KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
09-May-2023
Australia reiterated its commitment to take action against those responsible for the vandalism of Hindu temples in the country. The High Commissioner to India, Barry O'Farrell, stated that Australian security forces will track down and prosecute those responsible for the incidents, which have included pro-Khalistan slogans and anti-India graffiti. O'Farrell also emphasized that Australia respects India's sovereignty and rejected any kind of referendum against it.
09-May-2023
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on May 9 stated that the terror angle cannot be ruled out in connection with the recent blasts in Amritsar's heritage street. He also mentioned that a two-day operation vigil has been started in the state to check on anti-social elements and build confidence among the masses. The Punjab police is investigating the incidents in coordination with agencies like NIA, NSG and forensic experts.
09-May-2023
The Punjab Police on May 9 launched a two-day state-wide operation named 'OPS Vigil' aimed at cracking down on drug trafficking, anti-social elements, and criminals. Under the operation, ADGP/IGP (Additional Director General of Police/ Inspector General of Police) rank officers from Punjab Police headquarters were deputed in each police district to personally supervise the operation, which will conclude at 7 pm on May 10.
09-May-2023
A team from the National Security Guard (NSG) on May 9 visited the site of two low-intensity blasts in the Heritage Street of Amritsar. Earlier, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) have also inspected the area and collected samples, with results from FSL awaited.
09-May-2023
Lakhwinder Singh Lakha, a life convict in the Beant Singh assassination case, was granted bail by a local court in Chandigarh on May 9. Lakha's sister Sukhwinder Kaur had filed a plea for the acceptance of bail bonds on behalf of the accused through an advocate.
09-May-2023
Lakhwinder Singh Lakha, a Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist serving a life sentence for the assassination of former Chief Minister Beant Singh in 1995, was granted bail by a local court in Punjab on May 9. The decision was made in accordance with a directive from the Punjab and Haryana High Court to release all prisoners who have completed their life sentence, pending a decision on their permanent release. Lakha was released on bail from Model Jail, Burail, Chandigarh.
08-May-2023
Another blast occurred on Heritage Street on the way to the Golden Temple in Amritsar in Amritsar district on May 8. One person was reportedly injured in the blast which happened near the site of a previous blast of May 6. Police and forensic teams are investigating and waiting for the forensic examination report of the first blast. The Director General of Police (DGP) visited the site and denied any terrorist angle.
08-May-2023
A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team on May 8 arrived in Amritsar to investigate the twin low-intensity blasts that occurred near Saragarhi multi-storey parking on Heritage Street near Golden Temple. The team held a meeting with police officials and forensic examination teams.
08-May-2023
Dreaded gangster Sukhpreet Singh alias Sukha Barewalia, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Ludhiana in Ludhiana district on May 8. The gangster was ambushed by three assailants who were already waiting for him in Joginder Nagar of Haibowal. The shooters opened fire on him and fled the scene.
08-May-2023
Police on May 8 arrested five persons and recovered over 1 lakh intoxicating tablets in Jalalabad in Fazilka district.
08-May-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered 1.59 kg of heroin that was allegedly dropped in a village in Amritsar in Amritsar district on May 8.
08-May-2023
The Special Director General of Police (DGP), Law and Order, Arpit Shukla, on May 8 stated that security has been strengthened in Jalandhar to ensure a peaceful and fair election on May 10. The Border districts' SSPs (Senior Superintendent of Police) have been instructed to seal borders, increase patrolling and carry out flag marches in vulnerable areas.
07-May-2023
The family of slain Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) chief Paramjit Singh Panjwar appealed to the Indian government to bring back his body for the last rites in their native village of Panjwar in Tarn Taran District. Panjwar had been living in Pakistan for 33 years until he was shot dead in Lahore early on May 6. Indian security agencies suspect that Paramjit had become a liability to the Pakistan government after failing to produce "desirable results" for a long, and had been living in an ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) safehouse in Lahore under the alias Malik Sardar Singh.
07-May-2023
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on May 7 spoke about India's foreign policy and response to global geopolitics at an interactive session on 'Foreign Policy of Modi Government' in Mysuru in Karnataka. He mentioned that with nice people, India is nice, and with difficult people, India pushes back. He also discussed former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan playing his speeches lauding India for its independent foreign policy and how India has stood up to European hypocrisy. Jaishankar responded to his becoming the face of South Asian pride, and whether South Asian nations should assert themselves in global geopolitics. He also talked about the technocrat vs politician debate and how his political colleagues do not take him seriously if he is only referred to as a technocrat.
07-May-2023
A group of activists in Jalandhar, India, have announced the launch of a social media campaign called "Tracking hate against Sikhs" to counter and expose false and hate propaganda against the Sikh community and Punjab. The activists, from different backgrounds, cited deliberate and organised campaigns against the community and state during and after the farm movement. The campaign will be active on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
07-May-2023
According to experts, the killing of Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) chief, Paramjit Singh Panjwar is the third suspicious killing of a Khalistani in the country and it is a pattern of "use and throw" by the Pakistani state. Panjwar was allegedly involved in drug smuggling and was complicit in promoting fake Indian currency through drug smugglers. After his death, three other Khalistani leaders remain in Pakistan. Panjwar's family is seeking his body for the last rites as per Sikh tradition. The former DGP of Punjab, Chander Shekhar, suggests that the men were no longer of use to Pakistan and were therefore killed.
07-May-2023
The district police on May 7 arrested three members of a gang involved in inter-state smuggling of illegal arms and seized five .32 bore pistols, one .30 bore pistol, eight magazines, four live cartridges, and a car in Fatehgarh Sahib district. They were identified as Gurtej Singh alias Sandhu, Dilawar Singh alias Dagar and Sher Singh, alias Shera. The gang used to bring illegal arms from Madhya Pradesh and supply them to criminals in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The kingpin of the gang, Gurtej Singh, is already facing four criminal cases of robbery in Uttarakhand and for theft of a motorcycle in Haryana and Mohali.
07-May-2023
Punjab Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) speaker Kultar Singh Sandhawan on May 7 alleged that the removal of religious history from school curriculum as a part of a hidden agenda to detach students from their culture. He made the remarks during a gathering in Mohali commemorating the 300th birth anniversary of Sikh empire's founder Jassa Singh Ramgarhia and emphasized the importance of keeping children connected with Sikh history.
06-May-2023
A blast occurred on Heritage Street leading to the Golden Temple in Amritsar in Amritsar district on May 6, leaving five to six persons injured, including some girls from Haryana who sustained minor injuries. The cause of the explosion is yet to be determined, and forensic experts from Chandigarh are investigating the matter. The police have urged people to maintain peace and harmony and verify information before sharing anything on social media.
06-May-2023
The Punjab Police on May 6 conducted a massive raid involving 1200 personnel across 813 premises of 775 individuals involved in Excise Act violations, recovering 1470 kg Lahan, 403 bottles of illicit liquor, and 70 grams of heroin. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) also carried out search operations at 21 locations in Delhi and Gurugram, seizing INR 1.01 crore in cash and incriminating evidence in connection with Amira Pure Foods Pvt. Ltd. and Karan A Chanana under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).
06-May-2023
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) arrested Harwinder Singh alias Jugnu Walia, a close aide of Mukhtar Ansari, a gangster-turned-politician, along with a pistol and six cartridges in Punjab on May 6. Jugnu Walia was a wanted criminal with a bounty of INR 1 lakh announced by the Uttar Pradesh (UP) police and has more than 12 cases registered against him.
06-May-2023
The family of Paramjit Singh Panjwar, who was shot dead in Lahore, Pakistan, urged the Indian government to bring back his mortal remains. Panjwar's elder brother, Sarabjit Singh stated that they learned about his death through the media, and they had not been in contact with him since he moved to Pakistan decades ago. The family has also alleged that they faced mental and physical torture from the Punjab Police after Panjwar joined the Khalistan Commando Force (KCF).
05-May-2023
The Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Harpreet Singh, on May 5 praised Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgaria as a great hero of the Sikh panth, whose life serves as an inspiration to the community. He also emphasized the need for unity within the Sikh community, stating that differences and interests should be abandoned for the sake of Sikh existence, integrity, principles, morality, and progress.
05-May-2023
Brij Mohan Suri, brother of slain Hindu leader Sudhir Suri, on May 5 alleged that unidentified persons fired outside his house and he retaliated by firing gunshots in Amritsar. Police investigations are underway, but they suspect the matter to be suspicious as there was no sign of firing from anyone except Suri. Brij Mohan also claimed his family received threats from virtual phone numbers and that he got a call from unknown callers who said they had reached outside his house. He accused the police of inaction and held a dharna outside the police chowki.
05-May-2023
Punjab Police on May 5 arrested one operative of the terrorist module linked to abroad-based wanted terrorists Lakhbir Singh alias Landa and Satbir alias Satta, identified as Gurbhej Singh along with 10 pistols in Tarn Taran district. Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said he was arrested based on reliable inputs that he would go to a location pinpointed by Landa and Satta to retrieve weapons.