KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
26-Dec-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on December 26 recovered four packets of heroin weighing 2.090 kg from a farmhouse on the outskirts of Jodhawala village in Fazilka district. The operation, based on specific information, was prompted by the presence of illuminated strips attached to the packets, suggesting a potential drone drop.
26-Dec-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) announced on December 26 that it seized heroin consignments worth INR 2,500 crore on the Punjab-Pakistan border in 2023, with approximately 500 kg of heroin confiscated. The BSF also shot down or recovered 100 Pakistani drones attempting to smuggle narcotics, arms, and ammunition into Indian territory. The BSF credited its three-pronged strategy for curtailing the drug supply, raising awareness against drug abuse, and empowering youth for meaningful employment opportunities. The BSF celebrated this accomplishment and apprehended 75 smugglers in the bordering districts of Punjab. The increased drug seizures and drone interceptions suggest a well-established intelligence network and heightened vigilance by the BSF.
26-Dec-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on December 26 recovered a packet containing 2.19 kg of heroin from fields adjacent to Metla village in Gurdaspur district.
26-Dec-2023
Julio Ribeiro, a retired Indian police officer and Padma Bhushan recipient, expressed uncertainty about the revival of the Khalistan issue in Punjab while speaking at an event in Panaji, Goa, on December 26. He emphasized that the people of Punjab are not interested in Khalistan.
25-Dec-2023
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, in Amritsar on December 25, instructed the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to pressure the Punjab government to investigate the 1992 disappearance of acting Jathedar Gurdev Singh Kaunke, as revealed in a report by the Punjab Human Rights Organization (PHRO).
25-Dec-2023
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on December 25 announced plans to establish party units in states with Sikh populations as part of its strategy to refocus on its core 'panthic' agenda ahead of the upcoming general elections. SAD President Sukhbir Badal emphasized the need for Sikh unity and criticized Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann.
25-Dec-2023
According to official sources, Pakistan-based cross-border drug operatives have intensified efforts to smuggle drugs, narcotics, and firearms into India, with over 100 drones intercepted by the Border Security Force (BSF) in 2023 alone. The increased use of cheaper Chinese-made drones has resulted in a surge in drone intrusions. Seizures of heroin have reached a record-breaking 500 kg in Punjab this year, posing a growing challenge for the Indian BSF. In response, the BSF is implementing measures such as installing CCTV cameras and developing a standard operating system to counter the threat posed by drones.
25-Dec-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on December 25 recovered 434 grams of heroin, dropped by drone, near Ranian village in Amritsar district.
24-Dec-2023
The Sangrur police on December 24 registered 14 cases and arrested 15 individuals under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for drug-related offences in various locations in Sangur district in Punjab.
24-Dec-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on December 24 arrested three unidentified drug smugglers and seized 525 grams of heroin dropped by a Pakistani drone from their possession near Dhanoe Kalan village in Amritsar district.
24-Dec-2023
Punjab Police on December 24 dismantled an interstate network engaged in illegal opioid manufacturing and supply, coordinated by Major Singh from Goindwal Sahib Jail in Tarn Taran district of Punjab, operating out of pharmaceutical factories in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Gujarat. The investigation commenced with the arrest of a local drug peddler, Prince Kumar, last month. Based on disclosures, the police arrested Baljinder Singh, Akash Singh, Surjit Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Mohar Singh, Sachin Kumar, Yogesh Kumar Rinku, Manish, Rekha, and Akash. After the arrests, a joint operation by Punjab Police and the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in Gujarat led to a raid on Gloss Pharmaceuticals in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, resulting in the recovery of 14,72,220 intoxicant tablets/capsules. Additionally, 18,000 intoxicant tablets were seized from Akash's possession in Agra, UP.
24-Dec-2023
An investigation by The Indian Express revealed that the Punjab Police have booked individuals for "smoking heroin" based solely on observation, leading to concerns about a focus on end users rather than major drug trade operators. Out of 11,156 First Information Reports (FIRs) filed under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 2,804 cases involved minor drug seizures, while only 275 were major. The trend has been attributed to a change in focus following Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann’s promise to rid the state of drugs. Critics argue for rehabilitation rather than arrests, citing personal rivalries and political motivations behind some cases.
24-Dec-2023
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann announced via a post on social media site X on December 24 that he has withdrawn the decision to sound mourning notes on the martyrdom day of Chotta Sahibzadas. This decision was made following opposition from Sikh bodies, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). Earlier, the Akal Takht had also directed the CM to roll back the decision, stating that it was against the spirit. The martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh's younger sons is considered an event of respect, not grief. The SGPC emphasized that the CM should pay respect to the Sahibzadas' martyrdom in line with Gurmat principles rather than introducing a mournful element.
23-Dec-2023
Iqbal Singh Lalpura, Chief of the National Commission for Minorities on December 23 met members of the 1984 Sikh Riot Victims’ Welfare Society in Dugri area in Ludhiana in Punjab, where the society handed him a memorandum of demands.
23-Dec-2023
The Punjab and Haryana High Court, on December 23, criticized a committee for taking over eight months to reach an inconclusive finding on the in-custody interviews of Lawrence Bishnoi, a notorious gangster who allegedly glorified crime and criminals. The court directed the registration of two First Information Reports (FIRs) to be probed by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), emphasizing the need to investigate those facilitating the interviews. The SIT was instructed to conclude the investigation expeditiously and remove the interviews from cyberspace. The court also expressed concern about the impact on law and order, national security, and the potential influence on witnesses due to Bishnoi's criminal activities.
23-Dec-2023
Police on December 23 busted an inter-state gang of drug smugglers and arrested two of its members, identified as Tejinder Singh alias Nikka and Raj Kumar along with 2.550 kg of opium, 20 kg of poppy husk, and a truck at a checkpoint near Goraya in Jalandhar district.
23-Dec-2023
The Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar addressed the vandalization of a Hindu temple in California while speaking to the media at Rashtriya Raksha University in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on December 23, stating that the issue had been taken up with local authorities, emphasizing the need to deny space to extremists and separatist forces.
23-Dec-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police, in a joint operation on December 23 recovered 540 grams of heroin and a drone from a farming field adjacent to Bhaini Rajputana village in Amritsar district.
23-Dec-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police, in a joint operation on December 23 recovered 430 grams of heroin and a drone on the outskirts of Dode village in Tarn Taran district.
22-Dec-2023
The police on December 22 arrested a gangster linked to the Kushal Chaudhary gang, identified as Devinder, and seized a .32 bore pistol from his possession near Jandiala in Jalandhar district. When the police attempted to arrest him, Devinder opened fire with his pistol, and in the exchange, he sustained critical injuries, with bullets hitting his leg and chest. Devinder, along with two others, was involved in firing at a travel agent's car a week ago, leaving a demand for INR 5 crore in the name of Kushal Chaudhary. The operation against the two other suspects is ongoing.
22-Dec-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on December 22 intercepted a drone, and during the subsequent joint search operation with Punjab Police, recovered a packet containing 540 grams of heroin from fields near Ranian village in Amritsar district.
22-Dec-2023
The Punjab Human Rights Organisation (PHRO) on December 22 made public a 1999 report on the alleged forced disappearance and murder of Gurdev Singh Kaunke, the acting Akal Takht Jathedar appointed by Sarbat Khalsa in 1992. The report suggests that Kaunke was likely killed by the police, highlighting inconsistencies in the police version and the promotion of a constable involved. The report also recommends a case against the then Station House Officer (SHO), Gurmeet Singh, for illegal detention and falsification of records.
22-Dec-2023
According to reports, the abuse of pharmaceutical drugs, known as "nasheeli goliyaan," is on the rise in Punjab, constituting almost 25% of the First Information Reports (FIRs) filed under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between April 2022 and February 2023. These easily accessible and budget-friendly pills have become the drug of choice, particularly in areas away from the International Border where heroin is prevalent. The surge in pill abuse may indicate a constriction in the heroin supply. The Punjab government has taken measures to curb the sale of certain capsules, but addicts are finding new alternatives, contributing to the complexity of the issue.
21-Dec-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on December 21 intercepted a drone and recovered 530 grams of heroin near Pakka Chisti village in Fazilka district.
21-Dec-2023
The spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Arindam Bagchi, stated in New Delhi on December 21 that India has been granted consular access by the Czech Republic to Indian national Nikhil Gupta on three occasions since his arrest on June 30 and the MEA is providing necessary assistance to him. Gupta faces allegations of plotting the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.