KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
21-Oct-2024
According to sources, on the eve of Sidhu Moose Wala's first death anniversary, gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, accused of his murder, claimed to be a nationalist and opposed to Khalistan, while his associate Goldy Brar sought validation from Khalistani militant sympathisers. Brar criticised Moose Wala for his political affiliations and attempted to justify the murder by linking him to Operation Blue Star. However, Brar’s efforts to regain favour after Moose Wala’s death have failed, and his whereabouts remain uncertain, with conflicting reports suggesting he could be in the United States (US) or Canada.
21-Oct-2024
Youth Akali Dal (YAD) President Sarabjeet Singh Jhinjer, in Chandigarh on October 21, urged the Sikh Panth to unite against efforts to suppress and take over Panthic organizations, particularly the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC). He claimed that anti-Panthic forces, backed by Delhi agencies, are attempting to dismantle Sikh institutions, starting with Takht Patna Sahib, Takht Hazoor Sahib, and various Gurdwara Committees, and are now targeting the SGPC.
21-Oct-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops, in coordination with Punjab Police, on October 21 arrested an unidentified individual and seized 530 grams of heroin along with a broken mobile phone from his possession near Kaholi village in Ajnala, Amritsar district. The accused is currently in police custody, undergoing interrogation to determine any potential links with Pakistan-based narco-smugglers.
21-Oct-2024
The Delhi High Court on October 21 admitted an appeal by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) challenging the acquittal of former Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Sajjan Kumar and others in a murder and rioting case linked to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The court granted 'leave to appeal' against the trial court's September 20, 2023 decision, which had acquitted Kumar on the grounds of benefit of doubt.
20-Oct-2024
Police on October 20 arrested a man, identified as Rinku and seized 130 grams of heroin and INR 17,000 in drug money from his possession in Ludhiana district. Rinku, who has a prior criminal record, had recently been released on bail in a drug smuggling case and had resumed his illegal activities.
20-Oct-2024
The Ludhiana police on October 20 arrested a man identified as Navjot Singh alias Bablu and seized 220 grams of heroin from his possession, in Ludhiana in Ludhiana district. The police plan to seek his remand to further investigate the drug supply chain.
20-Oct-2024
Indian High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, in an interview with Canada-based CTV News on October 20, expressed concerns about Canada's handling of relations with India, citing mistrust towards Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his team. He accused them of encouraging Khalistan separatists, whom he referred to as 'deep assets' of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). Verma also highlighted that no evidence had been shared regarding allegations linking India to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and questioned the political independence of Canadian police, while emphasizing that Canada remains a friend of India despite the strained political ties.
20-Oct-2024
A strong blast occurred at a CRPF school in Rohini, North West Delhi, on October 20, prompting a multi-agency investigation. Teams from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), National Security Guard (NSG), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Delhi Police have been deployed to determine the cause of the explosion and identify the perpetrators. Authorities are probing a potential Khalistani link, spurred by social media posts claiming the blast was in retaliation against the alleged targeting of pro-Khalistan separatists by Indian agents.
20-Oct-2024
A three-member advisory board under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PITNDPS) recently ordered the one-year detention of Ludhiana drug lords Akshay Chhabra, Jaspal Singh alias Goldy, and Balwinder Singh alias Billa Havellian in Dibrugarh jail, Assam. This decision follows their involvement in a massive 20,400 kg heroin smuggling racket spanning Punjab, Gujarat’s Mundra port, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), and Afghanistan.
20-Oct-2024
Zirakpur police on October 20 arrested three members of a Haryana-based gang, identified as Gagandeep Singh alias Fauji, Mahesh Sharma, and Rahul Vaid, seizing a .32 bore (Llama-Spain) pistol, a 30 bore (Px6-Italy made) pistol, 22 live cartridges, and a stolen bike from their possession in Zirakpur, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. The accused were involved in a recent jewelry shop robbery in Lohgarh village, SAS Nagar district, and planned to use the stolen money to buy automatic weapons to eliminate a rival gang leader.
20-Oct-2024
The Jalandhar police thwarted three possible target killings on October 20 with the arrest of five operatives of the Bambiha-Kaushal gang, identified as Jaspreet Singh alias Jassa, Harshdeep Singh, Shekhar, Gagandeep Singh alias Ginni Bajwa, and Amit Sahota and seizing eight pistols, one revolver, and 15 live cartridges from their possession in Jalandhar district. Investigations revealed that Gurbhej Singh, a close aide of jailed Khalistani preacher and Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, provided logistical support to the accused.
19-Oct-2024
The Nakodar Sadar police arrested a drug peddler identified as Ismayal on October 19 and seized 110 intoxicating tablets from his possession in Nakodar Sadar, Jalandhar district.
19-Oct-2024
Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff of Amritsar city police on October 19 arrested an individual identified as Akashdeep Singh alias Akash and seized 209 grams of heroin from his possession in Amritsar in Amristar district.
19-Oct-2024
According to official sources, Ottawa has been pressuring New Delhi over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar but has refused to share his death certificate with Indian agencies, a legal requirement for criminal proceedings. Despite India’s repeated requests, Canada has not provided any evidence to support its allegations against Indian officials.
19-Oct-2024
Tarsem Singh, father of jailed Khalistani preacher and Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, on October 19 questioned the police's claim that his son was involved in the murder of Sikh activist Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau. He demanded an investigation by a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, contesting the allegations as an attempt at 'character assassination' due to Amritpal's election victory.
19-Oct-2024
According to sources, Vikas Yadav, who has been indicted by United States (US) prosecutors for allegedly orchestrating a failed plot to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, was arrested by Delhi Police in December 2023 on charges of attempted murder and kidnapping. Yadav, who is no longer a government employee, faces charges of conspiracy to hire a hitman, murder-for-hire, and money laundering.
18-Oct-2024
Mathura Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shailesh Kumar Pandey on October 18 suspended three policemen—Sub-Inspector Ramsanehi, Head Constable Vipin Kumar, and Constable Sanjay Kumar—for negligence after videos surfaced showing Yogesh alias Raju, a sharpshooter from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, interacting with reporters while in custody in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh (UP). In the viral videos, Yogesh made statements about the recent killing of NCP leader Baba Siddique, alleging his connections with criminal Dawood Ibrahim.
18-Oct-2024
Pathankot Counter Intelligence and Gurdaspur Police, in a joint operation on October 18, arrested an unidentified drug smuggler linked to Pakistan-based operatives and seized 1.350 kg of heroin from his possession in Pathankot, Pathankot district.
18-Oct-2024
According to reports, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang has demanded INR 5 crore from Bollywood actor Salman Khan, with the Mumbai Traffic Police receiving a WhatsApp message threatening to kill him if the ransom is not paid. The message states, 'If Salman Khan wants to stay alive and end the long-standing rivalry, then pay Rs 5 crore; don’t take this threat lightly; otherwise, the actor will end up worse than former Maharashtra Chief Minister Baba Siddiqui, who was recently shot dead by the Bishnoi gang’.
17-Oct-2024
The Punjab Police on October 17 named jailed Khalistani preacher and Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, along with Canada-based Karamveer Gora and gangster-terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dalla, in connection with the October 9 killing of Sikh activist Gurpreet Singh in Faridkot, Punjab. The police revealed that Gora and Dalla were the handlers of the four shooters involved in the murder, which was allegedly orchestrated by Amritpal Singh. The police have arrested three individuals linked to the reconnaissance for the crime and are conducting a manhunt for the remaining shooters.
17-Oct-2024
Police on October 17 arrested two members of a gang of miscreants, identified as Yusuf alias Kalia, and Ashu Verma alias Walia, and seized three mobile phones snatched from different victims along with a motorcycle from their possession, in Malerkotla in Malerkotla district. Police revealed that the suspects were arrested following a complaint by Usman Ali, who alleged they threatened him with sharp weapons to snatch his smartphone. Preliminary investigations revealed that both suspects have criminal records and are involved in drug peddling, while their accomplices are still unidentified.
17-Oct-2024
According to intelligence sources, Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed in Surrey, Canada, played a key role in Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s strategy to retain Sikh support ahead of upcoming elections. Nijjar, a top leader of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) with ties to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), had over 10 FIRs filed against him in Punjab and was actively involved in radicalizing youth for terror activities.
17-Oct-2024
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal revealed on October 17 that 26 extradition requests, including those for hardcore Khalistani extremists like Gurjeet Singh, Gurjinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Lakhbir Singh alias Landa, and Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dalla, have been pending with the Canadian government for over a decade. Despite sharing security-related information, India has seen no action from Canada. He also expressed concerns over attacks on Indian-origin journalists reporting on Khalistani extremism and criticized the Canadian government's inaction regarding the vandalism of Hindu temples.
17-Oct-2024
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in New Delhi on October 17, 2024, criticized Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his "cavalier" handling of the diplomatic fallout following the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Jaiswal reiterated that Canada has provided no evidence to support its allegations against India, holding Trudeau responsible for the deterioration in bilateral relations.
17-Oct-2024
On October 17, leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) reform movement and members of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) expressed deep resentment over the resignation of Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, calling it a dark day for the Sikh Panth in Chandigarh. Prominent SGPC members, including Manjit Singh, Surinder Singh Bhulewal, Gurmeet Singh Tilokewala, Kuldeep Kaur Tohra, Paramjit Kaur Landran, Mahinder Singh Hussainpur, Satwinder Singh Tohra, Master Mithu Singh Kahneke, and Jarnail Singh Kartarpur, urged the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) to take strict action against individuals issuing threats to the Jathedar.