KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
29-May-2020
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a charge sheet against 10 accused in the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) narco-terror network module case. The case pertains to seizure of 500 grams of heroin and Rs 1.2 lakh drug money from three men in Amritsar on May 31, 2019. The NIA took over the probe on January 22, 2020. During the investigation, it was emerged the role of Harmeet Singh alias PhD, Pakistan-based self-styled chief of KLF, and Jasmeet Singh Hakimzada, a Dubai-based international drugs smuggler and money launderer, in running the narco-terror network to further the terrorist activities of KLF. The narco-terror network included persons involved in smuggling and selling of heroin, militant elements and Hawala operatives based in Punjab, Delhi and Dubai, who were responsible for the entire chain from selling of heroin and channelizing the proceeds to Dubai and Pakistan at the behest of Harmeet Singh and Hakimzada.
29-May-2020
Police arrested two persons, a truck driver Amarjeet Singh and his associate Gurpreet Singh along with 120 kg poppy husk and one kg opium in Samrai village near Jandiala in Amritsar district.
29-May-2020
Security Force arrested two persons, identified as Ashwani Kumar of Patoia and Ashwani Kumar of Sahora and recovered one kg opium from a special cabin made in their truck in Pathankot district.
28-May-2020
Police arrested six persons, including a Nigerian national and recovered 3.5 kg heroin and Rs 1 lakh drug money from them in Chhajjumajra village road in Khararin in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district on May 28. According to police, five men, Parivar Singh, Ravi Verma, Dalvinder Singh, Anjul Sodhi and Neelu were arrested along with 1.3 kg heroin and Rs 1 lakh drug money on May 28 in Punjab. Upon their interrogation, police arrested another drug supplier, a Nigerian national named David, from Delhi and seized 2.2 kg heroin from him on May 31.
28-May-2020
Punjab Police busted a drug smuggling racket and arrested one smuggler, identified as Gurlal Singh and recovered 8 kg of heroin from a wheat field which was allegedly buried by him in the border in Tarn Taran district. The drug was buried in the wheat field situated across the barbed wire fence and ahead of the zero line near Rattoke village of Bhikhiwind sub-division on the India-Pakistan border. Besides heroin, Police also recovered 30 gm opium from the border.
28-May-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) seized three plastic bottles of heroin weighing 1.6 kg from the Ferozepur sector in Ferozepur district on May 28. A spokesperson said that the contraband was attempted to be pushed through water channel from Pakistan with the help of water Hyacinth (Jalkumbhi).
28-May-2020
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed the first supplementary charge sheet against a narco-terrorist, identified as Amit Gambhir alias Bobby who was among 17 people arrested for their alleged involvement in the 532-kg heroin haul case. The contraband, which was smuggled from Pakistan in a consignment of rock salt, was seized from the integrated check post (ICP) at the Attari border in June 29, 2019. Gambhir, was the 17th accused arrested in the case in which the NIA filed charge sheet against other 16 accused in December 2019.
27-May-2020
A team of Special Task Force (STF) arrested an accused, identified as Partap Singh for smuggling 5.04 kg of heroin from Pakistan, in Ludhiana district. The accused, who was supplying the contraband in ration bags on a motorcycle, was held at a ‘naka’ near Casa Le Baron marriage palace.
27-May-2020
A Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) team arrested two drug peddlers, identified as Vishal Singh alias Vicky and Deepak Kumar alias Deepu along with 1.2 kg opium near Chaukiman police post in Jagraon in Ludhiana district.
27-May-2020
Police arrested two drug peddlers, identified as Lakhbir Cahand and Gurpreet Singh and recovered six kilograms of opium from their possession near Chak Jandu village Jalandhar district.
27-May-2020
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently registered over 20 money-laundering cases in connection with the seizure of drugs by various enforcement agencies in Punjab. The findings may be incorporated in the reports to be shared with key Financial Action Task Force (FATF) member nations to highlight the issue of narco-terrorism involving elements from Pakistan. According to the officials, ED is also initiating a probe into the seizure of 532 kg of heroin, worth about Rs 2,700 crore in the international market, and 52 kg of a mixed narcotic substance by the Customs Department at the Integrated Check Post on the Wagah-Attari border on June 29, 2019.
26-May-2020
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) observed the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev at Gurdwara Sri Ramsar Sahib in Amritsar on May 26 even as Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) will observe the historical day on June 16. The difference in dates is because PSGPC follows the Pal Singh Purewal-authored Nankashahi Calendar, while the SGPC follows the same calendar, but with amendments.
26-May-2020
The radical group, Dal Khalsa decided to undertake an annual ‘Genocide Remembrance Parade’ on June 5 in Amritsar to mark the 36th anniversary of Operation Blue Star. Dal Khalsa has been regularly observing this day by undertaking a march on June 5 and giving the call for Amritsar bandh on June 6, for the past ten years. However, Covid-19 has made the Dal Khalsa put its call for a shutdown on hold. The meeting of party office bearers under the presidentship of Harpal Singh Cheema was convened to chalk out a protest programme to observe ‘Ghallughara week’. At a press conference, party spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said the final decision would be taken on June 1 in regard to the call for the Amritsar bandh.
26-May-2020
The Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) condemned the vandalism of Guru Arjan Dev Ji Gurudwara in Derby, UK, on May 25 a day before the martyrdom day of the Guru. Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Hapreet Singh demanded the UK Government to ensure the safety of Gurudwaras and Sikh citizens.
24-May-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops recovered 2 kg heroin from near the Shameke border outpost in Ferozepur sector in Ferozepur district. Sources said that the consignment was being smuggled through the water channel with help of two plastic bottles concealed in water hyacinth.
23-May-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered more than six kg heroin from Abohar and Ferozepur sectors of Ferozepur district, near the international border in Punjab. According to BSF, the troops recovered 5.56 kg heroin from near the border in Abohar. Similarly, the security forces recovered one kg heroin from the border in Ferozepur sector.
23-May-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered 1 kg heroin which was concealed in a 1.5 litre plastic bottle from Ferozepur sector in Ferozepur district.
22-May-2020
The Barnala police recovered 8.2 kg heroin from Bareke border out post (BOP) across the fence near the Pakistan border in Ferozepur district. The police with support from Border Security Force (BSF) also recovered 15 live cartridges appeared to be manufactured in Pakistan. The consignment was put in various packets which has been recovered on a specific tip off provided by a woman already arrested with a small quantity of heroine few days ago.
22-May-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) thwarted a fresh attempt of the Pakistani smugglers to push drugs and ammunition in to the Indian Territory and seized 1.9 kg heroin, 280-gram opium besides arms and ammunition including one pistol of 9mm calibre, one magazine and five live cartridges near the border at Ferozepur sector of Ferozepur district.
21-May-2020
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) told the special court in Mohali that the alleged kingpin in the 532 kg heroin haul case, Ranjeet Singh Rana alias Cheeta, had hatched a ‘larger conspiracy’ with ramifications for the country’s national security. Further, the court sent Rana and his brother, Gagandeep Singh alias Gagan, to police remand till May 29. Rana, who has links with Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) and was involved in terror funding, had smuggled heroin and other drugs from Pakistan concealed in rock salt consignments through the integrated check-post (ICP) at the Attari border, 30 km from Amritsar.
21-May-2020
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal stated that gold and other sacred valuables belonging to the Sikh shrines ‘are a collective treasure of the Sikh community’. “There is no question of any individual or organisation even contemplating in the direction of donating even the smallest part of this treasure for any cause,” he said in a statement, referring to the controversy surrounding DSGMC chief Manjinder Singh Sirsa’s ‘inadvertent suggestion’ with regard to a proposal for donations of gold by shrines of various religious communities as a help in the fight against Covid-19.
21-May-2020
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) arrested two persons, identified as Rinku Singh and Harbhej Singh and recovered 252 kg poppy husk and 4 kg opium from them during the search of their truck at a naka on the Badrukhan-Ubhawal road in Sangrur district.
20-May-2020
Convicted Al Qaeda terrorist Mohammed Ibrahim Zubair, found guilty of raising funds for the terrorist organisation in the United States, has been deported to India after completing his sentence. Mohammad Ibrahim Zubair, who hailed from Hyderabad, is one among the 165 people who arrived at Amritsar airport on May 20 after being deported from the United States due to unprecedented health crisis.
19-May-2020
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) demanded an independent inquiry into the ‘drug trade’ across Punjab during the past two months of curfew.
18-May-2020
During the interrogation of the arrested Ranjit Singh Rana alias Cheeta, the kingpin in the 532-kg heroin seizure case, and his aides by the police, it was revealed that they had transferred Rs 6 crore drug money to the terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) during the past five years. According to officials, Cheeta and his accomplices had been in direct link with Pakistan’s spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for the smuggling of heroin from across the border, and for transferring the drug money to the terror outfit. They said the gang members had cleared five drug consignments through Attari-Wagah border before the seizure of 532-kg heroin. The officials said the police have also identified around 10 more members of the gang which will be nabbed soon. Some of them are from Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Jalandhar districts, they added. Cheeta was arrested on May 9 by Punjab Police from Begi village in Sirsa district of Haryana with his brother Gagandeep Singh alias Bhola.