KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
21-Mar-2023
The Sikh Forum, a New Delhi-based Sikh group expressed concern over the recent developments in Punjab and denounced the activities of a few Khalistan supporters. They asserted that these individuals do not speak for the Sikh community residing in Punjab, other regions of India, or abroad.
21-Mar-2023
The Bathinda District Peace Committee, headed by DC Showkat Ahmad Parray, unanimously supported the government’s action against pro-Khalistan activist Amritpal Singh and urged the public to stay vigilant against false information and rumors.
21-Mar-2023
The Delhi Police along with the Punjab Police arrested a close associate of Waris Punjab De (WPD) chief Amritpal Singh, identified as Amit Singh from Tilak Vihar in West Delhi, New Delhi on March 21.
21-Mar-2023
Several Sikh leaders have expressed their opinions regarding the act of vandalism and denounced the violence carried out by supporters of pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh in the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK).
21-Mar-2023
The Punjab government on March 21 informed the High Court (HC) that they have imposed the National Security Act (NSA) on the fugitive Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh. The government disclosed this information in response to the High Court's criticism of their intelligence failure that allowed Amritpal to escape from the police. The HC was hearing the habeas corpus petition filed by advocate Imaan Singh Khara, seeking the release of Amritpal Singh from alleged police custody.
21-Mar-2023
A group of Sikhs from Haryana held a meeting at the Gurudwara Kar Sewa in Karnal on March 21, where they expressed their disapproval of the Punjab police's actions against Waris Punjab De (WDP) leader Amritpal Singh. The group also urged the Punjab government to drop the charges against Amritpal Singh and release those associated with him.
21-Mar-2023
The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) on March 21 criticized the Punjab government for not yet apprehending Amritpal Singh, the leader of Waris Punjab De (WDP), and questioned how they could have missed him as they had a sizable police force of 80,000 officers at its disposal. Additionally, the court requested a status report on the operation that commenced on March 18.
21-Mar-2023
Punjab Police on March 21 announced that four persons were arrested for helping radical preacher Amritpal Singh in fleeing. The accused were identified as Manpreet Singh alias Manna, Gurdeep Singh alias Deepa, Harpreet Singh alias Happy, and Gurbhej Singh alias Bheja. Many swords, walkie-talkie sets, and a.315 bore rifle were recovered from their possession. According to the preliminary inquiry, they travelled to the Gurudwara Sahib in the Nangal Ambian village in Jalandhar district, where Amritpal Singh changed into a new outfit before they fled on two motorcycles. Police also released four pictures of Amritpal Singh in different attire and urged the public to come forward with any information that could help locate him.
21-Mar-2023
According to Sukhchain Singh Gill, the Inspector General of Police in Punjab, Amritpal Singh was already charged under the National Security Act (NSA), and the authorities are currently working to apprehend him. Gill also mentioned that Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann is overseeing the situation and keeping in touch with law enforcement officials for regular updates.
21-Mar-2023
As per reports, it has been confirmed that Amritpal Singh, the leader of Waris Punjab De (WPD), has connections with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). However, intelligence agencies are currently working to determine and confirm the specific terrorist organization based in Pakistan that is providing direct support and funding to him. This process is crucial for creating a dossier on Amritpal, according to an insider source.
21-Mar-2023
A Punjab Police team reached the Dibrugarh Central Prison in Assam, where four associates of Amritpal are currently detained, for the purpose of questioning them. Among Amritpal's aides, Harjit Singh (his uncle) and Harpreet Singh (his driver) surrendered themselves to the police on March 19. Police have made at least 114 arrests so far in connection with this case.
21-Mar-2023
Punjab police indicated that internet services are expected to be partially restored in Punjab today (March 21).
21-Mar-2023
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on March 21 filed its initial charge sheet against twelve individuals in one of three terror-gangster nexus cases that the agency is investigating. The charge sheet accuses the twelve individuals of having ties with pro-Khalistan organizations and conspirators based in Pakistan. The NIA is investigating 10 more people for their alleged role in the terror conspiracy, including plans to eliminate certain leaders, singers, and businessmen to terrorize people, extort money from them and create a sensation. The NIA spokesperson stated that the investigation has uncovered links between the charge-sheeted accused and the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and its operative, Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dala, a listed Individual Terrorist.
20-Mar-2023
The Punjab government again extended the suspension on all mobile internet, SMS, and dongle services in Punjab as the police continued its manhunt to arrest Waris Punjab De (WPD) leader Amritpal Singh and his accomplices. According to an official announcement from the Punjab government, mobile internet services will remain suspended in the region until 12 pm on March 21.
20-Mar-2023
Several Twitter accounts that support the Khalistan movement, including those belonging to Canadian New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh, poet Rupi Kaur associated with United Sikhs, and activist Gurdeep Singh Sahota based in Canada, were suspended in India. The suspension of Jagmeet Singh's account is particularly noteworthy given his reputation for making pro-Khalistan and anti-India statements. This action was taken by the Indian government during a time when there has been an increase in Khalistani-related attacks in western countries.
20-Mar-2023
A group of individuals from the Sikh community assembled on March 20 outside the British High Commission in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, to voice their opposition to pro-Khalistan separatists who had removed the Indian national flag from the Indian High Commission building in London, United Kingdom (UK). During the protest, the demonstrators chanted the slogan "Bharat humara swabhiman hai" (India is our pride), held up placards, and waved the Tricolour.
20-Mar-2023
Punjab Police on March 20 revealed that Amritpal Singh, fugitive pro-Khalistan leader, was attempting to establish a militia known as the Anandpur Khalsa Fauj (AKF) and noted that it had a very strong suspicion that he is being financially backed by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Sukhchain Singh Gill disclosed that, “The bulletproof jackets and rifles that have been recovered and the gate (of the house) of the chief (Amritpal Singh) had AKF written on them. There was an attempt to form a Jathebandi called ‘Anandpur Khalsa Fauj.” “We have a very strong suspicion of an ISI angle, based on the facts and circumstances that have come to light so far. We also have a very strong suspicion of foreign funding. Going by the circumstances, it seems that ISI is involved and there is foreign funding as well,” he added.
20-Mar-2023
According to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab, Sukhchain Singh Gill, 114 individuals have attempted to disturb peace and harmony, of whom 78 were arrested on the first day, 34 on the second day, and two more were apprehended the previous night. Ten weapons were recovered in the operation. Four of the detainees, identified as Daljit Singh Kalsi, Bhagwant Singh, Gurmeet Singh, and Pradhanmantri' Bajeke, have been transferred to the Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam, where the National Security Act (NSA) has been invoked against them. "Harjeet Singh - the uncle of Amritpal Singh - is also en route to Dibrugarh. He is being taken there," the IGP said.
20-Mar-2023
According to official sources, Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has encouraged supporters of Khalistan living overseas to stage demonstrations and protests in cities such as London, San Francisco, and Canberra. These actions are part of a larger plan orchestrated by the ISI, which includes recent protests by Khalistan supporters outside the Australian parliament in Canberra, pro-Khalistan activists vandalizing the Indian High Commission in London, and the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. According to official sources, ISI agents are operating in various countries and are responsible for coordinating these acts by pro-Khalistan elements. Recent incidents suggest that ISI agents have been actively working to organize protests and acts of vandalism against places of Indian interest by exploiting the religious sentiments of Khalistani elements.
20-Mar-2023
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a statement said that during a meeting with the United States (US) Charge d' Affaires in New Delhi on March 20, India strongly objected to the damage caused to the property of the Consulate General of India in San Francisco and conveyed its protest. The MEA reminded the US government of its fundamental responsibility to safeguard and secure diplomatic representation and urged it to take suitable actions to prevent any future such occurrences. Furthermore, the Indian Embassy in Washington DC also communicated similar concerns to the US State Department.
19-Mar-2023
The Haryana Police on March 19 arrested a woman, identified Baljit Kaur for reportedly providing shelter to Amritpal Singh, the leader of Waris Punjab De (WPD), and his associate Papalpreet Singh at her residence in Shahabad in Kurukshetra district of Haryana. The police believe that this arrest implies that Amritpal may have left Punjab.
19-Mar-2023
Punjab police arrested the gunman of Amritpal Singh, identified as Tejinder Singh alias Gorkha Baba, from Mangewal village in Ludhiana district.
19-Mar-2023
According to reports, Pakistan's external spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has been the driving force behind Amritpal Singh's back to India with the aim of reviving Khalistani terrorism in Punjab. According to the officials, Amritpal Singh was a truck driver in Dubai before the ISI, with the help of Khalistan supporters based outside India, radicalized him so that he could plunge Punjab again into the dark days of terrorism. Amritpal had been openly making statements about declaring secession from India and forming Khalistan. He tried to incite the Sikh youths to resort to armed revolt against the democratically elected government in order to oppose the supposedly discriminatory treatment being mete to achieve the 'ultimate goal' of the formation of 'Khalistan', the officials said.
19-Mar-2023
Indian counterterrorism officials on March 19 claimed that Amritpal Singh, the leader of Waris Punjab De (WPD), was trained by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in Georgia before returning to India from Dubai, UAE. They further alleged that Amritpal maintained close connections with the pro-Khalistani outfit, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and received funding as part of a broader plan to revive militancy in Punjab. According to an official, “Amritpal Singh was given money as part of a well-orchestrated scheme to resurrect militancy in Punjab while he was living in Dubai, which is a hub for ISI agents. Before his flight to India, ISI sent him to Georgia for training’’. "Amritpal Singh also has ties to SFJ and has even campaigned for its social media activities. Besides, he has links with drug smugglers across the border identified by their pseudo names – Billa, Bilal and Rana,” the official added.
19-Mar-2023
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in a statement on March 19, said that India summoned the most senior United Kingdom (UK) diplomat in Delhi after vandalism happened at the Indian High Commission in London and expressed India's strong protest at the activities committed by separatist and extremist forces. The MEA statement said, 'An explanation was demanded for the complete absence of British security that allowed these elements to enter the High Commission premises. In this context, she was reminded of the fundamental responsibilities the UK Government has under the Vienna Convention.’