KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
03-Jan-2022
According to reports, Border Security Force (BSF), Punjab Frontier had killed 6 Pakistani smugglers and intruders in the year 2021. The force also captured one Pakistan drone and seized over 484 kg of heroin from the 553 km stretch of Indo Pak international border in Punjab during 2021. A spokesperson of the BSF, Punjab Frontier, informed that though the Indo Pak international border in Punjab was challenging and tough yet they had been able to thwart the cross-border smuggling, intrusion, etc. attempts. “During the year 2021, BSF troops of Punjab Frontier have maintained a high level of alertness and vigil which resulted in successfully detected and captured 1 Pak drone and seizing of 484.505 kgs heroin, 58 different calibre weapons, 3322 rounds,” said the spokesperson adding that the troops had also been successful in killing 6 Pak smugglers and intruder. He also informed that they had also apprehended 16 Pak nationals and 1 Bangladeshi national in different incidents across the 553 km stretch of Indo Pak international border.
02-Jan-2022
The Special Task Force (STF) arrested a smuggler, identified as Akashdeep Singh, and recovered 1.5 kg of heroin from him at Moti Nagar in Ludhiana district. During preliminary questioning, Akashdeep admitted that he had been into the notorious trade for two years and used to bring heroin from some big smuggler of Ferozepur.
02-Jan-2022
The Special Task Force (STF) arrested a smuggler, identified as Jugraj Singh (23), and recovered 600 grams of heroin from him in Sector 32, Chandigarh Road. A case under the NDPS Act was registered against him. He was nabbed from Sector 32, Chandigarh Road in Ludhiana district. Official sources said Jugraj Singh had links with many jailed smugglers in Punjab and he was running a drug network at their behest.
02-Jan-2022
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) confirmed on January 2 that the FIR against Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) activist Jaswinder Singh alias Multani has no connection with the Ludhiana bomb blast case. An NIA official said the NIA team has returned and Punjab Police is continuing its probe in the blast case. The NIA had lodged an FIR against Multani, a few days after the blast in Ludhiana's district courts complex. There was speculation that the main accused of the bomb blast, Gagandeep Singh (a dismissed cop), was in touch with Multani. The NIA official said, "The FIR has been lodged against SFJ activist Jaswinder Singh Multani under different sections of IPC and Unlawful Activity (Prevention) Act (UAPA). But, the FIR has no connection with the Ludhiana bomb blast. The Punjab police are probing the Ludhiana blast case and not the NIA."
01-Jan-2022
Police on January 1 produced two jail inmates, Ranjit Singh and Sukhwinder Singh, in a court in Ludhiana to seek extension in their remand for questioning in the ongoing probe into the court complex bomb blast case. The court extended their police remand for five days. A police officer said both were being questioned for their alleged links with Gagandeep Singh, who died in the blast.
01-Jan-2022
According to reports, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will probe the suspected involvement of Germany-based Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) operative Jaswinder Singh Multani in the use of drones for the smuggling of arms, ammunition, explosives and drugs into the Indian territory by Pakistan-based syndicates. Based on inputs related to his alleged role in attempts to revive terrorism in Punjab, NIA has registered a case against him and his associates. Following an alert from Indian agencies, the police in Germany detained him a few days ago. “Multani was released after he submitted an affidavit that he would cooperate with the authorities concerned,” said an official. The official said that, “We have evidence indicating that Multani has been in touch with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). He also has links with smuggling syndicates in Pakistan and on the Indian side in Punjab. Through social media platforms and encrypted chat messengers, he radicalizes gullible young men from Punjab and motivates them to indulge in such illegal activities.”
31-Dec-2021
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered 0.95 Kg of heroin, which was pushed from Pakistan through the river Satluj in Punjab. BSF Punjab spokesperson said, “On 31st Dec' 2021, vigilant Border Security Force troops, deployed along the River Sutlej bank in the area of responsibility of Ferozepur Sector observed some suspicious item floating in River Sutlej from Pakistan to India side. Thereafter, troops dragged the suspected item towards the bank and when it was searched, they recovered and seized 01 Pkt of contraband (weight appx 0.950 Kg) suspected to be Heroin”.
31-Dec-2021
Ludhiana Special Task Force arrested two accused and seized 1.7 kg heroin from them. Acting on a tip off, police stopped three accused. Two of them were nabbed while the third escaped from the spot.
31-Dec-2021
The Border Security Force (BSF) arrested an Indian national, identified as Jagdish Singh and recovered one 32 bore pistol and seven live cartridges from his possession near the Indo-Pakistan border in Ferozepur. BSF officials said, “We are also checking whether the weapon recovered from him was smuggled from across the border.”
30-Dec-2021
According to officials, in the wake of intelligence inputs that Khalistani elements may carry out a terror attack in Mumbai on the eve of New Year, the city police have beefed up security at prominent railway stations and other public places. Police also cancelled the weekly offs and holidays of its personnel so that its entire strength remains available for duty. "Police had received an input that Khalistani elements may carry out a terror attack in Mumbai on the eve of New Year," a police official said. Hence, in order to maintain the law-and-order situation, police are on alert and will be keeping a strict vigil across the city on December 31. Considering the possibility of people gathering at prominent places like the Gateway of India and Marine Drive to ring in the New Year, a large number of personnel, will be deployed in the city, he said.
30-Dec-2021
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered a case against banned Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) radical Jaswinder Singh Multani for his involvement in the December 23 Ludhiana court blast, and others for hatching a conspiracy to target Indian cities. Multani was picked up by Federal Police from Erfurt in central Germany after India government requested German authorities to arrest the pro-Khalistan radical who has links to Pakistan, and has been involved in smuggling of arms and ammunition from across the border into Punjab. According to NIA’s first information report (FIR) filed on December 30, the 45-year-old has been booked under sections related to criminal conspiracy and waging war against India, among others, of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Earlier on December 23, one person was killed and six others were injured after a bomb went off in the district court’s complex in Ludhiana, triggering a high alert in the state. Police said the deceased was the alleged bomber and dismissed head constable Gagandeep Singh. Preliminary probe revealed that 1.5 kg of explosives were assembled in a plastic container to carry out the blast in the court premises.
30-Dec-2021
A high alert has been sounded in Mumbai after intelligence agencies received inputs regarding terror activities planned by pro-Khalistan groups. A senior officer said that after Jaswinder Singh Multani, a member of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) who was allegedly linked to Ludhiana court blast, was detained and questioned in Germany, they have received inputs regarding planned terror activities in Mumbai and other big cities. The officer said, "We have received inputs that apart from SFJ, other banned pro-Khalistan groups are in contact with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to execute terror activity in Mumbai, Delhi and other cities."
23-Dec-2021
A man was killed and five others injured in a blast at the District Courts Complex in Ludhiana District. The man killed in the blast, identified as former policeman Gagandeep Singh, was carrying the explosion. Director General of Police (DGP), Siddharth Chattopadhyaya said that they suspect Pakistan’s role but cannot conclude anything as the investigation is underway. However, the accused was in “touch with other conspirators in jail and outside. The deceased person, former policeman Gagandeep Singh, was carrying the explosion. He was dismissed from service in 2019 and spent two years in jail following his arrest in a drug-trafficking case." The injured have been identified as: Sandeep Kaur (31), a photostat machine operator and resident of Raikot, Ludhiana, Manish Kumar (32), a Policeman and resident of Police Colony Jamalpur, Ludhiana, Kuldeep Singh Mand (50) an advocate of Bindra Ban Road, Ludhiana, while, Sharanjit Kaur (25), resident of Jamalpur, Ludhiana, Krishan Khanna (75) of Phase 1, Dugri, Ludhiana and Gurpreet Kaur (35), were visitors to the court complex. While terming it as an unfortunate incident, Punjab Chief Minister (CM), Charanjit Singh Channi said that prima facie, it seems that the deceased person was the perpetrator of this crime.
17-Dec-2021
The Border Security Force (BSF) on December 17 shot down a drone along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab.
25-Nov-2021
On November 25, the National Investigating Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet against Hardeep Singh Nijjar of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) in a case of conspiracy to commit terrorist acts against India. Nijjar, from Jalandhar in Punjab, is currently based in Surrey, Canada. The NIA said in a statement. “He used to send funds to India…for developing a network of sympathisers for targeted killings in Punjab and was trying to arrange ammunition from his Pakistan-based associates for his nefarious plans.”
21-Nov-2021
A grenade blast occurred outside Triveni Gate of the Army cantonment near Dheerapul in Pathankot District of Punjab on November 21. Police said that some unidentified motorcyclists lobbed the grenade in front of Triveni gate of the military cantonment. However, no casualty was reported in the blast.
20-Nov-2021
A hand grenade kept in a tiffin box was found at Sekhwan village in Zira sub-division in Firozpur District, on November 20.
06-Nov-2021
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has formally requested the Canadian Government to declare Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) as a "terrorist entity" in the country. The SFJ was banned by the Government of India in July 2019 under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for its involvement in promoting secession and violent extremism in Punjab. Top officials of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) have confirmed the visit of NIA officers to Canada, and a senior officer said," A formal request to this effect has been made. A two-member NIA team led by an IG rank officer had begun their visit beginning November 4." Sources said the purpose of the visit was to press Canadian authorities for faster execution of requests made under the mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT). “The visit is for better coordination of investigation against entities and individuals suspected of terrorism and to discuss other criminal matters," a release issued by the Indian High Commission in Ottawa had said.
20-Oct-2021
In a joint operation, the Border Security Force (BSF) and the counter intelligence wing of Punjab Police recovered a cache of arms and ammunition along the barbed wire fence on the Indo-Pak border near Khemkaran village in Tarn Taran District on October 20. Counter intelligence wing inspector Inderdeep Singh said the seizure included 22 foreign-made pistols, 100 rounds of ammunition, 44 magazines, and one kilogram of heroin and 72 grams of opium. Officials suspect that the consignment may have been smuggled with drones.
17-Oct-2021
According to reports, the Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police have started involving the Panchayats (village-level local self-Government institutions) in border villages of Punjab to tackle the issue of drones.
06-Oct-2021
A team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) reached a village in Meerut District of Uttar Pradesh in search of two suspects of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), who it suspected supplied illegal arms to an extortion racket which was busted in Moga District of Punjab in May 2021. The gang was allegedly being run by Khalistan separatists settled abroad. The anti-terror federal probe agency returned after handing over notice to their families which asked the two suspects to appear at their office in Chandigarh on October 8 for questioning.
05-Oct-2021
Three drones purportedly from Pakistani retreated on October 5 night after the Border Security Force (BSF) troopers opened fire to prevent their entry into the Indian territory in Gurdaspur and Pathankot Districts.
01-Oct-2021
Four aides of Canada-based Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) operative Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala, were arrested with three sophisticated weapons, 14 live cartridges, and 300 grams of heroin, from Mehna Police Station area in Moga District on October 1. The arrestees have been identified as Amandeep Singh alias Machher, Jaswinder Singh alias Jassu, Balraj Singh, and Arun Sarwan. Moga District Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Dhruman H Nimbale said they arrested Amandeep with a Beretta M9 pistol, four live cartridges and 300gm of heroin.
01-Oct-2021
The Police claimed to have foiled a plan to kill Dera Sacha Sauda follower Shakti Singh, who is an accused in three Bargari sacrilege cases of 2015, with the arrest of a person, identified as Bhola Singh alias Khalsa, allegedly carrying two weapons in Faridkot District. Shakti Singh is believed to be on the target list of banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). Bhola, of Jeon Wala village in Faridkot District, is facing as many as five criminal cases, including murder and extortion.
23-Sep-2021
Punjab Police busted a militant module backed by Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) with the arrest of its three militants from Bhagwanpur village in the Bhikhiwind area in Tarn Taran District of Punjab on September 23. The Police also recovered two boxes packed in foam (which appeared to be Tiffin Bombs), two hand grenades (86P) and three 9mm pistols from their possession. This is the 6th Tiffin bomb recovered from the border State of Punjab in one and a half months. Those arrested have been identified as Kanwarpal Singh, Kulwinder Singh and Kamalpreet Singh - all residents of Moga. Kanwarpal disclosed that he had returned from Canada two weeks back.