KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
29-Jan-2025
The police on January 29 busted a gang involved in drug smuggling by arresting two of its members, identified as Nitin Gogna and Harpreet Kashyap, and seized 3,200 intoxicant tablets from their possession in Jalandhar district.
28-Jan-2025
Police on January 28 arrested a peddler, identified as Gaurav Makkar alias Sunny and seized 14 grams of heroin and 20 pouches from his possession, from Kundanpuri area in Ludhiana in Ludhiana district.
28-Jan-2025
Police on January 28, based on information from arrested drug peddler Gaurav Makkar alias Sunny, uncovered a 13-year-long drug smuggling racket run by Sonia alias Naachi and her two daughters, from Mohalla Peeru Banda area in Ludhiana in Ludhiana district in Punjab. Police arrested Sonia, and seized 4 grams of heroin and INR 2.9 lakh in alleged drug money from her possession.
28-Jan-2025
A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on January 28 recorded the evidence of a senior scientific assistant who had taken a voice sample of former minister Jagdish Tytler at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in April 2023, in New Delhi. Tytler is facing trial for the killing of three Sikhs near Gurdwara Pul Bangash on November 1, 1984. The court played an audio clip containing his voice sample and scheduled the cross-examination of the scientific officer for February 7.
28-Jan-2025
The Punjab Police on January 28 arrested two operatives of United States (US) based terrorist Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passian and US-based drug smuggler Sarwan Bhola, identified as Bagga Singh and Puskaran Singh alias Sagar, and seized a hand grenade and two sophisticated pistols along with ammunition from their possession, from Amritsar in Amritsar district. Bagga Singh was arrested from Sirsa in Haryana and Pushkaran Singh from Amritsar. The two were involved in the hand grenade attack outside the Gumtala police post in Amritsar in December 2024.
28-Jan-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on January 28 recovered a packet of heroin weighing 500 grams from fields near Lakha Singh Wala village in Ferozepur district.
27-Jan-2025
All India Congress Committee Treasurer and Member of Parliament (MP) Ajay Maken, along with former Deputy Chief Minister and former Home Minister of AAP-ruled Punjab, on January 27, stated that Khalistani sentiments and radicalism are on the rise. They criticized the AAP government for its inaction on 11 grenade attacks in the state and accused it of fostering a dangerous governance model. The Congress also linked AAP to radical elements, including alleged connections with Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. They warned voters in Delhi and Punjab against supporting AAP, calling the party a threat to national security.
27-Jan-2025
On January 27, Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, Giani Harpreet Singh, accused Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) of orchestrating efforts to remove him from his position, in Chandigarh. He alleged that a three-member SGPC-appointed committee was attempting to gather accusations of violating Sikh maryada against him but had found no evidence. Giani Harpreet Singh hinted at plans to expose those behind the campaign and criticised the SGPC for being influenced by political figures, escalating tensions between religious and political leadership in Punjab.
27-Jan-2025
The Ludhiana police on January 27 arrested a smuggler, identified as Raju Kalia, and seized 265 grams of heroin from his possession in Guru Har Rai Nagar, Ludhiana. Police revealed that Kalia, already facing three drug smuggling cases, resumed the illegal trade after being released on bail in October 2023.
27-Jan-2025
The police on January 27 arrested Gurpreet Singh Gopi and seized a country-made pistol along with 21 empty cartridges near Fazalpur village in Tarn Taran district. Authorities confirmed Gopi’s involvement in a recent shooting at a farmhouse in Fazalpur village.
26-Jan-2025
The counter-intelligence unit of the Punjab Police on January 26 arrested six members of the Kaushal Chaudhry gang, identified as Puneet Lakhanpal alias Sharma, Narinder Kumar alias Lalli, Gurbhinder Singh, Maninderjit Singh, Harpreet Singh, and Sandeep Singh and seized six sophisticated pistols along with 40 live cartridges in Jandiala Guru, Amritsar district. Sharma and Lalli, both sharpshooters, were involved in the high-profile murder of international kabaddi player Sandeep Nangal Ambian in 2022. Authorities suspect the gang was planning a targeted killing in Punjab under the direction of foreign-based handlers.
26-Jan-2025
On January 26, the Akal Takht Secretariat announced the postponement of the meeting of the Five Sikh High Priests (Panj Singh Sahibs) scheduled for January 28, 2025, citing personal engagements of Singh Sahib at Sri Akal Takht Sahib, in Amritsar.
26-Jan-2025
On January 26, farmers in Punjab organized tractor marches across multiple districts, including Malerkotla, Ludhiana, Amritsar, and Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar, demanding a guaranteed Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops and the withdrawal of the National Policy Framework on Agriculture Marketing (NPFAM). Led by farmer unions like Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), the protests remained peaceful, with demonstrations outside retail outlets and malls in Amritsar.
26-Jan-2025
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Singh Mann on January 26 vowed to crush forces inimical to the state and foil conspiracies aimed at disturbing peace and communal harmony while addressing the 76th Republic Day gathering at Polo Ground in Patiala. He emphasized the importance of preserving Punjab’s hard-earned peace and announced the launch of the "Punjab Help Centre" at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in New Delhi to assist the Punjabi diaspora. Additionally, he recognized individuals for their notable contributions to society and the state.
25-Jan-2025
Ahead of Republic Day celebrations, the Punjab Police on January 25 issued a red alert and deployed over 15,000 personnel across the state due to recent blasts at police installations by pro-Khalistan elements. Special operations are underway in all districts to monitor gangsters, smugglers, and anti-social elements. The Republic Day venue in Faridkot was changed to Patiala after pro-Khalistan slogans were found near the stadium. Security measures have also been heightened in Haryana and Chandigarh, with bomb and dog squads deployed at sensitive locations.
25-Jan-2025
Several schools in Punjab's Patiala district on January 25 received emails, allegedly from the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), urging them to boycott Republic Day celebrations where Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann is set to hoist the national flag. The police are verifying the threat and have reassured that security arrangements are in place, with over 15,000 personnel deployed across Punjab under a red alert. This follows the discovery of fresh pro-Khalistan graffiti in Faridkot, where the venue was initially planned before being shifted to Patiala for "administrative reasons."
25-Jan-2025
The Punjab Police on January 25 criticized Khalistani terrorist and leader of the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, as a "fugitive hiding abroad" following threats sent to Patiala schools urging them to refrain from Republic Day celebrations. The police dismissed the threats as baseless and accused Pannun of misleading youth with false promises of immigration. In response to pro-Khalistan graffiti and Pannun's threats to hoist Khalistani flags at district offices, security measures were strengthened, including the deployment of 2,500 personnel in Amritsar and additional measures across Punjab. As a precaution, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's Republic Day event was relocated to Patiala.
25-Jan-2025
Punjab police on January 25 arrested an associate of Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar gang in connection with the firing incident at IELTS/Immigration Centre in Dera Bassi, identified as Mehfuj alias Vishal Khan and seized one .32 calibre pistol along with five cartridges from his possession in Dera Bassi in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. Police revealed that Khan, along with another gang member, Manjeet alias Gur, was a mastermind behind the September 2024 firing incident intended to extort the centre's owner. All other accused in the case had already been arrested.
24-Jan-2025
The Fatehgarh Sahib police on January 24 arrested three Nihangs, identified as Sunny Singh, Jobanpreet Singh, and Sukhbir Singh, for assaulting three pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) at Roza Sharif in Fatehgarh Sahib district, Punjab. The victims, who were purchasing vegetables near a gurdwara, were attacked without provocation, with one pilgrim injured by a sharp weapon. The police responded promptly, and the injured were admitted to Civil Hospital, Fatehgarh Sahib.
24-Jan-2025
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh has called a meeting on January 28 with the five Sikh high priests to discuss Panthic issues, following the Shiromani Akali Dal’s (SAD) rejection of a seven-member panel formed by the Akal Takht for its membership drive. The defiance of the Akal Takht’s directives has sparked controversy within the party. Rebel leader Gurpartap Singh Wadala emphasized that the membership drive should only be carried out under the panel formed by the Akal Takht. Meanwhile, the SAD is also seeking an extension of voter registration for the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee elections (SGPC).
24-Jan-2025
Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, while addressing the media in New Delhi on January 24, expressed concern over pro-Khalistani elements disrupting screenings of the film Emergency in the United Kingdom (UK), urging accountability for those involved. He emphasized that freedom of speech must not be obstructed and hoped the UK government would take appropriate action.
24-Jan-2025
Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, while addressing the media in New Delhi on January 24, expressed concerns about Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who was reportedly seen at Donald Trump’s January 20 inauguration event. Jaiswal stated that India will continue raising issues with the United States (US) regarding anti-India activities that impact national security.
24-Jan-2025
On January 24, a Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) delegation met Pakistan High Commission’s Charge d’Affaires Saad Ahmad Warraich in New Delhi and urged the issuance of visas for the full list of Sikh pilgrims visiting gurdwaras in Pakistan. The delegation highlighted visa exclusions in recent years and requested alignment with the amended Nanakshahi calendar for pilgrimage dates, particularly for Guru Arjan Dev’s martyrdom day, which has caused scheduling conflicts since 2012.
24-Jan-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on January 24 recovered one packet of heroin weighing 559 grams along with a drone from farming fields near Kakkar village in Ajnala in Amritsar district. The recovered drone was 01 DJI Air 3 S model.
23-Jan-2025
On January 23, the Batala police attached the Alpine Inn hotel in Amritsar, Punjab, allegedly used as a hub for heroin smuggling from Pakistan and facilitating meetings of narcotics dealers. Room No. 103, kept off the hotel register, was identified as a key location in the drug trafficking operation. The hotel owner, Balbir Singh, and seven others are on the run after an anti-drug raid, with the property valued at INR 4.5 crore. This action is part of an ongoing crackdown targeting drug smuggling networks.