KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
16-Feb-2026
Police on February 16 arrested a man identified as Sukhwinder Singh alias Kala and seized 10 grams of heroin from his possession, in Dalla village, Kapurthala district.
15-Feb-2026
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on February 15 arrested three alleged drug traffickers and seized 8.8 kg of heroin, 5.6 kg of methamphetamine (ICE), and 3 kg of opium in Attari, Amritsar district. According to NCB officials, preliminary investigations suggest the possible involvement of a prominent political figure in the trafficking network.
15-Feb-2026
Santajbir Singh, a farmer and dairy farm owner, complained on February 15 that he received an extortion call from a man identifying himself as gangster Keshav Batala, who claimed links with A-category gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and demanded INR 1 crore in Bal Kalan village, Amritsar district. In his complaint lodged at Kamboh police station, Santajbir alleged that the caller issued threats and warned of serious consequences, including harm to his family, if the demand was not met.
15-Feb-2026
On February 15, the 26th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 571 raids, arrested 193 persons and recovered three weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 66 individuals, while 108 persons were verified and released. Nine proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
15-Feb-2026
On February 15, Punjab Police, on day 351 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 44 drug smugglers, and seized 20.7 kg of heroin, 210 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 2.28 lakhs drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
15-Feb-2026
Police on February 15 detained two suspects in connection with the February 10 attack on migrant workers in Moga district. Sources indicated that one of those detained—a village sarpanch from Ferozepur district—was believed to be the mastermind. Officials, however, withheld further details, citing concerns that disclosure could hamper the investigation. The attack occurred on February 10 when three motorcycle-borne assailants allegedly opened fire on seven to eight labourers from Bihar near a rice sheller as they were returning to their rented accommodation during the peak paddy processing season. The gunfire triggered panic among thousands of migrant workers in the district. Two labourers, Ashok Kumar and Subodh Majhi, sustained bullet injuries.
15-Feb-2026
Two persons, allegedly involved in the February 10 shooting at migrant labourers in Punjab, identified as Akashdeep Singh and Jobanpreet Singh were arrested along with two pistols and the motorcycle following an exchange of gunfire with the police near Ghalkalan village in Moga district on February 15. The incident relates to a firing on February 10, when seven to eight migrant workers were returning to their rented rooms after work at a rice sheller on Zira Road. Two motorcycle-borne assailants allegedly opened fire, injuring two labourers.
14-Feb-2026
Kulwant Sidhu, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Atam Nagar, reportedly received threatening calls on February 14, allegedly from Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), in Ludhiana district. On February 14 night, a suspected recce was conducted outside his residence. A black-tinted i20 car was seen parked outside while he was holding a meeting inside. The occupants reportedly waited for some time after noticing people at the house. When suspicious movement was detected on CCTV, those inside stepped out, prompting the suspects to flee. It is suspected they were attempting to identify the MLA’s residence as a potential target. The family also stated that the MLA has been receiving repeated suspicious international calls over the past week.
14-Feb-2026
On February 14, the 25th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 702 raids, arrested 232 persons. Preventive action was taken against 89 individuals, while 165 persons were verified and released. Seven proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
14-Feb-2026
On February 14, Punjab Police, on day 350 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 96 drug smugglers, and seized 3.1 kg of heroin, 7 kg of poppy husk, 640 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 58,050 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
14-Feb-2026
The Crime Investigation Agency on February 14 arrested four alleged drug peddlers, identified as Jagjeet Singh alias Jagga, Malook Singh, Kirandeep Singh alias Deep, and Partap Singh and seized 22.29 kg of heroin, INR 2.5 lakh in drug money, two pistols, two magazines, and four cartridges from their possession, near Dulchi Ke village in Zira, Ferozepur district.
14-Feb-2026
According to reports, in a first-of-its-kind move, the Punjab Police are seeking Silver Notices from Interpol to freeze the movable and immovable assets of gangsters operating from abroad. The police have prepared a list of 61 “most active” gangsters allegedly involved in issuing extortion threats from overseas, orchestrating attacks on rivals, and carrying out targeted killings of politicians and other prominent individuals in the state. Extradition proceedings against 38 of them are already underway. The process is being handled by the Bureau of Investigation (BOI) of Punjab Police. ADGP L.K. Yadav, Director-BOI, stated that Interpol began issuing Silver Notices in January 2025. Unlike a Red Notice, which seeks the arrest of an individual, a Silver Notice focuses on tracing, identifying, monitoring, and recovering criminal assets—such as properties, vehicles, bank accounts, and businesses—linked to serious offences including organised crime, drug trafficking, fraud, and corruption. The first Silver Notice was issued on January 10, 2025, at Italy’s request to seize assets of a senior mafia figure. By mid-2025, over 50 such notices had been issued during the pilot phase, scheduled to run until November 2025 before full implementation.
13-Feb-2026
On February 13, the 24th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar-2—the police conducted 888 raids, arrested 256 persons and recovered two weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 129 individuals, while 239 persons were verified and released. Seven proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
13-Feb-2026
On February 13, Punjab Police, on day 349 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 76 drug smugglers, and seized 3.9 kg of heroin, 7 kg of poppy husk, 526 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 11,500 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
13-Feb-2026
The Punjab Government has announced the establishment of a dedicated Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) Police Station in Rajpura, Patiala district, to intensify action against organised crime. The specialised police station will have jurisdiction across the state. Officials said the move aims to strengthen coordinated operations against gangster networks that operate across multiple districts. According to Punjab Police, the AGTF station will serve as a central hub for intelligence gathering, investigation, and enforcement against organised criminal groups, as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to curb gang violence and illegal activities.
13-Feb-2026
On February 13, a Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court in New Delhi recorded the statements of prosecution witnesses in the Punjab targeted killings case involving five accused allegedly linked to Khalistani terror outfits. The case relates to the targeted killings of RSS and Hindu leaders in Punjab during 2016 and 2017. The Supreme Court had transferred the matter to the NIA court in New Delhi. The accused—Hardeep Singh alias Shera, Raman Deep Singh alias Bagga, Jagtar Singh Johal alias Jaggi, Manpreet Singh, and Amninder Singh—were produced before the court under heavy security. They are among 14 accused facing charges of murder, attempted murder, criminal conspiracy, and offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and are linked to eight cases of murder and attempted murder.
13-Feb-2026
A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on February 13 visited Jeeda village in Bathinda district in connection with the twin blasts that occurred at a house on September 10, 2025, injuring 19-year-old ‘self-radicalised’ law student Gurpreet Singh and his father, Jagtar Singh. Sources said NIA officials questioned the family about Gurpreet’s purchase of a mobile phone and other aspects of the case. Family members reportedly stated that they had given him money to buy the phone after taking an advance from a commission agent. The team also gathered details about his activities prior to the explosions.
13-Feb-2026
A threatening three-minute audio clip was sent on February 13 to actor Ranveer Singh and filmmaker Rohit Shetty, allegedly by boxer-turned-gangster Hari Chand Jaat alias Harry Boxer. In the clip, he is heard warning of “dire consequences” for their teams if they failed to comply with his demands. According to officers of the Mumbai Police Crime Branch, the threats were issued on behalf of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
13-Feb-2026
In a joint operation on the intervening night of February 13–14, the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Narcotics Control Bureau’s (NCB) Amritsar Zonal Unit arrested three individuals, identified as Beeru Singh, Babak Singh, and Karanbeer Singh and seized 8.654 kg of heroin, 630 grams of opium, and a Glock pistol slide from the Ranian border outpost in Amritsar district. Preliminary investigations indicate the consignment was linked to a cross-border smuggling network.
12-Feb-2026
On February 12, Punjab Police, on day 348 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 95 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 171 drug smugglers, and seized 8.03 kg of heroin, 500 grams of opium, 617 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 1.27 lakhs drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
12-Feb-2026
The Amritsar Commissionerate Police on February 12 dismantled a narco-smuggling network, arresting two operatives and seizing 7.63 kg of heroin along with INR 21,800 in drug money in Amritsar district. Preliminary investigations indicated that the accused were acting on the directions of a Dubai-based handler and were using virtual numbers to coordinate cross-border heroin consignments, including pick-up points and local distribution.
12-Feb-2026
On February 12, a court in Sri Muktsar Sahib district rejected the bail plea of Pritpal Kaur, mother of designated terrorist Goldy Brar, who is in judicial custody along with her husband, Shamsher Singh. The couple was arrested on January 26 from Amritsar in connection with a 2024 extortion case registered on the complaint of a schoolteacher in Muktsar.
12-Feb-2026
Akal Takht acting Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj on February 12 termed it unfortunate that the BJP-led Delhi Government had rejected the plea seeking the release of Sikh prisoner Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar. He stated that during a recent meeting at the Akal Takht secretariat with Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Rekha Gupta, Cabinet Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, and other ministers, he had urged the government to ensure Bhullar’s release. Bhullar is serving a life sentence for his role in the 1993 Delhi car bomb blast that killed nine persons and injured 31 others.
12-Feb-2026
Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on February 12 praised the state government’s anti-drug campaign, stating that it had been “100 per cent successful” in curbing substance abuse and that there should be no hesitation in acknowledging the truth. He expressed confidence that the results of the government’s drive would become clearly visible within the next six months.
11-Feb-2026
Police on February 11 arrested one person, identified as Kuldeep Singh and recovered 102 grams of heroin from him in Cheema Khurd village in Tarn Taran district.