KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
02-Dec-2023
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami on December 2 objected to the Pakistan Government's plan to allocate 60% of the historic Gurdwara Nankana Sahib's land to another trust. The land was originally donated by Rai Bular Bhatti, a contemporary of Guru Nanak Dev, for the Gurdwara. Dhami expressed deep concern, stating that Bhatti's descendants had informed them of the decision and urged Pakistan to preserve gurdwara properties.
02-Dec-2023
According to reports, juvenile crime rates are on the rise in India, with a notable increase in gang involvement among young individuals. Law enforcement attributes this trend to gangs exploiting vulnerable youth through peer pressure and socio-economic challenges. Recent police efforts have uncovered international crime syndicates, led by figures like Goldy Brar, recruiting juveniles for extortion and organized criminal activities. The syndicates target wealthy individuals, using juveniles for surveillance and intimidation. Meanwhile, there is a concerning surge in juvenile crimes reported nationally, with a focus on murder cases, highlighting the need for comprehensive measures to address the issue.
01-Dec-2023
The Union government defended its decision on December 1 to extend the Border Security Force (BSF) jurisdiction in Punjab from 15 to 50 km along the Indo-Pak border. The government cited concurrent jurisdiction and clarified that local police powers were not deprived. The Punjab Government, alleging a parallel jurisdiction impinging on state powers, argued that the exercise of authority was unreasonable. The Supreme Court, acknowledging Punjab's concerns, scheduled further hearings for January 2024, urging the parties to collaborate on the issues involved.
01-Dec-2023
The border district of Punjab is witnessing a concerning transformation in the narcotics landscape as drones from Pakistan deliver black tar heroin into agricultural fields near the international border. The rise of heroin, facilitated by drones, has replaced traditional narcotics like opium and poppy husk, leading to a surge in addiction among the region's youth. Official reports suggest that for every kilogram seized, a substantial amount goes unnoticed, posing a significant challenge to authorities in curbing the influx and distribution of heroin.
01-Dec-2023
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), in a joint operation with Amritsar Commissionerate police on December 1, arrested two operatives of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang along with their key associate, identified as Sarthak, Anmol Sharma, and Alatmis, and seized a car from their possession. Sarthak and Anmol were arrested from Zirakpur in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district, and Alatmis was arrested from Samana in the Patiala district of Punjab.
01-Dec-2023
Jagtar Singh Hawara, serving a life sentence for the assassination of former Chief Minister (CM) Beant Singh, was acquitted on December 1 in a case registered 18 years ago for charges of waging war against the nation by a local court in Chandigarh. The prosecution failed to prove the allegations, which included planning to wage war, conspiracy, and collecting arms for the formation of Khalistan.
01-Dec-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF), on December 1, during a search operation, recovered a Chinese-made drone on the outskirts of Khalra village in Tarn Taran district. The drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic, a Made in China model.
01-Dec-2023
Sikh organizations worldwide have denounced the heckling of the Indian Ambassador to the United States (US), Taranjit Singh Sandhu, by a group of Khalistan sympathizers at a gurudwara in New York, US. Sikhs of America emphasized that gurudwaras are places of worship and should be free from personal political views, urging strict action against the miscreants. The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DGMC) and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) condemned the incident, stating that it tarnished the Sikh community's image. Ambassador Sandhu, a representative of the Sikh community on foreign soil, received support, with calls for gurdwaras to remain free from political disputes.
01-Dec-2023
The proposed site for the Sikh Museum and Heritage Centre in Kurukshetra, Haryana, has been changed due to opposition from local residents.
01-Dec-2023
According to reports, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director William Burns visited New Delhi in early August to discuss the alleged plot to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The US uncovered a conspiracy involving an Indian national hiring a hitman to assassinate Pannun, with the alleged involvement of an Indian government official.
30-Nov-2023
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President, Harjinder Singh Dhami, on November 30 urged the Indian government to decide on the mercy petitions and release of Sikh prisoners, including death row convict Balwant Singh Rajoana, in Amritsar, Punjab. Rajoana had written to the SGPC seeking the withdrawal of a mercy petition filed in 2012, threatening a hunger strike if not done by December 5.
30-Nov-2023
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on November 30, while addressing the media in New Delhi, expressed concern over the United States (US) federal prosecutors' accusations against an Indian intelligence official allegedly involved in a plot to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Bagchi stated that the matter goes against the Indian government's policy, emphasizing the seriousness of the nexus between organized crime, trafficking, gunrunning, and extremism at an international level.
30-Nov-2023
Allegations of a conspiracy to murder Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun have strained India-United States (US) relations, following the arrest of Indian citizen Nikhil Gupta. Critics suggest that America's stance may reflect a double standard on terrorism, raising concerns about parallels with Canada's approach to the Khalistan issue.
30-Nov-2023
According to sources, two senior Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officers were asked to leave their stations in major Western cities amid allegations of the spy agency's involvement in an assassination campaign targeting Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. RAW's stations in San Francisco and Washington DC in the US were shut down, signaling discontent over perceived violations of operational conventions. US prosecutors claimed that RAW conspired to assassinate Khalistan activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, leading to strained relations and concerns about intelligence cooperation.
30-Nov-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) has recovered 90 drones on the Punjab Frontier this year, with 60-65% of heroin seizures attributed to these drones. BSF officials suspect the drone system could be an organized, state-sponsored mechanism deployed by Pakistan for drug delivery across the border. Most recovered drones were identified as China-made DJ Matrix models, leading to suspicions that they originate from near Pakistani Rangers' establishments. The issue has been raised with Pakistan through various channels, including diplomatic meetings and protest notes.
30-Nov-2023
Punjab Police on November 30 arrested notorious gangster Karanjit Singh alias Jassa Happowal, and recovered two pistols, one .30 bore and one .32 bore, along with two magazines and 10 live cartridges, and a motorcycle from his possession, from outskirts of Jalandhar city in Jalandhar district. Jassa was wanted in at least six murder cases, including the recent double-murder of a mother and daughter in Bhojowal village in Jaladnahr district. Jassa was an operative of foreign-based gangster Rajesh Kumar alias Sonu Khatri, and Jaspreet Singh alias Jassa Mohanwalia’ gang.
30-Nov-2023
Punjab Police Special DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla on November 30 stated that a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rural) Jaskiranjit Singh Teja, has been constituted to probe the backward and forward linkages of two gangsters identified as Sanjeev Kumar alias Sanju Bahman and Subham alias Gopi, who were killed in a Ludhiana encounter on November 29 in Ludhiana, Punjab.
29-Nov-2023
The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) on November 29 urged Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh to use his influence in persuading Pakistan to restore Sikh shrines, increase pilgrim quotas, and eliminate the USD 20 and USD 5 service fees for using the Kartarpur Corridor.
29-Nov-2023
Nanded Police on November 29 arrested the father and brother of Khalistani terrorist Harvinder Singh alias Rinda, identified as Charan Singh Sandhu and Sarabjot Singh Sandhu, for their involvement in an extortion case in Nanded in Maharashtra. Rinda, associated with the Khalistani terrorist organization Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), was declared a terrorist by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA), and his last known location was reported to be Lahore, Pakistan.
29-Nov-2023
Pro-Khalistan slogans were found scrawled on walls near Mata Chintpurni Temple in Chintpurni in Una district of Himachal Pradesh on November 29. A video featuring Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of the banned terrorist outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) surfaced, in which he showcased the graffiti and asserted that Congress leaders involved in the 1984 Sikh riots would not be spared. The police in Una have initiated an investigation, and Pannun, previously named in a similar case last year, is now a co-accused and the main conspirator, booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
29-Nov-2023
Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police on November 29 during a joint search operation recovered two packets containing 1 kg of heroin from fields near Ranian village in Amritsar district.
29-Nov-2023
Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police on November 29 during a joint search operation recovered a packet wrapped in white tape containing 1 kg of heroin from fields near Mehdipur village in Tarn Taran district.
29-Nov-2023
According to reports, the practice of consuming traditional narcotics like opium, poppy husk, and cough syrups in a border district of Gurdaspur in Punjab has substantially decreased due to the easy availability of heroin delivered by drones from Pakistan. Drones drop yellow nylon bags containing heroin in agricultural fields near the international border, altering the dynamics of drug use. Statistics indicate that 80% of addicts seeking treatment at de-addiction centres are now addicted to heroin, a significant shift attributed to the influx of heroin through drones in the past two years. Authorities acknowledge the challenge of identifying and intercepting large-scale smugglers involved in this drug trade.
29-Nov-2023
Two gangsters belonging to the Sanju Bahman gang, identified as Sanjeev Kumar alias Sanju Bahman and Shubham Gopi, were killed in an exchange of fire with the Ludhiana police at Tibba bridge on Ludhiana-Doraha Road, near Ludhiana in Ludhiana district on November 29.
29-Nov-2023
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on November 29 allowed two-hour ‘in-custody parole’ to Jagtar Singh Tara, a convict in the assassination case of Punjab's then Chief Minister (CM) Beant Singh to attend his niece’s wedding on December 3. Tara is serving a life sentence.