KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
09-Jul-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police, recovered a drone on the outskirts of Kalia village in Tarn Taran district on July 9.
09-Jul-2024
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) issued a notification on July 9 extending the ban on Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), declaring it an unlawful association for another five years, effective from July 10, 2024, under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The SFJ stands accused of engaging in anti-national and subversive activities that threaten India's sovereignty and internal security, including support for violent extremism and militancy aimed at establishing a sovereign Khalistan. The UMHA underscored the necessity of halting SFJ's operations to prevent the escalation of subversive actions and violence within the country.
09-Jul-2024
The Rajasthan Police recently filed charges against prominent Sikh leader Tejinder Pal Singh Timma for allegedly posting a video on July 5 on social media that glorified radical Khalistani preacher and Waris Punjab De (WPD) chief Amritpal Singh, in Sri Ganganagar district, Rajasthan.
09-Jul-2024
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh on July 9 issued a strong warning against the exploitation of Sikh religious practices by filmmakers for profit. He highlighted a recent incident in Ghaura village near Chandigarh, where a film shoot involving a replica of the Guru Granth Sahib during an Anand Karaj ceremony was interrupted by the local Sikh community. Singh stressed the importance of filmmakers honoring Sikh maryada and traditions. He announced plans to prepare a report addressing the violation and preventing similar incidents in the future.
09-Jul-2024
Four Sikh leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Punjab, including National General Secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa, along with BJP leaders Tejinder Singh Saran, Parminder Brar, and Srinivasulu, received death threats on July 9 through a letter sent to the BJP's office in Chandigarh. The letter contained inflammatory content and slogans supporting Khalistan and Pakistan, demanding that the leaders either resign from the BJP or face fatal consequences. Describing the leaders as "traitors of Sikhism," the letter has prompted the leaders to report the threat to the Chandigarh Police. It also mentions seeking revenge for deaths of "brothers" in Canada and warns BJP ministers to leave Punjab.
09-Jul-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed another chargesheet on July 9 in the Salaya drug seizure case, naming Manoj Kumar Sharma as the 25th accused in connection with the smuggling of 500 kg of heroin from Pakistan into India via Gujarat, before the NIA Special Court in Ahmedabad in Gujarat.
08-Jul-2024
Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, while speaking to the media in Chandigarh on July 8, stated that external pressures are being applied to Balwinder Kaur, mother of jailed radical Khalistani preacher and Lok Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, concerning her comments denying her son's support for Khalistan. Bittu emphasized that Amritpal, having sworn an oath on the Indian Constitution, is expected to prioritize the welfare of the nation and Punjab. Despite this, Amritpal recently expressed pride in the idea of a Khalsa state, revealing a tension between his constitutional commitments and personal convictions.
08-Jul-2024
The Counter Intelligence (CI) wing of the Jalandhar police on July 8 arrested a key assailant and member of the Khalistani terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), identified as Simranjit Bablu, involved in the fatal shooting of former Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan (BTFK) chief Rattandeep Singh, and seized one .32 Webley revolver, a .32 pistol, along with a magazine and 19 cartridges from his possession on the outskirts of Jalandhar city in Jalandhar district. He was arrested after a brief encounter with the police, during which he sustained bullet injuries to his legs while attempting to flee. The police are investigating links to Pakistan-based terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda and US-based gangster Gopi Nawanshehria, who orchestrated the killing.
08-Jul-2024
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Laxmi Kanta Chawla condemned the sword attack on Punjab Shiv Sena leader Sandeep Thapar in Ludhiana, urging against framing the incident as a Hindu-Sikh conflict. The attack occurred on July 5, and the Ludhiana police have since arrested two suspects, Sarabjit Singh and Harjot Singh, while a third suspect, Tahal Singh, remains at large. Meanwhile, Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar criticized the state's deteriorating law and order under Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann's governance.
08-Jul-2024
Punjab Police, on July 8, busted an interstate organized crime syndicate and arrested the kingpin of the gang, identified as Jai Sharma alias Sukha Pistol Ambarsarya, along with four members - Nikhil Sharma alias Lala, Moni, Arpit Thakur, and Karan Sharma and seized two .32 bore pistols, three magazines, and eight live rounds from their possession in Kharar, SAS Nagar district. This marked the first case registered under the new "organized crime" sections of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), which allows for life imprisonment or the death penalty for crimes resulting in death.
08-Jul-2024
The Police on July 8 arrested a man, who allegedly introduced himself as an aide of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and made extortion calls, identified as Sandeep Singh from Kaoni village in Gidderbaha in Sri Muktsar Sahib district. Singh is accused of making extortion calls on July 3 and 4, demanding INR 1 crore and 30 tolas of gold from a local farmer named Amarjit Singh.
07-Jul-2024
On July 7, a violent clash between two rival groups resulted in four deaths and eight injuries in Vithwan village in Batala, Gurdaspur district. The police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) and are conducting further investigations. BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's handling of law and order in the state, highlighting this incident as a reflection of the deteriorating security environment under Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann's administration.
07-Jul-2024
Border Security Forces (BSF) troops on July 7 recovered a Pakistani drone from fields near Wan village in Tarn Taran district. The recovered drone was a China-made DJI Mavic 3 classic model.
07-Jul-2024
Border Security Forces (BSF) troops on July 7 recovered a packet of heroin weighing 250 grams on the outskirts of Rorawala village in Amritsar district.
07-Jul-2024
Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, Giani Harpreet Singh, met with the family of radical Khalistani preacher and Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, the chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD), on July 7 in Amritsar in Amritsar district.
07-Jul-2024
According to sources, the Indian government is set to extend the ban on the Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) for another five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), based on fresh evidence from ongoing National Investigation Agency (NIA) investigations into the group and its chief, Khalistani terrorist Gurupatwant Singh Pannun.
07-Jul-2024
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal, on July 7, congratulated the 10 Sikh Members of Parliament (MPs) elected to the United Kingdom's (UK) House of Commons, urging them to collaborate on promoting Sikhism and combating hate crimes against the community. He highlighted the significant contributions of Sikhs since the first settlers arrived in the UK in 1911, noting that Sikhism is now the fourth largest religious group in the UK.
07-Jul-2024
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on July 7 issued a statement criticizing the Punjab Police for lacking adequate training to handle hate speech against the Sikh community, despite the recent establishment of 28 new cybercrime police stations across Punjab, as announced by Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav. They expressed concerns over the absence of a robust plan to combat hate speech impacting Sikhs.
07-Jul-2024
The police on July 7 arrested three individuals, including a woman, identified as Kuldeep Singh, Harpal Singh alias Kala, and Paramjit Kaur, and seized 1 kg of heroin along with INR 7 lakh in drug money from their possession in Zira, Ferozepur district.
06-Jul-2024
Four days after being shot by the Border Security Force (BSF) on the night of July 1 and 2 near the Sadiqi Border Outpost (BOP) in the Fazilka sector, a Pakistani intruder was buried on July 6 in the Panjpeer graveyard in Abohar, Fazilka district, Punjab. The burial was conducted according to Muslim rituals in the presence of officials from the concerned department. The intruder, whose body was not claimed by Pakistani Rangers, had been killed after illegally crossing into Indian territory.
06-Jul-2024
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami congratulated the four turbaned Sikhs and five Sikh women elected as the United Kingdom's (UK) new Members of Parliament (MPs). They associated this achievement with Punjabi and Sikh pride, recognizing the community's global reputation for hard work and excellence in politics.
06-Jul-2024
According to reports, in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh and Sheikh Abdul Rashid, both imprisoned on serious charges, won seats from the Khadoor Sahib and Baramulla constituencies, respectively, raising concerns about security risks. Amritpal, under the National Security Act (NSA), and Rashid, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), were given limited parole to take their oaths as Members of Parliament (MPs). Terror accused cannot become Members of Parliament (MPs) in the West, but they can in India. Both face potential disqualification under Section 8(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RPA), if convicted.
06-Jul-2024
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab regarding the release of gangster Daljit Bhana during the Jalandhar West bypoll in Punjab. BJP state office secretary Suneel Dutt Bharadwaj claimed that Bhana, involved in various murder cases, has been creating panic among voters by roaming the area with police officials. Bharadwaj urged the EC to cancel Bhana’s parole, fearing he might be used for booth capturing.
06-Jul-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops recovered a packet of heroin weighing 480 grams from fields near Wazirpur Afgana village in Gurdaspur district on July 6.
06-Jul-2024
The police on July 6 arrested one person, identified as Aniket and seized 6 grams of heroin from his possession, in Sangrur in Sangrur district.