KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
24-Jul-2023
The Punjab Police on July 24 conducted a cordon and search operation (CASO) in the Bathinda range targeting drug peddlers and anti-social elements and arrested 41 individuals, and seized 197.13 gm heroin, 14 kg poppy husk, 225 litres of illicit liquor, INR 3.5 lakh in drug money and eight mobile phones from the suspects. The operation took place in the police districts of Bathinda and Mansa from 8 am to 1 pm, under the supervision of the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) (Bathinda Range) SPS Parmar.
24-Jul-2023
Police on July 24, after a brief encounter, arrested two gangsters of the Sukha Duneke gang, identified as Ajay Gumber and Sandeep alias Sunny Bhinder, and recovered an illegal .315 bore pistol, a .32 bore pistol, one magazine, six live and three empty cartridges, along with an unregistered motorcycle from the accused in Sri Muktsar Sahib district.
23-Jul-2023
According to sources, a recent intelligence report that was sent to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) warns that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is planning to send weaponry, including small firearms, grenades, and sticky bombs, into India's Jammu and Punjab regions using drones. The ISI has established drone centres in Lahore and Sialkot in Pakistan, operated by Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, to carry out these activities. The drones are loaded with weapons and narcotics for delivery to launchpads in Sialkot and Narowal, with the aim of distributing weapons and intensifying the narcotics problems in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. Indian security forces are on high alert to counter these threats. Drone-based weapon deliveries have seen a significant rise since 2020, prompting increased vigilance by Indian intelligence agencies.
23-Jul-2023
Punjab Police on July 23 arrested two smugglers, identified as Subeg Singh and Sandip Singh alias Seepa and recovered 18 packets of heroin weighing 20 kilograms, worth Rs 100 crores from them at Haste ke Road near Rano village in Fazilka district. According to Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav, acting on a tip-off about the use of drones to drop the consignment from Pakistan, the state Special Operation Cell (SCO) carried out the operation and caught the accused who were caught trying to flee on a motorbike.
22-Jul-2023
Chandigarh Police, in a press conference on July 22, revealed that despite being in Patiala jail, gangster Deepu Banur, a close ally of Lawrence Bishnoi, was involved in running an extortion racket and arranging weapons for his gang. After Chandigarh Police busted an active extortion racket in the tricity and arrested two members of the Deepu Banur gang, their operation cell revealed that the gangster was running the racket from Patiala jail. The gang used the money generated from their racket for gambling, lending, and narcotics nexus, as revealed by Superintendent of Police (SP) Mridul.
22-Jul-2023
Police on July 22 arrested nine persons and recovered an illegal pistol, two live cartridges, three stolen motorcycles, 45 kg of copper, and 50 litres of hooch from the suspects in Muktsar in Sri Muktsar Sahib district. Additionally, a proclaimed offender in a case related to the Excise Act was also arrested by the police.
22-Jul-2023
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on July 22 filed a chargesheet against three designated Khalistani terrorists, including Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), Arshdeep Dalla alias Arsh Dala of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), and Lakhbir Singh Sandhu alias Landa of BKI, along with six others, identified as Harjot Singh, Kashmir Singh Galwaddi, Tarsem Singh, Gurjant Singh, Deepak Ranga and Lucky Khokhar. These terrorists have established networks to carry out terror activities, including recruiting, motivating, and handling associates in India, as well as smuggling weapons and drugs across the border. The NIA reported that Rinda illegally fled to Pakistan in 2018-19 and has been supported by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). He was involved in several terrorist activities, including an RPG attack on the Punjab Police Intelligence Headquarters in May 2022. The investigation also reveals a complex mechanism of fundraising for BKI and KTF, with funds being routed through informal and formal channels to India-based associates. The accused have been involved in various terrorist activities, including attacks on police headquarters and targeted killings. The NIA is actively investigating the connections of 16 other accused linked to BKI and KTF, who are either absconding or under arrest. The chargesheet was presented in a special court as part of the agency's efforts to expose and counter the activities of these banned extremist groups.
21-Jul-2023
Punjab Police Counter Intelligence (CI) on July 21 arrested Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and Amritsar District President of Students Organisation of India (SOI) Tejbeer Singh and recovered 110 grams of heroin, a car and INR 3 lakh in drug money from him, in Amritsar. His links with notorious gangsters came to light after the arrest of Gurjit Singh, who confessed to receiving heroin from gangsters Manu and Doni to supply further to Tejbir. Tejbir's close association with gangster Doni wanted in multiple criminal cases, including murders, was discovered during investigations.
21-Jul-2023
The banned Khalistani separatist organisation Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) on July 21 launched a global "Kill India" campaign targeting Indian diplomats and announced its plan to “besiege” Indian missions in Canada, United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), Portugal, Italy, Germany and Australia on India's Independence Day, August 15. SFJ, in their latest poster and video, labelled Indian Mission chiefs Sanjay Kumar Verma (High Commissioner of India to Canada), Taranjit Singh Sandhu (Indian Ambassador to the US), Vikram Doraiswami (High Commissioner of India to the UK), and Manpreet Vohra (High Commissioner of India to Australia) as 'Chief Architects' responsible for sponsoring and inciting violence against pro-Khalistan Sikhs. In Australia, the High Commissioner of India to Australia, Manpreet Vohra, the Consul General of India in Melbourne, Dr. Sushil Kumar, and the Consul General of India in Sydney, Manish Gupta, were labelled as "Indian Terrorists in Australia" in SFJ’s poster.
21-Jul-2023
The Punjab Police and Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint search operation, on July 21, recovered a broken Quadcopter drone, DJI Matrice 300 RTK model from Mastgarh village in Tarn Taran district of Punjab.
20-Jul-2023
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami on July 20 expressed concern over granting parole to the Sirsa dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Both leaders also raised the issue of Sikh prisoners who have been incarcerated for decades without any release, claiming it instills a sense of slavery among Sikhs in India and creates a distrustful environment among the Sikh community.
20-Jul-2023
Pro-Khalistan bot activity on social media has escalated, targeting India's diplomats and missions in Canada, the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), and Australia, according to a report released by the Princeton, New Jersey-based Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI). In response to inquiries, NCRI's Chief Operating Officer (COO), Jack Donohue, confirmed that about 20% of the accounts involved in the recent surge of Khalistan activity were identified as Pakistani based on user descriptions and reported locations. These bots have been amplifying violence and conspiracy theories, including false allegations of India's involvement in the assassination of a prominent figure. The NCRI report indicates that some of these accounts are linked to Pakistan, possibly indicating state-involved influence. The bots have also been promoting extremist rhetoric and calling for attacks on Hindu places of worship and Indian government buildings. The escalating online activity raises concerns and highlights the need for increased vigilance and defensive measures by law enforcement and social media platforms.
20-Jul-2023
The Kartarpur Corridor was closed from July 20 until July 22 due to rising water levels in the Ravi river caused by heavy rain and water releases from the Ujh river in Jammu and the Ranjit Sagar Dam.
20-Jul-2023
Ferozepur district has recorded the highest number of First Information Reports (FIR) under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in the ongoing anti-drug smuggling drive by Punjab Police, with 795 cases registered between July 5, 2022, and July 7, 2023. The initiative was launched following an announcement by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to combat drug smuggling in the state. However, the maximum haul of heroin was made from the border districts of Amritsar (Rural), Fazilka, and Tarn Taran. Amritsar (Rural) recorded the highest recovery of heroin at 196.87 kg, while Ferozepur reported the most drug-related FIRs. The total seizures in the given period include heroin (1073.44 kg), opium (797.14 kg), poppy husk (375.47 quintals), and pills/capsules (65,49,389).
20-Jul-2023
Two gangsters of the Deepu Banur gang, identified as Ravi Kumar alias Ravi Banur and Som Dutt, were arrested by the operation cell of Chandigarh Police near Shiv Temple in Phase 2, Chandigarh on July 20. Their accomplice, Amandeep Singh alias Mani Rajput, is at large. Ravi Kumar is a cousin of Deepak Banur, a close aide of Lawrence Bishnoi. The gang targeted prominent businessmen in the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula). The trio was allegedly operating on the directions of gangster Gurjant Singh alias Janta.
20-Jul-2023
Chief Judicial Magistrate Aman Inder Singh Sandhu on July 20 gave a two-month deadline to decide on the recommendation for the early release of Shamsher Singh, a convict in the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Beant Singh. The order came in response to Shamsher Singh's bail application, following a Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling in January to grant regular bail to convicts who completed their life sentence but awaited a decision on permanent release. The court noted that Shamsher Singh had served 27 years, six months, and 18 days in prison as of July 8, and his behaviour inside the jail was commendable. The Superintendent of Model Jail, Chandigarh, had recommended his premature release on July 13.
19-Jul-2023
Kirandeep Kaur, the wife of imprisoned Khalistani separatist and chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD), Amritpal Singh, was stopped from leaving the country for the third time on July 19 at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport in New Delhi. According to sources, her travel plans were allegedly linked to an upcoming ceremony honouring the slain Khalistani leader Avtar Singh Khanda, the 'chief' of Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), who passed away in the United Kingdom (UK) on July 15 under mysterious circumstances. Authorities are concerned that Kirandeep may deliver inflammatory speeches in the UK, potentially fuelling hatred against India. However, she blamed the government and agencies for stopping her.
19-Jul-2023
Punjab Police’s State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) on July 19 arrested a member of the Goldy Brar-Lawrence Bishnoi gang, identified as Kashmir Singh alias Bobby Shooter, and recovered one country-made pistol along with two live cartridges from him in Khanna in Ludhiana district.
19-Jul-2023
Gangster Surinder Pal Singh alias Billa, a member of the Bambhia gang, surrendered to the police on July 19, four days after escaping from custody at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital in Faridkot. He had fled while receiving treatment for a bullet injury sustained during an exchange of fire with the police.
18-Jul-2023
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), threatened Indian leaders Union Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Indian High Commissioner of India to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma in a video circulated on social media. He accused them of being responsible for the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and offered a reward of 125,000 dollars to anyone providing information about the foreign visits of these leaders. In the video, Pannun can be heard saying, “The Sikh Qaum has not forgotten its history and how to use weapons. Sikhs For Justice is offering a reward of 125,000 dollars to anyone who informs about the foreign visits of these Indian leaders. These Indian leaders are our targets now.”
18-Jul-2023
In a joint operation, the Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police on July 18 intercepted a Pakistani drone and recovered 2.35 kg of heroin near fields in Kalsian Khurd village in Tarn Taran district of Punjab.
18-Jul-2023
According to reports, the Ludhiana district in Punjab is grappling with a severe drug addiction crisis, with an alarming number of drug-related cases being reported. The region has witnessed tragic incidents, including deaths resulting from drug overdose. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCB) data from 2021 ranks Ludhiana as the most severely affected district in Punjab concerning drug addiction.
18-Jul-2023
Police arrested one person identified as Manjeet and recovered 16.26 gm of heroin from him near Government College for Girls, Sector 42, Mohali.
17-Jul-2023
The Amritsar City Police's Criminal Investigation Agency (CIA) staff arrested an alleged member of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang, identified as Deepak Rathi alias Dhillon alias Parvesh Haryanvi, in Kolhapur, Maharashtra on July 17. According to Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Abhimanyu Rana, Deepak is alleged to be one of the shooters involved in the killing of gangster Jarnail Singh in Sathiala village in Amritsar district on May 24. Deepak has multiple cases of attempted murder and dacoity registered against him in Haryana, Delhi, and Punjab.
17-Jul-2023
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann, on July 17, participated in a virtual meeting on 'Drug Trafficking and National Security' and urged Union Home Minister (UMH) Amit Shah to make drone registration mandatory in order to combat cross-border smuggling of weapons and drugs. He also suggested the installation of anti-drone technology or jammers along the International Border (IB) with Pakistan. Mann proposed the establishment of a regional drone forensic lab in Punjab to trace the origin and routes of drones. He emphasized his government's efforts in addressing drug trafficking through a three-pronged strategy of enforcement, de-addiction, and prevention (EDP).