KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
17-May-2024
On May 17, a sharpshooter from the Himanshu alias Bhau gang, identified as Ajay alias Goli, opened fire at the Delhi Police’s Special Cell team and later succumbed to injuries in Rohini, North West Delhi. His criminal record is linked to a series of heinous acts, including a broad daylight murder in Murthal, Sonipat, and a recent firing incident in West Delhi’s Tilak Nagar area. Goli, a close aide of gangster Himanshu alias Bhau, operated under his command, engaging in various criminal activities across Delhi and Haryana. His demise marks a significant blow to the notorious criminal network led by Bhau, who remains a fugitive orchestrating operation from abroad.
16-May-2024
Former National Investigation Agency (NIA) Director-General Dinkar Gupta, who retired as Punjab Police Director-General of Police (DGP) in April 2024, has been granted 'Z-plus' category VIP security by the Centre due to threats from pro-Khalistan elements. A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) VIP security wing will deploy approximately 40 personnel in shifts to protect him in Punjab and Delhi. This decision follows a threat perception report from central intelligence and security agencies, emphasizing his work against pro-Khalistan activities.
16-May-2024
Since the amendment of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in 2019, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has seized 403 properties related to suspected terrorists until May 16, 2024. The highest number of properties were attached in Jharkhand (206) linked to left-wing extremism (LWE), and 100 properties in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) associated with terrorists and separatist leaders. Properties related to pro-Khalistan elements and other terrorist activities were also seized in cities like Kochi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Chandigarh, and Delhi.
16-May-2024
Khalistani terrorist and the chief of the banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has issued a threat to disrupt the Lok Sabha elections in Punjab and announced a reward of INR 1 lakh for raising Khalistan flags on June 1. He has also announced the allocation of USD 11 million for campaigning for a Khalistan Referendum in Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi during the 2024 elections.
15-May-2024
Police on May 15 arrested an associate of Canada-based terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa and United States (US)-based gangster Gurdev Singh Jassal, identified as Sharanjit Singh alias Sunny and seized six pistols and 20 live cartridges from his possession in Tarn Taran district. Sunny, the main weapon supplier for the Landa gang, was involved in smuggling arms from Madhya Pradesh (MP) to Punjab. This arrest is part of an ongoing investigation that has so far led to the seizure of 13 illegal weapons and 30 live cartridges, linking Sunny to criminal activities including extortion and murder.
15-May-2024
Panthic politics in Punjab has taken an unpredictable turn with the Election Commission of India (ECI) accepting the nomination of jailed Khalistani preacher and Waris Punjab De (WPD) chief, Amritpal Singh, as an independent candidate for the Khadoor Sahib constituency in Tarn Taran district, Punjab. While Shiromani Akali Dal-Amritsar (SAD-A) is backing him, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has criticized the move, questioning Amritpal's intentions and alleged influence by Central agencies. This area has a history of supporting hardliners.
15-May-2024
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on May 15 accepted the nomination of jailed Khalistani preacher and chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD), Amritpal Singh, for the general election in the Khadoor Sahib seat in Tarn Taran district, Punjab. Despite being incarcerated in Dibrugarh Jail, Assam, under the National Security Act (NSA) since April 2023, Singh filed his nomination as an independent candidate on May 10.
15-May-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on May 15 intercepted the movement of a drone and recovered a packet of heroin weighing 550 grams along with a small drone near Havelian village in Tarn Taran district. The recovered drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic model, made in China.
15-May-2024
To ensure peaceful polling in Punjab, authorities have mobilized approximately 64,000 police officers and 225 companies of Central forces. Special Director General of Police (DGP), Law and Order, Arpit Shukla, announced that 25 companies of Central forces have been deployed since May 15, with additional units en route.
15-May-2024
The Jalandhar Commissionerate Police on May 15 arrested notorious gangster Gourav Kapila alias Kapila, associated with the Vicky Gounder gang and seized five pistols from his possession in Jalandhar, Jalandhar district. Kapila, a prime suspect in a shooting incident during a birthday party in March 2024, was arrested following a complaint by Sunny, alias Kaka, who alleged that Kapila and his associates fired shots, severely injuring him.
15-May-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has recently taken charge of the probe into the targeted killing of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Vikas Prabhakar alias Vikas Bagga, which took place on April 13 in Nangal town in Rupnagar district of Punjab. Sources reveal that the assassination was orchestrated by Pakistan-based masterminds operating through terror networks in Portugal, Germany, and Dubai.
15-May-2024
Following the Punjab and Haryana High Court's inquiry into the protocol for granting armed licenses, Justice Harkesh Manuja on May 15 requested Punjab's Director-General of Police (DGP) to join the proceedings via video conferencing due to the failure to file a comprehensive affidavit by the next hearing date. The court sought comprehensive data on arms glorification on social media platforms, including FIRs registered and actions taken in the last five years.
14-May-2024
In a joint operation, the Counter-Intelligence (CI) unit of Bathinda and the district police on May 14 arrested three operatives of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), identified as Gogi Singh, Johny Singh, and Pritpal Singh and recovered three mobile phones, two dongles, an ATM card, and an Aadhaar card from their possession in Bathinda district. These arrests followed investigations that linked the individuals to pro-Khalistan graffiti slogans found in various public places in Bathinda, Punjab, and Delhi. Gogi Singh, identified as a key operative, was in constant communication with SFJ leader and Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
14-May-2024
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) on May 14 dismantled a terror module operated by foreign-based mastermind Iqbalpreet Singh alias Buchi, arresting four module members identified as Gurwinder Singh alias Shera, Gurpreet Singh, Ranjit Singh alias Sonu, and Jagjit Singh alias Jashan and seizing three pistols, 13 live cartridges, and a car from their possession near Liberty Chowk in Rajpura, SAS Nagar district. Police disclosed that Gurwinder Singh, previously arrested in 2022 for plotting target killings, had reassembled under Iqbalpreet Singh's guidance to plan new criminal activities in Punjab. Iqbalpreet Singh was linked to the late Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and another Khalistani terrorist, Ramandeep Bagga alias Canadian, a key perpetrator in multiple target killings, currently incarcerated in Tihar Jail in Delhi.
14-May-2024
In the 60 days following the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for India's ongoing general election, the Border Security Force (BSF) has either taken down or recovered 49 drones along the India-Pakistan international border. Most of these drones, predominantly of Chinese origin, were intercepted in Punjab, with a few in Rajasthan. This significant increase, 13 times more than in 2022, highlights an ongoing security threat, as drones are being utilized for smuggling drugs and weapons across the border from Pakistan. Despite the efforts of security agencies like the BSF and local police, the challenge persists, emphasizing the necessity for sustained vigilance.
13-May-2024
The Special Task Force (STF) on May 13 arrested five shooters associated with notorious gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Rohit Godara, identified as Dinesh, Pradeep, Jagdish and Vishnu, and seized five automatic pistols and 55 cartridges from their possession, in Farrukhnagar in Gurugram district in Haryana. Dinesh, who was initially arrested on May 11, revealed the whereabouts of the other four shooters. They were subsequently arrested on May 13 from Abohar, Fazilka district, Punjab. The shooters were allegedly planning serious crimes in Haryana, Rajasthan, and Punjab.
13-May-2024
Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar, speaking at the Constitution Club in Mumbai, Maharashtra, on May 13, stated that India has not received any actionable evidence from Canada regarding the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He affirmed that India remains open to investigation if Canada provides relevant information.
13-May-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on May 13 intercepted a drone and recovered one packet of heroin weighing 560 grams along with the drone from fields near Ratankhurd village in Amritsar district. The recovered drone was identified as a Quadcopter, Model DJI Mavic 3 Classic, manufactured in China.
13-May-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on May 13 recovered a drone from a dry well in Dhanoe Khurd village in Amritsar district. The recovered drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic made in China.
12-May-2024
The Jalandhar Commissionerate police on May 12 arrested 10 more drug peddlers and seized INR 84.78 lakh in drug money and 500 grams of heroin from their possession in Jalandhar district, related to a case involving 48 kg of heroin. The police revealed that the kingpin, Turkey-based Navpreet Singh, led the syndicate with operations extending across Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey, Pakistan, and Canada. Earlier, three family members associated with the syndicate were arrested, exposing a complex network smuggling drugs via routes in Gujarat and Jammu & Kashmir (J&K).
12-May-2024
Indian-American oncologist Dr. Bharat Barai, in an interview to PTI on May 12, criticized Western misinformation about Indian democracy during an election cycle, accusing some in the West of harbouring a colonial mentality. He also condemned Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau for not taking action against Khalistani separatists who support violence in India. Dr. Barai emphasized that the Khalistan issue is primarily confined to Canada and a small fraction of foreign-born Sikhs. He defended India's vibrant democracy and progress, dismissing Western criticisms as grounded in misinformation and false narratives.
12-May-2024
Dr. Dharamvira Gandhi, Congress candidate from Patiala in Punjab, is advocating for the legalization of opium cultivation in Punjab as a solution to the state's drug menace. Gandhi, a cardiologist, argues that regulated opium cultivation will increase farmers' income and combat the use of synthetic drugs like "chitta." He contends that banning drugs has led to the proliferation of more harmful substances like cocaine, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. He proposes regulated access to traditional intoxicants like opium and poppy husk as a safer alternative to synthetic drugs, emphasizing the failure of previous anti-drug campaigns.
12-May-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on May 12 recovered a packet containing 520 grams of heroin from fields near Hardo Rattan village in Amritsar district.
12-May-2024
Police on May 12 busted a drug racket and arrested 13 unidentified individuals, recovering drug money worth INR 84 lakh, luxury vehicles, and a truck in Jalandhar district. These arrests are connected to a case involving 48 kg of heroin. The arrested individuals were involved in various roles within the drug network, including suppliers, purchasers, and hawala operators.
12-May-2024
On May 12, Pro-Khalistan graffiti and slogans against Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi were discovered on the pillars of Karol Bagh and Jhandewalan Metro stations in New Delhi. The Delhi Police swiftly removed the graffiti and filed a First Information Report (FIR) regarding the incident, while also requesting CCTV footage from the metro stations. The slogans were attributed to supporters of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ).