KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
17-Jun-2024
On June 17, railway stations in Punjab, including Beas and Bathinda, received bomb threats allegedly from the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The threats were purportedly made in retaliation for the killing of terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. Security at the mentioned railway stations has been significantly enhanced, and an investigation is underway to trace the source of the threat letter.
17-Jun-2024
Moga police on June 17 arrested two individuals, identified as Beant Singh and Sukhdeep Singh and seized 1 kg of heroin from their possession in Ajitwal, Moga district. Police revealed that Beant has been involved in drug peddling for seven years with five cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act against him, while Sukhdeep has been trafficking drugs for ten years with six cases registered.
17-Jun-2024
Punjab Police, in collaboration with the Border Security Force (BSF) and Village Defence Committees (VDCs), is set to conduct a week-long anti-drug campaign named 'Mission Nishchay' in Fazilka district. The campaign will target 42 villages along the India-Pakistan border from June 15 to 21, 2024. The initiative aims to engage community participation and gather intelligence on drug demand and supply, with a specific focus on youth and women. This action follows recent arrests in Fazilka, where police seized 5.5 kg of heroin and arrested seven individuals, highlighting the district's vulnerability to drug smuggling activities.
16-Jun-2024
Punjab Police on June 16 arrested family members of Canada-based terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa and his associate Yadwinder Singh Yadu, who were involved in the RPG attack on a police station in Tarn Taran, identified as Ranjodh Singh, brother-in-law of Lakhbir Singh Landa; his sister Jaspal Kaur; his mother Parminder Kaur; Jaikaar Singh, father of Yadwinder Singh; his mother Baljeet Kaur; and his sister Husanpreet Kaur in Jalandhar district.
16-Jun-2024
On June 16, Punjab Police conducted a large-scale cordon and search operation (CASO) across the state to tackle drug trafficking and recovered 2.7 kilograms of heroin, INR 1.50 lakh in cash, 12.2 kilograms of poppy husk, 5,820 intoxicant tablets, and a substantial quantity of illicit liquor. This crackdown involved over 450 teams and 3,000 personnel, targeting 280 drug hotspots, resulting in 140 First Information Reports (FIRs) and the arrest of 166 individuals. The operation is part of a broader strategy that includes enforcement, de-addiction, and prevention efforts, which have significantly increased heroin recoveries and improved conviction rates under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act since 2017.
16-Jun-2024
The Jalandhar Range police on June 16 conducted a cordon and search operation (CASO) across Jalandhar Rural, Kapurthala, and Hoshiarpur districts to combat drug smuggling, under the supervision of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Harmandir Singh Gill. DIG Gill personally visited several locations, including Ganna village near Phillaur, to support police efforts. The operation focused on disrupting drug supply networks, resulting in the detention of multiple suspects and the seizure of significant quantities of narcotics. The police also encouraged public cooperation in reporting suspicious activities to aid in creating a drug-free community.
16-Jun-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on June 16 carried out a search operation after receiving a tip-off and recovered a packet containing the body of a pistol and five rounds of 7.62 mm calibre from fields near Rattankhurd village in Amritsar district.
16-Jun-2024
The police on June 16 arrested a drug peddler, identified as Kulwinder Singh and seized 28 grams of heroin from his possession on Hindumalkot Road near Abohar in Fazilka district. His two accomplices, including a woman, managed to flee.
16-Jun-2024
According to reports, the Special Director General of Police (DGP) for Law and Order has instructed the Police Commissioner of Amritsar to take necessary action after Jatinder Kalra, former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state secretary, reported allegations of drug sales in Amritsar (North) to Governor Banwarilal Purohit. The allegations, initially made by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, highlight ongoing drug issues in a region where the ruling party had pledged to eliminate the drug menace. Kalra also noted that 14 individuals recently died from drug overdoses in the state, suggesting possible police-smuggler collusion.
15-Jun-2024
According to reports, in the first two weeks of June 2024, at least 14 alleged drug overdose deaths have been reported across Punjab, with nine occurring in just the last week, highlighting the ongoing struggle against drug abuse in the region. The police have initiated actions against alleged drug suppliers in connection with several deaths, reflecting the severity of the drug menace often linked to smuggling from Pakistan. The situation echoes a similar crisis in June 2018, underscoring the persistent challenge of drug-related fatalities in the state.
15-Jun-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on June 15 intercepted a drone and recovered it along with a packet containing 550 grams of heroin on the outskirts of Rattankhurd village in Amritsar district.
15-Jun-2024
Khanna Police on June 15 conducted searches at the houses of three associates of Canada-based gangster and Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa, identified as Ricky, Vishnu Soni, and Ravi Rajgarh, in Ludhiana district. The operation aimed to monitor and verify the activities of these individuals. Landa is linked to Khalistani terrorism and is involved in numerous criminal and terrorist activities, including weapons smuggling.
14-Jun-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police, in a joint search operation on June 14, recovered one drone along with a packet of heroin weighing 557 grams from a farming field adjacent to Kahangarh village in Amritsar district. The drone was a China-made DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
14-Jun-2024
According to the Border Security Force (BSF), drone intrusions along the International Border in Punjab have surged, with the BSF and Punjab Police seizing 100 drones in the last six months. This marks a significant increase compared to the 107 drones seized in 2023 and 53 from 2020 to 2022. The majority of these drone activities, primarily used for contraband smuggling, were concentrated in the Amritsar and Tarn Taran sectors. In response, the BSF has enhanced its detection and interception capabilities, including training personnel and dogs. Additionally, they have seized 130 kg of heroin and apprehended 89 individuals involved in drug trafficking and illegal crossings.
13-Jun-2024
A Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mohali, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district on June 13 dismissed the bail plea of Jagwinder Singh alias Jagga, a member of the banned Khalistani organization Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). Singh was accused of aiding the hoisting of a Khalistan flag on the Moga Deputy Commissioner's office in 2020, as well as providing shelter and logistical support to the perpetrators. The court, citing the seriousness and gravity of the allegations, denied bail.
13-Jun-2024
According to sources, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India is conducting an in-depth investigation into the recruitment operations of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) in Punjab, following revelations that imprisoned KTF member Kamaljeet Sharma has been actively recruiting youths. Supported by information from the Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Radicalisation (CTCR) division of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA), the investigation also focuses on the international collaboration between KTF and the Bambiha criminal gang for carrying out terrorist activities, including smuggling arms and narcotics, and executing extortion and targeted killings in Punjab and surrounding regions. The investigation uncovered that KTF operatives based abroad are consistently enlisting new members with assistance from Kamaljeet Sharma, currently incarcerated in Patiala's central jail. According to the document, Sharma is recruiting fellow inmates to join KTF.
13-Jun-2024
Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Ravneet Bittu, in an interview with Hindustan Times, expressed a willingness to support any central government initiative to pardon or release Sikh prisoners, including Balwant Singh Rajoana. He emphasized the importance of reconciliation and progress in Punjab.
13-Jun-2024
On June 13, Harjeet Singh Dhami, representing the families of the 1984 Anti-Sikh riot victims from Ramgarh Barkunda, handed over a list of 12 victims to Satnam Singh Gambhir, the East India President of the All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF), in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. This action follows a directive from the Jharkhand High Court, which requested a district-wise breakdown of uncompensated victims. Gambhir reaffirmed his commitment to securing justice and compensation for all victims, emphasizing the ongoing struggle despite a 40-year delay.
13-Jun-2024
In response to recent terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Punjab Police and the Border Security Force (BSF) have been placed on high alert in Punjab. Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav has directed increased vigilance and strengthened coordination with the BSF and Army to secure the 533 km international border with Pakistan. This includes deploying additional forces and specialized units such as Punjab Police commandos and Punjab Armed Police, alongside paramilitary forces, to prevent any cross-border incidents.
13-Jun-2024
Police intensified their crackdown on drug trafficking on June 13 by freezing assets worth INR 17 lakh belonging to convicted trafficker Gurdial Singh alias Dallu, in Fatehgarh Panjtoor village, Moga district. This action follows the forfeiture of properties valued at INR 2.14 crore from four drug smugglers in May 2024 under Section 68 (F) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
13-Jun-2024
Police on June 13 arrested one individual, identified as Kuldeep Kumar Chandu and seized 10 kg of poppy husk from his possession at Rampura village in Fazilka district.
13-Jun-2024
The Anti-Gangster Task Force on June 13 arrested an operative of jailed gangster Deepak Tinu, who is an associate of Lawrence Bishnoi-Goldy Brar gang, identified as Vijay and seized one .30 calibre pistol along with five live rounds from his possession near Gagan Chowk on the Rajpura-Chandigarh Highway in Rajpura in Patiala district. Vijay, who helped gangster Deepak Tinu escape in 2017, has a history of serious crimes in Punjab and Haryana. Investigations revealed that he was ordered by jailed/foreign handlers to assassinate members of the rival Bambiha Gang and had previously orchestrated a murder in Malaysia.
13-Jun-2024
Police on June 13 arrested an individual, identified as Hari Darshan alias Harry and seized a .315 bore weapon and five cartridges from his possession near Dharam Nagari in Fazilka district.
12-Jun-2024
According to intelligence received by security agencies, the banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) has escalated its anti-India propaganda by inciting the Muslim community to demand a separate state named 'Urduistan.' Exploiting social media platforms, SFJ is provoking Muslims with false narratives about Narendra Modi's leadership and alleged threats to Sharia Law. Security agencies are closely monitoring SFJ's activities, recognizing them as divisive maneuvers that threaten national unity and communal harmony. Intercepted communications suggest SFJ's attempts to garner international support, alleging backing from China, Canada, and Pakistan in their agenda for Khalistan and Urduistan.
12-Jun-2024
Following the attack on Sukhwinder Singh on June 10 in Kaithal, Haryana, farmers rallied in solidarity with the Sikh community, reminiscent of their unity during the 2020-21 protests. Demanding justice, they recently protested in Jind district, urging the arrest of Kangana Ranaut and condemning divisive actions. Raju, who had intervened during the attack on Sukhwinder, was hailed as a hero, emphasizing Haryana's commitment to unity. Farmer groups also planned an interfaith congregation to support Sikhs, affirming unity and denouncing hate crimes.