KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
20-Oct-2023
Punjab Police's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) on October 20 arrested four key operatives of the Bambiha gang, identified as Lakhvir Kumar alias Lucky, Ravi Kumar alias Fauji, Gurvinder Singh alias Matto, and Jatinder Singh alias Soni and seized four pistols, including two sophisticated automatic and semi-automatic foreign-made pistols and two country-made pistols, along with 25 live cartridges and two motorcycles from their possession in Dhakoli in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. The operatives were allegedly working under the leadership of foreign-based gangster Gaurav Kumar alias Lucky Patyal, who remains at large.
20-Oct-2023
The Consulate General of Canada in Chandigarh on October 20 suspended its consular services amid diplomatic tensions with India. Services will be redirected to the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi, causing inconvenience to individuals seeking Canadian visas and raising questions about the impact of the suspension on their plans.
19-Oct-2023
Bhupinder Singh Assandh, the president of the ad hoc committee of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC), on October 19 announced that the state government has accepted their proposal, allowing only Keshdhari and Sabat Surat Sikhs, who have faith in Guru Granth Sahib and follow all 10 Sikh gurus, to have voting rights in the upcoming HSGMC elections in Haryana.
19-Oct-2023
Amid escalating diplomatic tension between India and Canada over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Canadian government has removed a total of 41 diplomats from India after New Delhi threatened to revoke their immunity. Canada's Foreign Minister, Mélanie Joly, stated that 41 of Canada's 62 diplomats in India have been removed, along with their dependents. Joly also mentioned that exceptions have been made for 21 Canadian diplomats who will remain in India.
19-Oct-2023
The Punjab Police on October 19 dismantled a terror funding module with ties to Pakistan-based Harwinder Singh Rinda and being operated by Parminder Pindi, by arresting five of its operatives in different locations within the Batala, Gurdaspur district. The individuals arrested were identified as Amanpreet Walia, Ramanbir Singh alias Fouji, Arshpreet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, and Kirandeep Kaur. The Director General of Police (DGP), Gaurav Yadav, stated that the arrests followed incidents in which liquor vends in Batala were targeted through arson or firing in an attempt to extort money from liquor contractors. Preliminary investigations have revealed that all the accused were acting on the directives of their local handler, Parminder Pindi, who was making threats and demanding extortion for terror funding from liquor contractors.
19-Oct-2023
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on October 19 filed a charge sheet in a special court in New Delhi against gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in a case related to the seizure of approximately 39 kg of heroin by the Gujarat Police.
18-Oct-2023
The families of victims who were killed or affected by the 1984 anti-Sikh riots on October 18 expressed their dissatisfaction with the justice provided by the Indian Government. They stated that a protest would be organized in Ludhiana on November 5 if the government did not address their legitimate demands.
18-Oct-2023
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) of the Punjab Police on October 18 arrested an operative of the Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar gang, identified as Sachin alias Bacchi along with four pistols and 12 cartridges from in Landran, Kharar, in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district. Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of AGTF, Sandeep Goel, stated that Sachin has a criminal record and was wanted by the Punjab Police. The preliminary investigations revealed that Sachin and other members of the gang were hatching a conspiracy to attack targets assigned to them by their foreign handlers.
18-Oct-2023
Two gangsters hailing from Punjab, allegedly involved in 11 cases, including attempted murder and kidnapping, identified as Pancham Noor Singh (32) and Himanshu Mata (30), were arrested in the Kurla area of Mumbai, Maharashtra, on October 18.
18-Oct-2023
The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) on October 18 conducted a virtual meeting with the chief secretaries, home secretaries, and minority department secretaries from Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, as well as eight other states on action taken by them for granting compensation to the 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims. The discussions during the meeting focused on the efforts made by the respective governments to deliver relief, compensation, and justice to the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
17-Oct-2023
Punjab Police on October 17 arrested four operatives of a terror module backed by Pakistan-based terrorist Rinda and operated by US-based gangster Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia, identified as Vikramjit Singh alias Raja Bains, Bawa Singh, Gurkirpal Singh alias Gagan Randhawa, and Amanat Gill and recovered a .32 bore pistol along with 10 live cartridges from them in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district. The Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, stated that, following intelligence inputs about Rinda and Happy Passia hiring two shooters and planning to target some prominent persons in the state, police teams from the state special operation cell of SAS Nagar launched an operation and successfully apprehended the accused. Preliminary investigations revealed that Happy Passia had made a deal with Vikramjit for INR 15 lakh to carry out a target killing.
17-Oct-2023
The state special operating cell (SSOC) on October 17 busted an extortion racket and arrested three members of Canada-based slain Khalistani gangster Sukhdool Singh alias Sukha Duneke’s gang identified as Vishal Singh, Ranvir Singh and Monu Kumar alias Monu Gujjar along with two .32 bore pistols and 12 live cartridges in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. Vishal and Ranvir were arrested from Kharar, SAS Nagar with .32 bore pistol and eight live rounds in their possession, Monu Gujjar was arrested from Patran, SAS Nagar with another .32 bore pistol along with four live rounds in his possession.
16-Oct-2023
As per reports, during the 91st general assembly of Interpol scheduled to take place in Vienna, Austria from November 28 to December 1, the Director of India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Praveen Sood, intends to raise the issue of taking action against fugitives and criminals, which includes Khalistani radicals operating from countries like Canada, the UK, the US, Australia, and Europe. Furthermore, he is anticipated to request international law enforcement agencies to expedite the processing of mutual legal assistance (MLA) requests, through which information or evidence is sought, so that investigations can be completed on time.
16-Oct-2023
The Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority for Sikhs, on October 16 issued a prohibition on the placement of Guru Granth Sahib during destination weddings held at beachside and resort venues, citing a breach of the code of conduct.
16-Oct-2023
The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC), while criticizing law enforcement officers for failing to appear as official witnesses in a drug-related case at a Hoshiarpur court, remarked that it appears the local police may have cooperated with individuals involved in the smuggling of narcotics substances.
16-Oct-2023
A Patiala resident, Jagir Singh (71), declared dead in a police encounter 31 years ago in Ajnala in Amritsar, has been found alive. Interestingly, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently prosecuting four Punjab Police officers, including two deceased, on charges of allegedly killing Jagir Singh and Daljit Singh in what is now regarded as a 'fake' encounter that occurred on December 29, 1992. The CBI's investigation also revealed that not only is Jagir still alive, but he also served 15 years as a convict in a drug smuggling case within Amritsar Jail. Remarkably, the case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was registered at the very Ajnala police station where the initial First Information Report (FIR) for the police encounter, listing Jagir's name and details, was filed.
16-Oct-2023
Former Indian Foreign Services (IFS) officer Amar Jit Singh on October 16 criticized the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) for eulogizing terrorists involved in the Khalistan movement. The SGPC's recent posts, which honour individuals like Harjinder Singh Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha, members of the Khalistani terror outfit Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) responsible for high-profile assassinations during the Punjab insurgency, have raised concerns. The SGPC has also been accused of taking anti-India stances, opposing government decisions, and supporting Khalistani elements. Critics argue that the SGPC, influenced by a distorted version of Sikh history attributed to Arthur Macauliffe, has strayed from its original purpose and is promoting a narrow agenda.
15-Oct-2023
Police on October 15 arrested a drug smuggler, identified as Surinder Singh alias Shinda, and recovered 1 kg of heroin, a 9-mm pistol, INR 8.5 lakh drug money and two cars, after an encounter at Nurmahal in Jalandhar district.
15-Oct-2023
The Special Task Force (STF) arrested three drug smugglers and recovered 2.5 kg of heroin in the Gharinda area of Amritsar district on October 15.
15-Oct-2023
Ferozepur police arrested two persons, identified as Rajdeep Singh and Amrik Singh along with 2 kilograms of heroin in Ferozepur district on October 15.
15-Oct-2023
Police on October 15 arrested two persons, identified as Surjit alias Bulla and Sukhjinder Singh and recovered 25 grams of heroin from their possession in Kapurthala district.
15-Oct-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered a drone in a paddy field near the International Border in Ferozepur district on October 15.
15-Oct-2023
Police on October 15 placed Damdami Taksal (Sangrawan faction) chief Baba Ram Singh and his son Rajandeep Singh under house arrest in Amritsar. They were prevented from attending Gurdwara Guru Amardas Jee in Athwal village, where they were scheduled to lead a 'Khalsa Vahir' procession, that was recently initiated by Sikh separatist leader Amritpal Singh, which was intended to go to Sri Goindwal Sahib. However, the house arrest of the faction chief led to the postponement of the procession.
15-Oct-2023
Police arrested a drug peddler, identified as Baljeet Singh along with 50 grams of heroin from near the area of Dussehra ground on Altos Chowk in Ludhiana district on October 15.
14-Oct-2023
During his appearance at the Khushwant Singh Literary Festival in Shimla, Ujjal Dosanjh, the former premier of British Columbia, characterized Canada as "hypocritical" and India as "touchy" when discussing the ongoing tension between the two nations regarding the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Dosanjh pointed out that while Canadian President Justin Trudeau has swiftly denounced the celebration of violence by Hamas supporters, he has not extended the same condemnation to the glorification of violence by Khalistani extremists within Canada.