KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
08-Aug-2024
Punjab Police’s Special Task Force (STF) on August 8 froze 24 bank accounts linked to Drug Inspector Shishan Mittal, totaling INR 6.69 crore, during raids at eight locations, including Bathinda, Maur Mandi, Gidderbaha, Mohali, Chandigarh, and Fatehabad (Haryana). The raids uncovered cash, foreign currency, and assets such as flats and plots. Mittal, implicated in drug smuggling and money laundering, has not yet been formally arrested, and investigations into his connections with drug networks and financial irregularities are ongoing.
08-Aug-2024
During a joint search operation on August 8, Border Security Force (BSF) troops and Punjab Police recovered 473 grams of heroin wrapped in yellow and black adhesive tape from fields near Kalia village in Tarn Taran district.
08-Aug-2024
Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh revealed on August 8 that approximately 1.92 lakh devotees from India visited Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan through the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor over the past three years, in response to a question by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Parliament (MP) Raghav Chadha in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) in New Delhi. The number of visitors increased from 10,025 in 2021 to 96,555 in 2023. Despite the corridor's high expectations and initial acclaim, issues such as Pakistan's imposition of a USD 20 fee and India's mandatory passport requirement have hindered its potential, resulting in fewer pilgrims visiting than anticipated.
08-Aug-2024
Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, recently released a video in which he threatened Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, demanding that he should not hoist the Indian flag on Independence Day (August 15). Pannun also offered a reward of USD 500,000 to anyone who prevents Mann from raising the tricolour and condemned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He vowed to incite violence against Indian embassies worldwide—from Vancouver and Washington DC to Melbourne—and urged supporters to burn the tricolour as a symbolic act against Indian rule and in support of Khalistan. He also stated that Punjab is not part of India and claimed that August 15 is not a day of independence for Sikhs or Punjab.
08-Aug-2024
According to reports, the Akal Takht has recently become a refuge for rebel Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders seeking to regain Sikh support after a series of electoral defeats. Amid controversies surrounding the SAD's handling of blasphemy and sacrilege cases, party president Sukhbir Singh Badal and other leaders have apologized for past missteps. This crisis highlights the SAD's struggle to distance itself from its controversial past and restore its spiritual and political credibility within the Sikh community, as it faces diminished influence and increasing radicalization in Punjab.
07-Aug-2024
Ferozepur Police on August 7 arrested two drug smugglers, including a woman identified as Simran Kaur alias Indu Bala, and Gurjot Singh, and seized 6.65 kg of heroin and INR 6 lakh in drug money at a checkpoint near Old Mudki Road in Bagha Purana village, Ferozepur district. Simran, who has a history of 15 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and Prisons Act, was previously involved in a high-profile sex scandal. The police intercepted the duo with the drugs, reportedly dropped by a Pakistani drone, and have initiated proceedings to forfeit their illegally acquired property.
07-Aug-2024
On August 7, the 13-member presidium of the dissident Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) faction, led by Gurpartap Singh Wadala, called on the global Sikh community for input and guidance. They sought advice on overcoming the party's current challenges and restoring its role as a prominent advocate for the Sikh community.
07-Aug-2024
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh has scheduled a meeting of the five high priests on August 30 at the Akal Takht secretariat in Amritsar, Punjab. The meeting will address and decide on the clarifications submitted by the presidents of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
07-Aug-2024
Punjab Police on August 7 conducted a large-scale cordon and search operation (CASO) code-named 'Eagle V,' targeting drug hotspots across all 28 police districts in Punjab. The operation resulted in 61 First Information Reports (FIRs), 82 arrests, and the seizure of 270g of heroin, 74kg of poppy husk, 2kg of ganja, 1,868 intoxicant tablets, and a large quantity of illicit and licit liquor and lahan.
07-Aug-2024
Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab State Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, on August 7 demanded the resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann following revelations that gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's interviews were conducted while he was in police custody in Punjab, in Chandigarh. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) report submitted to the Punjab and Haryana High Court revealed that Bishnoi's first interview took place in Kharar, Punjab, while he was in the custody of the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA).
07-Aug-2024
Delhi Police on August 7 held an interstate coordination meeting with law enforcement agencies from neighbouring states and central agencies, focusing on sharing intelligence regarding potential terror threats and implementing anti-terror measures, including border checks and the verification of suspicious individuals, ahead of Independence Day in New Delhi. Delhi Police also intensified security measures by posting images of terrorists linked to Al-Qaeda and Khalistan throughout the city, seeking public assistance in their capture with assurances of confidentiality and rewards. This effort aims to heighten public awareness and aid in identifying these individuals.
07-Aug-2024
The Delhi Police on August 7 identified eleven gangs involved in a recent surge of extortion calls, threats, shootings, and killings in the national capital region during an interstate meeting at the Delhi Police headquarters in New Delhi. The identified gangs are: Lawrence Bishnoi-Goldy Brar gang, Himanshu Bhau gang, Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu gang, Manjeet Mahal gang, Jitender Gogi-Sampat Nehra gang, Kaushal Chaudhary gang, Neeraj Faridpuria gang, Neeraj Bawana gang, Sunil Tillu gang, Hashim Baba gang, and Irfan alias Chhenu gang.
06-Aug-2024
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Singh Mann on August 6 announced the installation of around 3,000 AI-enabled cameras at the borders to combat smuggling and modernize policing, with INR 45 crore already sanctioned for this purpose, at a function held at the Punjab Police Academy in Phillaur, Jalandhar district. He also revealed plans to recruit 10,000 additional police officers and highlighted recent achievements, including the closure of 19 toll plazas and the provision of hi-tech vehicles to Station House Officers (SHOs).
06-Aug-2024
After Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal’s apology letter to the Akal Takht was made public on August 5, politicians and experts, including Giani Kewal Singh, former Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, and Prof. Paramvir Singh from Punjabi University, Patiala, criticized Badal's apology as vague and politically motivated.
06-Aug-2024
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) General Secretary Bhai Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad met with Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh of Sri Akal Takht Sahib in Amritsar district on August 6. Peer Mohammad praised the Jathedar's initiative to form watch committees for protecting Sri Guru Granth Sahib and installing CCTV cameras. He also commended the preservation of the Nishan Sahib's ancient color and expressed gratitude for the commitment to Sikh traditions and values.
06-Aug-2024
Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing, Ravneet Singh Bittu, on August 6, expressed grave concern in a letter to External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar over recent attacks on Sikh shrines and Hindu temples in Bangladesh. Bittu urged Jaishankar to engage with Bangladeshi authorities to address these issues, emphasizing the need for immediate protection of significant Sikh sites like Gurdwara Nanak Shahi and Gurdwara Sangat Tola in Dhaka. He highlighted the historical importance of these shrines and called for assurances to the Sikh and Hindu communities in Bangladesh regarding their safety.
06-Aug-2024
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on August 6 criticized Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal's call for 'unconditional forgiveness' over the 2015 sacrilege incidents, stating that apologies are for mistakes, not crimes. While addressing a gathering at a State Van Mahotsav event in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, Mann also asserted that his government is gathering new evidence on the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib and vowed that those found guilty will face exemplary punishment. He emphasized that crimes require justice, not mere apologies.
06-Aug-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) reported neutralizing a Pakistani intruder and apprehending 24 individuals in response to increased infiltration attempts across the Punjab sector as of July 31 this year. Of those detained, 12 were handed over to Punjab Police for further investigation, while the remaining 12 were turned over to Pakistan Rangers. The BSF also highlighted the growing security threat from drones, having seized 134 drones used for smuggling and confiscated 164 kilograms of heroin, with 46 smugglers arrested by July 31, 2024.
05-Aug-2024
Police on August 5 arrested three individuals identified as Manpreet Singh, Harshdeep Singh, and Manpreet Singh, and seized 402 grams of heroin and a car from their possession in Bathinda district. The suspects revealed they had sourced the heroin from Tarn Taran and intended to distribute it in various villages.
05-Aug-2024
According to Pakistani media, a recent debate erupted on social media about the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) alleged posting of officers in Thailand to monitor Sikh dissidents. Reports suggest that rogue elements within India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) are targeting Sikh activists abroad. Concerns have also been raised by the Canadian government, complicating diplomatic relations. The Khalistan movement, which seeks a separate Sikh homeland, continues to be influential, particularly within the Sikh diaspora. These allegations underscore ongoing tensions surrounding Sikh activism and international human rights.
05-Aug-2024
On August 5, Akal Takht, the supreme Sikh temporal authority, made public the apology letter submitted by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal to Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh on July 24. In his letter, Badal offered an unconditional apology for the allegations made against him by a rebel faction of the party, expressing his acceptance of any decision by the Akal Takht.
05-Aug-2024
Acting on information from the Crime Investigation Department (CID), a joint team from the health department and police arrested a medical store owner, Rajat Gaba, and seized 5,270 banned tablets, 260 capsules, abortion kits, and INR 10.61 lakh in drug money from his house in Faridkot district on August 5.
05-Aug-2024
Punjab Police on August 5 busted a cross-border smuggling module with the arrest of Rajwant Singh, alias Raju, an operative of Pakistan-based smuggler Rana Dyal, and seized two sophisticated 9mm Glock pistols, along with two magazines and a motorcycle, from his possession near Khurmanian Morh in Khur Manian village, Amritsar district.
05-Aug-2024
Amid heightened security for Independence Day, Punjab Police conducted cordon and search operations (CASO) at district and sub-divisional courts across Punjab on August 5. Following directives from Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, the checks, conducted between 11 am and 2 pm, involved frisking 1,421 suspicious individuals and inspecting 1,850 parked vehicles, resulting in 62 challans and one impounded vehicle. Special DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla emphasized the need for operational metal detectors and CCTV cameras, and urged increased police patrolling around vulnerable areas.
05-Aug-2024
A City-1 police team arrested an individual identified as Sonu on August 5 and seized 1,300 Pregabalin capsules from his possession near the new grain market in Abohar, Fazilka district. According to the police, Sonu was illegally distributing tablets to daily-wage labourers while posing as a medical practitioner.