KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
12-May-2024
In the current Lok Sabha elections in Punjab, the focus has shifted from drug addiction to the menace of drug-dispensing drones reportedly originating from Pakistan. Political rhetoric, once centered around combating drug addiction, now emphasizes cross-border smuggling and the need for a robust government to address the issue. While Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) nominee Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal avoids drug-related statements, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Taranjit Singh Sandhu vows to curb smuggling with United States (US)-inspired medical treatments. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) nominee Anil Joshi highlights the AAP-led government's failure to uproot addiction despite promises. Data from the Border Security Force (BSF) underscores increased drone activity and heroin seizures, indicating evolving tactics by Pakistan-based operatives, marking a departure from previous elections where drug addiction was a prominent political issue.
12-May-2024
On May 12, international drug smuggler Gurpreet Singh alias Gopa, wanted in multiple cases, was shot dead near Wadala Chowk in Jalandhar in Jalandhar district, Punjab.
11-May-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on May 11 recovered one packet of heroin weighing 2.175 Kg from fields near Sankatara village in Tarn Taran district.
11-May-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on May 11 recovered one packet of heroin weighing 569 Kg from fields near TJ Singh village in Tarn Taran district.
11-May-2024
Reports indicate a surge in pro-Khalistani leaders' participation in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in Punjab, including Simranjit Singh Mann (Shiromani Akali Dal-Amritsar – SAD-A), Sandeep Singh, Sarabjit Singh Khalsa, and jailed Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh. This trend raises concerns about national security, given their advocacy for separatism, which challenges India's sovereignty. Simranjit Singh Mann's admission of accepting payment for issuing counterfeit asylum certificates adds complexity to the electoral landscape. Amritpal Singh's leadership of the Waris Punjab De (WPD) organization draws comparisons to extremist figures like Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, hinting at a resurgence of radical ideologies. Sandeep Singh's association with pro-Khalistani sentiments, despite being in jail for alleged involvement in a murder, underscores simmering tensions in the region. Sarabjit Singh Khalsa's familial ties to prominent political figures, despite past electoral losses, highlight the entrenched pro-Khalistani sentiments within Punjab's political sphere.
11-May-2024
Reports highlight the deep-rooted communal politics affecting India's democracy, particularly in Punjab, tracing back to a history of religious terrorism in the 1980s and 1990s followed by heightened communal polarization. Despite a decrease in inflammatory rhetoric post-Sudhir Suri's killing, instances of lynchings and killings due to alleged 'sacrilege' by Sikh extremists persist, showcasing ongoing religious tensions. Punjab's persistent sacrilege cases underscore the seriousness, worsened by political exploitation and institutional failures. Religious leaders, including the Akal Takht's Jathedar, contribute to a hardening of Sikh identity and steer followers away from core principles, fostering religious intolerance and authoritarianism. This mirrors broader chauvinism and repression across India, highlighting the need for a collective realization against political manipulation of noble faiths.
11-May-2024
Baddi-based Smilax Pharmachem Drug Industries is under investigation for allegedly manufacturing and illegally supplying tramadol-related psychotropic drugs in Punjab, operating in Baddi, Solan district, Himachal Pradesh (HP). The unit is accused of failing to disclose sales details to the State Drugs Controller (SDC) and Superintendent of Police (SP) for the past year, in violation of norms. Despite extensive purchases of raw materials, drug authorities had not detected illegal drug manufacturing until a recent raid by the Special Task Force (STF) of Punjab uncovered significant quantities of tramadol powder.
11-May-2024
Punjab Police on May 11 busted an interstate network involved in manufacturing and supplying illegal psychotropic substances, and arrested seven individuals, including the mastermind identified as Alex Paliwal, and seized intoxicant tablets/capsules worth INR 70.42 lakh and 725.5 kg of intoxicant tramadol powder, along with INR 2.37 lakh in cash, in an operation spanned five states - Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh (HP), Uttar Pradesh (UP), and Maharashtra. The investigation, initiated by the Special Task Force (STF) following the arrest of two drug smugglers in February, eventually led to the apprehension of the gang's kingpin in UP. Further scrutiny traced the illicit supply chain to pharmaceutical companies in HP and Maharashtra, exposing the intricate web of interstate drug trafficking.
11-May-2024
Amritsar (Rural) police on May 11 arrested two drug peddlers, Akashbir Singh and Banty, and seized 510 grams of heroin from their possession, along with a bike and a mobile phone in Amritsar district. The duo was produced before a duty magistrate and remanded to two-day police custody for further interrogation. The police are investigating their connections to drug consignment recipients and Pakistani-based smuggler Qasim Dhillon, who smuggled contraband into Indian territory using drones.
11-May-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops intercepted a drone on the night of May 11-12 and recovered a packet containing 498 grams of heroin along with the drone from fields near Havelian village in Amritsar district.
10-May-2024
Jailed Khalistani preacher and chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD), Amritpal Singh, filed his nomination from Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha constituency of Punjab on May 10, from Dibrugarh in Assam. His lawyer and relatives facilitated the nomination in Tarn Taran, Punjab. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had previously disposed of his plea for temporary release to file the nomination, as the Punjab government facilitated the process.
09-May-2024
Jailed Khalistani preacher and chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD), Amritpal Singh, declared assets worth INR 1,000 in his poll affidavit on May 9. The affidavit also reveals that Singh's wife, Kirandip Kaur, owns movable assets worth INR 18.37 lakh, including cash, gold jewellery, and funds in a United Kingdom (UK) bank account.
09-May-2024
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, in an interview with PTI on May 9, reiterated concerns about Canada's tolerance of Khalistani separatist elements, emphasizing that freedom of speech shouldn't support separatism. Jaishankar criticized Canada for prioritizing its vote bank over the rule of law and questioned how individuals with questionable backgrounds are allowed to stay in the country. He noted India's respect for free speech but clarified it doesn't condone threats to foreign diplomats or sheltering individuals linked to organized crime.
09-May-2024
On May 9, Anuj Rao, a close associate of gangster Kala Jathedi, was fatally shot by armed assailants in Jhajjar town, Haryana. Anuj, who had recently opened a real estate office, was attacked while socializing with friends there. The police have not made any arrests related to the incident yet.
09-May-2024
Police on May 9 arrested three members of the David gang wanted in a murder case reported in February 2024, identified as Vikramjit Singh alias Vicky, Hardeep Singh alias Ghagu, and Tirath Singh alias Kala and seized a .32 bore pistol and four live cartridges from their possession in Ludhiana district.
09-May-2024
The Counter Intelligence (CI) Jalandhar unit of Punjab Police on May 9 busted an interstate arms racket, arresting two smugglers identified as Harpreet Singh alias Happy Mattu and Rahul Masih along with seized six pistols and seven magazines near Railway Station Jalandhar Cantonment in Jalandhar district. The Police revealed that the operation uncovered the smugglers' procurement of four large arms consignments from Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh (MP) over the last six months. Efforts are underway to apprehend two more significant members of the module.
09-May-2024
Jailed Khalistani preacher and chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD) Amritpal Singh on May 9 moved to the Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) seeking temporary release from Dibrugarh jail in Assam to file his nominations for contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Khadoor Sahib constituency. Amritpal Singh's petition cited the approaching deadline for nomination filing and requested a seven-day release in accordance with National Security Act (NSA) provisions or alternative arrangements to submit his nomination papers.
09-May-2024
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, during a weekly briefing in New Delhi on May 9, stated that Canada has not yet formally communicated any relevant evidence regarding the involvement of three Indians in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
09-May-2024
The Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha constituency in Tarn Taran district, Punjab, has gained attention with the entry of jailed Khalistani preacher and chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD) Amritpal Singh as an independent candidate. Issues such as the release of former Khalistani militants and Amritpal's arrest dominate the electoral discourse in this Sikh-dominated region. With the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) facing challenges from multiple fronts and concerns over vote division among Sikh hardliners, the electoral dynamics have intensified, leading to a four-way contest with the Congress, AAP, SAD, and Amritpal in the fray. The constituency's political landscape reflects shifting allegiances and the quest for representation amidst historical and religious sensitivities.
09-May-2024
The Uttar Pradesh (UP) Special Task Force (STF) on May 9 arrested a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang named Manish Kumar Yadav from Ramleela Maidan in the Chiluatal area of Gorakhpur district in UP. During interrogation, Yadav confessed to his involvement in supplying arms for criminal activities, leveraging contacts he made while in jail.
08-May-2024
Punjab Police on May 8 resolved the murder of bouncer Munish Rana alias Manni by arresting two shooters associated with the Lucky Patial gang, identified as Vikram Rana alias Happy and Kiran Singh along with a .32-bore pistol, six cartridges and four bullet shells, as well as a motorcycle, near Medicity in New Chandigarh in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district in Punjab. The Police tracked down the shooters, leading to their arrest after an exchange of gunfire. Meanwhile, police on May 8 stated that local members of the Bhupi Rana and Kaushal gangs were responsible for the murder of bouncer Manish Kumar alias Manni, who was shot dead on May 7 in Chando village in Khara tehsil in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district in Punjab. Despite the Davinder Bambiha gang initially claiming responsibility, the investigation revealed otherwise.
08-May-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops intercepted a drone on the intervening night of May 8-9 and recovered 550 grams of heroin from Raitewali Bhaini village in Fazilka district.
08-May-2024
Damdami Taksal, a prominent Sikh seminary led by Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa, recently issued an appeal urging Punjabis, especially Sikhs, to consider having a minimum of five children. This call is rooted in the belief of strengthening familial bonds and contributing to societal prosperity. Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa emphasized that the Taksal would mobilize resources to support families facing economic challenges in raising larger families, extending the appeal to all communities residing in Punjab.
08-May-2024
Border Security Forces (BSF), along with Punjab Police on May 8 recovered a packet containing 210 grams of heroin and a China-made drone from fields near TJ Singh village in Tarn Taran district.
08-May-2024
The Special Cell of Delhi Police stated on May 8 that in the past few weeks, during a pan-India operation, they have arrested nine criminals and a juvenile wanted in cases ranging from shootouts to arms supply to the Lawrence Bishnoi-Goldy Brar gang, identified as Manjeet Singh alias Guri, Gurpal, Jaspreet Singh alias Rahul, Sachin Kumar alias Rahul, Santosh alias Sultan Baba,Manjeet,Abhay Soni alias Kabir,Dharmendra alias Kartik, and Santosh Kumar, and seized seven pistols, 31 live cartridges and 11 mobile phones from those arrested from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh (MP), Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Bihar.