KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
29-Aug-2024
Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) on August 29 claimed responsibility for writing pro-Khalistan slogans targeting the late Chief Minister Beant Singh's family in Doraha, Ludhiana district, Punjab. The slogans were found on Beant Singh's statue as well as at the railway station and bus stand. This incident occurred just two days before Beant Singh's death anniversary on August 31.
29-Aug-2024
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on August 29 took possession of the swaroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib that were returned by the police in Doha, Qatar. The scriptures were transported in accordance with Sikh traditions to Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Gurbaksh Singh within the Golden Temple complex.
29-Aug-2024
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on August 29 announced via the social media site X the appointment of senior leader Balwinder Singh Bhunder as the party's working president, ahead of a meeting of Sikh high priests in Amritsar to discuss key 'Panthic issues.'
29-Aug-2024
Fazilka police on August 29 arrested a person, identified as Gurpreet Singh alias Gogi and seized 530 grams of heroin, three live cartridges, and three mobile phones from his possession in Jalalabad, Fazilka district. His accomplice, identified as Sukhwinder Singh, managed to flee.
29-Aug-2024
The Jalandhar Police Commissionerate on August 29 arrested four smugglers, identified as Sunny Vehmi, Honey Kalyan, Money Sabharwal, and Neeraj and seized 250 grams of heroin from their possession near Dass Pura in Jalandhar district.
29-Aug-2024
The Tarn Taran police, in a joint operation with central agencies, on August 29, arrested two operatives, Harpreet Singh alias Happy and Lovepreet Singh, busting a Pakistan-backed arms smuggling module and seizing four sophisticated Glock-19 pistols (including one marked 'Made for NATO army'), four magazines, seven live cartridges, INR 4.8 lakhs in hawala money, and a Maruti Swift car from their possession near Sheron village in Tarn Taran district.
29-Aug-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on August 29 lodged a protest with Pakistan after a poster of Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was put up at the Wagah border, visible from the Indian side. BSF Inspector General Dr. Atul Fulzele stated that they objected to the poster's provocative political nature and requested its removal from the ceremonial area, but Pakistan has yet to comply.
29-Aug-2024
The Punjab Police on August 29 informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the renewed detention of Khalistani radical preacher and jailed Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh was based on new grounds and strictly in accordance with the law. The Police stated that Amritpal's detention in Dibrugarh, Assam, was due to the sensitivity of the case and denied that it was a response to his vocal criticism. The affidavit emphasized that Amritpal's activities posed a threat to state security and public order.
29-Aug-2024
Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) chief and former Member of Parliament (MP) Simranjit Singh Mann on August 29 made derogatory remarks about Kangana Ranaut, referencing 'rape' in response to her comments on the farmers' protest. When asked about Ranaut's claim that bodies were hanging and rapes were occurring during the protests, Mann mockingly suggested that if such incidents had occurred, Ranaut herself should have been the victim. Mann faced backlash for trivializing the crime against women, with political figures and women's commissions condemning his statement as disrespectful and shameful.
29-Aug-2024
According to reports, the Indian government issued a formal notice dated August 29 to the Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), extending its ban for five more years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The registered letter was sent from India’s High Commission in Ottawa and was received at SFJ’s office in Toronto, Canada. SFJ has 30 days to respond. Following the receipt of the notice, SFJ’s chief, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, wrote to Canada’s Minister of Public Safety, Dominic LeBlanc, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, urging them to 'appropriately respond to India’s extraterritorial move against a Canadian organization and its interference in Canada’s internal affairs.
28-Aug-2024
The Amritsar rural police on August 28 arrested a person identified as Angrej Singh and seized 507 grams of heroin from his possession in Bhindi Saida village, Ajnala, Amritsar district. Angrej was involved in cross-border drug peddling, utilizing methods such as drones. He had previously been convicted in 2018 for smuggling 3 kg of heroin and a pistol but was out on bail. He is also suspected of involvement in another drug case from earlier this year. Following his arrest, he was remanded for further interrogation.
28-Aug-2024
Gharinda police on August 28 arrested an individual, identified as Manpreet Singh and seized 155 grams of ICE (methamphetamine) and INR 29,000 in drug money from his possession in Kiralgarh village, Amritsar district. During interrogation, Manpreet revealed that he had bought the drugs from Sonu of Naraingarh, who is currently being pursued by the police.
28-Aug-2024
Khalra police on August 28 arrested a drug peddler with cross-border contacts, identified as Kuljit Singh, and seized 255 grams of heroin from his possession in Khalra village, Patti, Tarn Taran district. The police discovered that he had smuggled the consignment across the border using contacts made via his mobile phone.
28-Aug-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on August 28 held its first-ever discussion on organized crime with police officials from Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi at the Delhi Police Headquarters in New Delhi. The focus was on gangsters' connections with pro-Khalistan elements (PKEs), Pakistan-based terrorists, and drug smuggling networks. Presentations were made on extortion calls, cyberspace usage by criminals, and key arrests by each state. Collaborative action plans and best practices to combat organized crime were also discussed.
28-Aug-2024
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Singh Mann on August 28 inaugurated the office of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) and launched an anti-drug helpline and WhatsApp chatbot in Sector 79, Mohali, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. He announced that the unit has been renamed from Special Task Force (STF) to ANTF, with its manpower being doubled and INR 12 crore allocated for its modernization. Additionally, a new headquarters will be established in Mohali, with INR 10 crore sanctioned for the state's Enforcement-De-Addiction-Prevention strategy.
28-Aug-2024
Police on August 28 arrested a gangster identified as James and seized two illegal .32 bore weapons and 10 cartridges from his possession at a checkpoint near Tarkhanmajra village in Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib district. The police stated that James had been involved in multiple extortion cases in Fatehgarh Sahib and Ludhiana.
28-Aug-2024
Police on August 28 arrested three members of an interstate smuggling gang, identified as Rajnesh, Satvir, and Dharambir, and seized 5 kg of opium from their possession in Fatehgarh Sahib in Fatehgarh Sahib district. The police stated that the smugglers were linked to Jharkhand-based operations, which involved shipping contraband into Punjab via couriers.
28-Aug-2024
Police on August 28 arrested two drug smugglers, identified as Soma Singh and Amarjit Singh, and seized 300 grams of heroin from their possession in Fatehgarh Sahib in Fatehgarh Sahib district. The police stated that further investigation based on their interrogation will help trace their forward and backward links.
27-Aug-2024
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on August 27 issued a legal notice to the makers of the film Emergency for allegedly misrepresenting Sikhs and promoting anti-Sikh sentiments. Additionally, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking a ban on the film's release, accusing it of portraying erroneous historical facts and fostering hatred towards Sikhs. The SGPC also demanded a written apology and the removal of objectionable scenes from the movie.
27-Aug-2024
Police officials Additional Inspector General (AIG) G.S. Chauhan, AIG Harvinder Virk, and Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Bikramjit Singh Brar, in an interview with The Tribune’s Deputy Editor Jupinderjit Singh, disclosed that while there are no active gangsters operating within Punjab, these criminal elements are coordinating their activities from abroad instead.
27-Aug-2024
Tarsem Singh, father of radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, on August 27 sent a letter urging Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh to take 'exemplary' action against Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal. In the letter, Singh highlighted alleged 'anti-Panthic' actions and mistakes made during the SAD regime, including the 2015 sacrilege cases and other controversial decisions. Singh has called for Sukhbir to be removed from SAD leadership and banned from any political or religious platforms.
26-Aug-2024
A group of former leaders of the All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) on August 26 sent a letter urging Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh to withdraw his instructions to install Parmjit Panjwar’s portrait at the Central Sikh Museum in Amritsar. They argued that displaying Panjwar, a designated terrorist and chief of the Khalistani terror outfit Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), would promote violence within the Sikh community, citing his role in fratricidal bloodshed and orchestrating the killings of Panthic leaders. The letter requested that the Jathedar reconsider his directive.
26-Aug-2024
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi, Kangana Ranaut, on August 26 received death threats over her portrayal of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the upcoming film Emergency and sought police assistance. A viral video on social media shows individuals threatening violence against Kangana if the film depicts Sikhs as terrorists. In the video, one person can be heard saying, “History cannot be changed. If they portray Sikhs as terrorists in the film, remember what happened to the person making the movie. Remember who Satwant Singh and Beant Singh were. Those who challenge us face consequences. If we can cut off heads, we can also behead.”
26-Aug-2024
Leaders of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC), dissatisfied with the government's formation of a new ad hoc panel, have begun organizing meetings to unite the community and plan a major agitation in Kurukshetra, Haryana. The previous committee's tenure ended in May, and community leaders have been demanding elections. Despite the government's nomination of a new 41-member ad hoc HSGMC on August 14, the new members have not yet been administered the oath of office. Leaders are calling for the Haryana Governor to disband the new committee and are planning protests if elections are not declared by November 1.
26-Aug-2024
A delegation of Sikh leaders met Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh on August 26 to request a review of his directive to install a portrait of slain Khalistani militant Parmjit Singh Panjwar in the Central Sikh Museum in Amritsar, Punjab. While they supported the portraits of Khalistani terrorists Hardeep Singh Nijjar and Gajinder Singh, they opposed Panjwar's inclusion, citing his controversial role in the assassination of Sikh leaders and his involvement in the boycott of the 1992 Punjab assembly elections, which led to significant violence. The issue has divided Sikh hardliners.