KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
22-Aug-2024
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on August 22 directed the Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, to instruct Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) to closely monitor drug-related investigations within their jurisdictions. The court also ordered the DGP to submit an affidavit detailing all Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act cases where accused individuals have remained unarrested for more than six months and whether they have been declared proclaimed offenders. This ruling followed revelations that 97 accused in 83 NDPS cases in Bathinda had not been arrested, prompting the court to demand stricter supervision and action against the unarrested individuals.
21-Aug-2024
The Akal Takht and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), on August 21 in Amritsar, demanded an immediate ban on Kangana Ranaut's film Emergency, accusing it of character assassination of Sikhs and misrepresentation of Sikh martyrs. SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami also called for the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Kangana Ranaut, the film's writer, director, producer, and lead actor. Giani Raghbir Singh, the Jathedar, condemned the film, accusing it of portraying Sikhs as separatists and disrespecting Sikh martyrs, including Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who is regarded by some as a martyr of the community.
21-Aug-2024
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on August 21 dismissed the bail plea of Bittu, a Ferozepur resident accused of narco-terrorism and illegal weapon trade involving drugs and weapons smuggled via drones from Pakistan. Justice Jasjit Singh Bedi emphasised the severe impact of such crimes on youth and noted Bittu's history of multiple offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) and Excise Acts, ruling that he poses a continuing threat.
21-Aug-2024
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on August 21 issued a notice to the State of Rajasthan regarding concerns over an interview with 'known criminal' Lawrence Bishnoi, conducted in a Jaipur jail, which is seen as glorifying crime. The court has summoned the Rajasthan Advocate-General for a video conference on September 5 and added the State's Additional Chief Secretary as a respondent. Previously, the High Court directed investigations into these interviews, citing potential security risks and breaches of prison regulations.
20-Aug-2024
The Nawanshahr District Police on August 20 organized an anti-drug marathon to launch the 5th Anti-Drug Awareness Campaign, following directions from Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district. Around 700 participants of various ages joined the 5 km run, pledging to avoid drugs and promote healthy living. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dr. Mehtab Singh emphasized the campaign's goal to raise awareness about the dangers of drugs and encourage participation in educational and sports activities.
20-Aug-2024
The Anti-Narcotics Cell of the Ferozepur Police on August 20 arrested two drug smugglers, identified as Harpreet Singh and Ranjit Singh, and seized 500 grams of heroin along with a stolen motorcycle from their possession near Ferozepur in Ferozepur district. This operation is part of the ongoing efforts by the Ferozepur Police to combat drug trafficking in the region.
20-Aug-2024
Faridkot Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, the son of Beant Singh, who assassinated former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, demanded a ban on Kangana Ranaut's upcoming film Emergency on August 20, alleging it portrays Sikhs negatively and could potentially spread hatred. Khalsa described the film as a 'psychological attack' on the Sikh community and expressed concern about the depiction of slain Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. The film is scheduled for release on September 6.
20-Aug-2024
Wahabwala police on August 20 brought Haryana-based gangster Pawan Kumar alias Totla, to Abohar in Fazilka district of Punjab, on a production warrant for interrogation in connection with the 2019 fatal attack on Akali leader Prahlad Neol. Neol was targeted on August 4, 2019, by five armed assailants at his residence in Khatwan village, leading to a chase during which gangster Jagvir Singh Jagga was found dead. Investigations revealed an enmity involving gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. During the operation, police seized an SUV, a 0.9 mm U.S.-made pistol, 20 cartridges, INR 78,450, and a mobile phone.
20-Aug-2024
Muktsar police and the Counter Intelligence (CI) of Bathinda Police on August 20 arrested two gangsters belonging to the gang of Sunil Bhandari alias Nata, identified as Lovejeet Singh alias Labha and Satinder Singh alias Happy and seized three pistols and eight live cartridges from their possession in Muktsar in Muktsar district.
19-Aug-2024
The parents of radical Khalistani preacher and Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh—Tarsem Singh and Balwinder Kaur—along with Amritpal's uncle Sukhchain Singh and Faridkot MP Sarabjit Singh Khalsa, on August 19 in Chandigarh, called on the Sikh community to register for the upcoming Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) elections, aiming for a 'regime change.' They highlighted issues such as the release of long-held Sikh prisoners, the drug crisis, sacrilege cases, and leniency towards Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Amritpal Singh's father, Tarsem Singh, criticized Panthic parties for failing to protect Sikh traditions and urged the community to take action.
19-Aug-2024
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on August 19 in Amritsar criticized the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for failing to address Punjab-specific issues in Parliament, despite claiming to be panthic and pro-Punjab. He also highlighted his own efforts to honour the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh's sons in Parliament in 2018, a tribute that the SAD had never pursued.
19-Aug-2024
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on August 19 asserted his commitment to the principles of the Khalsa Panth and the development of Punjab while addressing the community on the occasion of the Rakhar Puniya festival in Baba Bakala, Amritsar district.
19-Aug-2024
Police on August 19 arrested two drug smugglers, identified as Vishal and his brother Sonu, and seized 1.05 kg of heroin, INR 12.9 lakh in drug money, a country-made pistol, seven live rounds, and an SUV in Nawan Purba village in Ferozepur district. Vishal has a criminal history with multiple cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and for attempted murder.
19-Aug-2024
The Special Cell Unit of the Delhi Police, in collaboration with the National Investigation Agency (NIA), on August 19 arrested an arms supplier identified as Dharminder Kumar alias Kunal, from Ludhiana in connection with the murder of Vikas Bagga, president of the Nangal unit of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). Dharminder had previously been booked under the Arms Act in Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Punjab, and was reportedly involved in procuring and supplying the weapons used in the assassination.
19-Aug-2024
Ludhiana police on August 19 arrested Category-A gangster Sagar Newton in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh (UP), revealing significant lapses in Punjab's jail security. Newton, who faced 18 criminal cases, was found to have been in regular contact with notorious gangster and drug smuggler Butta Khan alias Bagga Khan, who is currently imprisoned in Amritsar, Punjab. Investigations revealed that Bagga had orchestrated drug and arms smuggling operations from within the jail, possibly using a mobile phone. The Ludhiana police have alerted jail officials and initiated further interrogations to dismantle Bagga's illegal network, which he had been operating with Newton’s assistance.
18-Aug-2024
Punjab Police, in a joint operation with the Border Security Force (BSF) on August 18, arrested three drug peddlers, identified as Gurmukh Singh, Harpreet Singh, and Sukhman Singh, and seized 14 small packets of contraband, two knives, two mobile phones, and a bike from their possession near the Saidogazi checkpoint in Anjala in Amritsar district. The suspects were handed over to Ajnala police, who registered a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and are investigating further links to a drug syndicate.
18-Aug-2024
A 27-year-old environmental and social activist from Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh (HP), identified as Siddharth Bakaria, has been receiving constant death threats from Khalistani supporters after posting on social media platform X about a Khalistani separatist poster of Bhindranwale placed on a vehicle in Banikhet, Chamba district, HP. Despite reporting the threats and an attempted attack by a group, including a man dressed as a Nihang Sikh, to the police, no action has been taken so far. He has written to the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Chamba District, Himachal Pradesh, requesting immediate action.
18-Aug-2024
Police Anti-Narcotic Cell on August 18 arrested an individual, identified as Gurdeep Singh alias Deepu and seized 15,000 Pregabalin 300 mg capsules along with a car from his possession in Abohar, Fazilka district.
18-Aug-2024
Police on August 18 arrested a drug dealer, identified as Jaidev and seized 7,000 Pregabalin 300 mg capsules and 100 tablets of Tramadol from his possession in Nihal Khera village in Fazilka district. The police revealed that Jaidev used to sell drugs and intoxicant capsules under the guise of selling cotton cake and feed at his shop.
18-Aug-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on August 18 recovered a packet containing 500 grams of heroin from fields near Machhiwara village in Ferozepur district.
18-Aug-2024
Patiala Police are investigating the use of web-based smart apps by criminals to procure and smuggle firearms for targeted killings and other crimes following the arrest of Tarun, a Rajasthan-based weapon smuggler, who was caught with four illegal pistols while attempting to deliver a consignment in Bathinda, Punjab. The investigation has revealed his connections with gangsters operating from foreign locations, particularly a Dubai-based criminal. Additionally, the police are tracing the source of the weapons, believed to be supplied by a man in Bihar, and have uncovered that the illegal weapon manufacturing industry has shifted from Uttar Pradesh (UP) to Madhya Pradesh (MP).
17-Aug-2024
Police on August 17 arrested two people identified as Jassu Ram and Rawal Ram and seized 2.7 kg of opium from their possession on Moga-Dharamkot road near Dharamkot in Moga district. The suspects had arranged the drug deal through social media and were caught during a police patrol.
17-Aug-2024
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on August 17 detained two drug lords, Akshay Chhabra and Jaspal Singh alias Goldy, under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (PITNDPS) in Punjab, with both set to be held in Dibrugarh, Assam. Despite being incarcerated, they continued their drug operations, leading to additional charges. Chhabra was arrested at Jaipur International Airport in 2022 while attempting to flee the country. Their Ludhiana-based syndicate is responsible for smuggling nearly 1,400 kg of heroin, and the NCB has seized significant quantities of drugs and frozen assets worth over INR 57 crore linked to the group.
17-Aug-2024
Punjab Police on August 17 arrested Gulab Singh, a key suspect wanted for the 77-kg heroin haul in 2023, in Deep Singh Wala village in Faridkot district. His arrest is expected to disrupt cross-border smuggling networks, as he was involved in delivering 36 kg of heroin and had connections with Pakistan-based smugglers.
17-Aug-2024
Punjab Police on August 17 arrested Gulab Singh, a key suspect wanted for the 77-kg heroin haul in 2023, in Deep Singh Wala village, Faridkot district. However, villagers claim that he had been freely roaming in Deep Singh Wala for a year, despite their repeated alerts to the police. The arrest came after the Naujawan Bharat Sabha (NBS) threatened protests, pressuring the police to act. Faridkot Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pragya Jain stated that the police had been actively searching for Gulab Singh, who was declared a proclaimed offender and had links to Pakistan-based drug traffickers.