KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
21-Jun-2025
According to top government sources, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Canada marked a turning point in India-Canada relations, effectively overshadowing Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s failed attempts to incite unrest. The visit, which focused on strengthening cooperation in trade, clean energy, and security, reflected both leaders’ resolve to move beyond past tensions. Canadian PM Mark Carney’s pragmatic approach, coupled with the low turnout at anti-Modi protests, indicated a broader shift away from legitimising Khalistani separatist narratives.
21-Jun-2025
Punjab Police on June 21 busted a Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror module and arrested one operative, identified as Onkar Singh and seized four Glock-make pistols and two PX5 pistols from his possession in Amritsar in Amritsar district. Police revealed that the pistols were smuggled via drones from Pakistan and intended for targeted killings. The module was being handled by United Kingdom (UK) based Dharam Singh alias Dharma Sandhu, a close associate of Pakistan-based terrorist Harvinder Singh alias Rinda.
21-Jun-2025
The Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann, on June 21, gave ex-post facto approval for a high-powered sub-committee to intensify the State’s “Yudh Nashian Virudh” (War on Drugs) initiative, in Chandigarh.
21-Jun-2025
On June 21, Punjab Police, on day 112 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign registered 84 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 117 drug smugglers and seized 7.5 kg of heroin, 500 grams of opium and INR 39,640 drug money from their possession, across Punjab.
20-Jun-2025
Patna Police on June 20 arrested an individual, identified as Rakesh Kumar for issuing death threats to Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) president Upendra Kushwaha in the name of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, and seized a mobile phone, SIM card, and a diary with political contacts , in Patna in Bihar. The accused, a former associate of Kushwaha’s party, confessed he acted out of political frustration and had no real links to the gang.
20-Jun-2025
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on June 20 filed a chargesheet against a key associate of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Lakhbir Singh alias Landa and gangster Pavittar Batala, identified as Jatinder Singh alias Joti, in Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district in Punjab. Jatinder was involved in procuring illegal weapons from Madhya Pradesh (MP) for use by Punjab-based operatives. Investigations also revealed links to foreign-based handlers like Pakistan-based terrorist Harwinder Singh alias Rinda, and the use of encrypted communications.
20-Jun-2025
According to senior police officials, Punjab’s border with Pakistan has witnessed a sharp surge in the trafficking of arms, explosives, and narcotics, with advanced firearms such as Austria-made Glock and Turkey-made Zigana pistols being seized in significant numbers. Since January, 220 weapons have been recovered from Amritsar district alone. The Border Security Force (BSF) has also confiscated 74 pistols and neutralised 129 China-made drones along the Punjab frontier. Officials attribute this spike to a strategic shift by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), which is reportedly using drone-based smuggling routes to destabilise India by aggressively pushing in weapons and contraband.
20-Jun-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on June 20 recovered a drone along with a packet containing pistol parts from fields near Roranwala Khurd village in Amritsar district. The drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
20-Jun-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on June 20 neutralised a drone and recovered a bag containing 7.4 kg of methamphetamine (ICE) along with the drone from fields near Mode village in Amritsar district.
20-Jun-2025
According to officials, the seizure of 7.4 kg of high-purity methamphetamine (ICE) in Mode village, Amritsar district, on June 20 signals a concerning shift in the regional drug trade, with traffickers increasingly prioritising methamphetamine over heroin. The Taliban’s poppy ban has crippled Afghanistan’s opium economy, prompting smugglers to manufacture ICE using ephedra plants in makeshift labs across Afghanistan. This plant-based meth is then routed through Pakistan into Punjab, posing a growing threat to vulnerable youth in the region.
20-Jun-2025
Punjab Police on June 20 carried out a special operation ‘OPS Seal-XV’ as part of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign against drugs, in which 900 personnel were deployed at 93 checkpoints, checking 3,180 vehicles, issuing 367 challans, and impounding 7 vehicles, across 10 inter-state border districts namely Pathankot, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Fazilka, Rupanagar, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (SAS) Nagar, Patiala, Sangrur, Mansa, Hoshiarpur and Bathinda districts, across Punjab.
20-Jun-2025
On June 20, Punjab Police, on day 111 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign registered 98 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 127 drug smugglers and seized 4.2 kg of heroin, 3 kg of opium, 118 kg of poppy husk and INR 11,170 drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers, across Punjab.
20-Jun-2025
A recently released audio clip has revealed a growing rift between jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his former associate, Satinderjeet Singh alias Goldy Brar. Intelligence sources suggest the fallout stems from Brar and Azerbaijan-based gangster Rohit Godara’s alleged failure to support Bishnoi’s brother, Anmol, during his detention in the United States (US). In the clip, Brar distances himself from Anmol and claims responsibility for a June 17 shooting in Rajasthan, while denying any links to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Punjab Police are currently verifying the clip’s authenticity, though officials maintain it will not impact ongoing investigations.
19-Jun-2025
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami on June 19, in Amritsar, urged the Indian government to act swiftly to ensure the safety of Sikh religious scriptures in Iran and Israel amid escalating tensions. He appealed for the protection of gurdwaras and the sacred ‘saroops’ of Guru Granth Sahib in both countries.
19-Jun-2025
On June 19, Punjab Police, on day 110 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 100 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 132 drug smugglers and seized 1.08 kg of heroin and INR 87,540 drug money from their possession, across Punjab.
19-Jun-2025
Police on June 19 arrested five henchmen of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, identified as Tejinder Singh Fauji, Rahul, Vipal Kumar, Sukhchain Singh and Dev Karan, and seized three .30 bore pistols, three .32 bore pistols and one .315 bore country-made pistol, along with 10 magazines and 11 rounds from their possession, in Patiala in Patiala district. Police revealed that the weapons were sourced from Madhya Pradesh (MP) and efforts are underway to arrest the supplier.
18-Jun-2025
On June 18, an individual identified as Yograj was killed after being caught in the crossfire during a violent clash between two rival groups outside a gym in Nakodar, Jalandhar district, Punjab. The shootout, involving occupants of a Toyota Fortuner and a Maruti Dzire, also left another youth, Dilpreet Singh, seriously injured. Police confirmed that Yograj was an uninvolved bystander who was fatally shot when he stepped outside the gym. Authorities are treating the incident as gang-related, though no arrests have been made so far.
18-Jun-2025
The State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) Mohali on June 18 arrested Resham Singh, a key operative of the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and a close aide of its chief, Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in Kharar, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district, Punjab. Resham was wanted for vandalising a statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in Phillaur and defacing public property with pro-Khalistan graffiti across multiple districts. Acting on instructions from U.S.-based handlers, including Pannun and Surinder Singh Thikriwal, Resham reportedly received INR 8–10 lakh in foreign funding to carry out anti-national activities. Authorities stated he filmed these acts for use in SFJ’s propaganda campaigns abroad.
18-Jun-2025
A recent report by The Wire has revealed deepening divisions within Punjab’s Sikh community following the brutal murder of social media influencer Kamal Kaur, allegedly carried out by a self-styled Nihang group that accused her of 'spreading obscenity.' The killing, which took place on June 10, 2025, has sparked a contentious public debate after senior Sikh religious leaders—including figures from the Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC)—appeared to justify the act. The prime accused, Amritpal Singh Mehron, a convert to Sikhism and head of the fringe group Kaum De Rakhe, has reportedly fled to Dubai, even as Punjab Police continue efforts to secure his arrest.
18-Jun-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) in a joint operation with Punjab Police on June 18 arrested three unidentified smugglers and seized 500 grams of heroin, two drones, pistol parts and five mobile phones from their possession, in Raja Rai village in Ferozepur district.
18-Jun-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) on June 18 recovered a drone from fields near Kalia village in Tarn Taran district. The recovered drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic Model.
18-Jun-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police, on June 18 recovered a drone from fields near Gendhu Kilcha village in Ferozepur district.
18-Jun-2025
On June 18, Punjab Police, on day 109 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 107 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 151 drug smugglers and seized 3.5 kg of heroin, 1.3 kg of opium and INR 9.59 lakh drug money from their possession, across Punjab.
18-Jun-2025
The Amritsar police Commissionerate on June 18 arrested an individual, identified as Jaspreet Singh, in connection with death threats issued to social media influencer Deepika Luthra, in Ludhiana district in Punjab. This follows the earlier arrest of Ramandeep Singh. Luthra was provided armed police protection after she reported the threats.
18-Jun-2025
On June 18, a local court remanded Nimratjeet Singh and Jaspreet Singh to 14-day judicial custody in connection with the murder of social media influencer Kanchan Kumari alias Kamal Kaur Bhabhi, in Bathinda in Bathinda district in Punjab. The police stated that the duo, along with absconding mastermind Amritpal Singh Mehron, strangled her in an act of moral policing.