KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
14-Aug-2023
United States (US) Congressman Rohit Khanna on August 14, in New Delhi, unequivocally opposed the Khalistani movement, asserting that Punjab's status as part of India is settled and there is no room for separatist endeavours. He strongly condemned the Khalistani attack on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco in July 2023, deeming it unconscionable. Khanna also emphasised the importance of equal treatment for all religious groups while underscoring Punjab's undeniable integration within India.
14-Aug-2023
The Counter Intelligence (CI) wing of Amritsar, in coordination with Central agencies on August 14, arrested five operatives of a terror module, identified as Gurinder Singh, Gurpinder Singh alias Lahoria, Lovepreet Singh, Narinder Singh and Sukhmanpreet Singh alias Jeevan and recovered two foreign-made 9mm pistols along with ammunition from their possession in Amritsar district. The terror module is run by gangster Harpreet alias Happy, a United States (US) based gangster. One more operative was identified by the police as Kamaljot Singh alias Kamal, who is absconding. According to Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, the module aimed to target political and socio-religious leaders in Punjab and is alleged to have received weapons through a drone-delivered consignment arranged by Happy in coordination with Pakistan-based terrorist Harwinder alias Rinda.
14-Aug-2023
On August 14, at the 28th India-Pakistan Friendship Festival held in Amritsar, Punjab, a gathering of intellectuals, journalists, artists, and activists engaged in discussions about the present state of India-Pakistan relations. Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait advocated for the reopening of the Attari-Wagah border to facilitate trade, underscoring its potential to alleviate the challenges faced by the farming community during the crisis. Participants emphasized a profound yearning for peace and increased people-to-people interaction, all while addressing the importance of governmental acknowledgment and endorsement of such sentiments.
14-Aug-2023
Police in Punjab and Haryana on August 14 intensified security checks at inter-state borders and key venues. Tight security measures have been put in place at the locations where the governors, chief ministers, and ministers from both states will raise the national flag on August 15, Independence Day.
14-Aug-2023
Border Security Force (BSF) Director General Nitin Agrawal on August 14 commenced his two-day visit to the Punjab frontier to assess the security situation along the India-Pakistan International Border. He received operational briefings from Punjab Frontier Inspector General Atul Fulzele and is set to participate in Independence Day events as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
14-Aug-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on August 14 shot dead a Pakistani intruder in Pathankot sector in Pathankot district.
14-Aug-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on August 14 recovered a packet containing 1.1 kilograms of heroin from an abandoned tractor in Tarn Taran sector in Tarn Taran district.
14-Aug-2023
In an interview, Punjab's Additional Director General (AIG) of Police, S P S Parmar, addressed concerns regarding police conduct during cordon and search operations (CASO), which have faced criticism from Human Rights activists for infringing on privacy. Parmar defended police operations and proposed a collaborative approach to combat drug smuggling. He highlighted that both the government and the police should not bear sole responsibility for the issue. Parmar also expressed appreciation for the Nasha Roko committees but emphasized the need to focus on addressing the underlying demand for drugs.
14-Aug-2023
Pro-Khalistani elements, along with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) (Amritsar) and Dal Khalsa activists, staged a demonstration in Ludhiana on the eve of India's Independence Day, August 14. The protesters brandished black flags and criticized India for alleged atrocities, injustices, and denial of rights to Punjab and Sikhs over the past decades. They called for Punjab to observe August 15 as a "Black Day" and condemned India's policies toward various groups, including Sikhs, Kashmiris, and Nagas, while chanting the slogan ‘Sikhs want Azaadi from India’.
13-Aug-2023
The Special Cell of Delhi Police has discovered that the Canada-based terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dalla, and his associates utilised the ‘Botim app’ for communication with their Indian counterparts, including gangsters like Neeraj Bawana and Lawrence Bishnoi. Dalla had hacked a Punjab-based girl's Facebook account to establish contact with Indian gangsters and coordinate operations. Despite being based in Canada, Dalla used IP addresses from the Philippines and Pakistan. One of his associates, Jagjit Singh alias Jagga, was tasked with carrying out significant operations, while gang members like Sunny Dagar and Jagjit alias Jassa, were involved in fundraising and targeted killings for the militant outfit Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF).
13-Aug-2023
Police on August 13 arrested three associates of Gurdev Singh alias Jaisel, identified as Ashmpreet Singh, Pardeep Singh and Sukhmanpreet and recovered three pistols and INR 37,500 from their possession near Majha area in Tarn Taran district. The arrested individuals confessed to transporting weapons and money for terror funding under Jaisel's orders. Jaisel was identified as a key operative of Canada-based Lakhbir Singh alias Landa and Satbir Singh Satta, known for their involvement in the RPG grenade attack on Sarhali police station, which took place on December 9 in 2022, and other plots for targeted killings, according to Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav
13-Aug-2023
The Qaumi Insaaf Morcha on August 13 took out a symbolic march from YPS Chowk in Mohali, Punjab, towards the Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann’s house in Chandigarh, demanding the release of Sikh prisoners who have completed their terror-related jail terms. The march was halted at the Sector 52-53 intersection, where a religious gathering took place.
13-Aug-2023
On August 13, the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Punjab Police, during a joint operation, recovered three packets of heroin weighing around 3 kilograms near Machiwara village in Ferozepur district.
13-Aug-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF), on August 13, during a search operation, recovered a packet of heroin weighing 530 grams on the outskirts of Dhanoe Kalan village in Amritsar district.
13-Aug-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) and the Punjab Police, on August 13, during a joint operation, recovered a broken quadcopter near Lakhna village in Tarn Taran district.
12-Aug-2023
On August 12, the president of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Sukhbir Singh Badal, made a social media post on X (formerly Twitter), in which he praised Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi's remarks concerning the 1984 Operation Blue Star, which PM Modi referred to as a "shocking assault" on the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Badal further expressed that this statement should be accompanied by an unconditional apology from the Government of India.
12-Aug-2023
According to reports, the absence of a Full Body Truck Scanner (FBTS) at the Attari international border located at Amritsar district in Punjab, poses a risk of contraband influx from Afghanistan via commercial trucks passing through Pakistan. Legal disputes have hindered the FBTS installation, resulting in conventional inspection methods. The need for FBTS arose from a 2009 incident where heroin was found in pomegranate boxes. Despite attempts to install FBTS, heroin seizures in 2019 and 2022 underscore the urgency of implementation. Importantly, goods like dry fruits and herbs from Afghanistan through Pakistan provide opportunities for smuggling illicit items.
12-Aug-2023
An alleged drug smuggler, identified as Jora Singh Waseer was killed in a police encounter near Kairon village in Tarn Taran district of Punjab on August 12. His accomplice, Kuldeep Singh, was arrested. The police, acting on a tip-off about heroin smuggling from Pakistan, intercepted a vehicle at a checkpoint between Patti and Kairon villages in Tarn Taran district, leading to a shootout in which Jora Singh died.
12-Aug-2023
Police on August 12 arrested one person, identified as Rajan Kumar and recovered 2 kg heroin from his possession in Ferozepur Cantonment in Ferozepur district.
12-Aug-2023
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) branch of Punjab Police on August 12 arrested two persons, identified as Swaranjit Singh alias Sabbu and Shubham and seized 1.5 kg heroin, a motorcycle and a mobile phone from their possession in Ferozepur city in Ferozepur district.
12-Aug-2023
The Police on August 12 arrested two persons, identified as Chhinder Kaur and Simarjit and seized 13.4 kg poppy husk from their possession near Fazilka in Fazilka district.
12-Aug-2023
Police on August 12 arrested two persons, Deepika and Lakhwinder and seized 35 gm heroin from their possession in Malout in Muktsar district.
12-Aug-2023
Police on August 12 arrested a man, identified as Khema Sahu and recovered 71 kg poppy husk from his possession in Abohar in Fazilka district.
12-Aug-2023
The Police on August 12 arrested two persons, identified as Kali and Maluk Ram and recovered 10 kg poppy husk from their possession in Abohar in Fazilka district.
12-Aug-2023
A mutilated body of an unidentified Pakistan national aged 40-45 was discovered by the Border Security Force (BSF) on August 12 near Guddar Bhaini village in Fazilka district of Punjab. The body is assumed to have entered the Indian territory through the Sutlej River.