KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
30-Mar-2023
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on March 30 confiscated INR 7.80 lakh in cash and a vehicle, which were found to be ‘proceeds of terrorism’, in connection with a case involving the recovery of arms and explosives that were smuggled from Pakistan by the banned terror organization Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) in Haryana in May 2022. The NIA stated that the cash and vehicle were seized under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. On May 5, 2022, police recovered arms and ammunition and arrested four terror operatives in this connection.
30-Mar-2023
Anti-Terrorist Front (ATF) president Viresh Shandilya on March 30 burnt a Khalistan flag at Bhagat Singh Chowk in Rohtak district of Haryana. He called Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh “a sleeper cell of Pakistan” and demanded capital punishment for him.
30-Mar-2023
Punjab police recovered a toy drone from the outskirts of Amritpal Singh’s village in Amritsar district on March 30.
30-Mar-2023
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on March 30 stated that the state police were ready to handle any potential situation, including the reported possibility of pro-Khalistani activist Amritpal Singh surrendering at Akal Takht in Amritsar. Punjab CM replied that the police would not engage in torture and would operate within legal boundaries, when asked if Amritpal Singh had set any conditions for his surrender. Meanwhile, the police have deployed drones in a village in Hoshiarpur district, where suspects had left behind their vehicle after a police chase two days prior.
30-Mar-2023
The fugitive leader of Waris Punjab De (WPD), Amritpal Singh released an audio message and stated that he is willing to endure any resistance and is not afraid of going to jail or being in police custody. He also mentioned that his health has been deteriorating due to his inability to access food, but he remains resolute. The audio was originally traced back to a Twitter account @theNSYF which is now withheld in India.
30-Mar-2023
Gurcharan Singh Garewal, the general secretary of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), on March 30 acknowledged that Amritpal Singh had expressed a genuine desire for the Jathedar of Akal Takht to convene a Sarbat Khalsa (a meeting of the entire Sikh community). However, Garewal emphasized that it is solely the Jathedar's decision, after consultation with all Sikh organizations, to call for a Sarbat Khalsa.
30-Mar-2023
Ajit Doval, the National Security Adviser (NSA) of India, spoke with Tim Barrow, the NSA of the United Kingdom (UK), on March 30 regarding the increased pro-Khalistan activity in the UK. Barrow was en route to Kerala to participate in the G20 Sherpas’ meeting at the time of the conversation.
30-Mar-2023
The Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Police on March 30 booked Varinder Singh alias Fauji, suspected to be the bodyguard of the fugitive Waris Punjab De (WPD) chief Amritpal Singh, under the Arms Act in connection with a gun licence issued to him in Kishtwar district of J&K. The district administration has revoked Varinder Singh's license and will investigate how he, a former army jawan who was dismissed in 2015, obtained the license in 2014 and renewed it in various districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Varinder Singh was apprehended by the Punjab Police last week, charged with the National Security Act, and is being held in a prison in distant Assam.
29-Mar-2023
The Quami Insaaf Morcha, which is leading a protest for the release of Sikh prisoners who have completed their jail terms in terror-related cases, on March 29 announced that they would organize a march on April 1 and also resume sending 31-member jatha (delegation) to Mohali-Chandigarh border.
29-Mar-2023
As per the First Information Report (FIR) filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Pakistan’s Balochistan-based Poshani sea shore was used to send a foreign boat “AL Soheli”, which was intercepted on December 28, 2022, for delivering a consignment of arms and drugs in India to fund terrorist gangs of Punjab and north India.
29-Mar-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) seized two metal containers carrying about 880 gm of heroin near the International Border (IB) in Amritsar sector in Amritsar district on March 29.
29-Mar-2023
Officials of State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) seized a drone lying abandoned in fields at the Kanwawali border village in Fazilka district on March 29. No narcotics or arms were seized from the area.
29-Mar-2023
The Bhagwant Mann government on March 29 released 348 out of 360 detainees who were detained as part of a crackdown against Waris Punjab De (WPD) leader Amritpal Singh, in an attempt to reach out to Akal Takht. Jaspal Singh, the personal assistant to the Akal Takht Jathedar, stated that a government representative contacted them to inform about the detainees' release. He also claimed that the concerned official promised to release the remaining 12 individuals who were taken into preventive custody under section 107/151 of the CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure) soon.
29-Mar-2023
Bathinda police on March 29 arrested two members of the Davinder Bambiha gang, identified as Inderjit Singh alias Baagh and Gurpreet Singh alias Babba and recovered three .32-bore country-made pistols, two .30-bore country-made pistols and 20 cartridges from their possession from Bibi Wala Chowk in Bathinda District.
29-Mar-2023
Police booked three drug peddlers allegedly involved in the smuggling of 2.6-kg heroin found near Muhawa village in the Rajatal area in Amritsar district. According to Police, they have arrested one of the accused, Sewa Singh and raids are being carried out to nab the remaining two associates. Earlier, Border Security Force (BSF) on March 27 recovered 2.6-kg heroin wrapped in yellow adhesive tape and a torch from the bag from Rajatal border outpost area.
29-Mar-2023
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on March 29 demanded that the Punjab Chief Minister (CM) apologize to the Sikh community for insulting the Akal Takht. Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema, a senior leader of the SAD, also urged the CM to seek forgiveness from the supreme temporal seat for lodging a complaint to remove a tweet from the Akal Takht Jathedar's social media account.
29-Mar-2023
In the midst of a police crackdown on Amritpal Singh and his organization Waris Punjab De (WPD), the Khalistan sympathizer appeared in a video on March 29, calling for a 'Sarbat Khalsa' (a congregation of the faithful) on Baisakhi to address concerns related to the Sikh community. Singh also mentioned that he was in high spirits (Chardhi Kala). In the undated video, Amritpal Singh stated that if the Punjab government's intention was solely to apprehend him, they could have come to his residence, and he would have surrendered himself. He claimed the police action against him was an "attack" on the Sikh community. "As far as my arrest is concerned, it is in the hands of God," he said in Punjabi.
29-Mar-2023
Meanwhile, some reports have also suggested Amritpal might surrender as the security in Amritsar and Talwandi Sabo area in Bathinda has been tightened.
29-Mar-2023
In the midst of speculations that pro-Khalistan activist Amritpal Singh might surrender before Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, a significant police presence was deployed around the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar on March 29.
29-Mar-2023
The Khanna police in Ludhiana district brought two accomplices of pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh, identified as Harminder Singh and Gurbhej Singh on a production warrant on March 29. The accused were lodged in different jails of Punjab after being arrested in the Ajnala violence case.
29-Mar-2023
Punjab government on March 29 transferred the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Jalandhar (rural) along with other senior police officers in the district in the aftermath of the crackdown against Amritpal Singh.
28-Mar-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on March 28 seized 2-kg heroin in Hardo Rattan village, 3-kg heroin in Bachiwind and 2.6kg heroin in Muhawa village in Amritsar district.
28-Mar-2023
Border Security Force (BSF) on March 28 seized 2 kg heroin in Natha Singh Wala village of Fazilka district.
28-Mar-2023
In a statement to the Lok Sabha (the lower house of parliament) on March 28, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nisith Pramanik, disclosed that security agencies had detected 28 instances of drone recoveries involved in the smuggling of arms and narcotics along the Pakistan border in Punjab over the last three years, until February 28, 2023. These drones were apprehended while attempting to smuggle over 125kg of heroin, 100 grams of opium, seven pistols/revolvers, one 9mm pistol, 14 magazines, 132 rounds of ammunition, six detonators, and 4.75 kg of other explosives from across the Pakistan border.
28-Mar-2023
Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on March 28 alleged that Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh was playing into the hands of the “Badals-controlled” Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) over the crackdown on Waris Punjab De (WPD) chief Amritpal Singh.