KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
16-Jan-2024
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia on January 16, appeared before the Punjab Police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) for questioning in a drug case, in Patiala in Patiala district.
15-Jan-2024
On January 15, a Nihang Sikh, Ramandeep Singh killed a young man, claiming sacrilege as the motive, at the Chaura Khooh gurdwara in Phagwara town in Kapurthala district in Punjab. Singh posted a video on social media platforms, taking responsibility and asserting that the victim confessed to committing sacrilege. This incident follows a previous violent episode involving Nihang Sikhs in November 2023, where a policeman was killed during a dispute at another gurdwara in Kapurthala. Nihangs, recognized by their blue robes and weapons, have been linked to various killings, often associated with sacrilege.
15-Jan-2024
According to sources, security measures at temples in Punjab, including the Golden Temple in Amritsar, have been significantly heightened in response to undisclosed potential threats. Law enforcement agencies, without specifying the nature of the threats, have increased personnel and vigilance to protect culturally significant landmarks. Notably, AI-powered security measures such as JARVIS technology are being used to fortify the security services. Recent incidents, including the recovery of Chinese-made drones near Amritsar, Punjab, underscore the urgency and importance of proactive security measures to ensure the safety of these places of worship.
15-Jan-2024
Punjab Police on January 15 registered two First Information Reports (FIRs) against travel agent Tarsem Singh in connection with the 'donkey flight,' which carried nearly 200 Punjabis bound for Nicaragua. Complainant Kanwarman Singh alleged that Tarsem defrauded him on the pretext of sending him to the United States (US), while Damanpreet Singh claimed that Tarsem promised a route to the US in exchange for INR 42 lakhs. Authorities are urging more victims to come forward, with the aim of apprehending Tarsem Singh and dismantling the immigration nexus.
15-Jan-2024
Police, on January 15, solved a theft case involving the theft of 16 weapons from Chanchal Gun House near the DC office in Sangrur, Punjab, by arresting five persons identified as Pavandeep Singh alias Pamma, Malwinder Singh, Sandeep Singh alias Giani, Amandeep Singh alias Aman, and Gurmeet Singh from Todarpur village in Mansa district. The police seized 14 weapons—five pistols, five revolvers, three guns, and a rifle—along with 30 cartridges, a motorcycle, an electrical cutter, a hammer, and a rod from their possession. Two guns are yet to be recovered. Among those arrested, Pavandeep Singh had a criminal record with nine prior cases, while three of the accused were in Nihangs' attire during the crime.
15-Jan-2024
The Bathinda police on January 15 arrested two persons, identified as Sukhdev Singh and Surjit Singh and seized 22 quintals of poppy husk from their possession near the ring road in Bathinda district. The poppy husk was brought by them from Kota, Rajasthan.
15-Jan-2024
According to sources, the Indian Army is set to enhance its border surveillance in Punjab by deploying indigenous Drishti-10 medium-altitude, long-endurance drones. Manufactured by Adani Defence, the Army has ordered two of these drones under emergency provisions, requiring over 60% indigenization. The deployment aims to bolster monitoring capabilities across the Punjab sector, covering a vast area, including the desert region and areas to the north. The drones are expected to be inducted within the next two to three months.
15-Jan-2024
Gurmail Kaur, the wife of former Akal Takht acting Jathedar Gurdev Singh Kaunke, filed a complaint with Jagraon police in Ludhiana district on January 15, demanding the registration of a criminal case against 21 police personnel, including two former Directors General of Police (DGPs), for her husband's alleged murder in 1992. Gurmail Kaur claims that Gurdev Singh was unlawfully taken into custody on December 25, 1992, and was subsequently killed by the Jagraon police. She alleges that her husband was kidnapped, never formally arrested or produced in court, and questions the role of senior police officials in shielding the responsible officers.
14-Jan-2024
According to sources, Gujrat Police have booked 14 agents involved in the alleged human trafficking to Nicaragua in connection with the ongoing investigation into the grounded chartered flight carrying 303 Indians in France. Reportedly, these agents advised Indians to pose as Khalistanis seeking asylum. Passengers were instructed to keep videos of Khalistani extremist Amritpal Singh’s crackdown, news articles on internet suspension, and detentions to support their asylum claims.
14-Jan-2024
Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat, in her memoir, revealed that in the 1980s, CPI(M) leader Harkishan Singh Surjeet had warned of Sikh extremists finding support in Canada. He had also emphasized the need for political solutions to address genuine demands in Punjab, criticized the Congress party's role, and highlighted the danger of communal sentiments fuelled by the Hindu Suraksha Samiti, a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) backed platform. Brinda Karat also recounted instances where the party, led by Surjeet, stood against violence, protecting Sikh families and homes from retaliation in the aftermath of Prime Minister (PM) Indira Gandhi's death.
14-Jan-2024
The Nawanshahr police, on January 14, arrested seven members of an 11-member inter-state gang of drug peddlers and thieves and seized six motorcycles, five cars, gold, and various stolen gadgets from their possession in Jalandhar district. The gang targeted secluded homes, gyms, and vehicles parked outside homes during the night. The police had previously arrested four other members of the gang, identified as Sonu Chaurasia, Ramandeep Minhas alias Rammi, Ravi Kumar, and Dalveer Singh, with 300 grams of heroin in their possession.
14-Jan-2024
Awan Kumar Khullar alias Sonu Cheema, the sarpanch (head of the Panchayat, village level local self-Government institution) of Adda Chabal village, was shot dead in broad daylight in Tarn Taran district on January 14. The assailant believed to be the Germany-based gangster Amritpal Singh Batth, shot Sonu Cheema while he was getting a shave. The gangster has around 18 criminal cases registered against him.
14-Jan-2024
Amritsar (Rural) police on January 14 recovered 5 kg of heroin and a tractor from Ranian village in the Amritsar district. Acting on a tip-off, the police conducted a raid at the residence of Jagdeep Singh alias Hira, who had been implicated in cross-border drug trafficking by sources. Reportedly, he was smuggling heroin on his tractor. Though Hira managed to slip away during the raid, the police successfully recovered the heroin and impounded his tractor.
14-Jan-2024
Police on January 14 arrested the right-hand man of the notorious gangster Harpreet Singh alias Happy Jatt and the prime suspect in the Jandiala Guru double murder, identified as Sahil and seized 3 kg of heroin, a .45 bore pistol with four live cartridges, and a .32 bore pistol with five live bullets from his possession in Jandiala Guru in Amritsar district. Earlier, two other individuals, Rahul and Gagandeep Singh, alias Gagan Haddi, were arrested in connection with the murders. Ongoing investigations aim to uncover their criminal links.
13-Jan-2024
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff of the police on January 13 arrested an individual identified as Gurbhinder Singh and seized 300 grams of opium from his possession, in Abohar in Fazilka district.
13-Jan-2024
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff of the police on January 13 arrested an individual identified as Karaj Singh and Gurpreet Singh, and seized 21 grams of heroin from his possession, in Abohar in Fazilka district.
13-Jan-2024
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) Patiala unit conducted a meeting on January 13 at Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib, chaired by SKM leader Davinder Singh Punia in Patiala district. During the meeting, they announced their decision to organize a tractor march on January 26 in Patiala, Samana, Pataran, Nabha, and Rajpura to commemorate the anniversary of the Kisan March in Delhi. The leaders criticized the central government's alleged false propaganda against Kisan leader Dr. Darsanpal, vowing a suitable response during the tractor rally.
13-Jan-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police, during a joint search operation on January 13 recovered a packet containing 672 grams of heroin from a farming field adjacent to Dal village in Tarn Taran district.
13-Jan-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police on January 13, during a joint search operation recovered a drone from a farming field adjacent to Rajoke village in Tarn Taran district. The recovered drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic, a Quadcopter model made in China.
12-Jan-2024
Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers investigating a human smuggling case, in Ahmedabad in Gujarat on January 12 revealed that agents instructed Punjabi immigrants to claim asylum as Khalistan supporters in the United States (US), exploiting their opposition to the Indian state. Gujaratis were advised to use various stories, such as political persecution due to Congress or Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) affiliation, or by citing inter-caste marriage and family feuds. Fourteen agents, including Joginder alias Jaggi Paji, Salim Dubai, and others, were booked for human smuggling, evidence destruction, and criminal conspiracy. The chartered flight, grounded in France for suspected trafficking, aimed to send individuals from North Gujarat and northern India to Mexico, with plans to cross into the US.
12-Jan-2024
Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, stated his plans to initiate Khalistan voter registration in India via a video message. He allocated USD 1 million for promotion in New Delhi ahead of the 75th Republic Day. Pannun also expressed his aim to raise the Khalistan flag on January 26, referring to it as "D-Day" in Delhi. He criticized French President Emmanuel Macron, the Republic Day Chief Guest, accusing him of aiding Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi. Previously, Pannun had called for airport shutdowns and urged Muslims to oppose the Ram Temple ceremony.
12-Jan-2024
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) of the Punjab Police, in a joint operation with central agencies, on January 12 arrested a key operative of Pakistan-based terrorist Harvinder Singh alias Rinda and United States (US)-based Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia, identified as Kailash Khichan and seized one .30 calibre Chinese pistol along with eight cartridges from his possession, from Lohawat village in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan. Khichan had been wanted in a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) since September 2023. He has a criminal history that includes extortion, violations of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and Arms Act violations in Punjab and Rajasthan. The arrest followed investigations that revealed Khichan's role in supplying weapons to associates of the Khalistani terror outfit Babbar Khalistan International (BKI) under the direction of terrorist Rinda.
11-Jan-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on January 11 recovered 470 grams of heroin and a drone from a farming field adjacent to Dhanoe Khurd village in Amritsar district. The recovered drone was a quadcopter, model DJI Mavic 3 Classic, made in China.
11-Jan-2024
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on January 11 issued a legal notice to social media platform X for not shutting down a fake account that was spreading hate propaganda against Sikhs. Amanbir Singh Siali, the SGPC's legal advisor, emphasized that such activities violate Indian laws, including the Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act. Despite prior communications, the social media platform allegedly refused to take action, prompting the SGPC to escalate the matter legally.
11-Jan-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on January 11 conducted a widespread operation targeting the banned terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), Lawrence Bishnoi crime syndicate, and other terrorist organizations at 32 locations across five states - Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, UP, and Delhi - as well as the Union Territory of Chandigarh. The operation resulted in the seizure of two pistols, two magazines and ammunition, cash amounting to INR 4.6 lakh, documents, and digital devices. NIA stated that the seized items were used for activities such as bomb explosions, targeted killings, extortions, and terror funding.