KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
04-Feb-2024
The president of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Harjinder Singh Dhami condemned the recent incident where police forcefully entered a Gurdwara Sahib at night, beating attendants and violating rules in Boha in Mansa district. Dhami expressed concern over the government's actions, citing previous incidents like the firing at Gurdwara Akal Bunga Sahib Sultanpur Lodhi. Dhami called for a thorough investigation into the Mansa incident and urged swift action against the perpetrators, emphasizing that such actions tarnish the sanctity of Sikh religious sites.
03-Feb-2024
Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit tendered his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu on February 3, citing personal reasons amid allegations of tampering in Chandigarh's mayoral elections in favour of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate. Purohit's tenure saw frequent clashes with Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government over various issues, including withholding bills passed by the State Assembly and warning of imposing President's rule.
03-Feb-2024
Police on February 3 arrested three drug smugglers, identified as Gurpreet Singh alias Gopa, Rashpal Singh alias Bhapa, and Rajdeep Singh alias Raja, and seized 650 gm of heroin from their possession near Bidhipur Chowk in Maqsudan in Jalandhar district. Gopa was arrested with 100 gm of heroin, revealing details of the operation, based on which the Police arrested Raja from Gharinda village and Bhapa from Muhawa village, both in Amritsar district. It was revealed that the operation utilized fields belonging to Bhapa, whose wife, a former sarpanch, facilitated access to the border.
03-Feb-2024
Police on February 3 arrested a woman drug peddler identified as Kamaljit Kaur alias Toti and seized 11 loose intoxicant injections from her possession in Sangowal village in Ludhiana district.
03-Feb-2024
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) on February 3 arrested Lawrence Bishnoi’s aide, Mandeep Singh alias Chotta Mani, and his accomplice Jatinder Singh and seized two .32 caliber pistols and 12 cartridges in Mani Majra in Chandigarh. The arrests were made in connection to their involvement in Sidhu Moose Wala's murder and their role in facilitating gangster Deepak Tinu's escape in 2017. Both individuals, who were working for Bishnoi and Goldy Brar, are facing charges of attempt to murder, extortion, and Arms Act violations.
02-Feb-2024
According to reports, in the Gurdaspur district of Punjab, heroin addiction among the youth is rampant due to the regular infiltration of narcotics-laden Pakistani drones. This has resulted in an overwhelming workload at the Red Cross De-addiction Centre. Abha Sharma, a dedicated counselor at the center, was recently honored for her pivotal role in rehabilitating addicts. She emphasizes patience and perseverance in overcoming addiction, guiding patients through the challenges of temptation and motivation.
02-Feb-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on February 2 recovered 500 grams of heroin in a packet wrapped with yellow adhesive tape along with a drone near Pallopati village in Tarn Taran district.
02-Feb-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on February 2 recovered three packets containing 1.6 kg of heroin, wrapped with yellow adhesive tape with a metal hook attached to them, from fields near Roranwala Khurd village in Amritsar district.
02-Feb-2024
The Wahabwala police on February 2 arrested an individual identified as Vijay Kumar and seized 39 kg of poppy husk from his possession at Mehrajpur village in Fazilka district.
02-Feb-2024
The police on February 2 arrested an individual, identified as Dilbagh Singh, for supplying 65 gm of heroin to his customers in Malout in Muktsar district.
02-Feb-2024
Police on February 2 arrested a sharpshooter from the infamous Neeraj Bawana gang, identified as Aehsaan Ali alias Usman alias Lal Singh, from Karni Singh Shooting Range area in Tughlakabad in South East Delhi in Delhi. Acting on specific intelligence, the police intercepted the duo on a motorcycle around 8:30 p.m. on February 2. Aehsaan attempted to flee but fell after losing control of the bike, while Neeraj escaped into a nearby jungle, leaving his firearm behind. Aehsaan fired at the police, hitting an officer's bulletproof jacket, but was eventually subdued. Interrogation revealed his criminal background and affiliation with the Neeraj Bawana gang.
01-Feb-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on February 1 filed a charge sheet against Khalistani terror outfit Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) members, Manpreet Singh alias Peeta and Mandeep Singh, who were deported from the Philippines in 2023, at a special court in New Delhi. They were associated with 'listed individual terrorist' Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dalla, recruiting youths for Dalla's Terror and Crime Syndicate. Peeta and Mandeep played a significant role in raising funds for KTF through extortions, routing money into drug businesses via hawala networks, and smuggling arms from Pakistan.
01-Feb-2024
According to sources, Delhi Police deployed nearly 200 personnel to analyse CCTV footage from over 1000 cameras, leading to the arrest of Jaswinder, a cab driver from Tilak Nagar in West Delhi, for creating pro-Khalistani graffiti in the area. Jaswinder confessed to the act, stating he was promised INR 15,000 by his friend Gagandeep but had not received the payment. Earlier, two individuals from Punjab were detained by the Special Cell for similar graffiti incidents at Delhi metro stations ahead of the G20 Summit.
01-Feb-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Special Task Force (STF) Amritsar, in a joint operation on February 1, recovered 3.432 kg of heroin wrapped with yellow adhesive tape, and a metal hook was attached to the packet, from a house in Didhowal village in Gurdaspur district.
01-Feb-2024
According to reports, Lawrence Bishnoi, once viewed as an "invincible" gangster, has seen his influence wane, following the high-profile assassinations of prominent figures like Punjabi singer Siddhu Moose Wala and Karni outfit chief Sukhdev Gogamedi. Recent revenge killings by his rivals, including three of his key henchmen, have further weakened his position. This suggests a resurgence of opposing factions. The emergence of a bond between Bambiha syndicate leader Gaurav alias Lucky Patial and Khalistani Tiger Force (KTF) leader Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dalla indicates a deadly alliance against Bishnoi. Bishnoi's decade-long rivalry with the Bambihas, rooted in territorial disputes and control over criminal enterprises, has escalated. This has drawn alliances with local gangs and raised concerns of increased violence.
01-Feb-2024
Fatehgarh Sahib police, on February 1, put Sangrur Member of Parliament (MP) and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann and his staff under house arrest at Talania village in Fatehgarh Sahib district. The police action was taken in response to Mann's announcement of a demonstration and a planned protest dharna at Dhuri town in Sangrur district, Punjab.
01-Feb-2024
Police on February 1 arrested two unidentified persons and seized 20 kg of poppy husk from their truck carrying onions, from Gumjal barrier near Gumjal in Fazilka district.
01-Feb-2024
Police on February 1 arrested two unidentified persons, and seized 80 gm of heroin from their possession, in Abohar in Fazilka district.
01-Feb-2024
Punjab Police on February 1 arrested Harpreet Singh alias Happy Baba, and seized a .30 bore automatic pistol, along with a magazine and three cartridges, from his possession in Aladinpur village in Tarn Taran district. Happy Baba is one of the biggest weapon suppliers in Punjab and a close associate of one of the most-wanted gangsters, Harpreet Singh alias Happy Jatt. He confessed to being a major weapon supplier in Punjab, sourcing illicit weapons from Madhya Pradesh and selling over 100 such weapons in Tarn Taran and Amritsar since 2020-21.
31-Jan-2024
The police registered a case against Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh alias Landa, after he issued threats to kill the chief servant of Dera Harbhagat Jethuwal in Amritsar, Tejkaran Singh and his children who are residing in Canada. The threats were communicated through Instagram and phone calls.
31-Jan-2024
The United States (US) Embassy in New Delhi stated on January 31 that discussions between the US Congress and the Biden administration are ongoing, in light of reports that the delivery of 31 MQ-9A Sea Guardian and Sky Guardian drones to India has been stalled by the United States (US), pending a "meaningful investigation" into the alleged conspiracy to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of the banned Khalistani terrorist outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). Pannun, labelled a terrorist by India, is portrayed by the US as a victim, leading to friction between the two nations. Additionally, the US has also delayed the sale of six Boeing P-8I aircraft to India due to concerns over alleged Indian government actions against Pannun.
31-Jan-2024
According to sources, Border Security Force (BSF) officers have written to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), suspecting that a recent drug bust at the India-Pakistan border in Punjab is linked to prisoners in Amritsar jail and Pakistani drug suppliers. They have identified two Pakistani nationals, Rana and his brother Saha, who recruited villagers in Tarn Taran to receive arms and drugs via drones from across the border. The BSF recovered 4.369 kg of heroin, 968 grams of ICE (methamphetamine), a pistol, four rounds of ammunition, and INR 70,140 during the operation. Investigations revealed links to Punjab residents managing deliveries in Delhi, with one having connections to individuals in Amritsar jail. The government is developing anti-drone technology to counter the increasing use of drones for smuggling along the border.
31-Jan-2024
According to sources, the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) is planning to take three suspects with Khalistani links - Shankar Dussad alias Shankar Jajod, Ajit Kumar Sharma, and Pradeep Puniya - to Ayodhya to verify their movements before their arrest for conducting reconnaissance in the city ahead of the Shri Ram Janambhoomi temple consecration ceremony. Currently in police custody, the suspects are being interrogated about their intentions and connections with Khalistani terrorists. The investigation, spanning from Rajasthan to Punjab, suggests that the suspects had been planning the reconnaissance in Ayodhya for two years.
31-Jan-2024
State special operation cell on January 31 arrested a gangster identified as Iqbal Khan and seized a .32 bore pistol, along with two live cartridges, from his possession in Rupnagar in Rupnagar district. Khan, associated with the Parminder Pindri gang, along with his accomplices Kala Gujjar Makhan Gujjar and Shashi, were allegedly tasked with killing members of a rival gang operated by Dilpreet Singh Baba, known for multiple criminal activities.
30-Jan-2024
The contributions of the Village Defence Committees (VDCs), deployed in a 15 km rural area along the Amritsar border with Pakistan to assist the Border Security Force (BSF), the Punjab Police, and other security agencies in bolstering security efforts against infiltration and smuggling, were recognized during the Republic Day celebrations. A total of 272 villages in Ajnala, Lopoke, and Amritsar II subdivisions are equipped with VDCs. Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit advocated for VDCs during visits to border areas of six districts. These committees, consisting of various community representatives and security personnel, play a crucial role in providing information to combat illegal drug and arms networks. VDC members are given priority for arms licenses, and they receive support from village police officers through regular meetings and coordination with higher authorities. Additionally, a comprehensive list of criminals and their records has been compiled for enhanced border security measures.