KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
03-Oct-2025
The Special Cell of Delhi Police on October 3 arrested two members of the fugitive Rohit Godara gang, identified as Akash Rajput and Mahipal, following an exchange of fire in Southwest Delhi. Police stated that both had allied with Rohit Godara’s syndicate to continue criminal activities in the city after key gang shooters were arrested. Rajput has a long criminal record across Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat and was allegedly involved in a July 2022 firing outside a hospital in Asandh, Karnal, Haryana, carried out at the behest of Canada-based gangster Daler Kotia.
03-Oct-2025
On October 3, Punjab Police, on day 216 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 45 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 47 drug smugglers and seized 2.3 kg of heroin, 3.1 kg of opium, 25 kg poppy husk, 1584 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 3250 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
03-Oct-2025
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, stated on October 3 that India and Canada have agreed to strengthen security cooperation, including intelligence sharing and measures to combat transnational crime, following Ottawa’s decision to designate the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity. He added that National Security Adviser Ajit Doval held “productive discussions” with Canada’s National Security and Intelligence Adviser, Nathalie Drouin, in New Delhi on September 18 to further enhance bilateral security cooperation.
03-Oct-2025
Police on October 3 arrested two individuals, identified as Sukhdev Singh alias Mattu and Sahil Kumar alias Mast and seized 1 kg of heroin along with INR 10,000 in drug money from their possession, in Gate Hakima, Amritsar district.
03-Oct-2025
Police on October 3 arrested two youths, identified as Vakeel Kumar and Sipur Kumar and seized two .32-bore pistols with live cartridges from their possession, near Dana Mandi, Bhagtanwala, in Amritsar district.
03-Oct-2025
Punjab police on October 3 arrested a person, identified as Ravinder Singh alias Ravi, who was allegedly in contact with agents of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), along with two hand-grenades in Amritsar district. Preliminary investigation indicate that he was in contact with ISI agents and had received the consignment from across the border.
02-Oct-2025
The Intelligence Wing of Punjab Police on October 2 arrested three individuals, including a former Army commando identified as Dharmendra and seized four hand grenades, in Gurdaspur district. Sources indicated that the grenades were believed to have been smuggled across the border, suggesting potential cross-border involvement in planning attacks during the upcoming festive season.
02-Oct-2025
Maharashtra Police on October 2 conducted a major operation against the Bishnoi gang, arresting 13 members following a brief encounter at a hideout in Amravati, Maharashtra. During the raid, the suspects reportedly opened fire, prompting police to retaliate. The detained individuals are currently being questioned.
02-Oct-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police, in a joint operation on October 2, arrested two persons and recovered two pistols along with magazines from the backyard of a house in Gendhu Kilcha village in Ferozepur district.
02-Oct-2025
On October 2, Punjab Police, on day 215 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 60 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 78 drug smugglers and seized 4 kg of heroin, 500 grams of opium, 842 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 2.13 lakh drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
02-Oct-2025
Delhi Police Special Cell on October 2 arrested two members of the Rohit Godara–Goldy Brar–Virender Charan gang, identified as Rahul and Sahil Kumar, after a brief exchange of fire on the Jaitpur–Kalindi Kunj Road in New Delhi. The duo had allegedly been tasked with assassinating comedian Munawar Faruqui.
02-Oct-2025
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2023 report, Punjab recorded more cases of narcotics trafficking than consumption, highlighting its role as a major transit hub. The state topped the country with the highest proportion of drug smuggling cases—25.3 per lakh population—while drug use cases stood at 12.4 per lakh, underscoring a clear tilt toward trafficking rather than consumption. Punjab also reported the highest number of drug overdose deaths in India for the second consecutive year, with 89 fatalities, though down from 144 in 2022. In absolute terms, Punjab lodged 11,589 NDPS cases in 2023, ranking third after Kerala (30,697) and Maharashtra (15,610). However, most cases in these southern states were linked to consumption, unlike Punjab, where its border with Pakistan positions it as a primary corridor for narcotics smuggling. Drugs, especially heroin, are funneled from Afghanistan through Pakistan into Punjab before being distributed to other states.
02-Oct-2025
Amritsar Police on October 2 arrested five persons, including a juvenile, identified as Jovan Singh, Karandeep, Ajaypal Singh, and Jaspreet Singh, and seized 12 brand-new .30 bore pistols—smuggled via drone—along with 1.5 kg of heroin in Amritsar district. Police said the arms-and-drugs syndicate was being run by smugglers in Pakistan and handlers based in Europe, while preliminary inquiries indicated that organized crime gangs had placed the orders for these weapons.
02-Oct-2025
Faridkot Police on October 2 arrested two drug smugglers and seized 12.1 kg of heroin in Jhariwala village in Faridkot district. According to police, the consignment had been smuggled from Pakistan using a drone.
02-Oct-2025
On October 2, the Union government lifted restrictions and allowed select Sikh jathas to travel to Pakistan for the upcoming Parkash Purb of Guru Nanak Dev. Under the revised rules, only jathas specifically recommended by state governments and cleared by central ministries after security vetting are permitted. Previously, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) on September 12 barred cross-border travel by Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan on security grounds.
01-Oct-2025
National Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal has submitted a formal complaint to the Governor of Punjab, alleging that gangsters and land mafias, led by Tarsem Singh Soni in collusion with Jimmy Phagwara and Preet Chautala, have issued credible death threats against him. He stated that the same complaint, along with audio evidence in which the gangsters can be clearly heard issuing threats, has also been submitted to senior police officials. Grewal claimed that the gangster-terrorist nexus has direct links with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Pakistan-based Khalistani terrorist Harvinder Singh Rinda, and Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).
01-Oct-2025
According to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, Punjab recorded the highest number of drug overdose deaths for the second consecutive year in 2023, with 89 fatalities, down from 144 in 2022. Punjab was followed by Madhya Pradesh with 85 deaths and Rajasthan with 84, out of a national total of 654 overdose fatalities in 2023.
01-Oct-2025
On October 1, Punjab Police, on day 214 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 63 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 81 drug smugglers and seized 2.6 kg of heroin, 1.3 kg of opium, 1.34 lakh intoxicant pills and INR 8110 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
01-Oct-2025
Since the launch of its ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ (War Against Drugs) campaign on March 1, 2025, which has now completed seven months, Punjab Police has registered 20,641 first information reports (FIRs) and arrested 31,478 drug smugglers. The operations have led to the recovery of 1,359.5 kg of heroin, 437 kg of opium, 248 quintals of poppy husk, 31 kg of charas, 498 kg of ganja, 7.2 kg of ICE, 37 lakh intoxicant pills/tablets, and INR 12.73 crore in drug money.
01-Oct-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) on October 1 seized a bag containing 3.165 kg of ICE drug (methamphetamine) near Burj village along the India-Pakistan border in Amritsar district.
01-Oct-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police, recovered 580 grams of heroin and a drone from a field near Dal village in Tarn Taran district on October 1.
01-Oct-2025
Police on October 1 arrested two persons, identified as Sunil Kumar and Gursharan Singh alias Gury and seized 167 grams of heroin along with 26,000 banned Pregabalin capsules, in Garhshankar, Hoshiarpur district.
30-Sep-2025
On September 30, Punjab Police, on day 213 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 48 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 71 drug smugglers and seized 5.38 kg of heroin, 1.3 kg of opium, 5 kg of poppy husk, 465 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 1480 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
30-Sep-2025
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on September 30 stated that officers across the state have been given a free hand to deal firmly with gangsters and anti-social elements. Chairing a state-level law and order virtual meeting with senior officers, including Station House Officers (SHOs), the DGP outlined a comprehensive action plan ahead of the festive season. He directed officials to remain vigilant, ensure peace and harmony, and safeguard citizens. Yadav further instructed police personnel to identify and arrest associates of gangsters, assuring them, “You have full protection and support from the department. Deal with the gangsters fearlessly.”
30-Sep-2025
Bihar Police arrested a Punjabi youth, identified as Sandeep Paswan for allegedly threatening to kill Bihar’s Minister of Building Construction Jayant Raj Kushwaha on Facebook Messenger while claiming affiliation with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, in Ludhiana district, Punjab. A mobile phone used in the incident was seized. Initial investigations revealed that Paswan had no prior criminal history and no genuine links to the Bishnoi gang.