KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
12-Jul-2020
Anti-Terrorist Front India president Viresh Shandilya on July 12, 2020, received death threat over the phone. Shandilya received a phone call in the night with the caller threatened him for speaking against pro-Khalistan sympathisers. Shandilya alleged that the caller said he will be eliminated like former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, who was assassinated way back in 1995. He said, ““I have been speaking against pro-Khalistani elements. I have been raising my voice against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of the banned pro-Khalistan outfit Sikhs for Justice and the secessionist campaign he has started from the foreign soil.”
11-Jul-2020
Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in an audio message claimed to organise an event related to the secessionist movement ‘Referendum 2020’ at Gurudwara Patshahi Chhevin in Kurukshetra in Haryana on July 11. It prompted Kurukshetra Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dhirendra Khadgata and Superintendent of Police (SP) Astha Modi to contact the management of the Shiromani Gurdwara Management Committee (SGPC)-run Gurudwara. Later, Gurudwara Patshahi Chhevin manager Amrinder Singh said that “Gurdwara Patshahi Chhevin in Kurukshetra is managed by SGPC. We have no link with SFJ. After consulting with higher officials of SGPC, we released a video message refuting the claims made in the audio message.” DC Khadgata said that, “These audio messages are being circulated with a motive to spread hatred.”
11-Jul-2020
Jalandhar Police (Rural) arrested one person, identified as Pawan Kumar and recovered 500 grams of heroin at a check point near Shahkot in Jalandhar district.
11-Jul-2020
Police arrested a woman, identified as Saroj Rani and recovered 25 kg puppy husk from her at a check point near village Atti near Goraya in Jalandhar district.
11-Jul-2020
Police arrested two drug smugglers, identified as Kuldip Singh and Ranjit Singh and recovered 130 intoxicant tablets and eight bottles of intoxicant syrups from them in Jalandhar district.
11-Jul-2020
The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) dismissed the bail plea of an accused in the 2019 Tarn Taran blast. The accused, Malkiat Singh, had sought bail on health grounds, stating that he was suffering from various ailments for the last few years. However, dismissing the plea, the HC observed the trial court order establishes that the appellant was in constant touch with the co-accused and was an active member of the pro-Khalistan terrorist group and further, he collected the bomb from his co-accused and kept it in his possession.
10-Jul-2020
The monthly magazine of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has stated in its recent editorial that the increase in suppression of Sikhs in the country will lead to intensification of demand for independent territory among them. Written by its editor Satwinder Singh Phoolpur, the editorial appeared in the July 2020 edition of the magazine titled Gurmat Parkash. It raises the issue of confiscation of farmland of scores of Sikh farmers living in Uttar Pardesh by Yogi Adityanath-led state government.
10-Jul-2020
The monthly magazine of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has stated in its recent editorial that the increase in suppression of Sikhs in the country will lead to intensification of demand for independent territory among them. Written by its editor Satwinder Singh Phoolpur, the editorial appeared in the July 2020 edition of the magazine titled Gurmat Parkash. It raises the issue of confiscation of farmland of scores of Sikh farmers living in Uttar Pardesh by Yogi Adityanath-led state government.
09-Jul-2020
Punjab Police questioned Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member Karnail Singh Panjoli for his Facebook post related to Sikh For Justice (SFJ). He said that “I had written nothing wrong in the post. I had objected to the Indian government declaring Gurpatwant Singh Pannun a terrorist. He hasn’t committed any terror activity. If he wants to hold Referendum peacefully then he should be allowed because it would clear his doubts about Punjab and Sikhs.” He also added that “Sikhs will not accept anyone like Pannun — who is clean-shaven and doesn’t even wear turban — as their leader. But he can’t be declared terrorist for using democratic means to pursue his agenda. It would have worked better if the government of India hadn’t taken notice of Pannu because then very few people would know of him.”
09-Jul-2020
The Khalsa League constituted a panel of lawyers to look after the legal proceedings of the cases of recently arrested Sikh youths by the Punjab police. Khalsa League’s head Amrik Singh Ballowal said that a panel of lawyers has been constituted under the leadership of Advocate Abhishek Gill. “This panel will follow up the legal proceedings of all the Sikh youths arrested by the Punjab police using provisions of draconian laws like UAPA,” he added.
09-Jul-2020
Controversial Hindu leader Sudhir Suri was booked by the rural police for allegedly hurting the sentiments of Sikh community. Complainant Balbir Singh Muchhal, a resident of Muchhal village, stated to the police that Suri along with Hardeep Sharma had used derogatory remarks against people belonging to the Sikh community.
08-Jul-2020
The Special Task Force (STF) arrested two sisters, identified as Kiran and Suman along with 1.2 kilograms of heroin in Ludhiana in Ludhiana district. A preliminary investigation revealed that both of their husbands are currently lodged in a jail for offenses committed under narcotics act.
07-Jul-2020
The Punjab and Haryana High Court High Court dismissed the bail plea of an accused, identified as Makit Singh alias Sher Singh alias Shera in the Tarn Taran blast case in which two persons died last year. The case was probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which found that Shera was “in contact” with other accused persons; was an active member of a pro Khalistan group and conspired with the co-accused to carry out the terror attack.
07-Jul-2020
Akal Takht acting Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh said that Sikhs were being harassed for minor offences such as sharing posts on social media while the ones who were accused of bomb blasts have reached parliament. He said, “It seems that the Sikhs are being eliminated from India gradually just like what was done to the followers of Buddhism. For the last few days, Sikh youths have been tortured and harassed mentally in police stations. When asked about the reason behind, the cops said their mobile phones are being examined. They say these persons have shared posts on the social media.”
07-Jul-2020
Pro-Khalistan outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), the organisation continues to reach out to Indians, particularly opinion-makers like journalists and lawyers, with pre-recorded, international calls to push its secessionist agenda and propagate its notorious Sikh Referendum 2020 campaign. Many journalists in Delhi have lately been receiving pesky calls originating mostly from numbers in the US, seeking their support for SFJ's Khalistan cause and Referendum 2020, under which popular vote is being solicited in support of Punjab’s secession from India. The messages that are played out every time you accept the international call - that may show Michigan or Georgia or any other location in the US as the point of origin of the call - contain anti-India statements and invoke radical Sikh feelings to push their 'Khalistan' agenda.
07-Jul-2020
More than a year after upping the ante against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Rajya Sabha MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa is set to announce a new political outfit. According to sources, the party is likely to be named ‘Shiromani Panthik Dal’.
06-Jul-2020
Security Forces recovered 7.14 kg heroin worth Rs 35 crore near BOP Dona Telu Mall in Ferozepur sector in Ferozepur district. A pistol, two magazines, 10 live rounds and two Pakistani SIM cards were also seized from the fields of accused, identified Bittu, who allegedly has links with the Pakistan-based smugglers. However, he was not arrested.
06-Jul-2020
The district anti-narcotic cell arrested three persons, Amrik Singh, his wife Harpal Kaur, and Sarbjit Singh and seized 1.4 kg of heroin from them at Joliyan village in Sangrur district.
06-Jul-2020
Political parties in Punjab demanded stern action of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of the Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). Sunil Jakhar, president, PPCC, said, “Intelligence reports had indicated that the SFJ was backed by Pakistan-based ISI. He said terrorism has to be fought jointly.” SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said, “Referendum 2020 was just a drama by those who hate India.” Ashwani Kumar, president of the BJP’s state unit, said, “Pannu is irrelevant not only in Punjab, but also in Canada”. Leader of Opposition Harpal Cheema said, “The state government failed to curb the SFJ’s activity. The government should have approached the TRAI and got the calls blocked that urged people to respond.”
05-Jul-2020
The Government of India blocked 40 websites of pro-Khalistan group, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and foiled its campaign of registering supporters for its cause. The websites were blocked on the recommendation of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA). "Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), an unlawful organisation under the UAPA,1967, launched a campaign for registering supporters for its cause. On recommendation of MHA, MEITY has issued orders under Sec. 69 A of the I.T. Act, 2000, for blocking 40 websites of SFJ," a UMHA spokesperson said. The SFJ was registering supporters for 'Referendum 2020' to demand Khalistan, which seeks a separate homeland for the Sikhs. It had launched its voter registration in Punjab through a Russian portal. The SFJ chose July 4 to launch the campaign in memory of Sikhs killed during the 1955 attack at Darbar Sahib.
05-Jul-2020
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed against Twitter India Pvt. Ltd. and others by petitioner, Gopal Jhaveri before the Bombay High Court with the prayer to direct the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take action against Twitter under various penal provisions of the law. According to the petition, Twitter accepted blood money to promote Khalistan supporting tweets and is still promoting it knowingly. It is a well-known fact that the Khalistan is a banned terror organisation even though they have blindly supported terror organisations to promote anti national agenda and therefore the authorized representative and all the persons involved in this activity shall be punished by Indian judiciary to set an example to those who are still having a goal to divide India and actively supporting banned terror organisations. The Chief Justice of Bombay High Court in his order dated June 5 directed Twitter and their advocate to file their reply within three weeks, the reply is still pending.
05-Jul-2020
Bholath MLA and former Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira came out in support of Joginder Singh Gujjar alias Goga, days after he was booked and arrested by the Punjab Police on charges of sedition and waging war against India. In a letter to Chief Minister (CM) Amarinder Singh, Khaira said, “The truth is that this man living in Italy for the past 18 years is 65 years of age, illiterate and a heart patient with no criminal record throughout his life. The village panchayat, elders and his family have approached me for justice and have vehemently vouched for his innocence”. Earlier Punjab Police on July 2 had booked Gujjar, whom it said is a prominent and active member of the banned Sikh for Justice (SFJ) in a case under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
05-Jul-2020
According to dossier prepared by Indian Security agencies, Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) have turned several chiefs of Khalistani terror groups into drug smugglers and Germany is being developed as a base for Khalistan operations by ISI. ISI is using Khalistani terrorists to smuggle narcotics and provide funds to various terror groups for anti-India activities. The dossier reveals that ISI sinister plan to use pro-Khalistani elements based in Pakistan, Germany, UK, Canada and US for promoting terror and terror ideology by luring the youth and spreading hatred against India.
04-Jul-2020
Heavy security arrangements were made around the Golden Temple in Amritsar due to apprehension of pro-Khalistani group, Sikh For Justice (SFJ) trying to start their voters’ registration for its Khalistani ‘Referendum 2020’ campaign. Police vehicles in large numbers and policemen in plain clothes were seen in the Golden Plaza, from where they kept a watch to foil any anti-national activity. Security sources said that the arrangements were made in view of possibility of some disillusioned SFJ supporters gathering and creating ruckus or making an attempt to begin the voter registration process to attract media attention.
04-Jul-2020
Sikh For Justice (SFJ) launched its ‘referendum’ voter registration in Punjab through a Russian portal. It appealed to the people in Punjab aged 18 or above from any religion, as well as Sikhs living anywhere else in India to register their votes. Detailed information regarding the registration process was put up in English and Punjabi languages on the Russia-based website - www.punjabfree.ru, which mentions three steps for registration of votes and the sign-up to receive updates about the ‘Referendum 2020’. Meanwhile, the Indian government has since been in touch with the authorities concerned as to how the SFJ used Russian cyberspace to launch the voter registration for Referendum 2020.