KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
12-Apr-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on April 12 recovered one packet of heroin weighing 510 grams from farming fields adjacent to Dhanoe Kalan village in Amritsar district.
12-Apr-2024
The Jalandhar Commissionerate Police on April 12 busted a cross-border drug network associated with the Jaipal Bhullar gang by arresting a key individual identified as Saaraj alias Bau and seizing 3 kg of heroin, two .32 bore pistols, and four cartridges from his possession in Jalandhar district. Initially, Saaraj was arrested with 200 grams of heroin, but further investigations based on his disclosure led to the seizure of 2.8 kg of heroin, along with two .32 bore pistols and four cartridges. Saaraj, previously involved in extortion and attempted murder, joined Jaipal Bhullar's criminal network after being released on bail in 2022. He orchestrated heroin trafficking from Pakistan in collaboration with another gang member, Chandu Firozepuria.
12-Apr-2024
On April 12, a spokesperson for the Canadian High Commission announced the dismissal of Indian staff from its diplomatic missions in New Delhi, India. The spokesperson also expressed sincere gratitude for the resilience, dedication, and service of its local staff in India.
11-Apr-2024
Gunshots were fired at Punjab Police Inspector Gabbar Singh, who serves as the SHO Mataur in Mohali, while he was traveling in his bulletproof car in Kurali, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district, Punjab, on April 11. Although the shooters managed to escape, police are actively investigating the case to determine if there is any potential gang involvement.
11-Apr-2024
Police on April 11 arrested Gurkirat Singh, a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi and Dipu Banur gang, and seized a country-made pistol and two live rounds from his possession in Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district, Punjab. This arrest was made based on information provided by Aman Kumar, who was previously arrested on March 4, 2024.
11-Apr-2024
Delhi Police on April 11 announced the arrest of Satender Kumar alias Sikander, a sharpshooter associated with the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang from the outskirts of Delhi. He was apprehended based on specific intelligence indicating his participation in a recent extortion-related shooting on March 31 in Moti Nagar, West Delhi.
10-Apr-2024
Amritsar Police on April 10 arrested three associates of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-backed terrorist and drug smuggler Harwinder Singh alias Rinda, as well as United States (US)-based gangster and drug peddler Harpreet Singh alias Happy Pachhia, identified as Mandeep Singh alias Arsh, Gagandeep Singh, and his brother Piara Singh and seized a 9 mm pistol along with five rounds from their possession in Amritsar district, Punjab.
10-Apr-2024
Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, the son of the late Prime Minister (PM) Indira Gandhi's assassin Beant Singh, on April 10 announced his candidacy as an Independent from the Faridkot parliamentary constituency in Punjab. He has previously contested elections in 2004 and 2007 and is aiming to enter Parliament once again. His family has a political legacy, with his mother and grandfather having served as Members of Parliament (MPs) from Ropar and Bathinda, respectively.
10-Apr-2024
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on April 10 accused the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) of patronizing the drug mafia, citing the arrest of Prakash Singh Langah, identified as the son of former Cabinet Minister in Punjab and a leader of SAD Sucha Singh Langah, with heroin in Shimla as evidence of their alleged involvement. The AAP urged strict action against the accused and criticized SAD for purportedly contributing to Punjab's drug crisis.
10-Apr-2024
Moga Police on April 10 arrested six members of the Davinder Bambiha gang, identified as Lovepreet Singh alias Labhi, Sunil Kumar alias Baba, Karan, Vicky alias Gandhi, Harmeet Singh alias Cheema, and Sahil Sharma alias Shallu and seized three pistols, a country-made revolver, and cartridges from their possession in Moga district. According to the police, Labhi, currently in jail, allegedly directed the gang's activities, leading authorities to procure a production warrant for him. The arrested individuals faced multiple criminal charges, with Gandhi and Baba having extensive criminal records in Moga.
09-Apr-2024
According to sources, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India Rajiv Kumar allegedly received threat calls from pro-Khalistan elements abroad. These threats were reportedly conveyed through pre-recorded calls to Indian numbers, featuring a well-known pro-Khalistan leader who has a history of making such threats via internet-based voice calls and social media. As a result, the Union Ministry for Home Affairs (UMHA) has taken steps to enhance Rajiv Kumar's security, with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) now providing "Z-category level" protection, extending across India. Kumar, currently under Delhi Police protection, is expected to receive round-the-clock security from CRPF commandos, including an escort vehicle, as part of his upgraded security detail.
09-Apr-2024
The Sikh high priests, including Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, Takht Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Sultan Singh, along with Giani Gurdev Singh and Giani Gurminder, held a meeting on April 9 at the Akal Takht secretariat in Amritsar and directed community members to hoist Khalsa flags on their homes to commemorate 325 years of Khalsa on Khalsa Sajna Divas on April 13.
09-Apr-2024
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, while addressing a rally in Pilibhit district in Uttar Pradesh (UP) on April 9, reached out to the Sikh community and condemned the 1984 anti-Sikh riots orchestrated by the Congress, stating that India can never forget what the Congress did to the Sikhs in 1984. PM Modi criticized the Congress and Samajwadi Party for their alleged role in the riots while highlighting the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP's) solidarity with the Sikh community through various initiatives like opening the Kartarpur Corridor and celebrating Sikh festivals.
09-Apr-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on April 9 announced the arrest of another individual in connection with the 2022 Attari drug seizure case, identified as Harwinder Singh alias Soshi Pannu, bringing the total number of arrests to six. Harwinder is alleged to have played a key role in distributing drugs, handling cash, and laundering drug proceeds through banking and "hawala" channels. The case involves a major conspiracy by an international drug cartel to circulate drugs in India, with seizures totalling 102.784 kg of heroin valued at about INR 700 crores in April 2022 by Indian Customs. The consignment, concealed in liquorice roots, originated from Afghanistan and was sent via the Attari inland customs entry point in Amritsar district, Punjab.
09-Apr-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Gurdaspur Police conducted a joint operation on April 9 and recovered 530 grams of heroin allegedly dropped by a Pakistani drone near Chauntra village in Gurdaspur district in Punjab.
09-Apr-2024
The United States (US) ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, emphasized India's pivotal role in shaping the future while speaking at an event in New Delhi on April 9. He urged others to visit India to witness, feel, and work on the future, highlighting the mutual exchange of ideas and initiatives between the US and India. Garcetti emphasized collaboration over teaching and preaching and also mentioned US President Joe Biden's deep appreciation for India's global significance.
08-Apr-2024
Khalistani terrorist Gurpawant Singh Pannun, chief of the banned Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), released a new video on April 8. In it, he threatened Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and former RAW chief Samant Goel, vowing to challenge them 'right in their own backyard.' The video features excerpts from Rajnath Singh's remarks on government action against terrorism and footage of PM Modi's strong statements on India's capability to retaliate against enemies. Pannun also labelled the upcoming Lok Sabha election in 2024 as an opportunity to 'shame' PM Modi. Furthermore, he pledged to continue campaigning for the Khalistan referendum and urged the United States, Canada, and Pakistan to adopt an equal punishment approach, citing 'Lex Talionis' (law of retaliation). His use of social media as a platform for these threats aligns with his past behaviour.
08-Apr-2024
Security has been heightened in Bathinda as Khalsa Chetna planned a march on April 8 in Punjab's Bathinda district, demanding the transfer of Khalistani preacher and Waris Punjab De (WPD) chief Amritpal Singh from Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam to Punjab. Bathinda has been turned into a police cantonment, with extensive vehicle checks and monitoring of suspicious individuals.
08-Apr-2024
According to sources, over the past three months, Punjab Police have seized approximately 99 kg of heroin smuggled through drones across the International Border (IB) in Amritsar. Amritsar City and Rural Police have arrested 337 drug peddlers and filed 214 First Information Reports (FIRs) under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act since January 1, 2024. Notably, the rural police recovered 65 kg of contraband, while the city police seized 34 kg of heroin, along with a new trend of intercepting 2 kg of ice drug from Pakistan. Aside from heroin, the police seized 17 kg of opium and 56 kg of poppy husk, and recovered INR 1.17 crore of drug money in rural areas. The Police have highlighted efforts to dismantle narco modules operated by international smugglers from countries like Canada, the United States (US), and Malaysia. They also face challenges in countering cross-border smuggling, including the use of drones, prompting the installation of CCTV cameras and the setting up of special nakas (checkpoints) for border surveillance.
08-Apr-2024
Police on April 8 busted a smuggling racket and arrested two individuals identified as Kamaljit and Jatinder Kumar and seized 180 grams of heroin from their possession near Rama Mandi chowk in Jalandhar district. Both suspects have previous criminal records, and the police are continuing investigations to ascertain the source of the drugs.
07-Apr-2024
The Bhawanigarh Police on April 7 arrested an unidentified woman and seized 40 grams of heroin from her possession near the grain market at Jollian village in Sangrur district of Punjab.
07-Apr-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered a packet of heroin weighing 350 grams from wheat fields adjacent to Kalsian village in Tarn Taran district on April 7.
07-Apr-2024
Police on April 7 arrested two members of the Arsh Dala gang identified as Vimalpreet Singh and Ashu Kumar and seized two illegal .32-bore pistols and a .30-bore pistol from them near Machaki Mal Singh village in Faridkot district in Punjab. The accused were allegedly targeting an executive engineer of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) for INR 20 lakh in extortion money and sustained gunshot wounds during the encounter with the police. According to police investigations, the gangsters had planned the attack on the engineer who refused to comply with their demands.
07-Apr-2024
Police on April 7 arrested two members of the Arsh Dala gang identified as Vimalpreet Singh and Ashu Kumar and seized two illegal .32-bore pistols and a .30-bore pistol from them near Machaki Mal Singh village in Faridkot district in Punjab. The accused were allegedly targeting an executive engineer of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) for INR 20 lakh in extortion money and sustained gunshot wounds during the encounter with the police. According to police investigations, the gangsters had planned the attack on the engineer who refused to comply with their demands.
07-Apr-2024
Punjab Police on April 7 arrested Balwinder Kaur, the mother of Waris Punjab De (WPD) head and Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh, along with his uncle Sukhchain Singh and four others, while they were en route to Bathinda to participate in the Khalsa Chetna March in Amritsar in Amritsar district. The march aimed to seek the shifting of Amritpal Singh and his associates, currently detained in Dibrugarh Jail in Assam under the National Security Act (NSA), to Punjab. Despite the scheduled march from Takht Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda district, to Akal Takht Sahib in Amritsar, the Bathinda administration denied permission citing potential law and order issues. The detainees were sent to judicial custody for four days.