KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
23-Feb-2024
Police on February 23 busted an inter-state opium smuggling gang and arrested three persons identified as Kartar Singh alias Kala, Sanjay Kumar, and Pradeep Kumar and seized 17.5 kg of opium, INR 15 lakh, and an SUV from their possession in Mandi Gobindgarh in Fatehgarh Sahib district in Punjab. The gang sourced opium from Jharkhand and distributed it locally. One suspect, identified as Anil Kumar, is still at large.
23-Feb-2024
The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU - Ugrahan) observed a 'black day' in response to the call by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) to protest against the death of farmer Shubhkaran Singh in Sangrur district, Punjab. They burnt effigies of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah, and Haryana Chief Minister (CM) Manohar Lal Khattar.
23-Feb-2024
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff of the Police on February 23 arrested four persons, identified as David Sidhu, Gagan Sidhu, Anshul Thakur, and Dharminder alias Sunny and seized five illegal .32 bore pistols, ten magazines and 20 live rounds from their possession in Ferozepur in Ferozepur district.
22-Feb-2024
Following an announcement by Balwinder Kaur, the mother of Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh, to stage a dharna on the Beas bridge in Amritsar, a heavy police force was deployed on February 22 to ensure law and order. However, the protest site was later shifted to Heritage Street in Amritsar.
22-Feb-2024
The Central Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (CGPC) in Jharkhand's Kolhan region on February 22 threatened to stage a dharna in West Bengal (WB) if action is not taken against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders who allegedly called a Sikh Indian Police Service (IPS) officer a 'Khalistani'. CGPC demanded immediate action from WB Chief Minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee, condemning the incident and asserting that it has crossed constitutional boundaries.
22-Feb-2024
A Sikh community delegation from seven Gurdwaras submitted a memorandum to West Bengal (WB) Governor C V Ananda Bose in Kolkata on February 22, demanding action against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari for allegedly referring to Sikh Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Jaspreet Singh as a 'Khalistani.' The governor assured that he would write to WB Chief Minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee for appropriate action and announced the establishment of a Punjabi Garden in Bhagat Singh's name.
22-Feb-2024
Criticism arose over the central government's suspension of certain social media accounts amid a broader confrontation, emphasizing the necessity for transparent processes.
22-Feb-2024
The labelling of a Sikh Indian Police Service (IPS) officer as 'Khalistani' in West Bengal raised concerns about profiling and the potential for such slurs to exacerbate tensions, emphasizing the importance of responsible political discourse.
22-Feb-2024
Activists and family members of detained pro-Khalistanis, led by Balwinder Kaur, the mother of Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh, who is the chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD), began an indefinite hunger strike outside Dibrugarh Jail in Assam on February 22. They are demanding the transfer of detainees to Punjab jails, expressing distrust in the government's ability to deliver justice. Despite rumored conflicts with the administration, they emphasize their resolve. The detainees have vowed to continue their hunger strike until being transferred to Punjab.
22-Feb-2024
The police on February 22 two drug peddlers, including a woman identified as Usha Rani and Sona Singh, and seized 15 gm of heroin from their possession, from Tiwana Kalan village in Fazilka district.
22-Feb-2024
The police on February 22 arrested one person, identified as Lakhwinder Singh and seized 10 gm of heroin from his possession, in Fazilka in Fazilka district.
22-Feb-2024
The Delhi Police on February 22 arrested two sharpshooters of the Lawrence Bishnoi and Hashim Baba gang, identified as Amar and Danish, and seized two pistols and nine live cartridges along with a scooter from their possession after a gunfire encounter in Burari in North Delhi district in Delhi. Both Amar and Danish sustained bullet injuries in their legs. Amar has a criminal history with six cases, including robbery and attempted murder, while Danish is involved in two cases related to rioting and Arms Act violations.
22-Feb-2024
Farmers Unions on February 22 demanded INR 1 crore compensation from the Punjab Government for the death of young farmer Shubkaran Singh, while the government offered INR 40 lakh, at Shambhu Border near Shambhu village in Patiala district in Punjab.
21-Feb-2024
The police on February 21 arrested a 30-year-old man identified as Satyadev Tiru and seized 15 kg of opium from his possession at Ludhiana railway station in Ludhiana district. Tiru admitted to intending to deliver the opium to Phagwara in Punjab. He also confessed to having delivered opium in Punjab multiple times before and had previously smuggled over 80 kg of opium into the state.
21-Feb-2024
The Special Task Force (STF) on February 21 arrested two persons, identified as Shubham Kumar and his accomplice, Honey and seized 1.97 kg of heroin from their possession in Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. Shubham, who had been involved in multiple criminal cases before, confessed to being unemployed and a drug addict. This highlights the nexus between unemployment, addiction, and drug trafficking in the region.
21-Feb-2024
On February 21, the Border Security Force (BSF) intercepted a drone and recovered 505 gm of heroin, along with the broken drone, near Changa Rai Hithar village in Ferozepur district. The drone was identified as a Quadcopter of the DJI Mavic 3 Classic model, manufactured in China.
21-Feb-2024
Relatives of Khalistani preacher and the leader of Waris Punjab De (WPD), Amritpal Singh and nine Sikh youth detained under the National Security Act (NSA) in Dibrugarh jail in Assam, demanded their return to Punjab. Their relatives allege severe human rights violations, including the installation of spy cameras by jail authorities in various areas where the detainees reside. The relatives fear that peaceful protests may lead to physical and mental torture by jail authorities. The representation has been submitted to Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann through the Amritsar deputy commissioner.
21-Feb-2024
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann, on February 21, condemned Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders for questioning the patriotism of a Sikh police officer, Jaspreet Singh, in West Bengal, emphasising the Sikh community's well-known patriotism and sacrifices for India's freedom. He highlighted the significant contributions of Sikhs, particularly farmers, toward making India self-reliant in food production. Mann criticized the BJP leaders for overlooking the historical sacrifices and contributions of the Sikh community.
21-Feb-2024
Security has been tightened in Ranchi, Jharkhand on February 21 ahead of the India-England cricket test match due to threats from designated Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Recently, Pannun urged the banned CPI (Maoist) to disrupt the match via social media.
21-Feb-2024
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on February 21 was granted custody of Surender Singh alias Chiku in connection with a money laundering case involving the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and others by a special court in Panchkula in Haryana. Chiku was earlier lodged in Delhi’s Tihar jail. Chiku, known as a close associate of Lawrence Bishnoi, faces accusations in around two dozen criminal cases, including attacks on police personnel.
21-Feb-2024
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann, on February 21, ordered the deployment of all ambulances and Sadak Suraksha Force vehicles at farmer protest borders following the death of Shubhkaran Singh at the Khanauri border, near Khanauri village in Sangrur district of Punjab. Mann also promised exemplary punishment for officers responsible for Singh's death and pledged support to his family. He criticized the Centre for not addressing farmers' demands earlier, emphasizing the need for dialogue to prevent such tragedies.
21-Feb-2024
The People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), in a press release, criticized a recent Supreme Court judgment dated February 7 that denied bail to Gurwinder Singh, a member of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), using the Watali jurisprudence. The PUCL argues that the court's reliance on Watali undermines constitutional principles and prioritizes the UAPA over constitutional rights. They highlight previous judgments, such as the bail grant to Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira, which assessed evidence contrary to Watali.
20-Feb-2024
The incident involving Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari, who allegedly called an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Jaspreet Singh, a Khalistani during an altercation in Sandeshkhali, sparked protests on February 20 across West Bengal. Members of the Sikh community protested outside the BJP headquarters in Kolkata. The Bengal Police is considering legal action against Adhikari under IPC section 295A for religious insult, while Adhikari denied making personal remarks and accused Singh of rudeness.
20-Feb-2024
Khalistani terrorist and the chief of the banned terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, on February 20, threatened to disrupt the fourth cricket test match between India and England, scheduled to take place from February 23 in Ranchi, Jharkhand. In a shared video, Pannun urged Maoists to cause disturbance, cancel the match, and called for raising Maoist and Khalistan flags during the event. The Jharkhand Police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against him on the same day.
20-Feb-2024
A Sikh Indian Police Service (IPS) officer in West Bengal, Jaspreet Singh, on February 20, accused Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) leaders of calling him a 'Khalistani' when he prevented them from going to Sandeshkhali in West Bengal, where allegations of sexual abuse by a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader emerged. The confrontation between Singh and BJP leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari, was captured in a viral video. BJP Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Agnimitra Paul denied the accusation, stating that Singh was neglecting his duties. The incident sparked condemnation from various quarters. West Bengal Chief Minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee criticized the BJP for insulting the Sikh community, while Congress leaders and Sikhs expressed solidarity with Singh and called for action against hate speech.