KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
10-Oct-2024
Police on October 10 busted an inter-district extortion racket and arrested six individuals identified as Jobanpreet Singh, Rajesh Kumar, Jaskaran Gill, Barjesh Kumar Meshi, Buta Singh and Barkha Singh, in Chandigarh. The gang operated across several districts.
10-Oct-2024
Police in Rupnagar arrested 33 individuals and registered 29 cases during 12 cordon and search operations (CASO) between January 1 and September 30, 2024. They reported filing 126 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, leading to the arrest of 180 accused. The operations resulted in the seizure of 80 grams of heroin, 1.9 kg of opium, 23 kg of poppy husk, 941 pills/capsules, 229 syringes, 2.5 kg of drug powder, 68 kg of ganja, 1.4 kg of cannabis, and INR 1,27,550 in drug money. Police are actively identifying habitual offenders and enhancing night patrols in sensitive areas.
09-Oct-2024
The Amritsar police Commissionerate on October 9 arrested six members of an inter-state organised crime syndicate identified as Gurjashan Singh alias Chinni, Paras Singh alias Raja, Akashbir Singh alias Yaddi, Manpreet Singh alias Manu, Akashdeep Singh and Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukha, and seized three pistols of .32 bore calibre, one double barrel gun of .12 bore and 15 live cartridges from their possession, in Amritsar in Amritsar district. The arrests were made to prevent an imminent gang war with a rival gang led by Amarbir Singh alias Gopi Mahal Gang. The police are currently conducting further investigations.
09-Oct-2024
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on October 9 observed the death anniversary of Harjinder Singh Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha at Gurdwara Jhanda Bunga Sahib, located within the Sri Darbar Sahib complex in Amritsar in Amritsar district.
09-Oct-2024
Police on October 9 arrested three drug traffickers, identified as Gurpreet Singh and Harpreet Singh alias Happy and Jota Singh, and seized 5 kg of heroin along with INR 3.95 lakh drug money, car and a motorcycle from their possession, in Ajnala in Amritsar district. The accused were linked to Pakistan-based smugglers and used drones to transport narcotics. A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered, and investigations are ongoing to trace their accomplices.
09-Oct-2024
Four villagers, identified as Bittu, Jashanpreet Singh, Butta Ram, and Shinda, were injured when six armed men opened fire on them in Bhabhiana village, Kapurthala district on October 9. The assailants, who arrived on two motorcycles, fled the scene after shooting at the villagers, who were gathered near a religious site.
09-Oct-2024
On October 9, an individual identified as Gurpreet Singh was shot dead by four unknown assailants in Hari Nau village, Faridkot district. Gurpreet was a close associate of Sukhraj Singh Niamiwala, who has been leading protests for justice related to the Behbal Kalan police firing incident in October 2015. Authorities have stated that they are investigating the case as a priority.
08-Oct-2024
Police on October 8 attached properties worth INR 99.29 lakh belonging to two drug peddlers identified as Ranjit Singh alias Kaka and Harmandeep Singh in Punjab. Ranjit Singh's properties, valued at INR 61.29 lakh, were located in Rorawali village in Amritsar district, while Harmandeep Singh's properties, worth INR 38 lakh, were in Dundaiwala village in Tarn Taran district. Both individuals purchased these properties with money earned from drug smuggling. Separate cases have been registered against them under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
08-Oct-2024
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on October 8 re-entered public life in Sri Muktsar Sahib, Sri Muktsar Sahib district, after being declared a Tankhaiya 40 days earlier by the Akal Takht. He led a protest outside the deputy commissioner's office, demanding action against officials involved in rejecting party nominations. Badal's public appearance drew criticism from the SAD Sudhar Lehar (SAD-SL) faction, which accused him of violating Sikh religious orders.
08-Oct-2024
According to official sources, the Army, local judiciary, and the Red Cross de-addiction centre have joined forces to combat the rising drug addiction in Gurdaspur district, Punjab. This collaboration marks a significant shift, as previous efforts were primarily limited to the Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police. The Army is leading seminars, starting in educational institutions, to address the issue at its roots, while the judiciary is actively involved in rehabilitation efforts. Experts believe this initiative could significantly reduce drug usage among the youth.
08-Oct-2024
Police on October 8 arrested two individuals, identified as Sahil Kumar and Abhinav alias Abhi, and seized 190 grams of heroin from their possession, near LIG flats in Ludhiana in Ludhiana district.
07-Oct-2024
Police on October 7 arrested a drug peddler, identified as Surinder Singh alias Babu, and seized 100 intoxicant tablets from his possession, from Mao Sahib village in Nakodar in Jalandhar district.
07-Oct-2024
Police on October 7 arrested two proclaimed offenders (POs), identified as Harjindar Singh alias Shaily and Akash in Mehatpur in Nakodar in Jalandhar district.
07-Oct-2024
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Global Sikh Council (GSC) president Kanwaljit Kaur raised concerns about the proposed demolition of Shillong’s historical Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar, built in 1874. She urged the Prime Minister to intervene, criticizing the Meghalaya government's urban development plans that threaten the gurdwara and nearby religious sites as part of a beautification project. The GSC also called on the National Commission for Minorities and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) to use their influence to prevent the demolition.
07-Oct-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on October 7 recovered a packet containing heroin weighing 560 grams from fields adjacent to Ratankhurd village in Amritsar district.
07-Oct-2024
The Khanna City-2 police on October 7 arrested two unidentified persons and seized 620 kg of poppy husk along with INR 20,000 drug money, four mobile phones and a truck from their possession, at a naka (checkpoint) near Khanna in Ludhiana district.
07-Oct-2024
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff of Moga police on October 7 arrested seven members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, identified as Gobind Singh, Tejinder Singh alias Teju, Dilpreet Singh, Lovepreet Singh alias Labu, Dilraj Singh alias Akasi, Kamaldeep Singh alias Kamal, and Gurdeep Singh, and seized five .32-bore pistols, seven magazines, and six rounds of ammunition from their possession in Moga district. The gang, in collaboration with an overseas member, Jagdeep Singh alias Jagga Dhurkot, was involved in extortion using threats and firearms.
07-Oct-2024
Police on October 7 arrested four gangsters, identified as Dheeraj Batta, Amaninder Singh, Sandeep Singh, and Taranpreet Singh alias Taran, for killing their former accomplice, reportedly for forming his own gang, and seized the weapon and car used in the crime in Patiala, Punjab. The gangsters were involved in snatching, extortion, and drug trafficking. The murder took place on October 2 following a fallout between Dheeraj and the victim, Taranjit Singh.
07-Oct-2024
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Rajwinder Singh was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Thakkarpura village, Tarn Taran district, on October 7. The incident occurred when three men on a motorcycle opened fire on Singh's car as he was celebrating his party's victory with colleagues. Police have launched an investigation and are working to apprehend the attackers.
06-Oct-2024
Police, on October 6, arrested two drug peddlers, identified as Arshdeep Singh alias Bhola and Sahib Singh, and seized 110 grams of heroin and INR 9.16 lakh drug money, along with a scooter from their possession, in Amritsar in Amritsar district.
06-Oct-2024
Tensions have escalated within Delhi's Sikh religio-political circles over the past week as former Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) chief Paramjit Singh Sarna faced accusations from current DSGMC president Harmeet Singh Kalka, who labelled him an 'agent of Pakistan' and claimed he was colluding with the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The feud intensified after Sarna questioned Kalka’s meeting with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president J.P. Nadda on October 2, suggesting it compromised the DSGMC's integrity. In response, Kalka accused Sarna of undermining the Akal Takht by organizing a pilgrimage to Pakistani gurdwaras at an inappropriate time.
06-Oct-2024
The Special Cell of Delhi Police arrested an unidentified man on October 6 and recovered 2 kg of cocaine along with a Toyota Fortuner car from a village near Amritsar in Amritsar district. This follows a major drug bust on October 2, during which over 562 kg of cocaine and 40 kg of hydroponic marijuana were seized in Delhi. The accused was reportedly planning to flee the country and had links to Jitender Pal Singh Gill, an associate of the alleged kingpin Virender Basoiya. The raid on October 6 was based on information received from Jitender Pal Singh. Investigations revealed a plan to smuggle an additional 100 kg of cocaine into Punjab, with further arrests pending based on documented evidence.
05-Oct-2024
In a joint operation on October 5, Punjab’s Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) and Bathinda police foiled a dacoity attempt, arresting Jaspreet Singh alias Jassa, the kingpin of the Jassa Burj Gang, along with his three accomplices—Karanveer Singh alias Karni, Resham Singh, and Hardeep Singh—and seizing four .32-bore pistols and 11 cartridges from their possession in Bathinda. The gang had been planning to rob a financier in the Rama Mandi area when they were apprehended.
05-Oct-2024
Police on October 5 arrested a senior constable of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) for allegedly attempting to smuggle 120 grams of narcotic powder into Amritsar Central Jail and also booked an inmate, identified as Jadish Singh alias Jagga, for possessing a keypad phone with a SIM card in Amritsar district. Jail staff had received a tip-off about the constable's involvement in supplying narcotics. Following a complaint lodged by Nareshpal, Assistant Superintendent of the Jail, Islamabad police registered a case under Section 22-B of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and Section 42 of the Prisons Act against both individuals.
05-Oct-2024
Dal Khalsa's political secretary, Kanwar Pal Singh, on October 5, criticized Israel's aggression and the United Nations' (UN) inaction, accusing world powers of reducing the UN to a redundant body. He called for stronger international condemnation of Israel's actions, criticized India's double standards on the Israel-Palestine conflict, and advocated for Palestinian statehood and sovereignty.