KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
28-Aug-2024
The Amritsar rural police on August 28 arrested a person identified as Angrej Singh and seized 507 grams of heroin from his possession in Bhindi Saida village, Ajnala, Amritsar district. Angrej was involved in cross-border drug peddling, utilizing methods such as drones. He had previously been convicted in 2018 for smuggling 3 kg of heroin and a pistol but was out on bail. He is also suspected of involvement in another drug case from earlier this year. Following his arrest, he was remanded for further interrogation.
28-Aug-2024
Gharinda police on August 28 arrested an individual, identified as Manpreet Singh and seized 155 grams of ICE (methamphetamine) and INR 29,000 in drug money from his possession in Kiralgarh village, Amritsar district. During interrogation, Manpreet revealed that he had bought the drugs from Sonu of Naraingarh, who is currently being pursued by the police.
28-Aug-2024
Khalra police on August 28 arrested a drug peddler with cross-border contacts, identified as Kuljit Singh, and seized 255 grams of heroin from his possession in Khalra village, Patti, Tarn Taran district. The police discovered that he had smuggled the consignment across the border using contacts made via his mobile phone.
28-Aug-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on August 28 held its first-ever discussion on organized crime with police officials from Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi at the Delhi Police Headquarters in New Delhi. The focus was on gangsters' connections with pro-Khalistan elements (PKEs), Pakistan-based terrorists, and drug smuggling networks. Presentations were made on extortion calls, cyberspace usage by criminals, and key arrests by each state. Collaborative action plans and best practices to combat organized crime were also discussed.
28-Aug-2024
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Singh Mann on August 28 inaugurated the office of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) and launched an anti-drug helpline and WhatsApp chatbot in Sector 79, Mohali, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. He announced that the unit has been renamed from Special Task Force (STF) to ANTF, with its manpower being doubled and INR 12 crore allocated for its modernization. Additionally, a new headquarters will be established in Mohali, with INR 10 crore sanctioned for the state's Enforcement-De-Addiction-Prevention strategy.
28-Aug-2024
Police on August 28 arrested a gangster identified as James and seized two illegal .32 bore weapons and 10 cartridges from his possession at a checkpoint near Tarkhanmajra village in Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib district. The police stated that James had been involved in multiple extortion cases in Fatehgarh Sahib and Ludhiana.
28-Aug-2024
Police on August 28 arrested three members of an interstate smuggling gang, identified as Rajnesh, Satvir, and Dharambir, and seized 5 kg of opium from their possession in Fatehgarh Sahib in Fatehgarh Sahib district. The police stated that the smugglers were linked to Jharkhand-based operations, which involved shipping contraband into Punjab via couriers.
28-Aug-2024
Police on August 28 arrested two drug smugglers, identified as Soma Singh and Amarjit Singh, and seized 300 grams of heroin from their possession in Fatehgarh Sahib in Fatehgarh Sahib district. The police stated that further investigation based on their interrogation will help trace their forward and backward links.
27-Aug-2024
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on August 27 issued a legal notice to the makers of the film Emergency for allegedly misrepresenting Sikhs and promoting anti-Sikh sentiments. Additionally, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking a ban on the film's release, accusing it of portraying erroneous historical facts and fostering hatred towards Sikhs. The SGPC also demanded a written apology and the removal of objectionable scenes from the movie.
27-Aug-2024
Police officials Additional Inspector General (AIG) G.S. Chauhan, AIG Harvinder Virk, and Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Bikramjit Singh Brar, in an interview with The Tribune’s Deputy Editor Jupinderjit Singh, disclosed that while there are no active gangsters operating within Punjab, these criminal elements are coordinating their activities from abroad instead.
27-Aug-2024
Tarsem Singh, father of radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, on August 27 sent a letter urging Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh to take 'exemplary' action against Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal. In the letter, Singh highlighted alleged 'anti-Panthic' actions and mistakes made during the SAD regime, including the 2015 sacrilege cases and other controversial decisions. Singh has called for Sukhbir to be removed from SAD leadership and banned from any political or religious platforms.
26-Aug-2024
A group of former leaders of the All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) on August 26 sent a letter urging Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh to withdraw his instructions to install Parmjit Panjwar’s portrait at the Central Sikh Museum in Amritsar. They argued that displaying Panjwar, a designated terrorist and chief of the Khalistani terror outfit Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), would promote violence within the Sikh community, citing his role in fratricidal bloodshed and orchestrating the killings of Panthic leaders. The letter requested that the Jathedar reconsider his directive.
26-Aug-2024
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi, Kangana Ranaut, on August 26 received death threats over her portrayal of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the upcoming film Emergency and sought police assistance. A viral video on social media shows individuals threatening violence against Kangana if the film depicts Sikhs as terrorists. In the video, one person can be heard saying, “History cannot be changed. If they portray Sikhs as terrorists in the film, remember what happened to the person making the movie. Remember who Satwant Singh and Beant Singh were. Those who challenge us face consequences. If we can cut off heads, we can also behead.”
26-Aug-2024
Leaders of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC), dissatisfied with the government's formation of a new ad hoc panel, have begun organizing meetings to unite the community and plan a major agitation in Kurukshetra, Haryana. The previous committee's tenure ended in May, and community leaders have been demanding elections. Despite the government's nomination of a new 41-member ad hoc HSGMC on August 14, the new members have not yet been administered the oath of office. Leaders are calling for the Haryana Governor to disband the new committee and are planning protests if elections are not declared by November 1.
26-Aug-2024
A delegation of Sikh leaders met Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh on August 26 to request a review of his directive to install a portrait of slain Khalistani militant Parmjit Singh Panjwar in the Central Sikh Museum in Amritsar, Punjab. While they supported the portraits of Khalistani terrorists Hardeep Singh Nijjar and Gajinder Singh, they opposed Panjwar's inclusion, citing his controversial role in the assassination of Sikh leaders and his involvement in the boycott of the 1992 Punjab assembly elections, which led to significant violence. The issue has divided Sikh hardliners.
26-Aug-2024
The upcoming film Emergency, starring Kangana Ranaut as former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, has sparked controversy. Faridkot Member of Parliament (MP) Sarabjit Singh Khalsa, son of Beant Singh (one of the two bodyguards who assassinated PM Gandhi), and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) have objected to its portrayal of Sikhs. Concerns have been raised that the film could fuel hatred towards the Sikh community and misrepresent their sacrifices during the Emergency.
26-Aug-2024
According to reports, pro-Khalistani protests in recent months in countries like the United States (US), Canada, and the United Kingdom (UK) have dwindled, with many Sikhs in these nations growing increasingly weary of such actions. Demonstrations that once attracted large crowds now see minimal turnout, sometimes as few as 20-30 activists. Clashes between pro-Khalistani and pro-India groups have erupted, such as in Mississauga and Surrey in Canada, prompting police intervention. The declining participation suggests that pro-Khalistani strategies are losing effectiveness and alienating support rather than rallying it.
26-Aug-2024
The Jalandhar Police Commissionerate on August 26 busted an interstate drug peddling racket, arresting two peddlers identified as Captain Singh and Mann Singh and seized 10.5 kg of opium and INR 4 lakh in drug money from their possession at Dakoha Fatak in Jalandhar district. Captain Singh had been arrested on July 23 with 3.5 kg of opium, and based on information provided by him during interrogation, Mann Singh was arrested on August 26 on the Jalandhar-Panipat highway with an additional 7 kg of opium. Both men were involved in transporting opium from Jharkhand to Jalandhar and have been remanded in police custody for five days.
26-Aug-2024
Police on August 26 arrested two individuals, identified as Kaushal Lalla and Sunny Kumar, and seized 45 grams of heroin from their possession near Indira Nagari in Abohar, Fazilka district.
26-Aug-2024
A City-1 police team on August 26 arrested an individual, identified as Nishan Singh and seized 52.79 grams of heroin and a bike from his possession near Seed Farm Colony in Abohar in Fazilka district.
26-Aug-2024
Khuian Sarwar Police on August 26 arrested one person, identified as Balwinder Singh and seized 1.2 kg of opium from his possession, near Telupura village in Fazilka district.
26-Aug-2024
During a weapons recovery operation on August 26, two shooters involved in the case of Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Sukhchain Singh, identified as Sukhwinder and Gurkirat Singh, opened fire on the police near Vallah Canal in Amritsar, Punjab. They were injured in the leg when the police returned fire and were subsequently arrested. According to the police, the case involves the murder of NRI Sukhchain Singh, orchestrated by his ex-brother-in-law, Sukhwinder Singh, who is based in the United States. This act was reportedly done to avenge his sister’s death, who had died by suicide in 2022. So far, eight individuals, including Sukhwinder Singh, Gurkirat Singh, US-based Sukhwinder Singh, Sarvan Singh, Jagjit Singh, Chamkaur Singh, Digambar Atri, and Abhilaksh Bhaskar, have been arrested in connection with the case.
25-Aug-2024
Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu on August 25 flagged off the first-of-its-kind '5 Takht' special pilgrim train, to five holy Sikh shrines from Sri Hazur Sahib in Nanded in Maharashtra.
25-Aug-2024
According to sources, the Border Security Force (BSF) has requested an additional battalion to address the increasing threat of cross-border drones transporting drugs and ammunition along the India-Pakistan Punjab border. Currently, 18 out of 20 battalions are actively deployed, with drone activity being particularly prevalent in Amritsar and Tarn Taran. Enhanced security measures, including culverts and a mounted unit of women troops, are being implemented. Additionally, local cooperation has facilitated the recovery of over 120 drones this year (2024).
25-Aug-2024
Union Minister for Home Affairs (UMHA) Amit Shah emphasized on August 25 that narcotics pose a significant threat to national security, with drug profits fuelling terrorism and Naxalism, while virtually inaugurating the regional office of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Shah also highlighted the need for scientific investigations and a bottom-up approach to combat the illegal narcotics trade. He called for coordinated efforts to dismantle drug networks and urged officials to use legal powers to seize drug traffickers' properties without hesitation.