KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
19-Mar-2023
Security agencies raised a red flag on March 19 after they found that Amritpal Singh was stockpiling weapons and training young people to carry out suicide attacks using drug rehabilitation centres and a gurdwara. According to an intelligence dossier, Amritpal Singh was indoctrinating youths to become "khadkoos," or human bombs. Police sources indicated that numerous drug rehabilitation centers run by Waris Punjab De (WPD) and a gurudwara in Amritsar were involved in illegal firearms storage. According to the police sources, several drug rehabilitation centres operated by the WPD and a gurudwara in Amritsar which are involved in the illegal stockpiling of firearms. Young people admitted to the drug rehabilitation centers were reportedly subjected to brainwashing and pressured into the "gun culture." They were being directed to follow the example of slain terrorist Dilawar Singh and act as a human bomb.
19-Mar-2023
At least 21 supporters of Waris Punjab De (WPD) leader Amritpal Singh were arrested for trying to hold a "dharna" (protest) against the police crackdown on Amritpal near Boparai Klan town in Ludhiana on March 19. According to the police, flag marches were also held in Nawanshahr, Dakha, and Sidhwan in Ludhiana.
19-Mar-2023
On March 19, the police arrested 17 persons as part of a crackdown against the members of Waris Punjab De (WPD) in the Malwa region of Patiala district. Meanwhile, police dispersed a group of Amritpal's supporters gathered near the Shambhu barrier to block the national highway.
19-Mar-2023
Police, during the massive search operation on March 19, recovered weapons, uniforms and bulletproof jackets marked with the abbreviation ‘AKF’ from pro-Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh’s native village, Jallupur Khera near Rayya in Amritsar district. According to sources, "AKF" supposedly stands for ‘Anandpur Khalsa Force’. The weapons seized from his supporters also bore the same abbreviation. According to Amritsar (Rural) Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Satinder Singh, this was part of the investigation about the motive behind creating the ‘AKF’. Additionally, it was observed that the entrance gate of Amritpal's residence also had "AKF" written on it.
19-Mar-2023
Akal Takht acting Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on March 19, said that the governments should desist from instilling fear in Punjab for political interests, taking a strong note of the state-wide crackdown by the Punjab Police and central agencies against Waris Punjab De (WPD) head Amritpal Singh and his supporters.
19-Mar-2023
Punjab police on March 19 recovered a black SUV (ISUZU) from Salema village in Mehatpur in Jalandhar district, which was being used by Waris Punjab De (WPD) leader Amritpal Singh and his aides. Police recovered a 15-bore rifle, 57 rounds, a sword, and two number plates from inside the impounded car. Police claimed that this was the same car from which a video had gone viral on March 18. Police have seized three vehicles so far during the search operation and registered two additional First Information Reports (FIRs) in this connection.
19-Mar-2023
Intelligence agencies claimed that while Waris Punjab De (WDP) leader Amritpal Singh was in Dubai, he was in regular contact with Khalistani militant Paramjit Singh Pamma and Lakhbir Singh Rode's brother Jaswant Singh Rode, who is a banned Khalistani operator stationed in Pakistan. The agencies have also obtained information about funds that the treasurer of Amritpal, identified as Basant Singh Daulatpura, received from Pakistan. An intelligence officer said, “The financial analysis revealed that his associate, John Singh, is a prominent member of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and actively participated in the activities of Referendum 2020 in the US. Another suspected financier, who is Canada-based, recently sent Rs 1 lakh for Waris Punjab De.” Before returning to India on August 20, 2022, Amritpal spent one-and-a-half months in Georgia, a senior officer said.
18-Mar-2023
On March 18, several members of the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha (Community Justice Front) staged a sit-in at the Sohana chowk in Mohali on the Airport Road in response to police action taken against pro-Khalistan activist Amritpal Singh and his supporters. Some of the youths taking part in the protest had covered their faces and were armed with traditional weapons, swords, and sticks.
18-Mar-2023
The hearing in the 2005 sedition case filed against Jagtar Singh Hawara, the chief of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) who is currently serving a life sentence for the assassination of former Chief Minister (CM) Beant Singh, has been postponed until April 1. The court in Chandigarh was set to hear arguments regarding the charges on March 18, with Hawara scheduled to appear through a video link. However, it was discovered that he had been relocated to Delhi's Mandoli jail, while the video link created connected with Tihar Jail. The court attempted unsuccessfully to connect with the new facility, leading to the adjournment of the hearing to April 1.
18-Mar-2023
Punjab police on March 18 launched a “massive state-wide cordon and search operation” against Amritpal Singh, and arrested a total of 78 members of Waris Punjab De (WPD) from different locations in Punjab. Police also suspended Internet and SMS services across the state till March 19. However, Amritpal Singh managed to escape the police dragnet when his cavalcade was intercepted in the Jalandhar district. According to media reports, police officers from seven different districts chased Amritpal and his accomplices, and surrounded them in the Mehatpur village of the Jalandhar district. Punjab police have also blocked off the route, placed barriers, and are checking all vehicles for Amritpal Singh near the Dharamkot area in Moga district. Later, Punjab police in a statement, said that small arms and ammunition, including a revolver, seven 12-bore rifles, a. 315-bore rifle, and 373 live rounds, were recovered during the crackdown. It also said that WPD members faced four cases for “spreading disharmony among classes, attempt to murder, attack on police persons and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duties of public servants”.
18-Mar-2023
Meanwhile, several police and paramilitary force were deployed outside of Amritpal's native village Jallupur Khaira in Amritsar district. Notably, this police action comes a day ahead of the start of Amritpal’s “Khalsa Wahir” (a religious procession) from Muktsar district. According to official sources, internet access was shut down as Amritpal’s supporters started spreading inflammatory messages on social media.
18-Mar-2023
During Punjab police’s massive crackdown against self-styled Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh and his outfit Waris Punjab De (WPD) on March 18, in a Facebook Live video, Amritpal Singh's aide claimed that over 100 Punjab Police officials were chasing him out for arrest. In the video that was shared, Amritpal was seen sitting in a vehicle, and one of his aides could be heard saying that police were looking for "Bhai saab" (Amritpal).
18-Mar-2023
According to Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA), which is closely monitoring the situation in Punjab, some of the funding and logistical support for Amritpal Singh and his outfit Waris Punjab De (WDP) is coming from the terror-gangster-drug smuggling network and, to a certain extent, from Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) through Pakistan-based Pro-Khalistan Entities (PKEs). As per the UMHA officials, “the main source for terror and radical funding in Punjab is foreign-based PKEs and donors who are collecting and channelising donation from Indian diaspora”. The officials said, "they mostly target places like Gurudwaras where large gatherings of devotees congregate on weekends and on auspicious occasions," adding that some organizations that assert to be fighting for community justice and the rights of convicts are soliciting significant donations in this regard. A high-ranking official in the Punjab state administration stated that funds raised from the Indian diaspora in the name of aiding the underprivileged are being diverted towards assisting jailed terrorists, those acquitted or released on bail or parole for various terrorist crimes, and family members of terrorists, as well as sleeper cells and other anti-national elements. This, according to the official, is a deliberate attempt to revive Sikh militancy and support terrorist and anti-India activities.
18-Mar-2023
Pro-Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh’s father, Tarsem Singh on March 18 accused that his son is being targeted by police due to political pressure because he is actively working to eradicate drug use in Punjab. “This action against Amritpal is unjustified. There are drugs in every home. But there is no focus on that issue. If someone is trying to end the drug menace, he is being stopped," he said.
17-Mar-2023
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the head of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), in an audio message on March 17 threatened to teach the big leaders of the country a lesson and also threw a challenge to Gujarat police. The message, which was pre-recorded and directed to numerous mobile users in Gujarat, contained Pannun's allegation that the Union government's leaders were accountable for the fatalities of Sikh farmers who demonstrated against the new agricultural policies in 2020-2021. The audio message went on to caution that the SFJ would not pardon the government for those casualties.
17-Mar-2023
The founder of Dal Khalsa and former pro-Khalistan leader, Jaswant Singh Thekedar exposed Amritpal Singh by saying that he does not know anything about Khalistan and that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan is using him as a tool. He also, stated, "He is not a Khalistani, but it is certain that he has earned a lot in the name of Khalistan. His plans will not succeed further."
17-Mar-2023
Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, during the second part of his interview which was broadcasted on a television network on March 17, allegedly threatened to kill Bollywood actor Salman Khan by calling it ‘his main goal’. “I will be a big ‘goonda’ (as you call me) when I kill Salman (for shooting a blackbuck in Rajasthan),” he said. He also claimed that Bishnoi community worships blackbucks. Meanwhile, it was officially declared by the in-charge Director General of Punjab (DGP) Gaurav Yadav that Bishnoi's controversial interview with a TV channel was not conducted from the Bathinda jail's high-security area or any other jail in Punjab.
17-Mar-2023
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president, Harjinder Singh Dhami, organized a special event to welcome G20 representatives at the Golden Temple in Amritsar where the delegates were honored. Meanwhile, the delegates were also apprised of the Sikh history and the maryada (code of conduct) of the Golden Temple that conveys the message of universal communion.
16-Mar-2023
Three members of Lawrence Bishnoi's gang, identified as Sonu, Sachin, and Harish were arrested after a brief encounter in Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan on March 16. According to police sources, the gang had been trying to extort money from a businessman. Anmol Bishnoi, Lawrence Bishnoi's brother, purportedly threatened the businessman over the phone before sending two of his aides to his house to extort money. All three were reportedly acting on Anmol Bishnoi's orders.
16-Mar-2023
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that the disturbance caused by supporters of Khalistani at the Indian consulate in Brisbane has been brought to the attention of the Australian authorities, and they are expected to take necessary measures in response. He stated, "Consulate was halted for little while. Australian authorities were informed of the issue, and they would need to take appropriate action. Prime Minister (PM) Modi already raised concerns on such issues in their meeting on March 10 when with his counterpart Australian PM. Our teams are in touch".
16-Mar-2023
The Border Security Force's (BSF) new Inspector General (IG) for the Punjab frontier, Dr. Atul Fulzele, on March 16, stated that his aim is to check human and drone infiltration from Pakistan to halt the inflow of drugs and weapons.
16-Mar-2023
During an interview, Jaswant Singh Thekedar, the Dal Khalsa founder, asserted that the ‘Khalistan referendum’ is a scheme orchestrated by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and is an effort to deceive the public. He emphasized that the so-called referendum has no connection to the Sikh community in India. He said that Pakistan is the real enemy of Khalistan and "some Sikhs are working as tools" in hands of Pakistan government. He also said the people of Punjab are not demanding any referendum. "The referendum you are talking about, those in Punjab do not demand it. It's an organisation 2020, they talk of referendum on the instructions of ISI. Referendum does not mean... if Indian passport holders or Indian citizens want it then it is understandable, but it is not that Canadian, American or British people vote. They do not have any right," he said answering queries. "It is 'pakhand' (sham) to mislead people. People are understanding it a source of income for them," he added. He also stated that he admires the effort done by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi for the Sikh community. He added, “The government has worked on major demands, and only a few demands and left to be fulfilled. All will be good if they agree to meet these demands”.
15-Mar-2023
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on March 15 stated that the state is not experiencing a surge in radicalisation. "In Punjab, social ties are very strong. The current problems Punjab is facing are related to employment, industry, higher education, and health”, said the CM.
15-Mar-2023
Police arrested four members of the Davinder Bambiha gang, identified as Mannu Batta, Aman Kumar, Sanjeev, and Kamaldeep, and recovered three .32 bore pistols, a revolver, and 23 live cartridges from them in Chandigarh on March 15. The suspects used to extort money from club and hotel owners at the behest of Gaurav Patiala alias Lucky and Prince, who are based in Canada.
15-Mar-2023
The Punjab government on March 15 claimed that there has been a significant improvement in the law-and-order situation in the border state one year after the government, led by Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann, took office. The Punjab government’s spokesperson stated that the law-and-order situation in the border state has witnessed a considerable improvement as majority of criminals and gangsters have been put behind the bar, while, many of them chose to leave the state amidst the strict vigil maintained by Punjab Police on the movement of anti-social elements. According to the official data from March 16, 2022, to March 15, 2023, the Punjab Police have dismantled 26 terror modules with the arrest of 168 terrorists/radicals after recovering 31 rifles, 201 revolvers/pistols, 9 tiffin Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs), 8.72 kg of RDX and other explosives, 11 hand grenades, two sleeves of disposed rocket launchers, 30 drones, and one loaded rocket propelled grenade. Similarly, the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), since its formation on April 6, 2022, has succeeded in busting 162 gangster/criminal modules after arresting 582 gangsters/criminals and neutralising five, after recovering 586 weapons, 131 vehicles used in criminal activities. The Punjab Police had also waged a decisive war against drugs which resulted in the arrest of as many as 17568 drug smugglers after registering 13094 FIRs since March 16, 2022, against them. Punjab Police have effectively recovered a record 863.9Kg heroin in just one year.