KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
19-Feb-2023
Punjab Police on February 19 carried out a special operation, ‘Ops Seal’ aimed at checking of all vehicles entering the border state of Punjab at 10 inter-state borders. Police arrested three proclaimed offenders and recovered 70 kg poppy husk, 1 kg charas, 110 grams heroin and INR 1 lakh drug money during the operation. Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla said that the objective of this operation was to keep check on illegal drug trafficking and illicit liquor smuggling, besides, movement of gangsters and anti-social elements.
19-Feb-2023
As per sources, the probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) revealed that Pakistan-based Rinda had taught the shooter who has been identified as Deepak Ranga, to use a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) over two video-call sessions before the RPG attack on the Punjab Police intelligence headquarters in Mohali in 2022. The NIA has also found that Rinda managed to radicalise Deepak with stories of how the police had allegedly tortured the family members of one of Rinda's associates, the sources said. According to sources, Deepak was also allegedly involved in the murder of builder Sanjay Biyani in Maharashtra's Nanded in April 2022 on Rinda's orders.
18-Feb-2023
Police on February 18 arrested gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria’s accomplice, identified as Vishal Verma alias Shalu along with nine pistols and 20 cartridges in Rupnagar district of Punjab. Ropar Superintendent of Police (SSP) Vivek Sheel Soni said, Verma was planning something big. Bhagwanpuria’s gang was also involved in smuggling of weapons and drugs in the state on a large scale, as per sources.
18-Feb-2023
The Faridkot police arrested two persons, identified as Jasbir Singh and Jashandeep Singh and recovered three illegal weapons from them in Faridkot district. In the primary investigation, it is revealed that accused had snatched a .12 bore gun from a person in Baghapurana area of Moga district.
18-Feb-2023
The Border Security Forces (BSF) on February 18 foiled a major narco-terror bid from Pakistan's side and recovered 20 packets of suspected drug heroin (approximately 22 kg) wrapped in yellow tapes on international border (IB) in Gurdaspur district. They also recovered two pistols, of which one is Made in Turkey while the other one is Made in China. Six magazines and 242 rounds were also recovered along with one 12-feet long plastic pipe. According to BSF officers, the gunfight began when suspicious movement of smugglers ahead of fencing in the area near Khasawali village in the Gurdaspur district.
18-Feb-2023
Police on February 18, arrested a gangster identified as Rohit Kumar alias Simtu, along with a .32 bore pistol and five live cartridges from an undisclosed place in Punjab. As per sources, he was involved in the Baltana shootout case and also wanted in six criminal cases registered in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.
18-Feb-2023
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar during his visit to Australia emphasised the need for vigilance against radical activities. In an interview, on temples attack in Canada, Australia and the UK, he added that these nations have to respond appropriately over the issue.
17-Feb-2023
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) on February 17 declared Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, currently based in Pakistan and affiliated to Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) as a terrorist and Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) as terrorist organisation. According to intelligence officials, Rinda, who is believed to be living in Lahore, is associated with the banned group BKI and is said to have played a key role in the 2021 attack on the intelligence headquarters of the Punjab Police in Mohali. Rinda hails from Rattoke village in Tarn Taran district of Punjab, and he was previously arrested in 2008 after a scuffle during a family feud. After getting in touch with criminals during his time in prison, Rinda shifted his base to Nanded in Maharashtra. Following his interactions with criminals while serving time in prison, Rinda relocated to Nanded in Maharashtra. Subsequently, he utilized counterfeit travel documents to enter Pakistan in 2020 and established contact with pro-Khalistan terrorist organizations, who reportedly provided him with security. In August 2022, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) offered a cash reward of INR 10 lakh to anyone with information on Rinda. KTF is a militant outfit that seeks to revive terrorism in the state of Punjab and poses a threat to India's territorial integrity, national security, unity, and sovereignty. The organization promotes various forms of terrorism, including targeted assassinations within Punjab. The recent classification of KTF as a terrorist organization brings the total number of designated terrorist groups to 44 under the Schedule of the Act.
17-Feb-2023
Ludhiana police arrested two youngsters, identified as Munish alias Lallu and Aniket Chauhan Talwara, operating on the directions of a notorious criminal Sagar Newton in Ludhiana. Police also recovered six illegal pistols, eight magazines and 12 live cartridges from them. According to reports, these notorious criminals now started using social media platforms from jails to build a network to buy and supply arms.
17-Feb-2023
Police on February 17 arrested a key accused in the RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) attack case, Gurpinder alias Pindu, who have a close tie with Canada-based terrorist Lakhbir Singh alias Landa from Khem Karan in Tarn Taran district. The RPG attack was carried out at Intelligence Headquarters in Mohali on May 9, 2022. According to Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, on April 25, 2022, Charhat Singh, Nishan Singh and Baljinder Rambo had brought consignment of RPG and assault rifle from Tarn Taran to Amritsar, and kept at Pindu’s house near Alpha Mall in Amritsar. The accused had also harboured the shooters, Deepak and another man, at his house on the same night, he added. Police have so far arrested nine accused in this case.
17-Feb-2023
Border Security Force (BSF) on February 16 foiled a smuggling bid and recovered approximately 2 kg of heroin wrapped in a white cloth from near Dalla Rajput village in Amritsar District.
17-Feb-2023
The Mansa police have booked 50 persons for shouting pro-Khalistan slogans and waving a Khalistani flag in the Mansa city in Mansa district. According to reports, on February 17, the accused held a motorbike and tractor rally from Ralla village to Mansa in support of the demand to free of the "Bandi Singhs". The case was reported at the Mansa Sadar police station under Section 124-A of the Indian Criminal Code (IPC). Nine of the accused have also been identified by the police.
16-Feb-2023
Police arrested two accused, identified as Gurpreet Singh and Amritpal Singh of Patiala, close associates of SK Kharoud gang, and recovered two pistols and ten live cartridges from them at Devigarh Road, Jodian Sadkan in Patiala on February 16. A case has been registered against both under the Arms act at Sanour police station. Also, both the accused have multiple cases registered against them in different police stations.
16-Feb-2023
Police on February 16 booked ‘Waris Punjab De’ head Amritpal Singh among 20 persons on charges of kidnapping, thrashing and snatching, on the complaint lodged by Varinder Singh of the Chamkaur Sahib area in Anjala in Amritsar district. The First Information Report (FIR) was registered against them at the Ajnala police station.
16-Feb-2023
According to police, Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi who was brought to Jaipur from Punjab on a production warrant has been sent on seven-day police remand. The court gave police remand for seven days till February 23 for interrogation. Bishnoi is being interrogated in connection with his involvement in a case of firing outside at a club in Jaipur on January 29. Six members of his gang were arrested earlier in connection with the January 29 firing.
16-Feb-2023
The special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mohali on February 16 convicted Kulwinder Singh Khanpuria of the banned Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) for waging a war against the country. He was produced before the court through video-conferencing. The NIA had registered a case against Khanpuria in 2019. He was arrested on November 21, 2022, from Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi while he was returning from Bangkok. The NIA had framed charges against Khanpuria for criminal conspiracy and under sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The court framed charges against Khanpuria under Sections 121, 122, 123 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Sections 3 and 25 of the Arms Act and Sections 17, 18, 18-B, 38 and 39 of the UAPA.
15-Feb-2023
On February 15, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced a cash reward of INR 15 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Canada-based gangster-turned-Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh Sandhu alias Landa, who is wanted in connection with terror cases in Punjab. The NIA said, “A cash reward of Rs 15 lakh is announced for any information leading to arrest of Lakhbir Singh Sandhu alias ‘Landa’. Landa, a resident of Tarn Taran in Punjab, believed to be residing in Edmonton in Alberta in Canada, has been an absconder and is wanted by the NIA in a case related to the grenade attack on the Punjab Police intelligence headquarters in Mohali in 2022. According to reports, In 2022, the NIA initiated a case when it was discovered that terrorist groups and individuals located overseas were collaborating with leaders and members of organized criminal groups in the northern states of the country to carry out specific murders and other violent criminal activities. The NIA spokesperson said, “It had emerged that the terror-gangster-drug smuggler network was also engaged in smuggling terrorist hardware such as arms, ammunition, explosives, IEDs across border through a widespread inter-state network of gunrunners, illegal arms and ammunition manufacturers and suppliers and explosive traffickers.”
15-Feb-2023
Punjab Police arrested one person who has links with gangster Jagdeep Singh alias Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, identified as Jaipal Singh alias Gumta and recovered 1Kg heroin and INR 27 lakh drug money from his possession in Tarn Taran district.
15-Feb-2023
According to reports, 26 villages of Ludhiana district were declared drug-free by the administration as part of the campaign launched against the drug menace by the state Government. A senior government functionary said on February 15, that 16 villages in the Jagraon sub-division, 6 in Raikot and 4 in the Dakha sub-division had been declared ‘drug-free’. While 11 villages under the Sidhwan Bet police station had become free of drugs, 6 ‘drug-free’ villages fall under the jurisdictions of Raikot City, Raikot Sadar and Hanoor police stations. Among others, 4 villages had become ‘drug-free’ under the limits of Dakha, Sudhar and Jodhan police stations, 3 under Jagraon City and 2 such villages fall under the jurisdiction of the Jagraon Sadar police station had been declared ‘drug-free’ by the government.
14-Feb-2023
Police arrested two persons, identified as Richhpal Godara (21) and Pintu Godara (19) along with 89 kg of poppy husk from their possession at a check-post on the Abohar-Hanumangarh highway in Fazilka district.
14-Feb-2023
The Crime Investigating Agency (CIA) staff conducted a search operation and recovered 24 kg poppy husk from a house in Seeto Gunno area of Khairpur village in Fazilka district.
14-Feb-2023
Police arrested two women, identified as Kulwinder Kaur and Manjit Kaur and recovered 10-kg poppy husk from their possession at Sangrur in Sangrur district.
14-Feb-2023
Punjab Police on February 14 launched massive raids on suspected hideouts of persons linked with Gangster Jagdeep Singh alias Jaggu Bhagwanpuria. According to Police, the simultaneous raids were conducted at the residential and other premises linked to the gangster in all the districts across the state. During the search operation, as many as 409 Police parties, including about 2,863 police personnel searched the premises of at least 2,371 suspected hideouts across the state linked with Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, according to Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav.
14-Feb-2023
Amritsar Member of Parliament (MP) Gurjeet Singh Aujla on February 14 asked Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann to clear his stand on the issue of drug menace and narco-terrorism nexuses in the state. This development comes a day ahead of the hearing on a sealed report related to the issue submitted by the previous Congress-led state government to the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
14-Feb-2023
On February 14 , a special court of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Mohali has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to initiate the proclaimed offender (PO) proceedings against the former assistant inspector general (AIG) of Punjab Police, who is prime accused in the case of alleged disappearance of Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) chief Paramjit Singh Panjwar’s mother in 1992.