KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
11-Apr-2025
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has intensified its hunt for Kulveer Singh Siddhu, a wanted Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) militant with a INR 10-lakh bounty, by posting wanted posters across Puranpur in Pilibhit district, Uttar Pradesh. Siddhu is accused of involvement in the April 2024 murder of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Vikas Prabhakar in Punjab and is believed to have lived covertly in Puranpur for over three years before fleeing to Greece. According to the NIA, Siddhu provided shelter to three Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) militants killed in a December 2024 police encounter and maintained contact with local youth. He is currently believed to be in the United Kingdom and remains in touch with pro-Khalistan operatives abroad.
11-Apr-2025
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Kulwant Singh Pandori, on April 11, strongly condemned the derogatory remarks made by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun against Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, while addressing the media in Barnala, Barnala district. He stated that instead of making derogatory statements against Dr. Ambedkar, Pannun should study his history to understand his struggles and achievements.
11-Apr-2025
Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Punjab minister Manoranjan Kalia, on April 11, criticised the state police for what he described as “premature conclusions” in the investigation into the grenade attack at his residence, even as a purported audio confession surfaced in which a man identifying himself as Zeeshan Akhtar claimed responsibility. Kalia questioned the credibility of the police narrative, emphasising that the attacker has yet to be identified. He dismissed the audio confession as “concocted” and reiterated that only the arrest of the actual perpetrator would uncover the full truth.
11-Apr-2025
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of the Punjab Police, on April 11, arrested a drug peddler identified as Hira Singh and seized 18.227 kg of heroin in Amritsar district. Singh and his accomplice, Kulwinder Singh, are believed to have links with a Pakistan-based smuggler, Billa, and are allegedly involved in smuggling drugs via drones across the International Border. Police are continuing efforts to apprehend Kulwinder Singh, who remains at large.
11-Apr-2025
Punjab Police, on April 11—Day 42 of the “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign—arrested 109 drug smugglers and recovered 2.9 kg of heroin, 1.6 kg of opium, 350 kg of poppy husk, and INR 26,220 in drug money from their possession across Punjab.
11-Apr-2025
Rajasthan Police’s Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) on April 11 arrested Ilyas Khan, a key aide of the Lawrence Bishnoi–Rohit Godara gang, in Ramgarh, Sikar district in Rajasthan. Khan, reportedly involved in multiple criminal activities linked to the gang, was apprehended following a detailed investigation. His arrest is considered a significant step in dismantling the gang’s operations in the region.
10-Apr-2025
Pro-Khalistani slogans were found painted on the wall of Ambedkar Housing Society in Sector 76, Mohali, in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district on April 10, with Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, claiming responsibility via a video message.
10-Apr-2025
Gippy Grewal’s film Akaal: The Unconquered recently sparked controversy, drawing sharp backlash from sections of the Sikh community over the alleged misrepresentation of revered historical figures. Protests erupted in Patiala and Ludhiana, led by Baba Bakshish Singh—a staunch advocate for the respectful portrayal of Sikh history and traditions—who condemned scenes depicting drinking, tobacco use, and shaven-headed characters as deeply offensive to Sikh values.
10-Apr-2025
Lok Sabha member Dr. Raj Kumar Chabbewal, on April 10, condemned Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, for his derogatory remarks about Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, calling them a deliberate ploy to incite unrest in Punjab. Speaking in Jalandhar, he asserted that anti-Punjab forces like Pannun are threatened by the state’s progress, but the government will not allow their agenda to succeed.
10-Apr-2025
Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, on April 10 issued a warning to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, demanding the cancellation of all Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations in the state, through a public letter circulated to the media. Pannun also announced a reward of INR 11 lakh for hoisting the Khalistan flag at the Ambedkar statue in Chaura Maidan, Shimla. Additionally, he condemned Dr. B. R. Ambedkar for allegedly enabling the marginalisation of Sikhs through Article 25(b) of the Constitution.
10-Apr-2025
According to a senior officer, the Border Security Force (BSF) will launch a large-scale anti–improvised explosive device (IED) sanitisation drive along the India–Pakistan border in Punjab, following the recovery of two such devices from a farming field in Gurdaspur on April 9, which injured one jawan. This marks the first instance of IED recovery in the region, prompting heightened security measures. The area where the explosives were found lies ahead of the border fence, and officials suspect cross-border involvement due to the military-grade nature of the devices. Additional detection equipment and sniffer dogs will be deployed to secure cultivable land frequently accessed by farmers and civilians.
10-Apr-2025
On April 10, Punjab Police, on Day 41 of the 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' campaign, arrested 84 drug smugglers and recovered 2.5 kg of heroin, 86 kg of poppy husk, and INR 70,400 in drug money from their possession across Punjab.
09-Apr-2025
Police on April 9 arrested three individuals, identified as Ranjit Singh alias Rana, Gurdev Singh alias Gedi, and Shailendra Singh alias Selu, and seized 500 grams of heroin, one Glock 9mm pistol along with two magazines, and INR 33 lakh hawala money from their possession, in Lopoke village in Ajnala in Amritsar district.
09-Apr-2025
Punjab Police, on April 9, on Day 40 of its ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ (War Against Drugs) campaign, arrested 111 drug smugglers and recovered 3.7 kg of heroin, 253 kg of poppy husk, and INR 98,800 in drug money from their possession across Punjab.
09-Apr-2025
Punjab Police on April 9 arrested Papalpreet Singh, a close aide of radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, following the completion of his year-long detention under the National Security Act (NSA) at Dibrugarh Jail in Assam. He was immediately taken into custody in connection with the 2023 Ajnala police station attack case and brought to Amritsar for further proceedings.
09-Apr-2025
On April 9, a drug peddler identified as Raj Singh alias Raju died after his motorcycle crashed into a wall at Sadiq village in Faridkot district. While his family claimed he was being pursued by the police, leading to the fatal accident, local officials and villagers refuted the allegation, asserting that Raju lost control due to high speed.
09-Apr-2025
On April 9, Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah reaffirmed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government's resolve to eradicate Naxalism by 31 March 2026 and declared zero tolerance for separatist rhetoric related to the Khalistan movement, while speaking at the Rising Bharat Summit 2025 in New Delhi. Shah cited a sharp decline in Naxal-affected districts—from 120 to 12—as evidence of progress, and highlighted ongoing efforts in states like Chhattisgarh, where hundreds of Naxalites have been killed, arrested, or have surrendered. On the Khalistan issue, Shah stressed that any attempt to divide the nation would be dealt with firmly and urged close cooperation between the Punjab state government and the Centre to counter such threats.
09-Apr-2025
According to senior police sources, Punjab has seen a troubling rise in grenade attacks since November 2024, especially in the border districts of Amritsar and Gurdaspur. Despite the elimination of key suspects in police encounters, such incidents continue, with intelligence agencies linking them to pro-Khalistan terrorist outfits, criminal gangs, and Pakistan-based handlers. Notable counter-terror operations include the December 2024 killing of three Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) operatives and the March 2025 neutralisation of Gursidak Singh, a key accused in the Amritsar temple blast. Investigators believe that vulnerable youth from economically weaker sections are being lured with as little as INR 5,000 to execute these attacks, supported by a continuous influx of grenades through drone drops and cross-border smuggling networks.
09-Apr-2025
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on April 9 announced the arrest of Abhijot Singh in connection with the grenade attack in Chandigarh’s Sector 10. Singh was already lodged in jail for a separate grenade incident. NIA investigations revealed that he was in direct contact with United States-based Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia. Acting under Passia’s instructions, Abhijot conducted multiple reconnaissance missions at the target location in July and August 2024, and procured a stolen motorcycle with a fake number plate to facilitate the attack. Further probes established that Happy had also supplied weapons to Abhijot and co-accused Rohan Masih, with intentions to carry out a firing at the Sector 10 residence.
09-Apr-2025
Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), on April 9 issued threats via a video message targeting the Chief Ministers of Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. Pannun warned them against celebrating the birth anniversary of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar on April 14, threatening grenade attacks if his warning was disregarded. He also claimed responsibility for defacing the Ambedkar Housing Society in Sector 76, Mohali, displaying provocative graffiti and a Khalistan flag in the video. However, Mohali Police, upon investigation, reported finding no physical evidence of vandalism at the site.
09-Apr-2025
On April 9, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) Fauja Singh Sarari, Ranbir Singh Bhullar, Rajnish Kumar Dahiya, and Naresh Kataria strongly condemned Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun for his derogatory remarks against Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution. Addressing a press conference in Ferozepur, Punjab, they urged Sikh organizations to excommunicate Pannun from the panth, stating that he tarnishes the name of both Punjab and Sikhism.
09-Apr-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police on April 9, recovered a packet of heroin weighing 569 grams from agricultural fields near Wan village in Patti, Tarn Taran district.
09-Apr-2025
A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan sustained serious leg injuries on April 9 after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated while a patrol team was attempting to defuse it near the India–Pakistan border fence in Punjab. The device was detected during a night-time area domination patrol aimed at securing routes commonly used by troops and local farmers. Despite the explosion, BSF personnel secured the area, and a Bomb Disposal Squad later neutralised the remaining devices.
08-Apr-2025
On April 8, Punjab Police, on Day 39 of its ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ (War Against Drugs) campaign, arrested 71 drug smugglers and seized 1.8 kg of heroin, 4.9 kg of opium, 13,362 intoxicant capsules/tablets, and INR 9,000 in drug money from their possession across Punjab.
08-Apr-2025
On April 8, Punjab Police, on Day 39 of its ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ (War Against Drugs) campaign, arrested 71 drug smugglers and seized 1.8 kg of heroin, 4.9 kg of opium, 13,362 intoxicant capsules/tablets, and INR 9,000 in drug money from their possession across Punjab.