KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
15-Jul-2024
On July 15, a district-level meeting was held at Gurudwara Shri Patshahi Dasin Sahib in Sirsa, Haryana, where prominent members and representatives of Sikh organizations discussed efforts to unite the Sikh community and advocate for their rights. The attendees proposed fielding Sikh candidates in Assembly constituencies with significant Sikh populations and allocating reserved seats to Sikhs from specific categories. They also called for Punjabi teachers in schools, the formation of Special Investigation Teams (SITs) to address derogatory social media content, and the establishment of a minority commission and community centres.
15-Jul-2024
The Akal Takht on July 15 passed a resolution mandating that the Nishan Sahib flags at gurdwaras be either surmai (navy blue) or basanti (yellow), in accordance with Sikh Rehat Maryada. This decision follows concerns over the widespread use of kesri (saffron) colored flags, which some in the Sikh community view as a deviation from traditional colors. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) is set to oversee the transition to the prescribed colors to restore consistency with the Sikh code of conduct.
15-Jul-2024
Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Director General of Police (DGP) RR Swain, while addressing media persons at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Jagti, Jammu, on July 15, stated that an inter-state security meeting was held to discuss new infiltration methods by terrorists entering from the Punjab border. Swain revealed that despite the low number of terrorists, there has been a rise in terror attacks in J&K. He emphasized the operational challenges posed by the use of tunnels for infiltration, underscoring the threat posed by even a few unaccounted entities.
15-Jul-2024
On July 15, amidst Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh summoning Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal to provide a written explanation within 15 days regarding allegations from rebel Akalis that he failed to represent the panth's sentiments, the rebel leaders launched a "SAD reform movement" under the leadership of Gurpartap Singh Wadala. This movement aims to revitalize the party and commemorate forgotten leaders like Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Master Tara Singh.
15-Jul-2024
The Counter Intelligence (CI) wing of Bathinda Police on July 15 arrested drug smuggler Sandeep Singh alias Kaka and seized 4,100 kg of poppy husk in 210 bags from a container truck originating from Madhya Pradesh (MP), in Bathinda in Bathinda district. The Police revealed that the seized consignment was destined for Jalandhar, Moga, and Ferozepur districts in Punjab.
14-Jul-2024
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mohali, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district, dismissed the bail plea of Dharminder Singh alias Dhanna, arrested in a drug-terror case linked to the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and a Pakistan-based drug syndicate. The court rejected the plea citing serious allegations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and connections to a narcotic-terror network involved in heroin trafficking to Dubai and Pakistan.
14-Jul-2024
Police on July 14 arrested a drug peddler identified as Manpreet Kumar alias Manna on charges of selling intoxicant tablets and seized 45 such tablets from his possession near Joshian Mohalla near Phagwara in Kapurthala district.
14-Jul-2024
Police on July 14 arrested three drug peddlers identified as Balwinder Singh alias Bohra, Baljit Singh alias Kala, and Ashok Singh alias Goshi and seized one kg of heroin, a bike, and three mobile phones from their possession near the T-point on Bahmniwala road in Jalalabad, Fazilka district.
14-Jul-2024
Punjab Police on July 14 arrested two gangsters identified as Deepak and Ramandeep Singh, and seized one revolver and one pistol from their possession in Banur, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. The gangsters were involved in two firing incidents near Rajpura in Patiala district on July 13, following a brief encounter with the police.
14-Jul-2024
The police on July 14 arrested five associates of Canada-based terrorist Lakhbir Singh, alias Landa, identified as Simranjit Singh, alias Simma, Paramjit Singh, alias Pamma, Dilbagh Singh, alias Baga, Dilpreet Singh, and Sajandeep Singh, and seized three .30 bore pistols from their possession in Jalandhar district. The police revealed that Simranjit Singh and Dilpreet Singh were in direct contact with Landa and had threatened traders and shopkeepers in Tarn Taran and Amritsar for money.
14-Jul-2024
A meeting of the five Sikh high priests, led by the Akal Takht Jathedar, is scheduled to take place on July 15 at the Akal Takht Secretariat in Amritsar, Punjab, to address the actions of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) rebel leaders. The rebel leaders had apologized for past mistakes during their leadership from 2007-2017. The meeting will also discuss broader issues affecting the Panth, such as the controversial depiction of an 'Anand Karaj' scene in a TV serial.
13-Jul-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on July 13 recovered a packet containing 2.3 kg of heroin from a field near Rattar Chattar village in Gurdaspur district.
13-Jul-2024
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh on July 13 asked the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to display portraits of Khalistani extremists Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Paramjit Singh Panjwar, and Gajinder Singh at the Central Sikh Museum in the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, Punjab. This request was made during a function organized by the SGPC and Dal Khalsa to pay tribute to terrorist Gajinder Singh, who led the 1981 hijacking of an Indian Airlines aircraft. The Jathedar cited the trio's 'sacrifices' as the reason for this honour.
13-Jul-2024
According to sources, the elder brother of radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, Harpreet Singh alias Happy, who was arrested on July 11 near Phillaur, admitted to a three-year drug habit. The drugs were delivered via GT Road in Ludhiana, and at the time of their arrest, Harpreet and his associate Lovepreet Singh had consumed one gram each. Harpreet described using INR 20 notes to consume the drug, and records indicate his longstanding acquaintance with Arora. This arrest comes as a surprise to many, as Amritpal's campaign emphasized his efforts against drug abuse, including opening a de-addiction centre in his village, Jallupur Kheda, in Amritsar district, Punjab.
13-Jul-2024
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Mohinder Bhagat won the Jalandhar West assembly seat, defeating Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominee Sheetal Angural by over 37,000 votes in Jalandhar district, Punjab. Bhagat received 55,246 votes, while Angural garnered 17,921. Indian National Congress (INC) nominee Surinder Kaur came third with 16,757 votes, followed by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate Surjit Kaur with 1,242 votes and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate Binder Kumar with 734. The bypoll was held after Angural resigned as an AAP legislator and joined the BJP in March.
13-Jul-2024
Sardar Parvinder Singh, a member of the State Minorities Commission, in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on July 13, strongly condemned the Indira Gandhi government's actions during June 1 to 6, 1984, accusing them of desecrating the sanctity of the Sikh pilgrimage site Amritsar Sahib and the Akal Takht with deadly attacks. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to introduce a resolution in the forthcoming budget session, declaring June 6 as National Regret Day to acknowledge and apologize for the tragic incidents.
13-Jul-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on July 13 intercepted and neutralized a drone and recovered a packet containing one Beretta pistol, two Star-mark pistols, seven magazines, and a plastic torch near Maharsona village in Fazilka district.
13-Jul-2024
According to sources, Punjab Police witnessed a significant rise in Ice drug (methamphetamine) smuggling across the border, with 15.4 kg seized in the first half of 2024 compared to just 1.04 kg recovered in 2023. This surge is attributed to a decrease in heroin supply due to Taliban control over opium in Afghanistan, prompting Pakistani smugglers to include Ice with heroin shipments to establish a market in Punjab. Concerns over the drug's potency and addictiveness have heightened, with authorities stressing the need for vigilant community awareness and stringent law enforcement measures.
13-Jul-2024
The police on July 13 arrested an unidentified person and seized 1.5 kg of opium from his possession near Moonak grain market in Sangrur district.
13-Jul-2024
The Police on July 13 arrested one unidentified woman and seized 10 grams of heroin from her possession in Sunam in Sangrur district.
13-Jul-2024
The Police on July 13 arrested one unidentified woman and seized 100 intoxicant pills from her possession, in Dhuri in Sangrur district.
12-Jul-2024
Punjab Police submitted to the high court that 10 government employees, including nine jail officials and a doctor, have been implicated in a drug racket operating from the Ferozepur Central Jail in Ferozepur district, Punjab. The case, set for further hearing on July 25, revealed that inmates had access to mobile phones, with one device logging 38,850 calls over a year.
12-Jul-2024
A local court on July 12 sentenced a drug peddler, Gaurav, to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of INR 1 lakh for possessing 1 kg of heroin in Ludhiana, Ludhiana district, Punjab. Despite his defence claiming false implication and lack of independent witnesses, the court upheld the conviction, noting the general public’s hesitance to participate as witnesses.
12-Jul-2024
According to sources, the Punjab Taxation Department is investigating a suspicious transaction involving 190 kg of gold in Amritsar, valued at approximately INR 140 crore, which was purchased without paying the required GST. The investigation is exploring potential links to a massive gold heist at Pearson Airport in Toronto, Canada, where 6,600 gold bars worth $20 million were stolen. The ongoing probe is looking into whether this gold was part of the stolen consignment suspected to have been smuggled into India and Dubai.
12-Jul-2024
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on July 12 granted bail to Gursant Singh, Manpreet Singh, Hilal Ahmed Shergoji, and Bikramjit Singh, who were booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act) in a 2020 narco-terror case. The court, citing the nearly four-year judicial custody period, deemed it sufficient to sever ties with alleged associates. It found that prima facie offences under UAPA were not substantiated against all except Shergoji, primarily considering the accused under the NDPS Act.