KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
08-Apr-2025
Police on April 8 busted two Pakistan-backed drug cartels and arrested eight key operatives, including an inspector of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Manjit Singh, and his associate Ravi Kumar, and seized 4.04 kg of heroin and a motorcycle in Amritsar district. Police believe the cartels were operating in coordination with Pakistan-based smugglers. Further investigation is underway.
08-Apr-2025
Punjab Police on April 8 arrested two suspects, Harry and Satish Kumar alias Kaka, in connection with the grenade explosion that occurred at 1 am, targeting the residence of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national executive member Manoranjan Kalia in Jalandhar district. According to police officials, the suspects were acting on the instructions of a terror module backed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), involving Zeeshan Akhtar, an associate of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. A third suspect remains at large.
08-Apr-2025
The official website of the armed wing of Punjab Police (https://armedpolice.punjab.gov.in/) was hacked on April 8 by the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). The defaced site displayed a poster calling to "Liberate Punjab from Indian Occupation" and provided a link to a tweet from SFJ’s handle, which has been withheld in India.
08-Apr-2025
Cabinet Minister Dr. Balbir Singh recently condemned Khalistani terrorist and the chief of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, for making derogatory remarks against Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar. He described it as a deliberate attempt to incite unrest in Punjab. Dr. Singh further stated that anti-Punjab forces like Pannun cannot tolerate the state's progress, but emphasized that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government remains committed to preserving peace.
08-Apr-2025
According to sources, Punjab Police have obtained significant leads in the grenade attack on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national executive member Manoranjan Kalia’s residence on April 8. This marks the 16th such incident since September 2024. The grenades used in the attack, mainly Austrian-made Arges models from Pakistan’s old military stock, have previously been seen in high-profile attacks like the 1993 Mumbai blasts. Investigations suggest a connection between Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Khalistani terrorist groups such as Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF), and foreign-based gangsters like Happy Passia and Harvinder Rinda. These groups have increasingly targeted police posts and political figures to destabilize Punjab.
08-Apr-2025
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on April 8 searched multiple locations linked to Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Satinderjit Singh alias Goldy Brar and seized several electronic and other incriminating materials across Haryana and Uttar Pradesh (UP). The searches were part of an investigation into the December 2024 grenade attacks at Warehouse Club and Human Club in Gurugram, Haryana, which were masterminded by Brar and US-based gangster Randeep Malik.
08-Apr-2025
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on April 8 strongly condemned the grenade attack at senior leader Manoranjan Kalia’s residence in Jalandhar, calling it a glaring failure of the Punjab government’s law and order machinery. BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh criticised the state administration for prioritising security for "failed politicians" over citizens’ safety. BJP Punjab Spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to direct a central agency probe into the attack. BJP leaders Ravneet Singh Bittu and Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal described the incident as a direct assault on democracy and warned of a larger anti-national conspiracy unfolding in the state.
08-Apr-2025
On April 8, five Sikh high priests—Jathedar Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, along with Giani Raghbir Singh (Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib), Giani Jagtar Singh (Takht Damdama Sahib), Giani Rajinder Singh (Takht Patna Sahib), and Giani Baldev Singh (Takht Hazur Sahib)—are scheduled to meet at the Akal Takht Secretariat in Amritsar, Punjab, amid the ongoing controversy over the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) membership drive.
08-Apr-2025
Punjab Police on April 8 arrested two operatives of the Lawrence Bishnoi-Rohit Godara gang, identified as Jashandeep Singh alias Jashan Sandhu and Gursewak Singh, and seized one .32 calibre pistol along with seven cartridges cartridges from their possession Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. Jashan, a murder accused, had recently re-entered India via Nepal after evading arrest abroad. His arrest revealed links to hawala operators and fugitive gangsters. Gursewak was reportedly operating locally on the gang’s behalf, and police said several major crimes were averted with the duo’s capture.
08-Apr-2025
On April 8, armed assailants opened fire at the residence of an East Delhi businessman, just two weeks after he received an extortion call allegedly from the Jaipal Bhullar group. Investigations revealed that the suspects used a United Kingdom (UK)-based SIM card, possibly virtual, and uncovered links to Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) terrorist Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dala, who is currently based in Canada.
08-Apr-2025
An unidentified miscreant hurled a grenade at the residence of former Punjab minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national executive member Manoranjan Kalia in Jalandhar district around 1 am on April 8. The grenade landed near the gate, causing damage to a side door; however, Kalia escaped unhurt. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage showed the attacker arriving and fleeing in an electric rickshaw. A police investigation is currently underway.
08-Apr-2025
On April 8, anti-Ambedkar slogans were found painted on the walls of Major Hardev Singh Secondary School in Nasrali village, Khanna in Ludhiana district, with Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, claiming responsibility and issuing threats of explosions if Ambedkar Jayanti is celebrated, via a video message.
07-Apr-2025
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Chandigarh on April 7 granted a two-day remand of Abhijot Singh alias Babbi, to the agency in connection with the grenade attack case in Sector 10, Chandigarh. The NIA stated that Singh had facilitated the movement of co-accused Rohan Masih for reconnaissance and played a crucial role in executing the conspiracy. The court remanded him to police custody till April 9 for further interrogation and recovery of key evidence.
07-Apr-2025
Gangster and Khalistani terrorist Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia, on April 7 claimed via a social media post that his associates had attacked the Kila Lal Singh police station using a rocket launcher, in Batala, Gurdaspur district, Punjab. However, the police refuted the claim, stating that no evidence of any such incident was found.
07-Apr-2025
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on April 7 attached assets worth INR 1.22 crore belonging to international drug trafficker Jasmeet Hakimzada, who operates from Dubai and is linked to the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF). He is wanted by the United States (US) and faces charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. The seized assets include gold, diamonds, and properties.
07-Apr-2025
Organisers of Pride Amritsar on April 7 announced the cancellation of the 2025 Pride Parade, originally scheduled for April 27, following widespread opposition—particularly from the Sikh community—in Amritsar, Punjab, with Ridham Chadha and Ramit Seth stating that the decision was made in the interest of members’ safety and with no intention of hurting religious or political sentiments.
07-Apr-2025
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) Ashok Parashar Pappi, Daljit Singh Grewal (Bhola), Jeevan Singh Sangowal, and Rajinder Pal Kaur Chhina on April 7 condemned Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s remarks about Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar and announced statewide celebrations on April 14, vowing to guard his statues and uphold communal harmony in Punjab, while addressing a press conference in Chandigarh.
07-Apr-2025
The Customs Department at Sri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport seized 7.7 kg of ganja from an Indian passenger, identified as Chanan Singh, on April 7 in Amritsar district.
07-Apr-2025
Punjab Police on April 7 arrested a smuggler, identified as Tamandeep Singh and seized 2 kg of heroin and 900 grams of ICE drug (Crystal Meth) from his possession, in Amritsar in Amritsar district.
07-Apr-2025
Punjab Police on April 7, as part of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” (War Against Drugs) conducted a cordon and search operation (CASO) at 225 Bus Stands along with 466 locations, and arrested 38 drug smugglers after the registration of 31 first information reports (FIRs), and seized 2.2 kg of heroin, 1.8 kg of opium and INR 17600 drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers, across Punjab.
07-Apr-2025
According to sources, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) recently detained at least eight major drug traffickers from Punjab and West Bengal under the stringent Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PITNDPS) Act, transferring them to high-security prisons in Assam and Jharkhand over the past eight months to disrupt their networks, while also planning to shift habitual traffickers to remote prisons in states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to further weaken their influence.
07-Apr-2025
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of Punjab Police on April 7 arrested two smugglers, identified as Dharmendra Singh and his associate Tejinder Singh, and seized a large quantity of illegal substances, including 35 kg of poppy husk, 77 kg of cannabis, 240 grams of opium, 50 opium plants, INR 13 lakh in drug money, and four luxury vehicles in Mohali, in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. Dharminder Singh, a history-sheeter with 11 prior cases, is the husband of Sarabjeet Kaur, the sarpanch of Raipur Mandlan village in Patiala tehsil, Patiala district.
07-Apr-2025
Amritsar police on April 7 arrested two unidentified drug peddlers and seized 310 grams of heroin from their possession in Ghumtala area in Amritsar in Amritsar district. The accused were using a Delhi-registered vehicle with a “Punjab Police” sticker to evade checks.
06-Apr-2025
Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, on April 6 continued his six-day padyatra against drugs, urging citizens to unite in the fight against drug abuse, in Amritsar in Amritsar district in Punjab. Emphasising that the drug menace is a national issue, he highlighted ongoing government efforts, including anti-drone systems and village defence committees.
06-Apr-2025
Police on April 6 arrested a drug smuggler, identified as Arun Setia and seized 2 kg of heroin, a .32 bore pistol, four live cartridges and two empty shells along with a motorcycle from his possession, near Ladhuka village in Jalalabad in Fazilka district. Setia was injured in retaliatory firing after he shot at the Police team while trying to flee, and was admitted to a local hospital for treatment.