KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
05-Aug-2024
On August 5, an individual identified as Sunil Singh died from a drug overdose in Gurusar Jaga village, Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda district. The police arrested a suspect, identified as Mani Singh, for providing drugs to the deceased.
04-Aug-2024
On August 4, an individual identified as Mandeep Singh died from a drug overdose near Tarkhan Wala village in Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda district. Another individual, identified as Jagdev, was arrested in connection with the case.
04-Aug-2024
The emergence of the drug 'Ice' (methamphetamine) signals a significant shift in Punjab’s drug market, highlighted by the recent arrest of Harpreet Singh, elder brother of radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, for allegedly possessing and consuming crystal methamphetamine. The rise in Ice usage is linked to a decline in heroin supplies following the Taliban's ban on opium cultivation in Afghanistan. Punjab Police have reported a dramatic increase in Ice seizures, from 0.54 kg in 2023 to 16.9 kg in 2024, while heroin recoveries have decreased. This trend is raising concerns among de-addiction specialists about its potential impact on addiction patterns and public health.
04-Aug-2024
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal reorganized the party’s core committee on August 4 in Chandigarh, amidst dissent from a rebel faction advocating for reforms under the Shiromani Akali Dal Sudhar Lehar (SAD-SL). The newly constituted 23-member core committee includes Harjinder Singh Dhami, Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Naresh Gujral, Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Daljit Singh Cheema, and Bikram Singh Majithia, among others.
04-Aug-2024
Pro-Khalistan graffiti was discovered on the walls of a government girls' school in Goriwala village, Dabwali, Sirsa district, Haryana, on August 4. A worker alerted the village sarpanch, who then informed the police. The graffiti was promptly removed by Dabwali police, who also found a liquor bottle and sharp-edged weapons at the scene. An investigation is underway to identify and apprehend the suspects.
03-Aug-2024
On August 3, Dal Khalsa announced plans to hold a 'Freedom March' on August 13 in Hoshiarpur to mark its 46th foundation day. The march will honour Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed in Canada last year, and Dal Khalsa founder Gajinder Singh Khalsa, a Khalistani terrorist who recently passed away in Lahore, Pakistan.
03-Aug-2024
On August 3, several Sikh activists—Parminder Pal Singh Khalsa of the Sikh Sewak Society International (SSSI), Santokh Singh of the Bhai Gurdas Institute of Advanced Sikh Studies, and Harsimran Singh, Prof. Balwinder Singh, and Baljit Singh of the Sikh Missionary College—appealed to the Akal Takht to convene a Sikh convention before making any decisions regarding the crisis within the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in Amritsar, Punjab. They recommended forming a Panthic council led by the Akal Takht to address the issues.
03-Aug-2024
According to sources, the Indian Government has established an Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal to review the extension of the ban on the pro-Khalistan group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), following a Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) notification that declared SFJ an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and extended the ban for an additional five years from July 10, 2024.
03-Aug-2024
Punjab Police on August 3 launched a special operation, OPS Seal-VII, to enhance security ahead of Independence Day in Punjab. The operation included thorough checks of all vehicles entering and exiting the state, focusing on monitoring drug traffickers, bootleggers, and other anti-social elements. The Police reported that over 1,100 personnel had established coordinated checkpoints at 91 entry and exit points across 10 border districts.
03-Aug-2024
Kapurthala police on August 3 arrested four Special Task Force (STF) personnel—Sub-Inspector Salvister Masih, Constable Gurvinder Singh, Constable Sham Masih, and Head Constable Major Singh—on the orders of the High Court in Kapurthala district. The arrests are related to allegations that these personnel fabricated a Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) case in 2019.
03-Aug-2024
Recent government data indicate that Pakistan-based terrorists are shifting tactics, with a significant increase in drug trafficking cases in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). In 2023, over 2,400 cases were registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in J&K, up from nearly 1,660 in 2022. Officials report that Punjab has emerged as a new route for arms supply and infiltration, as terrorists adapt their methods and routes. Previously, Punjab was primarily used for drug trafficking, with local criminals aiding in smuggling operations from Pakistan.
02-Aug-2024
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Jalandhar Member of Parliament (MP) Sushil Rinku met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on August 2, requesting that the Adampur airport be named after Guru Ravidas. Rinku reminded Shah of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's promise made during a May 30 rally regarding the airport renaming. He also briefed Shah on the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab, including issues such as robbery and gang violence, as well as the ongoing development work in Jalandhar district.
02-Aug-2024
According to sources, the Indian government has requested the social media platform X to block the accounts of Mocha Bezirgan and Journalist V, who have been actively critiquing and addressing pro-Khalistan propaganda in Canada. The removal demand, based on India's Information Technology Act, 2000, is effective in India, although the accounts remain accessible elsewhere.
02-Aug-2024
Faridkot Member of Parliament (MP) Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa and Tarsem Singh, father of radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh, announced a Panthic conference focusing on key Sikh issues, including alleged government atrocities and the release of Sikh political prisoners, to be held on August 19 at Baba Bakala in Amritsar district, Punjab. They also called for the withdrawal of the National Security Act (NSA) from Sikh prisoners, including Amritpal, and criticized the state government's handling of sacrilege cases.
01-Aug-2024
Gurpartap Singh Wadala, convener of the rebel Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) group, dismissed concerns about the return of terrorism in an interview with The Tribune, stating that there is no demand for Khalistan in Punjab. He attributed the recent victory of condemned radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh to a leadership vacuum in the state. Wadala criticized the current SAD leadership for not addressing Punjab's issues and suggested that while the slogan of Khalistan may resonate with some Sikhs abroad, it does not reflect the broader sentiment in Punjab. He also condemned Amritpal’s actions at the Ajnala police station but acknowledged his efforts against drug abuse.
01-Aug-2024
The Muktsar police on August 1 arrested two unidentified persons who attempted to extort INR 20 lakh from Dr. Bansal, who runs a hospital in Sri Muktsar Sahib, Punjab. The arrests followed a complaint from Dr. Bansal about an extortion call he received on July 28, demanding the payment or facing severe consequences.
01-Aug-2024
Police on August 1 arrested a criminal identified as Puneet Singh alias Gola and recovered a .32 bore pistol from his possession following a brief encounter in Sanour, Patiala district, Punjab. Gola, who had opened fire on the police, sustained a bullet injury to his leg and was admitted to Rajindra Hospital in Patiala. He was previously wanted in 15 criminal cases, including murder and attempted murder.
01-Aug-2024
Amritsar City Police on August 1 busted a cross-border smuggling network, arresting one drug smuggler identified as Gurmej Singh, and seizing 3.5 kg of heroin, INR 1 lakh in drug money, and a motorcycle from his possession near Ghanupur Kale Road in the Chheharta area of Amritsar district. According to the police, Singh was in contact with Pakistan-based smugglers who were using drones for drug transport. Investigations are ongoing to uncover the full extent of the smuggling network.
31-Jul-2024
On July 31, Faridkot Member of Parliament (MP) Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, while addressing the crowd in Gidderbaha, Muktsar district, urged the public to register as voters for the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) elections before the deadline and to prepare for the polls.
31-Jul-2024
On July 31, a religious ceremony was held at the Gurdwara Chief Khalsa Diwan-run Central Khalsa Orphanage in Amritsar to mark the martyrdom day of Shaheed Udham Singh, who spent 12 years there. Vice-President of Chief Khalsa Diwan, Jagjit Singh, highlighted the orphanage's role in shaping Singh's character and encouraged children to draw inspiration from his life.
31-Jul-2024
According to reports, the recent directive from the five Sikh high priests and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to use either basanti (xanthic) or surmai (navy blue) cloth for the Nishan Sahib has been well received by many within the Sikh community. Despite this, some dissenting voices, including figures like Amrik Singh Ajnala and Banta Singh, have expressed reservations. The move has sparked a debate over adherence to the Sikh Rehat Maryada and the historical use of kesri (saffron).
31-Jul-2024
According to sources, YouTube has blocked access in India to the ABC TV documentary titled Infiltrating Australia – India’s Secret War, based on an order from India's Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB). This documentary, part of ABC’s Four Corners series, alleges that Indian intelligence agencies have targeted members of the Indian diaspora in Australia, particularly Sikh activists.
31-Jul-2024
On July 31, following the Shiromani Akali Dal's (SAD) expulsion of eight rebel leaders, including Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Dhindsa rejected the move, arguing that only the party's working committee has the authority to expel members and that those expelled are loyalists of the Sikh Panth and the Akali Dal. Dhindsa, along with other senior leaders, also revealed plans to call a meeting to restructure the party. SAD senior leader Balwinder Singh Bhunder countered that Dhindsa does not have the authority to halt the disciplinary proceedings.
31-Jul-2024
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on July 31 scheduled a hearing for August 28 regarding radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh’s challenge against the extension of the National Security Act (NSA) imposed on him. Singh, currently detained in Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam, argued that his prolonged detention is illegal and a violation of his right to life and liberty, claiming the detention, based largely on social media posts, is unjust and serves only to punish him for his political dissent. The court has also requested fresh replies from the state and Union governments on the legality of the detention order.
30-Jul-2024
On July 31, the Punjab and Haryana High Court is set to hear the challenge by radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh against the extension of the National Security Act (NSA) imposed on him.