10 lakh in drug money, and a cash counting machine in Amritsar in Amritsar district. They allegedly shared sensitive Army information with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Another Army constable, Rajbir Singh, has been nominated in the case.
05-Feb-2025
On February 5, 2025, a United States (US) military aircraft carrying 104 illegal Indian immigrants landed at Shri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport in Amritsar, Punjab. This marks the first batch of deportations under the US crackdown on illegal immigration. Among the deportees, 30 are from Punjab, while others are from Haryana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh (UP), and Chandigarh. Punjab authorities are verifying their backgrounds before release.
04-Feb-2025
Gangster Sagar Neutron alias Newton died while undergoing treatment at PGIMER, Chandigarh, on February 4. He was lodged in Sangrur jail and was accused in at least 18 cases, including murder. Neutron was arrested in August 2024 for gang violence, weapons smuggling, and links to jailed gangster Boota Khan. His counsel alleged custodial torture and demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe.
04-Feb-2025
The Punjab Government on February 4 opposed former Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Beant Singh’s assassination case convict Jagtar Singh Hawara's petition seeking transfer from Tihar Jail in Delhi to a prison in Punjab. Arguing before a court in New Delhi, the government stated that since he was tried in Chandigarh, he cannot be shifted to Punjab. The Punjab Advocate General asserted that any transfer should be to Chandigarh, not Punjab, citing a similar petition dismissed by the Delhi High Court in 2018.
04-Feb-2025
On February 4, the 39th anniversary of the Nakodar police firing, Baldev Singh and Baldip Kaur, parents of victim Ravinder Singh, stated that justice remained elusive, in Nakodar, Jalandhar district. They criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for inaction despite promises made before coming to power, stating that eight letters had been sent to Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann, the latest on January 8, 2025. The Justice Gurnam Singh Commission report, formed in 1986, was never fully disclosed, with Part II still withheld.
04-Feb-2025
In an interview with The Economic Times, Congress leader Ajay Maken criticized former Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that he is promoting pro-Khalistan forces in Punjab and engaging in anti-national activities. He cited former Punjab Police chief KPS Gill’s 2017 warning about Kejriwal providing space for radical elements, calling it prophetic.
04-Feb-2025
National Commission for Minorities (NCM) chairperson Iqbal Singh Lalpura, in an interview to PTI on February 4, described India as a "heaven" for minorities and said Sikhs regard Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "messiah" for his contributions to the community over the past decade. He criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi for allegedly exploiting Sikhs for votes while doing little for them. Lalpura highlighted Modi’s role in facilitating the Kartarpur Corridor and commemorating Sikh history, asserting that minorities in India have ample opportunities. He also defended India’s record on communal harmony, contrasting it with the declining minority populations in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
04-Feb-2025
According to senior police officials, Punjab Police have compiled the criminal history of nearly 100 wanted criminals, with 20 suspected to be hiding in the United States (US). Officials are hopeful that the US crackdown on illegal immigrants may expedite the deportation or extradition of Punjab-based gangsters, including Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Notable criminals believed to be in the US include Anmol Bishnoi, Happy Passia, and Sarwan Bhola. Punjab Police are coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA), and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on the deportation process.
04-Feb-2025
The Amritsar Police Commissionerate on February 4 arrested three operatives of gangster-turned-terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa, identified as Jagroop Singh Charna, Jugraj Singh alias Gazi, and Shamsher Singh alias Shera, and seized a .32 bore pistol and two live cartridges from their possession in Amritsar in Amritsar district. Jagroop was injured in an encounter while attempting to escape police custody. The police stated that the accused were involved in extortion activities on Landa’s behalf, targeting prominent businessmen in Punjab.
03-Feb-2025
Tarsem Singh, father of jailed radical Khalistani preacher and Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, announced on February 3 that the Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) had formed 10-member district-level panels in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Sangrur districts of Punjab. The party, launched on January 14 while Amritpal remains jailed under the National Security Act (NSA), aims to expand into Gurdaspur and Ferozepur districts.
03-Feb-2025
Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, Gaurav Yadav on February 3 announced the installation of 2,300 CCTV cameras at 703 strategic locations from Pathankot to Fazilka, aimed at strengthening the second line of defence, during the inauguration of a new Cyber Crime Police Station and an upgraded Command and Control Centre in Pathankot, Pathankot district, Punjab. Additionally, Yadav chaired a joint meeting with the Army and Border Security Force (BSF), emphasizing coordination to combat terror and smuggling networks. He also visited the BSF's Shaheed Kamaljeet Singh Border Outpost to assess security arrangements.
03-Feb-2025
Jalandhar Rural Police on February 3 dismantled an interstate drug trafficking network operating between Bihar and Punjab, arresting four individuals identified as Pooja Kumari, Babita Devi, Arnav Kumar Jaiswal, and Mohit Dhanda and seizing 20.2 kg of ganja and 50 grams of heroin from their possession near Bidhipur railway gate in Jalandhar, Jalandhar district. The authorities uncovered the network's strategy of using railway routes and women carriers to evade detection. Further investigations are underway to trace the network’s linkages.
03-Feb-2025
The Police on February 3 arrested three roadways employees, identified as Ajit Singh alias Raju, Deepak Sharma, and Keerat Singh and seized 55 grams of heroin, 20 small empty plastic packets, and a digital weighing scale from their possession in Jalandhar, Jalandhar district. Further investigations are underway to identify any larger network involved in drug trafficking.
03-Feb-2025
On the evening of February 3, a suspected blast was reported near the non-functional Fatehgarh Churian police post on the Amritsar-Attari bypass road in Amritsar district, Punjab. This incident marks the sixth such occurrence in the past two months. Police officials stated that although a noise was heard, no evidence of an explosion was found. A police team stationed nearby also reported hearing the sound. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause and identify those responsible.
03-Feb-2025
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on February 3 affirmed that retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Prabodh Kumar would continue to lead the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the in-custody interview of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, which allegedly glorified crime. The court upheld its constitutional authority to appoint a retired officer for investigations, emphasizing Kumar’s familiarity with the case since January 2023.