KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
01-Aug-2023
A National Investigation Agency (NIA) special court on August 1 declared six gangster-turned-terrorists, identified as Canada-based Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala, Ramandeep Singh alias Raman Judge, Lakhbir Sandhu alias Landa, and Pakistan-based Harvinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, Lakhbir Rode and Wadhawa Babbar as Proclaimed Offenders (PO). The NIA had on July 22 filed a chargesheet against nine accused, including Dala, Landa and Rinda, in a case registered by the agency on August 20, 2022. According to the NIA, they were involved in a criminal conspiracy to smuggle arms and ammunition across international borders to support terrorist acts in India, linked to pro-Khalistan organizations such as Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). The accused were engaged in smuggling arms, explosives, IEDs, drugs, and other contraband into India with the support of terror outfits and organized criminal gangs.
01-Aug-2023
Senior Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, on August 1 filed an application seeking anticipatory bail in a case related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots at Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi.
01-Aug-2023
Gangster Sachin Bishnoi, involved in the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, was extradited on August 1 from Baku, Azerbaijan to New Delhi, India, and produced in Delhi’s Patiala House court, which remanded him in police custody for ten days. He is the cousin of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, another suspect in Moosewala's murder. His arrest is part of a series of arrests breaking the backbone of foreign-based criminal networks in Punjab.
01-Aug-2023
The Union Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs, Nisith Pramanik in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on August 1 stated that anti-national elements and smugglers are using drones to smuggle arms and narcotics across the India-Pakistan border in Punjab and in the last three years till June 30, 2023, 53 such incidents have been detected. According to him, the government has taken various measures, including increased border surveillance by the Border Security Force (BSF), laying of nakas in suspected dropping zones, and sensitizing the public in border areas to report any drone activities to the authorities. The Home Ministry has also established an Anti-Rogue Drone Technology Committee (ARDTC) to counter rogue drones effectively.
01-Aug-2023
Rupnagar Police on August 1 arrested six persons and seized 2,000 litres of 'lahan' (raw liquor), 322 grams of heroin, and INR 7,600 in drug money, in Rupnagar district of Punjab.
01-Aug-2023
On August 1, Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Jagtar Singh Hawara, linked to the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Beant Singh, appeared in a district court through video conferencing for a trial related to his alleged escape from the Model Burail jail in Chandigarh. The court scheduled the next hearing for August 11. Hawara is currently held in Delhi's Tihar Jail.
31-Jul-2023
A graffiti carrying a pro-Khalistani slogan “Haryana will become Khalistan” was spotted on July 31 outside the Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s (SDM) office in Mandi Dabwali in Sirsa district of Haryana. Later, the banned Khalistani organization Sikhs For Justice’s (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in a video message, claimed responsibility for the act, and issued a warning to the Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah, and Haryana Chief Minister (CM) Manohar Lal Khattar, stating that India will cease to exist on August 15, and Haryana will transform into Khalistan.
31-Jul-2023
The Police on July 31 arrested two high-profile gangsters, identified as Jatinder alias Jindi and Puneet Bains alias Mani, and recovered nine illegal weapons from them, in Ludhiana district.
31-Jul-2023
Fatehgarh Sahib Police on July 31 initiated a special campaign to educate school children about the harmful effects of narcotics and drug abuse, following Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann's directives in Fatehgarh Sahib.
31-Jul-2023
The Punjab Police on July 31 conducted a cordon-and-search operation (CASO) and arrested 12 persons and seized 40 grams of heroin, 12 kg ganja, and 1 kg poppy husk and INR 2.50 lakh in drug money from their possession, in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar and Fatehgarh Sahib districts in Rupnagar Range in Punjab. The operation was conducted under the direction of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav and overall supervision of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Rupnagar Range Gurpreet Singh Bhullar.
31-Jul-2023
Police on July 31 arrested two drug peddlers, identified as Roop Chand and Jaswinder Singh, and recovered 211 intoxicant tablets from their possession in Phagwara in Kapurthala district.
30-Jul-2023
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on July 30 urged for compulsory registration of drones to curb drug and weapon smuggling from across the border. He highlighted incidents where drones from Punjab went to Pakistan and returned with consignments. Mann has already requested the Union government to enforce drone registration to identify owners involved in illegal activities.
30-Jul-2023
Rupnagar police on July 30 arrested four inter-state drug peddlers, identified as Sohan Lal alias Kala, Poonam alias Mona, Baljit Singh alias Beeta and Veer Singh alias Veeru and recovered 1kg of heroin, 143 grams of gold ornaments, INR 1 lakh drug money and a Fortuner SUV from them, near Jot Palace at Bunga Sahib in Rupnagar district.
30-Jul-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on July 30 shot down a Pakistani drone and recovered 3 kg of heroin near Kalash village in Tarn Taran district of Punjab. On July 31 morning, in a joint search operation, Punjab Police and the BSF recovered heroin and the hexacopter from near Khemkaran village in Patti tehsil, Tarn Taran district.
30-Jul-2023
The makers of the biopic on human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra unveiled a new poster of the film with a changed title, "Punjab 95," on July 30. Initially titled "Ghallughara," the film faced delays with the Censor Board requesting a title change and content modification. The makers have approached the Bombay High Court against the Censor Board, which demanded 21 cuts and modifications to some dialogues. Actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh, who plays the lead role, had earlier revealed that the film has been selected to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
30-Jul-2023
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh on July 30 criticized the denial of a visa to United Kingdom (UK) based chief of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) to Avtar Singh Khanda's mother Charanjit Kaur and sister Jaspreet Kaur to attend his last rites in the UK on August 5. Khanda, who was under scrutiny for alleged anti-India activities, had political asylum in the UK and passed away on June 15. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Delhi Unit chief Paramjit Singh Sarna also urged the British High Commission to issue visas to Khanda's family, citing universal human rights.
29-Jul-2023
The Punjab Police, in a joint operation with the State Special Operation (SSOC) Cell, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar, on July 29 busted a foreign-based terror module of Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and arrested five yet to be identified individuals and recovered two illegal weapons and live ammunition from them in SAS Nagar district. According to the Director-General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, the KLF module, backed by foreign-based handlers, aimed to target minority leaders, police officials, and prominent individuals to disturb harmony. They were also recruiting foot soldiers through jailed individuals operating under the fake name, Ranjodh Singh, using social media to propagate false narratives and providing monetary incentives for carrying out targeted killings in Punjab.
29-Jul-2023
Police on July 29 busted a narco-crime syndicate operated by gangster Sandeep Kumar alias Ravi Balachauria and arrested Akashdeep Singh and Akashdeep Singh alias Billa and recovered 1.2 kg of heroin, 3 pistols, 260 live cartridges and INR 1.4 lakh drug money and a weighing machine from their possession in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district.
29-Jul-2023
A former pro-Khalistan leader and Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) member, Avtar Singh Sanghera during his visit to India, was alarmed by the widespread drug addiction among Punjabi youth and calls on them to focus on education and nation-building instead of falling prey to false propaganda and money-driven political leaders. He urged pro-Khalistan elements abroad to avoid actions that could harm Sikhs, especially the youth in India. Sanghera leads a quiet life in the United Kingdom (UK) and distances himself from Khalistani events.
29-Jul-2023
Maninderjeet Singh Bitta, former President of Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and chairman of the All-India Anti-Terrorist Front (AITF), blamed the politicians accountable for the rise of terrorism in Punjab during the 1980s and 1990s. He advocated for united efforts to combat extremist elements attempting to revive militancy in Punjab with Khalistan sentiments. Bitta urged the Union government to publish a White Paper on Operation Blue Star and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots to clarify misconceptions.
29-Jul-2023
The Punjab Cabinet on July 29 approved an increase in the monthly maintenance grant for Sikh soldiers who deserted their barracks during Operation Blue Star in 1984. The grant will be raised from INR 10,000 to INR 12,000 for 76 "Operation Blue Star-affected" soldiers to meet their increased daily needs and cope with market inflation, according to a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office.
29-Jul-2023
The Ludhiana police on July 29 arrested two gangsters, identified as Boota Khan and Manish Prabhakar in Haibowal, Ludhiana in Punjab, in connection with a complaint filed by Retired Punjab Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Sandeep Sharma, regarding him and his wife receiving calls threatening to harm their children. Sharma stated that his family was receiving threats due to his past actions against drug peddlers and gangsters during his service with the anti-drug Special Task Force (STF).
28-Jul-2023
The Mohali district court on July 28 directed the physical production of Jagtar Singh Hawara, a convict in former Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Beant Singh's assassination, on August 10 in connection with an 18-year-old terror-related case. Hawara, currently in Tihar Jail, was booked in 2005 under the Explosive Act and Arms Act. The court ordered the issuance of production warrants and a letter to Tihar Jail's superintendent for his appearance in the case.
28-Jul-2023
The police on July 28 arrested a woman drug peddler, identified as Rekha and recovered heroin from her possession in Phagwara in Kapurthala district.
28-Jul-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on July 28 recovered a bottle containing around 425 grams of heroin on the outskirts of Mode village in Amritsar district.