KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
19-Dec-2025
The Haryana Police Special Task Force on December 19 arrested four wanted criminals linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, identified as Gagan, Naresh Kumar, Jayant Kumar, and Sahil and seized three country-made pistols and seven cartridges from Umri village in Kurukshetra district of Haryana. The STF said the accused were planning an extortion-related shooting at a toll plaza on the Rewari–Narnaul highway on the directions of gangsters Nitin Fauji and Rambir Jat, and another major crime in Ranchi at the behest of Mayank alias Sunil Meena. Gagan and Jayant were out on bail and allegedly continued criminal activities to strengthen the Bishnoi gang.
19-Dec-2025
Balwant Singh Rajoana, lodged in Patiala jail for the assassination of former Chief Minister Beant Singh, on December 19 urged Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Kuldip Singh Gargaj to issue an edict asking Sikhs not to participate in Vir Bal Diwas (Brave Child Day). In a letter, he claimed the voice of the Panth was not reaching Parliament or the government and sought MPs’ support to rename the Sahibzadas’ martyrdom day, arguing that the current name undermines its dignity and historical significance.
18-Dec-2025
A drug peddler, identified as Harpreet Singh, escaped from custody at the Badhni Kalan police station in Moga district on December 18. He had been arrested on December 17 along with a cache of intoxicants and managed to flee after breaching the ceiling of the lock-up.
18-Dec-2025
A 40-year-old man, identified as Baljit Singh alias Billa, who ran a motorcycle repair shop, was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne assailants in the Tanda area of Hoshiarpur district on December 18. The attackers arrived on a motorcycle and fired three to four rounds at Singh before fleeing the scene. The motive behind the killing was not immediately known. Police have initiated an investigation and are scanning CCTV footage from the surrounding area to identify and trace the assailants.
18-Dec-2025
On December 18, Punjab Police, on day 292 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 40 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 51 drug smugglers and seized 3.9 kg of heroin, 500 grams of opium, 165 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 8190 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
18-Dec-2025
Amritsar Commissionerate Police on December 18 arrested three alleged smugglers linked to an international drug cartel, identified as Gurwinder Singh alias Gopi, Tilak alias Shibu, and Daljit Singh alias Lala and seized 4.5 kg of heroin and a .30 bore pistol from their possession in Amritsar district. Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused were in contact with a foreign-based handler through social media platforms and were transporting and supplying heroin and illegal arms on his directions.
18-Dec-2025
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), in a chargesheet filed against Dubai-based international drug smuggler Jasmeet Singh Hakimzada, has unearthed an alleged narco-terror network involved in trafficking heroin and diverting its proceeds to finance the banned Khalistani terrorist organisation, the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF). The ED case is based on a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in January 2020, which stemmed from a Punjab Police case involving the seizure of 500 kg of heroin. According to the chargesheet, the profits from the heroin trade were meant to “serve the cause of KLF by raising funds for terrorist activities,” and the accused had “hatched a criminal conspiracy to run a narco-terror module to finance the terrorist activities of KLF.” The chargesheet names Jasmeet Singh Hakimzada as an international drug smuggler and money launderer; Harmeet Singh alias PhD, identified as the chief of the KLF; Jajbir Singh Samra alias Jaji, described as the on-ground handler for narcotics and cash in India; and several hawala operators, including Nirmal Singh alias Neeldhari, Satpal Singh, Hiralal, and Harjit Singh alias Bagga, who allegedly facilitated the transfer of drug proceeds overseas.
18-Dec-2025
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on December 18 observed that the plea filed by pro-Khalistan Sikh radical leader and Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh seeking parole to attend the ongoing winter session of Parliament had become “virtually infructuous,” as December 19 is the last day of the session and arguments on behalf of the respondents could not be concluded due to a lawyers’ strike. The Bench added that the petitioner was at liberty to approach the court again if a fresh cause of action arose.
18-Dec-2025
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on December 18 conducted searches at 13 business and residential premises across Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi in connection with the ‘Dunki route’ case. Officials said the raids were carried out in close coordination with local police and targeted second- and third-tier operatives linked to the syndicate’s network.
18-Dec-2025
The Supreme Court on December 18 declined to issue specific directions to the Centre to expedite the extradition of Punjab resident Iqbal Singh, who is accused of smuggling and selling heroin to fund the Hizbul Mujahideen, from Portugal. Observing that the government was making all possible efforts to secure his return, the Bench remarked, “They are taking steps and making efforts.” The court was hearing a petition filed by Singh’s brother seeking his early extradition so that he could participate in the criminal trial pending before a Mohali court.
17-Dec-2025
Amritsar Rural Police on December 17 arrested four persons, identified as Narinder Singh alias Nindi, Jaskaran Singh, Harjinder Singh, and Akashdeep Singh, and seized a .30 bore pistol with a magazine and four live cartridges, two .32 bore country-made pistols with magazines and three live cartridges, along with 40.63 grams of heroin, from Khilchian in Amritsar district.
17-Dec-2025
The Special Cell of the Delhi Police on December 17 arrested five key shooters of the notorious Bishnoi–Harry Boxer gang, who were wanted in connection with three recent murder cases, identified as Piyush Piplani, Ankush Solanki, Kuwarbir, Lovepreet Singh, and Santokh alias Kapil Khatri and seized four firearms and a large quantity of ammunition from their possession in New Delhi. The arrests are linked to the murder of Inderpreet Singh alias Parry, who was shot dead in Sector 26, Chandigarh, on December 1; the killing of Ashu Mahajan in Amritsar, Punjab, on the night of July 31; and the murder of kabaddi player Sonu Nolta, who was gunned down on June 5 in Panchkula, Haryana. The accused were wanted by the police forces of Punjab, Chandigarh, and Haryana.
17-Dec-2025
Three schools in Ahmedabad—Maharaja Agrasen School, Zydus School for Excellence, and Zebra School—received bomb threat emails on December 17, prompting immediate police intervention, in Gujarat. According to officials, the emails contained a message stating, “We will take revenge.” Sources indicated that investigators are probing possible links to Khalistani elements behind the threat emails, though no official confirmation has been made so far. The incident has raised concerns over school safety, and authorities have assured that the situation is under control while the investigation continues.
17-Dec-2025
Police busted an international drug trafficking syndicate involved in smuggling opium to the United States through courier parcels and arrested a key member, Lakhbir Singh of Kot Data village in Tarn Taran district, Punjab, on December 17. Lakhbir, who was carrying a reward of INR 5,000 on his arrest, had been absconding for nearly two years. Police said suspicious financial transactions amounting to INR 66 lakh were detected in his bank account within a single year. Details of the accused have been shared with the Punjab Police’s Anti-Narcotics Department and the Intelligence Bureau.
17-Dec-2025
On December 17, Punjab Police, on day 291 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 83 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 103 drug smugglers and seized 5.03 kg of heroin, 2.7 kg of opium, 1465 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 2.6 lakhs drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
17-Dec-2025
One of the three accused in the murder of kabaddi player and team promoter Kanwar Digvijay Singh alias Rana Balchauriya, identified as Harbhinder Singh alias Maddi, was shot dead in a police encounter near Lalru in Mohali, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district, on December 17. A police official, Gulab Singh, was also injured during the exchange of fire. Police said Maddi was an active operative of foreign-based gangster Doni Bal and was also involved in several firing incidents in Tarn Taran district. The search operation to apprehend the remaining two accused is ongoing.
17-Dec-2025
The alleged mastermind behind the murder of kabaddi player and team promoter Kanwar Digvijay Singh alias Rana Balchauriya, identified as Aishdeep Singh, was arrested by the Punjab Police from the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in New Delhi on December 17 while he was allegedly attempting to flee to Muscat. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), SAS Nagar, Harmandeep Singh Hans said Aishdeep Singh, who had been staying in Russia, returned to India on November 25 on the directions of gangster-turned-terrorist Dony Bal to execute the killing. The SSP further said that another accused, Jugraj Singh, has also been arrested with the assistance of the Amritsar (Rural) Police. “All the accused involved in the case have been identified, and raids are underway to apprehend the remaining suspects,” he added.
16-Dec-2025
The Attari police on December 16 arrested a drug peddler, identified as Nirvail Singh, and seized 2.948 kg of heroin along with packing material from his possession in Attari, Amritsar district. Preliminary investigation suggests that the contraband was smuggled from Pakistan using drones.
16-Dec-2025
Police on December 16 seized 840 grams of heroin along with packing material from a black polythene bag found lying on the roadside near the border village of Daoke in Amritsar district.
16-Dec-2025
Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Harmandeep Singh Hans on December 16 said that two of the three motorcycle-borne shooters involved in the firing incident at a kabaddi tournament in Mohali—during which kabaddi player Kanwar Digvijay Singh alias Rana Balchauriya was shot dead on the evening of December 15—have been identified as Aditya Kapoor and Karan Pathak, both residents of Amritsar district. The accused are members of the Lucky Patial gang, which is associated with the Davinder Bambiha gang. While investigations into the motive are ongoing, the SSP ruled out any link between the murder and slain Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, stating that the killing appeared to be the result of gang rivalry over “dominance in kabaddi.
16-Dec-2025
The jailed Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP), Amritpal Singh, while appearing via videoconferencing before the Punjab and Haryana High Court on December 16, said that all work in his parliamentary constituency had come to a standstill and that his continued detention was preventing him from raising key public issues—including floods, drugs, and alleged fake encounters—in Parliament. Choosing to address the court himself due to the abstention of lawyers from work, Amritpal submitted that his detention under the National Security Act (NSA) had completely stalled the functioning of his constituency.
16-Dec-2025
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on December 16 said that there had been no lapse on the part of the state government, asserting that it neither supports nor encourages criminal elements. He said the current wave of gangster violence was the result of “seeds sown in the past” by the Akali Dal and the Congress, leading to internal rivalries among gangs now coming to the fore. Warning gangsters, the CM said no one would be allowed to spread terror in the state. “We are soon coming out with a comprehensive plan to tackle gangsters. We are analysing those involved, identifying their hideouts, and tracing the countries from where they issue threats and operate their networks,” he added.
16-Dec-2025
Punjab Congress president and Ludhiana Member of Parliament (MP) Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on December 16 urged Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann to take serious note of the deteriorating law-and-order situation in the state. He said Punjab was turning into “killing fields,” with criminals and gangsters striking with alarming regularity.
16-Dec-2025
According to data shared by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) in response to a question by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Member of Parliament (MP) Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Punjab recorded an overall conviction rate of 83.87% in cases tried under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between January 1, 2022, and November 30, 2025. During this period, courts secured 21,625 convictions out of 25,797 cases, translating to an average of more than 13 NDPS convictions per day across the state. District- and unit-wise data revealed wide variations in performance, with several districts posting conviction rates well above the state average while others lagged behind. Among the top performers, the Punjab Police’s State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Mohali, recorded a 100% conviction rate, securing convictions in all 45 cases it pursued. Nawanshahr followed with a conviction rate of 95.86% (1,391 convictions out of 1,451 cases), while Fatehgarh Sahib reported 95.2%. Barnala also performed strongly, registering a conviction rate of 93.33%. Other districts and units with consistently high conviction rates included Commissionerate Police (CP) Ludhiana at 90.15%, Malerkotla at 89.95%, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) police station at 89.46%, Pathankot at 89.13%, and Mohali at 88.19%.
16-Dec-2025
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Satpal Sharma said on December 16 in Panchkula that the Haryana government has decided to provide a government job to one eligible member of the family of each person killed in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. He said the appointments would be made through the Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam (HKRN) based on the educational qualifications of the beneficiaries. The benefit will be extended to the families of victims irrespective of whether the incident occurred within Haryana or outside the state. However, all appointments will be made within Haryana, the DC added.