KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
21-Sep-2025
According to reports, after launching the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign in March, the Punjab government is set to roll out another de-addiction initiative, ‘Soorma’. Under the programme, individuals who have successfully overcome substance dependence will serve as community ambassadors. An official communique said nodal psychiatrists in all districts have been asked to identify and orient eligible individuals ahead of the initiative’s launch by Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann.
21-Sep-2025
Punjab Police, with support from central agencies and Nagaland Police, on September 21, arrested two accused in a murder case, identified as Harmanpreet Singh alias Harman and his cousin Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi from New Market in Midland Colony, Kohima, Nagaland. They were wanted in the September 9 Batala murder of Jugraj Singh alias Jugga. Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said the killing was ordered by foreign-based gangsters Jaswinder Singh alias Manu Agwan, Mohammad Yasin Akhtar alias Jeeshan Akhtar, and Gopi Nawansheharia.
21-Sep-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police on September 21 arrested four drug smugglers and seized 10 kg of heroin from their possession, in Thetharke village in Gurdaspur district of Punjab.
21-Sep-2025
On September 21, Punjab Police, on day 204 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 78 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 89 drug smugglers and seized 4.5 kg of heroin, 2.3 kg of ganja, 1524 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 59,810 drug money, across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 30, 440 in 204 days.
20-Sep-2025
Bathinda Police on September 20 arrested a 47-year-old woman, identified as Paramjit Kaur and seized two weapons — a 9mm pistol and a country-made pistol — along with 130 grams of heroin, in Bhagwangarh village, Bathinda district.
20-Sep-2025
Amritsar Police on September 20 dismantled an interstate opium supply network with the arrest of two traffickers, identified as Harwinder Singh alias Harry and Ranjit Singh alias Rana, seizing 12 kg of opium, a Thar Roxx vehicle, and INR 6,000 in drug money, at a checkpoint near Golden Gate, Amritsar district. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said Harwinder has been active in narcotics trafficking since 2022, while his brother Gurpreet Singh is on trial in another case involving 7 kg of opium.
20-Sep-2025
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann said the state is grappling with its worst floods in decades and criticised the Centre for inadequate relief funds. He noted that Punjab has suffered infrastructure, agriculture, and livestock losses estimated at INR 13,800 crore, adding that the figure could rise once the water recedes.
20-Sep-2025
On September 20, Punjab Police, on day 203 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 56 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 93 drug smugglers and seized 11.4 kg of heroin, 644 grams of opium, 814 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 4.29 lakhs drug money, across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 30,298 in 203 days.
20-Sep-2025
The special cell of Amritsar rural police on September 20 arrested two drug smugglers, Shankar Singh and Sachin and recovered 6.286 kg of heroin and INR 4 lakh drug money from their possession in Beharwal village in Amritsar district.
20-Sep-2025
The counter-intelligence wing of Amritsar Police on September 20 busted a cross-border narcotics module, arresting one of its operatives, identified as Pawandeep Singh with 5.032 kg of heroin in Amritsar. Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said Pawandeep confessed to working under the directions of his United States (US)-based handler, Harpal Singh, a native of Kohala village in Amritsar.
20-Sep-2025
Police on September 20 arrested three persons, identified as Jaswant Rai, Paraminder Singh and Hardev Singh and seized 850 grams of opium from them at a naka (checkpoint) near Dhilwan in Kapurthala district.
20-Sep-2025
Jalandhar Police on September 20 confiscated movable and immovable property worth INR 52.8 lakh belonging to an alleged drug smuggler, Barinder Singh, who had been arrested with 1 kg of heroin on May 20.
20-Sep-2025
According to Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) data, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh (UP) ranked joint second in drug trafficking cases in 2024 with 193 each, while Delhi topped with 208. Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh followed with 113, 103 and 102 cases, respectively. Punjab, however, led in heroin seizures with 1,150 kg confiscated in 2024, compared to 114 kg in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and 63 kg in Haryana. Delhi topped the list of cocaine seizures with a record 1,396 kg, while Maharashtra was a distant second with 37 kg.
19-Sep-2025
On September 19, Punjab Police, on day 202 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 76 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 93 drug smugglers and seized 7.6 kg of heroin, 12 kg of opium, 1687 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 15860 drug money, across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 30,201 in 202 days.
19-Sep-2025
Delhi and Uttar Pradesh (UP) Police on September 19 announced the arrest of the remaining four accused in the firing incident outside actor Disha Patani’s Bareilly home, bringing all six suspects linked to the case into custody. Earlier, on September 17, two gangsters were killed in a police encounter in Ghaziabad, UP.
19-Sep-2025
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on September 19 met a Sikh delegation that submitted recommendations for the safekeeping and public display of the sacred ‘Jore Sahib’—the footwear of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Mata Sahib Kaur Ji. The delegation, led by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, included eminent Sikh leaders who presented their proposals to the PM.
19-Sep-2025
According to Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) data for 2024, sightings and recoveries of narcotics dropped from drones across the border saw a sharp increase, particularly in the border districts of Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, and Gurdaspur in Punjab. During 2024, Punjab reported 163 cases of drug trafficking via drones, involving the seizure of 187 kg of heroin. Rajasthan followed with 15 such cases, in which 39 kg of heroin was seized.
19-Sep-2025
On September 19, India and Canada took a concrete step towards restoring normalcy in their strained ties, with senior officials meeting in New Delhi and agreeing to revive dialogue mechanisms across trade, defence, energy, civil nuclear cooperation, security, law enforcement, critical minerals, space, science and technology, and agriculture. An Indian readout said both sides also decided to address capacity issues at missions and consulates to strengthen people-to-people links and economic opportunities.
19-Sep-2025
Punjab Police on September 19 busted a drug trafficking network, arrested two drug smugglers, and seized 4 kilograms of heroin from their possession in Sri Muktsar Sahib district.
18-Sep-2025
Khanna police on September 18 arrested three persons, identified as Gurlal Singh alias Gora, Mohammad Irshad, and Davinder Singh, and seized 1.005 kg of heroin in Ludhiana district. Investigations revealed that the drug network was being operated from inside Ropar Jail by Lovepreet Singh alias Lavi.
18-Sep-2025
National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, on September 18 in New Delhi, held talks with his Canadian counterpart, Nathalie Drouin, signalling efforts to normalise ties and resume high-level exchanges after recent tensions. During the meeting, Doval is learnt to have flagged India’s concerns over the activities of pro-Khalistani groups operating from Canada and sought assurances on the security of Indian diplomats and missions, as both countries work to restore full staffing at their respective embassies.
18-Sep-2025
According to police sources, the Turkey-made Zigana pistol is highly popular among gangsters in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan due to its capacity to fire over 15 rounds, low chance of jamming, and high accuracy. The weapon has been used in the killings of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, Uttar Pradesh (UP) gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed, Maharashtra NCP leader Baba Siddique, and in the recent shooting outside Bollywood actress Disha Patani’s residence in Bareilly, UP.
18-Sep-2025
Dal Khalsa, on September 18, announced it will host the “Punjab Summit 2025” in Jalandhar on September 21, bringing together community representatives, activists, and intellectuals to discuss key challenges and draft an action-oriented roadmap. At a press conference, leaders Paramjit Singh Mand, Kanwar Pal Singh, and Paramjeet Singh Tanda said Punjab is “at the crossroads,” facing three acute and escalating threats: alleged extrajudicial killings and custodial torture eroding public trust; “weaponisation of water” through floods and dam mismanagement; and an unchecked influx of migrant labour affecting social cohesion, economic security, and political autonomy.
18-Sep-2025
Punjab Police's Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), in a joint operation with the Border Security Force (BSF), on September 18, busted a drug smuggling module operated by foreign-based gangster Harpreet Singh alias Happy Jatt, by arresting a key operative, Sajan Singh alias Billa, and seizing 25 packets of heroin weighing 25.9 kg along with a sophisticated 9mm Glock pistol near Beharwal village in Amritsar district. Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said Happy Jatt, a proclaimed offender in at least 21 criminal cases, is facing extradition, adding that investigations are underway to expose the module’s wider nexus and linkages.
18-Sep-2025
The Amritsar Commissionerate Police on September 18 busted a narcotic cartel and arrested four drug traffickers, identified as Honey, Parmdeep Singh, Harwinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh recovering a total of 8.062 kg of heroin in Amritsar district. Preliminary investigations revealed that foreign-based gangster Harpreet Singh alias Happy Jatt of Jandiala Guru, Amritsar, had direct links with Pakistan-based smugglers and operated his network through social media platforms.