KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
30-Jul-2024
A Mohali court on July 30 convicted 17 individuals, including former Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and international wrestler Jagdish Bhola in a money laundering and drug trafficking case in Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. Bhola received a 10-year prison sentence and a INR 50,000 fine, with additional jail time if the fine remains unpaid. His associates, including family members, received sentences ranging from three to 10 years. The court's decision follows a decade-long investigation into a multi-crore drug racket involving extensive money laundering and property seizures. Bhola, previously convicted in a separate case, was a key figure in a major drug trafficking network.
30-Jul-2024
The Special Task Force (STF) of the Punjab Police on July 30 arrested two drug smugglers, identified as Sahil and Rajveer, and seized 353 grams of heroin at a checkpoint near Curo Mall in Jalandhar district. The arrested individuals are in custody for further interrogation, with investigations into their connections and intended recipients ongoing.
30-Jul-2024
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) of Punjab Police and the Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation, on July 30 arrested two individuals, identified as Raj Singh alias Kala and Ramesh Singh, alias Meshu, and recovered 3.597 kg of heroin and a Pakistani drone (hexacopter) from fields near Bareke village in Ferozepur district. The heroin was reportedly smuggled from Pakistan using the drone.
30-Jul-2024
The rebel Akalis organized their first political program under the banner of Shiromani Akali Dal Sudhar Lehar (SAD-SL) to mark the death anniversary of former SAD chief Jathedar Mohan Singh Tur in Tur village in Khadur in Tarn Taran district on July 30. Gurpartap Singh Wadala, the convener of SAD-SL, announced plans for another program on the 100th birth anniversary of former SGPC president Gurcharan Singh Tohra, and a function on August 20 to commemorate Sant Harchand Singh Longowal in Longowal village, Sangrur district, Punjab.
29-Jul-2024
Slain Khalistani terrorist Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala, a member of the Khalistani terror outfit Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), was among those honored at an annual Shaheedi Samagam hosted at Gurdwara Sahib in Budh Singh Wala village, Moga district, on July 29.
29-Jul-2024
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on July 29 destroyed 119 kg of heroin and 21.455 kg of other narcotics at Punjab Chemicals and Crop Protection Limited in Dera Bassi, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAAS) Nagar district.
28-Jul-2024
The Jalandhar Commissionerate Police on July 28 dismantled an international narcotic network and arrested eight individuals identified as Jagroop Singh, Bhavjot Singh, Ravinder Singh, Anil Gupta, Bikramjit Singh, Tarsem Singh, Sumit Chole, and Pratap Singh and seized 100 grams of heroin, a 32-bore pistol, two live cartridges, 106,860 narcotics tablets, 4,320 capsules, and a car from their possession in Jalandhar district. The investigation revealed a network involving drug manufacturing in Gujarat and distribution through Agra and Amritsar, with potential international links. Further investigations are ongoing.
28-Jul-2024
Last week, an anti-drug committee in Gurusar village in Gidderbaha Muktsar district, achieved notable success by securing affidavits from four villagers promising to stop drug use and distribution, and admitting two addicts to a de-addiction centre. The committee, composed mainly of youth, actively shares drug-related information with the police, conducts community policing, and monitors suspicious activity. They have also pledged not to support families of those caught selling drugs and encourage other villages to form similar committees.
28-Jul-2024
The counter-intelligence (CI) wing of the Punjab Police on July 28 arrested two operatives of foreign-based drug modules being run by notorious drug traffickers Gurjant Singh alias Bholu, and Kinderbir Singh alias Sunny Dyal, identified as Dilbagh Singh and Kamaldeep Singh, and seized INR 1.07 crore drug money, along with a cash counting machine, two mobile phones and a car from their possession, near Fatehgarh Churian road in Amritsar in Amritsar district. Intelligence revealed that the money, collected via hawala, was being sent to Bholu and Dyal, who are involved in drug trafficking and illegal weapon distribution. Further investigation is ongoing to uncover additional links in the network.
28-Jul-2024
Police on July 28 arrested one individual identified as Baldev Singh for selling intoxicating pills to labourers, and seized 230 banned capsules from his possession, in Chuhriwala Dhanna village in Fazilka district.
28-Jul-2024
Police on July 28 arrested one individual identified as Jeevan Singh alias Kaka and seized 30 banned capsules (pregabalin) from his possession, in Patti Sadiq village in Abohar in Fazilka district.
28-Jul-2024
Sikhs protested after a police officer allegedly called a Sikh commuter a "terrorist" in Palia, Lakhimpur Kheri district, Uttar Pradesh (UP), on July 28. The demonstration ended after senior officials promised action against the officer, Vivek Kumar Upadhyay, and a thorough investigation.
27-Jul-2024
Member of Parliament (MP) from Faridkot, Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, stated on July 27 at the Gurudwara Reru Sahib in Sahnewal, Ludhiana district, that he is set to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah on July 28 to demand the release of radical Khalistani preacher and jailed MP, Amritpal Singh.
27-Jul-2024
According to sources in intelligence agencies, Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is allegedly collaborating with the Khalistani terror organization Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) to disrupt the Amarnath Yatra. The plot reportedly includes targeting pilgrims using Punjab's gangster networks and radical groups. Additionally, there are concerns about potential attacks on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and Hindu figures in Punjab and Delhi.
27-Jul-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on July 27 arrested a Pakistani intruder identified as Nasrullah and seized a wallet, pen drive, identity card, mobile phone, and some Pakistani currency from his possession near Ratankhurd village in Ajnala, Amritsar district. After initial questioning, he was handed over to the police for further investigation.
27-Jul-2024
Batala police on July 27 arrested gangster Malkit Singh after a car chase and shootout near Kahnuwan Road in Batala, Gurdaspur district. Singh, who was involved in a shooting incident at a jeweller's shop on July 26, was spotted by a patrol party and subsequently arrested.
27-Jul-2024
In a joint operation on July 27, the Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police arrested two unidentified individuals and seized a packet containing 540 grams of heroin along with one pistol, a magazine and five bullets from their possession, in Agwan village in Gurdaspur district.
26-Jul-2024
Police on July 26 arrested two accomplices of a drug peddler, identified as Pawan Kumar and Dilpreet Singh, and seized INR 12 lakh in drug money from their possession in Amritsar, Amritsar district. Earlier, on July 23, the police had arrested Sukhdev Singh, alias Manga, and seized 567 grams of heroin from his possession.
26-Jul-2024
Bathinda police launched ‘Mission Nigraani,’ an initiative aimed at engaging village chowkidars with local police stations in about 70 drug-affected villages in Bathinda district. This initiative aims to revive the traditional role of chowkidars in intelligence gathering and community policing, providing them with uniforms and tools to aid their participation.
25-Jul-2024
Spokesperson of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Randhir Jaiswal, while addressing the media in New Delhi on July 25, criticized Canada's response to threats against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, highlighting a perceived double standard in handling threats from pro-Khalistan elements against Indian leaders. Jaiswal called for equivalent action against threats targeting Indian diplomats and institutions, condemning the recent vandalism of a temple in Edmonton, Canada, and urging Canadian authorities to address the rising incidents of extremism and violence to uphold the rule of law and respect for pluralism.
25-Jul-2024
The Congress party distanced itself from remarks made by Member of Parliament (MP) Charanjit Singh Channi on July 25 regarding radical Khalistani preacher and jailed MP Amritpal Singh, where he criticized Amritpal’s arrest under the National Security Act (NSA) as an ‘undeclared emergency’ by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government during a Lok Sabha session in New Delhi. Congress labelled Charanjit’s views as his personal views and not representative of the party's stance.
25-Jul-2024
In Punjab, a civilian movement against drugs has gained momentum, with 2,439 villages passing resolutions to fight the drug menace. This initiative, supported by the Punjab Police, follows a spate of drug-related deaths in the state. Banners and community meetings are being organized in villages to discourage drug use and report suspects to authorities. The state's Health Minister, Dr. Balbir Singh, noted that around 10 lakh people in Punjab are addicted, with a significant number using heroin.
25-Jul-2024
A court on July 25 granted bail to Harpreet Singh Happy, the brother of radical Khalitani preacher and jailed Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh in Phillaur in Jalandhar district.
25-Jul-2024
An anti-narcotics cell team of the police on July 25 recovered 220 kg of poppy husk from a canter in Abohar, Fazilka district. The police revealed that the canter had entered Abohar from Sadulshahar in Rajasthan.
25-Jul-2024
The Police on July 25 arrested four individuals, identified as Dimple Kumar, Sukhbir Singh, Gurbalraj Singh alias Fauji, and Arshdeep alias Arsh Singh, and seized 525 grams of heroin from their possession in Panjawa Mandal village in Abohar in Fazilka district.