KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
17-Mar-2026
According to sources, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang has reportedly marked its presence in Madhya Pradesh following a shooting incident in Bheelgaon, Khargone. The group claimed responsibility on social media, alleging that the target was a middleman exploiting local farmers through fraudulent documentation. The development has triggered an alert among law enforcement agencies in Delhi. Sources indicate that the move may be part of a broader strategy to gain control over the “source” of illegal arms supply networks in Delhi and other parts of north India, while projecting a “Robinhood” image to justify its actions.
17-Mar-2026
On March 17, the 56th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 587 raids, arrested 178 persons and recovered three sharp edged weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 99 individuals, while 59 persons were verified and released after questioning. Five proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
17-Mar-2026
On March 17, Punjab Police, on day 381 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 69 drug smugglers, and seized 547 grams of heroin, 550 grams of opium, 918 kg of poppy husk, 544 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 1300 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
17-Mar-2026
A firing incident, suspected to be linked to gang rivalry, was reported near the Department of Botany at Panjab University in Chandigarh on March 17. According to sources, two unidentified individuals entered the campus on a two-wheeler and fired two gunshots in the air near the department’s parking area in the evening before fleeing via Ankur School Road towards the temple inside the campus. The accused abandoned the two-wheeler, crossed the temple area on foot, and exited the campus. CCTV footage reportedly showed the suspects snatching a motorcycle at gunpoint before escaping towards the Punjab border area.
16-Mar-2026
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on March 16 criticized the Union Government, alleging that gangster Lawrence Bishnoi was being given “VIP treatment” in Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat. Mann claimed that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) had directed that Bishnoi cannot be questioned by state investigating agencies outside the Gujarat jail, indicating that the Centre was prioritising his safety. He also referred to remarks by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on gangsters during his recent visit to Punjab, questioning the alleged preferential treatment being extended to Bishnoi.
16-Mar-2026
On March 16, the 55th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 363 raids, arrested 172 persons and recovered three weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 77 individuals, while 72 persons were verified and released after questioning. Three proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
16-Mar-2026
On March 16, Punjab Police, on day 380 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 91 drug smugglers, and seized 706 grams of heroin, 364 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 1.37 lakhs drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
16-Mar-2026
Punjab Police on March 16 arrested a man, identified as Raman Kumar and seized 4.30 grams of heroin from his possession, in Kapurthala district.
16-Mar-2026
Three government schools in Moga district received emails on March 16 threatening to blow up the buildings. The emails targeted schools in Godhewala, Ugoke, and Jhandiana. Upon receiving the threats, school authorities alerted the police and the Education Department. The incident led to the immediate evacuation of students and the cancellation of a scheduled examination.
16-Mar-2026
The Anti-Narcotics Cell of Navi Mumbai Police arrested three men from Punjab, Baljit Singh Savinder Singh alias Monu, Gurupratap Singh Sharanjit Singh alias Gopi, and Karamjit Singh Nindar Singh, and seized high-grade heroin, an Austria-made Glock pistol, live cartridges, and a trailer truck, during the operation, in a targeted operation in the Chakan MIDC–Nigoje village area of Pimpri-Chinchwad in Pune district in Maharashtra. Investigators believe the case may be linked to a cross-border narcotics supply chain that uses drones to smuggle drugs into India before routing them into Maharashtra.
16-Mar-2026
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted bail to an accused in a case related to propagating the “Khalistan Referendum 2020,” observing that over seven years of pre-trial incarceration was excessive. The court directed the accused to surrender any weapons, firearms, and ammunition within 15 days of release. It further held that continued detention at the pre-trial stage would amount to “grave injustice,” noting that the accused had already spent more than seven years in custody while the trial remained ongoing.
16-Mar-2026
According to reports, some schools in Jalandhar district, including Apeejay School and Delhi Public School (DPS), received a threatening email warning of bomb blasts at multiple locations on April 14, prompting authorities to place the administration on high alert. The email, sent in the name of a group calling itself “Punjab Ul Khalistan,” mentioned specific timings for alleged explosions, including schools in Jalandhar at 1:11 pm, the Punjab Legislative Assembly at 2:11 pm, and Delhi-bound trains at 9:11 pm. It also named Bhagwant Mann as one of the prime targets.
15-Mar-2026
On March 15, the 54th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 529 raids, arrested 196 persons and recovered four weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 70 individuals, while 107 persons were verified and released after questioning. Three proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
15-Mar-2026
On March 15, Punjab Police, on day 379 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 80 drug smugglers, and seized 9 kg of heroin, 700 grams of opium, 5 kg of poppy husk, 2457 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 10,400 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
15-Mar-2026
The Punjab Police’s Amritsar Commissionerate on March 15 arrested two arms smugglers, identified as Karan Singh and Gurpreet Singh and seized two TISAS pistols, magazines, and 20 live cartridges from their possession, in Amritsar district.
15-Mar-2026
The Punjab Police’s Amritsar Commissionerate on March 15 arrested an arms supplier, Makhandeen and seized a TISAS pistol, one 9 mm pistol, two .30 bore pistols, and 40 live cartridges from his possession, in Amritsar district.
15-Mar-2026
Punjab Police on March 15 arrested two persons, identified Rakesh and Chamkor Singh and seized 1 kg of heroin from their possession, in Amritsar district.
15-Mar-2026
Punjab Police on March 15 arrested one person, identified as Jasbir Singh and seized 2.5 kg of heroin from his possession, in Amritsar district.
15-Mar-2026
Punjab Police on March 15 said that four persons have been arrested in connection with the daylight murder of Harvinder Singh alias Happy, the sarpanch (village head) of Patto Hira Singh village in Moga district on March 6. The suspects were apprehended in Leh, Ladakh, where they had allegedly fled to evade arrest. They were subsequently flown to Chandigarh and brought to Moga on the evening of March 14. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Dalveer Singh said the assailants allegedly used a rented SUV to carry out the crime before abandoning it and escaping in another vehicle. According to officials, the investigation indicates that the murder was driven by personal enmity rather than gang-related activity.
15-Mar-2026
Punjab Police on March 15 arrested a person, identified as Satpal Singh alias Goga, and seized 7.61 grams of heroin from his possession near the Dargah Nogajja Pir Road area in Nurmahal in Jalandhar district.
15-Mar-2026
Punjab Police on March 15 arrested a person, identified as Harmukh Singh alias Laddu, and recovered 18 intoxicating tablets from his possession near Sandhawal in Jalandhar district.
15-Mar-2026
Punjab Police on March 15 arrested a person, identified as Amrik Singh alias Amrika, and seized 15 intoxicating tablets from his possession near the railway bridge at Kotli Gajran village in Jalandhar district.
14-Mar-2026
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) of Hanumangarh Police on March 14 arrested Vishal Kumar alias ‘Bhaiya’, an accused wanted under the Arms Act and the Amritsar-based main arms procurer for the Bambiha gang, from Hanumangarh in Rajasthan. Vishal, a native of Amritsar, is reportedly involved in around 30 criminal cases, including charges of murder, attempt to murder, robbery, dacoity, assault, and violations of the Arms Act.
14-Mar-2026
Punjab Police on March 14 arrested a suspect, identified as Dharam Singh alias Dharma, and seized one 7.65 mm country-made pistol from his possession near Fattivindi village in Kapurthala district.
14-Mar-2026
Punjab Police on March 14 arrested three persons, identified as Aksar alias Akshay, Jatinder alias Kalu, and Vishal and seized 750 intoxicant pills from their possession near Sheetla Mandir Road in Phagwara in Kapurthala district.