KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
14-Jan-2021
The Border Security Force (BSF) shot dead an unidentified Pakistani intruder along the International Border (IB) in Amritsar District. The BSF personnel noticed suspicious activity near the border fence and after sensing a threat, troops shot him dead.
14-Jan-2021
The banned US-based secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) announced a reward of USD 2,50,000 for protesting farmers of Punjab for hoisting ‘Khalistan flag’ at India Gate in the national capital on Republic Day. While announcing the reward, SFJ’s chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in a video tried to link the farmers' protest with 1984 anti-Sikh riots. “26 January is coming and on the Red Fort, there is an Indian tricolour. Remove the tricolour on 26th of January and replace it with the Khalistan flag,” he said while announcing that SFJ will give USD 2,50,000 to those who will remove the Indian tricolour. Besides this, SFJ also used the bait of giving foreign citizenship to lure the protesters. “The laws of the world are with you. If the Indian Government points a finger at you, you and your families will be brought to the foreign countries under the United Nations laws,” he further said.
13-Jan-2021
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered 12 kilograms of heroin, worth INR 600 million in the international market, near India-Pakistan International Border (IB) in Amritsar district. “We seized 12 packets of the contraband near the border fence. The area is manned by 88 Bn, BSF, Amritsar sector. A 13-foot-long PVC pipe was also found there. It was probably used to push packets across the border. No arrest has been made so far,” a BSF official said.
10-Jan-2021
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered four packets of heroin weighing two kilograms from IB in Ferozepur sector of Ferozepur District.
09-Jan-2021
Police arrested a drug smuggler and recovered five kilograms of heroin worth INR 250 million in the international market from Indo-Pak International Border (IB) near Hussainiwala in Ferozepur District. The smuggler, identified as Dalbir Singh aliasDallu, was arrested with 250 grams heroin. Later on, based on his disclosure, in a joint operation with Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, five kilograms heroin, one pistol, 2 magazines, 18 live cartridges and Pakistani currency worth INR 1,100 were recovered at the designated place across the fencing near the IB. “During preliminary investigation, it came to the fore that Dalbir had links with Pakistan-based drug smugglers and was in touch with cross-border drug peddlers through the social media,” said a Police official
07-Jan-2021
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted searches at six locations – five in Jammu District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and one in Tarn Taran District of Punjab in connection with the investigation of a narco-terror module case (RC 05/2020/ NIA/JMU) related to seizure of about 61 kilograms of heroin along with arms and ammunitions on September 20, 2020 at International Border (IB) at Arnia in Jammu District. The officials recovered digital devices and other incriminating documents having financial details and accounts numbers during these searches. The searches were conducted at the residences of six accused persons namely – Jasraj Singh, Sham Lal, Bishan Dass, Ajeet Kumar, Gurbaksh Singh and Gurpartap Singh. These accused persons were arrested for hatching a criminal conspiracy for carrying out anti-national and unlawful activities, and to help the terrorist organisations by collecting funds and channelizing the proceeds of drugs for furthering the activities of such terrorist organisations like Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). Gurpratap Singh, r/o Tarn Taran District is the kingpin of this module. In the second week of September 2020, Gurpratap Singh had received 10 kilograms of heroin from Pakistan based handlers through his associates. The consignment in the case was also intended to be received by Gurpratap Singh to fund the activities of BKI in Punjab.
03-Jan-2021
The Punjab Police have decided to recruit specialised de-radicalisation counsellors in the backdrop of radicalisation of youth for pro-Khalistan activities via social media. 30 de-radicalisation counsellors and 82 assistants will be recruited soon with the job to bring back youth into the mainstream after they were allegedly brainwashed by terror agencies, including Pakistan-based Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), said Director General of Police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta. According to the Police records, nearly 70 terror modules had been busted in the past few years in which more than 300 youth were arrested. Most of them were radicalised for pro-Khalistan activities through social media.
01-Jan-2021
According to Border Security Force (BSF) data, the BSF personnel have recovered 517 kilograms heroin and 43 weapons from along the Indo-Pak International Borders (IB) in Punjab in 2020. The BSF also shot dead eight drug smugglers and intruders in separate encounters in 2020. Additionally, a total of 13 Pakistanis and one Bangladeshi national were also arrested during the year. In a humanitarian gesture, the BSF handed over six Pakistanis to the Pakistan Rangers after they had inadvertently crossed the IB.
31-Dec-2020
An employee of the Halwara Air Force station, identified as Ram Singh, was arrested by Punjab Police for allegedly working for Pakistan’s intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), from Sudhar area in Ludhiana District. “Ram Singh, an employee of Halwara Air Force station, has been booked and arrested for allegedly working for Pakistan’s ISI, in the Sudhar area of Ludhiana, Punjab. Two of his associates are on the run,” said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Charanjit Singh Sohal.
31-Dec-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) foiled an infiltration attempt by a group of Pakistani smugglers to infiltrate and push narcotics into the Indian territory by recovering an iron ladder and a contraption with a pole in the Khanpur area of Abohar Sector along the International Border (IB) in Fazilka District.
30-Dec-2020
A joint team of Police and the Border Security Force (BSF) recovered 7.31 kilograms of heroin and three China-made .30 bore pistols from the Metla Border out Post (BoP)in the Dera Baba Nanak sector of Gurdaspur District. The consignment was pushed into the Indian territory by Belgium-based terrorist Jagdish Singh alias Bhura, who has links in Pakistan. During investigation, it was found that drug peddler Ranjit Singh, who is lodged in the Ludhiana jail, played a key role in the smuggling of the consignment.
30-Dec-2020
Security Forces recovered 5 kilograms heroin, worth INR 250 million in the international market, a pistol, two magazines and two live cartridges from across the barbed wire fencing in the area of BoP, Santokh Singh Wala, in Jalalabad subdivision of Fazilka District.
27-Dec-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) personnel recovered around three kilograms of heroin from the Indo-Pak border at Attari sector in Amritsar District. The alert BSF troopers also recovered around 12-feet long plastic pipe near Burj border outpost under Bhindi Saida Police Station limits in the district. The pipe bearing a marking of made in Pakistan was found on the Indian side of the International Border (IB).
24-Dec-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) spotted a Pakistani drone twice within an hour in Chandu Wadala and Rosse Border Outposts (BoPs) in Kalanaur subdivision of Gurdaspur District. BSF Deputy Inspector General (DIG, Gurdaspur sector) Rajesh Sharma said at around 1 am, personnel of the 58th Battalion sighted and subsequently fired upon the drone, forcing it to fly back into Pakistan. An hour later, the security agencies again spotted the drone and opened fire. Sharma informed Gurdaspur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rajinder Singh Sohal, following which a joint search operation was launched in 15 villages located near the International Border (IB).
23-Dec-2020
Two Khalistani terrorists, identified as Tejprakashalias Kaka and Akashdeep Singh alias Sonu, working for the US based banned secessionist group - Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), were arrested along with weapons and live cartridges near Karnal in Haryana. According Haryana Police, during interrogation, revealed that they were in touch with a US-based terrorist Gurmeet Singh, who transferred lakhs of rupees in their accounts via MoneyGram. The duo was arrested when they were returning after purchasing the arms. They also revealed that they had planned to attack two Shiv Sena leaders in Punjab named Sudhir Suri and Gursharanmand, under the direction of Gurmeet Singh.
22-Dec-2020
Officials of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested an absconding Khalistani terrorist, identified as Gurjeet Singh Nijjar, who was hiding in Cyprus (Europe), upon his arrival at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in New Delhi. According to NIA officials, Nijjar of Pandori Sukha Singh village in Ajnala Tehsil (revenue unit) of Amritsar District in Punjab, was wanted in a case registered on January 10, 2019, against Harpal Singh, another Khalistani terrorist, under various sections of the Arms Act, Maharashtra Police Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The investigation later revealed that Nijjar was the main conspirator in the case. “Accused Nijjar, Harpal Singh and Moin Khan were active on social media platforms and had hatched a criminal conspiracy to revive Sikh militancy for the formation of a separate state of Khalistan,” a senior NIA official said adding that the trio used to post videos and images praising militant Jagtar Singh Hawara (a convict in Beant Singh assassination case). They also posted images and videos of Operation Bluestar and pro-Khalistani posts related to the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) with the intention of motivating Sikh youths and others to join the ‘Khalistan movement’.
22-Dec-2020
The Punjab Police recovered an AK-47 rifle and a magazine with 30 live cartridges evidently dropped by the Pakistani drone in Border Outpost (BOP) Chakri under Dorangala Police Station limits in Gurdaspur District. The Police maintained that the arms were evidently a part of the same consignment (11 hand grenades) that was dropped by a Pakistani drone previously in the area on December 20. Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta said that the package, containing the assault rifle, appeared to have been dropped in the wheat fields in the area of Wazir Chak village, 1.5 kilometers from Salach village, Dorangla Police Station (Gurdaspur).
20-Dec-2020
11 hand grenades reportedly dropped by a drone from Pakistan were recovered by Border Security Force (BSF) troopers from a sugarcane field near the International Border (IB) at Silach village in Gurdaspur District. Rajesh Sharma, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), BSF, said the troopers on hearing the buzzing sound of a drone in the late night of December 19 near Chakri outpost, fired multiple shots towards the source. The Police authorities were alerted and a joint search operation was initiated leading to the recovery of the grenades on the following day. The 11 grenades of Arges-type HG-84 were placed in a neatly packed wooden box. The drone, however, was not recovered and it is suspected that it managed to fly back to Pakistan after dropping the payload.
19-Dec-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered 2.232 kilograms of heroin worth INR 120 million in the international market, from the International Border (IB) in Ferozepur District.
18-Dec-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered 6 kilograms of heroin worth INR 300 million in the international market, from across the barbed wire fencing along the International Border (IB) in Fazilka District. BSF also arrested a smuggler in connection with the recovery of heroin.
18-Dec-2020
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet against 10 accused persons including designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of the banned secessionist organization - Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) before the NIA Special Court at Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar District. Originally registered by Punjab Police at Sultanwind Police Station, Amritsar (City) on October 19, 2018, the case was subsequently re-registered by NIA on April 5, 2020. The case relates to series of acts of violence including acts of arson in Punjab during the year 2017-18, carrying out of propaganda activities both online and on ground campaigns in support of SFJ and ‘Referendum 2020’. These acts were committed by a gang of radicalised Sikh youth under direction and financial assistance from SFJ handlers located abroad as part of an organized conspiracy by the accused for launching a concerted secessionist campaign for the creation of ‘Khalistan’. The charge sheeted accused are – Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, r/o New York USA, Pargat Singh, Sukhraj Singh aka Raju, Bikramjit Singh aka Vicky, Manjeet Singh aka Manjit Singh aka Manga, Jatinder Singh aka Goldi, Gurwinder Singh aka Gurpreet Singh aka Gopi, Harmeet Singh aka Happy, Kuldeep Singh aka Kuldip Singh aka Keepaand and Harmeet Singh aka Raju.
17-Dec-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) shot dead two militants near the Attari area along the India-Pakistan International Border (IB) in Amritsar District. The armed Pakistani militants were attempting to infiltrate into the Indian side of the border when they were gunned down. Their identities are yet to be ascertained
15-Dec-2020
Two cross border smugglers, identified as – Lakhbir Singh and Bachittar Singh, were arrested in Amritsar District. The duo were members of a module that used drones to smuggle narcotics and weapons into India through Pakistan-based smugglers with links to pro-Khalistan operatives, the Punjab Police said in a statement. A quadcopter drone with a mini receiver and camera support, a .32 bore revolver, a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), cartridges and drugs have been recovered from their possession. Police said that the interrogation of the accused has revealed their alleged association with four other smugglers, who were lodged in the Amritsar jail.
12-Dec-2020
With the arrest of two persons identified as – Jaswinder Singh akaJass and Ramesh Kumar aka Kesa along with a recovery of 4 kilograms heroin in Lohian village of Jalandhar District, the Punjab Police claimed to have busted a major drug cartel linked to international gangsters and terrorists. Besides the heroin, two desi .32 bore pistols and a car bearing registration number JK-012-E-2277 have also been recovered from the accused, who used to bring drugs from Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) on instructions from imprisoned gangsters in Punjab.
09-Dec-2020
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet against 16 foreign-based Khalistanis, who are members of the banned US based secessionist organization - Sikh for Justice (SFJ), before a NIA special court in New Delhi. The chargesheet relates to a case pertaining to an alleged organised conspiracy by the 16 accused to launch a concerted secessionist campaign under the banner of 'Referendum 2020' for the creation of ‘Khalistan’. The charge-sheeted accused are – Gurpatwant Singh Pannun (resident of New York, USA), Avtar Singh Pannun (New York, USA), Gurpreet Singh Baagi (UK) Harpreet Singh alias Rana Singh (New York, USA), Paramjit Singh alias Pamma (UK), Sarabjit Singh Bannur (UK), Amardeep Singh Purewal (California, USA), J S Dhaliwal (Canada), Kulwant Singh Mothada (UK) Dupinderjit Singh (UK), Hardeep Singh Nijjar (Canada), Kulwant Singh alias Kanta (UK), Harjaap Singh alias Japhi Singh (California, USA), Sarabjit Singh aliasSabi Singh (California, USA), Jatinder Singh Grewal, (Canada) and S Himmat Singh (New York, USA). In a statement, the NIA said, “Investigation in the case has revealed that Sikhs for Justice, a secessionist outfit floated in the garb of ‘Human Rights advocacy group’ with its offices in various foreign countries like the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia etc, is a frontal organization of Khalistan terrorist outfits operating from foreign soils including Pakistan. Under this campaign, numerous social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, YouTube Channels and a number of websites have been launched, which are being used to propagate sedition as well as enmity on the grounds of region and religion, to radicalise impressionable youth, to cause disturbance to peace and harmony and to raise funds for terrorist activities.”