KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
26-Sep-2024
Police on September 26 arrested one person, identified as Jagmohan Singh, and seized 265 grams of heroin from his possession near Gills Garden Resort in Ludhiana district.
26-Sep-2024
Police on September 26 arrested a man, identified as Varun Sabharwal, and seized three country-made pistols and three live cartridges from his possession in Jalandhar district. His accomplice, Karan from Tarn Taran, managed to escape.
26-Sep-2024
The Central Film Certification Board (CBFC) on September 26 informed the Bombay High Court (HC) in Mumbai, Maharashtra, that its revising committee recommended 13 changes for the Kangana Ranaut-starrer film Emergency to receive a UA certificate. These changes include the deletion of references to 'Bhindranwale' and 'Khalistan.' The modifications were made following objections from Sikh groups, and the film's certification is now pending further responses.
26-Sep-2024
Punjab Police and the Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation on September 26, recovered over 501 grams of heroin near Dal village in Tarn Taran district. The drugs are suspected to have been smuggled via drone from across the border. While four suspects fled the scene, two have been identified, and investigations are ongoing.
25-Sep-2024
The Supreme Court (SC) on September 25 agreed to reassess a petition by Balwant Singh Rajoana, seeking to commute his death sentence to life imprisonment for his role in the 1995 assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Beant Singh. Rajoana cited his 28 years of incarceration and the delays in deciding his mercy plea. The court issued notices to the Centre and Punjab, requesting responses within three weeks, while acknowledging the significant political and security implications of his potential release.
25-Sep-2024
The Punjab Government on September 25 transferred twenty-two police officials ahead of the local bodies' elections and the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct. Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) SPS Parmar, who led the investigation into sacrilege cases, was appointed as ADGP Law and Order, while Inspector General (IG) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar was reinstated as Commissioner of Police (CP) in Amritsar. Mandeep Singh Sidhu was assigned as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Patiala Range, and Ranjit Singh Dhillon and Harcharan Singh Bhulla were posted as DIGs for the Ferozepur and Bathinda ranges, respectively.
25-Sep-2024
On September 25, the Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) was informed that show-cause notices had been issued to four police officers, including Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Vivek Sheel Soni, for their supervisory role during Lawrence Bishnoi’s in-custody interview that glorified crime. The Punjab Department of Home Affairs and Justice issued notices to Punjab Police Service (PPS) officers Amandeep Singh Brar and Gursher Singh, as well as Inspector Shiv Kumar. The court had earlier emphasized that accountability should extend to higher-ranking officers involved in the incident.
25-Sep-2024
The Kendri Singh Sabha on September 25 voiced support for Rahul Gandhi's remarks on the treatment of Sikhs in India, praising his stance against hate politics. They endorsed his acknowledgment of the Sikh community's inalienable rights to religious and cultural freedom, while opposing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) vision of a homogenous nation. The Sabha also condemned efforts by certain Sikh leaders allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to misinterpret Gandhi's statements.
25-Sep-2024
In a renewed fight against drug trafficking, the Punjab Police invoked the Prevention of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act for the first time since its enactment in 1988. The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) utilized the Act to detain 17 alleged traffickers, aiming to prevent repeat offenders from continuing their activities while out on bail. Additionally, India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) detained three traffickers, including Balwinder Singh, alias Billa Havellian, and transferred them to Dibrugarh jail in Assam, marking a significant step in curbing jail-based drug operations.
25-Sep-2024
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) 1 of the Ludhiana Police Commissionerate on September 25 arrested a drug peddler, identified as Pardeep Singh alias Rajvir, and seized 320 grams of heroin from his possession in Ludhiana district.
24-Sep-2024
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of the Punjab Police detained the owner of a poultry feed factory on September 24 on suspicion of possessing drug money, seizing INR 70 lakh in cash from his residence in Shastri Nagar, Ludhiana. This raid was linked to the recent arrest of seven individuals and the seizure of 1 kg of heroin, INR 48 lakh, weapons, and other items. The factory owner was taken to Jalandhar for questioning regarding his involvement in the drug racket.
24-Sep-2024
Police on September 24 booked three individuals identified as Monu, his brother Happy and Sajan, in connection to the death of Suraj who died of a drug overdose, in Sultanwind village in Amritsar district.
24-Sep-2024
The spectre of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a controversial Khalistani militant separatist leader, has resurfaced in Punjab politics following Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Som Parkash's reference to him as 'Sant' while criticizing actress Kangana Ranaut's comments on Bhindranwale. This has sparked controversy, as Bhindranwale, who was killed in 1984 during Operation Blue Star, remains a divisive figure, particularly among BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders who have historically opposed him due to his role in promoting violence and separatism. Parkash’s remarks have drawn attention to the BJP’s delicate position in Punjab, where it seeks to expand its voter base.
24-Sep-2024
A court on September 24 sentenced drug smuggler Karnail Singh to eight years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of INR 80,000 for possession of 100 grams of intoxicant powder, in Ludhiana in Ludhiana district. Despite his claims of false implication, the court upheld the conviction, noting the absence of a complaint to higher authorities and citing a ruling that independent witnesses often refuse to cooperate with the police.
24-Sep-2024
The Jalandhar Rural Police on September 24 arrested two smugglers, identified as Roshan Lal and Narinder Singh, and seized 1.2 kg of opium from their possession near Kamalpur village in Jalandhar district. The accused had procured the opium from Jharkhand, with Narinder acting as the courier, transporting the drugs via train for delivery to Roshan’s customers.
24-Sep-2024
Police on September 24 arrested two individuals, identified as Pargat Singh and Kamalpreet Singh alias Babbu, and seized 4 kg of opium along with a truck and a car from their possession near Panjgrain village in Faridkot district.
23-Sep-2024
The Fazilka police, in coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF), on September 23, held a meeting with border area villagers and members of village defence committees (VDCs) aiming to curb narcotics smuggling and enhance safety among farmers, especially as infiltration attempts increase during winter at the Joint Check Post Sadiqi, near the International Border (IB) in Fazilka district.
23-Sep-2024
The Jalandhar Rural Police on September 23 busted a drug racket being operated from within jail and arrested two individuals for drug smuggling, identified as Amandeep Singh and Mandeep Singh, and seized 3 kg of opium from their possession, near Alawalpur in Jalandhar district. During interrogation, the accused revealed that the drug operation was being coordinated by ringleaders from within the jail.
23-Sep-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) and the Punjab Police, in a joint operation on September 23, recovered a packet of heroin weighing 570 grams along with a drone from near Nestha village in Amritsar district. The recovered drone was a China-made DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
23-Sep-2024
Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah, while addressing a rally in Tohana in Haryana on September 23, criticised Rahul Gandhi for his remarks suggesting Sikhs were not allowed to wear turbans or Kada in India, and reminded Gandhi of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots under Congress rule and urged him to apologise to the Sikh community.
23-Sep-2024
On September 23, an inter-state coordination meeting was held between Kaithal and Punjab police to ensure smooth elections and curb cross-border criminal activities, at Cheeka police station in Kaithal in Haryana. The meeting focused on joint efforts to prevent drug, liquor, and arms smuggling, with plans for coordinated patrolling and security checks. Lists of wanted criminals were exchanged, and locals were urged to report any suspicious activities confidentially.
22-Sep-2024
The Sadar police on September 22 arrested a drug peddler, identified as Lovepreet Singh alias Labbu and seized INR 53,000 drug money and a mobile phone from his possession, in Kalasia Khurd village in Tarn Taran district in Punjab. The suspect, linked to Pakistan-based smugglers, reportedly smuggled contraband into India using drones. The police are investigating his network and have sent his mobile phone for forensic examination.
22-Sep-2024
Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on September 22, in an interview to Times of India, endorsed Rahul Gandhi's comments on the Sikh community as "correct," but pointed out that worse had occurred under Congress-led governments. He stated that despite changes in government, Sikhs have faced continuous persecution and hate propaganda.
22-Sep-2024
According to officials, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval remained in India to address security concerns related to the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir elections and other domestic issues, dismissing speculation regarding a New York court summons. The summons, issued due to a civil suit by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, coincided with the introduction of the Transnational Repression Reporting Act in the United States (US) Congress, which accuses India of targeting diaspora members.
22-Sep-2024
According to sources, the Punjab Police have stated in an affidavit filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court in Chandigarh that radical preacher Amritpal Singh and his associates, detained under the National Security Act (NSA), pose a serious threat to law and order, as well as to the life of Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann. The police referenced video clips in which Amritpal Singh allegedly insinuates that CM Mann could meet the same fate as former CM Beant Singh, who was assassinated. They argued that such inflammatory remarks could incite violence and disrupt public order, justifying the detention of Amritpal Singh and his associates in Dibrugarh jail in Assam.