KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
11-Jun-2023
The Mandoli jail administration on June 11 appealed to a Delhi court to shift Bishnoi to Bathinda jail in order to avert any threats to the law and order situation in the Delhi prison. The court has agreed to the request, pending the completion of his police remand in Delhi. Bishnoi was shifted to the Mandoli jail in Delhi on May 25 of this year.
11-Jun-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police, in a joint operation, on June 11 arrested one unidentified farmer along with two packets of heroin in Bharopal Village, Amritsar district.
11-Jun-2023
Punjab Police and Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation, on June 11 recovered a DJI Matrice 300 RTK model drone in Rajoke village, Tarn Taran district.
11-Jun-2023
According to reports, Punjab Police has introduced the Drone Emergency Response System (DERS) under the guidance of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Harkamal Preet Singh Khakh in Pathankot, a border district in Punjab, to combat the smuggling of drugs and arms. The DERS will cover 14 villages within a 2-kilometer radius of the international border, aiming to prevent illicit transportation facilitated by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The police will collaborate with village-level defence committees for coordinated responses to smuggling incidents. The region has been grappling with challenges posed by drones involved in cross-border smuggling, despite efforts by the Border Security Force. The vulnerable Punjab-Pakistan border stretches across 553 kilometres.
10-Jun-2023
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on June 10 installed a hi-tech scanner at one of the entrances to the Golden Temple in Amritsar, due to the recent blasts that occurred in the vicinity of the holiest Sikh shrine in May this year. Plans are underway to install similar scanners at all entry points in the near future.
10-Jun-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on June 10 intercepted an incoming drone from the Pakistan side and recovered 5.5 kg of heroin near Rai village in Amritsar sector, Amritsar district.
09-Jun-2023
The Amritsar Police on June 9 arrested three suspected gangsters, identified as Gurmej Singh, Rajwinder Singh and Arshdeep Singh for the murder of Jarnail Singh in Amritsar. Police also recovered a .32-bore pistol and a Swift Dzire car from Gurmej Singh who is suspected to have taken the four shooters to the crime spot in the same car and later dropped them off at different locations.
09-Jun-2023
In an interview, Ajai Sahni, the executive director of the Institute for Conflict Management and the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), outlined the consequences Canada has to face after embracing Pro-Khalistan Elements. According to him, The Khalistan movement, initially fuelled by radical Sikh terrorism in the late seventies, transformed into a political demand for a separate state. However, after its defeat in 1992-93, the movement persisted primarily among Sikhs settled abroad, especially in Western countries and Pakistan. The welcoming approach of Western countries, including Canada, towards pro-Khalistan elements during that time is now resulting in consequences such as the celebration of Indira Gandhi's assassination and ongoing tensions in Canada. Many terrorist mobilizers operate from safe havens in Pakistan or Western countries, coordinating activities and receiving funds. The mainstreaming of the Khalistan discourse in India often diverts attention from other issues in Punjab.
09-Jun-2023
The Union Territory (UT) administration of Chandigarh on June 9, implemented the Chandigarh Anand Marriage Registration Rules, 2018, under which All marriages performed according to Sikh rituals in the city can be registered under the Anand Marriage Act 1909, with the UT administration.
09-Jun-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on June 9 intercepted a drone and recovered 5.26 kg of heroin near Rai village in Amritsar district.
08-Jun-2023
Approximately 170 Indian Sikh pilgrims on June 8, crossed the Wagah border to reach Pakistan for the Jorr Mela festivities, which commemorate the death anniversary of the fifth Sikh Guru, Arjun Dev Ji. The Mela would take place at Gurdwara Punja Sahib, Hasan Abdal, Pakistan is a city in the Attock District of Punjab Province in Pakistan.
08-Jun-2023
Governor Banwarilal Purohit on June 8, expressed the need for one or two surgical strikes against Pakistan to teach them a lesson and accuses them of pushing drugs into Indian territory at an event held at Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar. He also Purohit raises concerns about Pakistan's hidden war against India, involving drones for drug and weapon smuggling.
08-Jun-2023
As a part of his visit to the border districts, Punjab Governor on June 8 held extensive discussions with security personnel, officials from the district administration, and representatives of various organisations to get feedback regarding the security situation at Government Senior Secondary School, Gatti Rajo Ke village in Ferozepur, Firozpur district Punjab.
08-Jun-2023
The High Commissioner of Canada in India Cameron Mackay on June 8, faced severe criticism on Twitter after he posted a condemnation regarding a 'Shaheedi' Parade held on June 4 in Brampton, Canada, commemorating the 39th anniversary of Operation Bluestar.
08-Jun-2023
Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on June 8 expressed his concerns over the Khalistani tableau depicting the assassination of former Prime Minister (PM) Indira Gandhi. He stated that it is detrimental to Canada's relationship with India. The parade was held in Brampton, Canada on June 4. The EAM also responded to Canada's National Security Adviser( NSA) Jody Thomas's claim on June 2, that India is a top source of foreign interference in Canada, stating, 'Ulta chor kotwal ko daante…If anyone should complain, it's India”. Congress leader Milind Deora on June 7 and Member of Parliament (MP) Meenakshi Lekhi on June 8 and, also criticized the Canadian government for allowing such a celebration.
08-Jun-2023
Rupnagar Police on June 8 arrested one person, identified as Davinder Singh alias Jora and recovered four pistols and 20 cartridges from him in Lodipur village near Anandpur Sahib in Rupnagar district. Singh is suspected to be an associate of notorious gangster Dilpreet Singh Baba.
08-Jun-2023
The External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on June 8, met with Afghan Sikhs, 1984 riots victims, and other prominent Sikh figures as part of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) outreach program in New Delhi.
08-Jun-2023
The Amritsar City Police on June 8 busted an inter-state gang involved in producing fake passports for smugglers and gangsters and arrested 12 persons along with incriminating materials, arms, drugs, and cash in Amritsar, Punjab. The police seized fake passports, drug money worth Rs 22.15 lakh, a .32 caliber revolver, and 10 grams of heroin out of which Rs 3.15 lakh of drug money, a revolver and 10gm heroin were seized from them.
07-Jun-2023
Anonymous bomb threat letters sent to 10 locations threatening blasts in Bathinda on June 7, turned out to be a hoax, as no such incidents were reported on the day. The letters were posted on May 19. Investigations are ongoing to uncover the responsible party.
07-Jun-2023
Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit on June 7 was concerned over the use of drones for drug smuggling across the border during his visit to Gurdaspur as part of his visit to Punjab’s border districts. He engaged in discussions with security personnel and local authorities to understand the prevailing security situation. He praised the efforts of the district administration in setting up a village-level defence committee to combat the drug menace. Governor Purohit called for united action against criminals and urged residents to report any suspicious activities to the authorities.
07-Jun-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on June 7 intercepted a Pakistani drone near the International Border in Bhaini Rajputana village in Amritsar sector, Amritsar district. Subsequently, they retrieved the broken drone, Quadcopter of model DJI Matrice 300RTK series from a field near Rajatal - Bharopal - Daoke tri junction, on the outskirts of Bhaini Rajputana village.
07-Jun-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) personnel intercepted a drone coming from the Pakistani side and recovered 2.5 kg of heroin from near Wan village in Tarn Taran district on June 7.
07-Jun-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on June 7, foiled a drug smuggling attempt from Pakistan and seized 2.5 kg heroin near Wan village in Tarn Taran district, Punjab. During the subsequent search of the area a suspicious motorcycle was spotted fleeing the scene. Later, the motorcycle was found abandoned along with a packet of 2.5kg heroin in Mari Kamboke village, Tarn Taran district.
07-Jun-2023
Kamaldeep Kaur Rajoana, the adopted sister of Balwant Singh Rajoana on June 7, responded to Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh's statement made on June 6, that Sikhs should not expect justice from the government. In a Facebook post, she suggested that if Sikhs were not to seek justice, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) should withdraw the mercy petition for her brother. She also took a jibe at the Jathedar's attendance on May 13, at the celebrity engagement event of AAP leader Raghav Chadha and actor Parineeti Chopra.
07-Jun-2023
A Special Court in Mumbai on June 7 sentenced Harpal Singh and Gurjeet Singh Nijjar to 5 years in jail, for their involvement in terror group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) seeking to revive Khalistan militancy for a separate Khalistan. They were arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on December 2, 2018, and December 22, 2020 respectively. Both individuals pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.