KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
08-Sep-2023
A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on September 8 convicted three former Punjab Police officials identified as Dharam Singh, Gurdev Singh and Surinder Singh, for conspiracy, murder, and fabrication of records in a 1992 police encounter case involving the killing of three youths, Harjit Singh, Lakhwinder Singh, and Jaspinder Singh, in Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) district in Punjab. The quantum of the sentence is to be pronounced on September 14.
07-Sep-2023
According to reports, a deliberate disinformation campaign is underway on social media amidst India’s hosting of the G20 Summit in New Delhi. This campaign is orchestrated by individuals associated with Pakistan and Khalistani groups, with the aim of undermining India's presidency of the G20 Summit. The disinformation includes false claims, fake news, and support for Khalistan, posing a challenge to India's efforts to lead an inclusive, action-oriented G20 summit. Also, this anti-India campaign involves foreign organizations such as the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) and the New Democratic Party (NDP).
07-Sep-2023
Punjab Police on September 7 arrested an alleged drug trafficker, identified as Malkait Singh alias Kali and recovered 9 kilograms of heroin from his possession from near Boparai Canal Bridge near Goraya Jalandhar district. According to Jalandhar Rural's Senior Superintendent of Police, Mukhwinder Singh Bhullar, Malkait Singh reportedly had connections with a Pakistan-based drug smuggler Haider Ali, and had allegedly sent three swimmers to Pakistan to retrieve a 50 kg heroin consignment through a riverine route. The Police had previously seized 22.5 kg of heroin, bringing the total amount recovered to 31.5 kg. Police teams are actively searching for the remaining drug smugglers.
07-Sep-2023
According to reports, cross-border drug smuggling poses a serious challenge along Punjab's borders, involving land, water, and air routes. The use of drones, river routes, and land-based trafficking has increased, placing strain on security forces like the Border Security Force (BSF). The drug problem in Punjab has spilled over into Himachal Pradesh (HP). Drug trafficking is particularly common in the Malwa, Majha, and Doaba regions, leading to issues of drug addiction among the youth. While law enforcement agencies are making efforts to combat smuggling, the problem of demand and supply persists. Punjab has also witnessed a significant number of drug overdose deaths, underscoring the urgency of addressing this issue.
07-Sep-2023
On September 7, a confidential letter authored by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Ferozepur in Punjab, surfaced, accusing certain police colleagues, including a Station House Officer (SHO) and Sub-Inspector (SI), of shielding drug smugglers. The DSP alleges that these officers have ties to drug peddlers and gangsters, hindering the government's anti-drug efforts. The letter also claims that police officials have tipped off traffickers about impending raids, enabling them to evade capture. An investigation is underway to assess the allegations, and appropriate action will be taken against those found guilty, according to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Deepak Hillori.
06-Sep-2023
A Delhi court has scheduled a hearing for September 11 regarding the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, which involves Senior Congress leader Jagdish Tytler as one of the accused. The case pertains to the Pul Bangash killings that occurred in the aftermath of Prime Minister (PM) Indira Gandhi's assassination in 1984.
06-Sep-2023
Punjab police, on September 6, busted a major trans-border narcotics smuggling ring by arresting a drug smuggler identified as Harpreet Singh and recovering 15 kilograms of heroin and a Hyundai Grand i-10 car from his possession in New Ranjitpura in Amritsar district. Following his arrest, four associates of Harpreet, identified as Gagandeep Singh alias Guggu alias Haddi, Rahul Singh, and Harpreet Singh alias Happy Jatt, were nominated by the police, according to the Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, Gaurav Yadav. Harpreet was arrested following a tip-off provided by a village defense committee (VDC) constituted by the Punjab Police in border villages to apprehend drug smugglers.
06-Sep-2023
The Bharti Kisan Union (BKU-Ekta-Ugraahan) led a protest march of farmers and other residents to the Mini Secretariat in Ludhiana, Ludhiana district, on September 6. They submitted a memorandum urging strong measures to combat drug issues and redirect the youth toward productive activities. BKU's general secretary Sudagar Sinh Ghudani emphasized the need for a comprehensive awareness campaign against drug addiction and the creation of employment opportunities for rural youth.
06-Sep-2023
A hearing regarding the case of the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala was held on September 6 in the Sessions Court in Mansa district of Punjab. Twenty-one defendants appeared in court via video conference, while four could not be produced. The next court hearing for the case is scheduled for September 20.
06-Sep-2023
The Punjab & Haryana High Court (HC) on September 6 granted bail to Chandeep Singh alias Gabbar Singh, an alleged Khalistani terrorist, in a case involving charges under various sections, including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA), and the Explosive Substance Act, 1908. The court noted that the prosecution failed to establish a connection between the appellant and the UAPA charge, which carries a potential life sentence. Therefore, the appellant was entitled to bail after nearly four years of detention. The court also emphasized the need for a fresh consideration of bail and criticized the slow progress of the trial.
05-Sep-2023
On September 5, the Government of India’s media wing, the Press Information Bureau's (PIB) fact-check unit, debunked the claim made by the banned Khalistani terror organization, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), that it had put up pro-Khalistan posters and graffiti at five places to be visited by the G20 delegates in Delhi. Earlier, in a video uploaded on September 5, SFJ chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun had claimed that SFJ had put up graffiti and posters in five locations in New Delhi: Tilak Bridge, Bhairon Marg Bridge, Africa Avenue, Ring Road Bridge, and Sardar Patel Bridge.
05-Sep-2023
In a video uploaded on September 5, the chief of the banned Khalistani terror organization, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, urged G20 nations to support the Khalistan movement and called upon Khalistan supporters to organize demonstrations at five key locations in the national capital, New Delhi: Tilak Marg Bridge, Sardar Patel Bridge, Bhairon Marg Bridge, Africa Avenue Road, and Ring Road Bridge.
05-Sep-2023
The convener of Quami Insaaf Morcha (OIM) Pal Singh France on September 5 declared their intention to persist with their protest until their demand for the release of Sikh prisoners who have completed their sentences in terror-related cases is fulfilled, in Mohali, Punjab. The road had been closed since January 7 when the QIM began their protest.
05-Sep-2023
Director General of Police (DGP) Kuldeep Singh, who heads the Special Task Force (STF) against drugs on September 5 stated that Punjab has witnessed record-breaking heroin seizures, with a total of 868.46 kg confiscated, potentially surpassing 1,000 kilograms by year-end, in Chandigarh. He attributed part of this surge to the swollen Ravi and Sutlej rivers, which have facilitated drug smuggling.
05-Sep-2023
Police on September 5 carried out a massive cordon and search operation (CASO) between 7am and 10 am at 206 locations associated with individuals with criminal backgrounds across all districts of Punjab. The CASO was directed by Punjab's Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav. Special Director General of Police (SDGP-Law and Order) Arpit Shukla explained that these raids were executed simultaneously, with personal oversight by the Commissioner of Police and Senior Superintendent of Police (CPs/SSPs), following inquiries into individuals linked to anti-social elements, some of whom reside abroad.
05-Sep-2023
Punjab Police Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on September 5 convened a meeting with 44 Village Level Defence Committees (VLDCs) to devise a comprehensive strategy for dismantling the drug supply network and combating drug smuggling, in the Pathankot district of Punjab. The VLDCs were praised for their role in providing real-time information to disrupt drug networks.
05-Sep-2023
Punjab Police Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on September 5 announced the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) to address the challenges posed by drones and drug-related issues in border areas, in Gurdaspur in Gurdaspur district.
04-Sep-2023
Punjab Police Inspector General (IG) (headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill on September 4, addressing the media in Chandigarh stated that to combat the high rate of drug overdose deaths in Punjab, drug suppliers will now be charged with culpable homicide if their clients die of an overdose, extending accountability beyond drug peddling to include fatalities caused by drugs.
04-Sep-2023
Police on September 4 arrested one person, identified as Vishal Kumar and seized 10 grams of heroin and a pistol of .315 bore from his possession, near Lalheri village in Ludhiana district. Another .315 bore pistol was also recovered, following his interrogation.
04-Sep-2023
According to reports, Pro-Khalistani outfits, backed by Pakistan's Inter Service-Intelligence (ISI), have been notorious for spreading false narratives and demands that lack resonance in Punjab. Recent incidents, such as graffiti with pro-Khalistan slogans in Delhi ahead of the G20 summit, reveal their efforts to gain attention. Two individuals arrested in connection with the graffiti were allegedly paid by SFJ chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is operating from the US with support from his aide in Canada. These activities have raised concerns about the influence of Pakistan's ISI and Khalistani groups operating in foreign countries, particularly Canada, and have strained diplomatic relations, especially in light of the Trudeau administration's perceived leniency toward such groups on Canadian soil.
04-Sep-2023
According to reports, Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala, a Canada-based operative of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), recently expressed concerns on social media about the actions of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against him and his associates. He warned against the possibility of a fake social media account potentially created by the NIA to identify his contacts. The NIA has been actively pursuing Dala and his associates for their involvement in organized crime and terrorist activities, which include recruitment, fundraising through extortion, and smuggling arms and explosives across borders. The KTF, along with other proscribed terrorist groups, has been implicated in promoting terrorism in India, including bombings and targeted killings.
04-Sep-2023
In preparation for the G20 Summit, Delhi's security establishment has upgraded its facial recognition system, now boasting a potential 90% accuracy rate. The system integrates databases from intelligence agencies, Delhi Police's criminal and terrorist suspect records, as well as CCTV camera feeds, triggering alerts upon identifying individuals in the database. Authorities are focusing on monitoring pro-Khalistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) based jihadi elements. Additional security measures include the deployment of 1,000 facial recognition cameras and comprehensive policing and surveillance efforts in sensitive areas.
04-Sep-2023
Punjab Police Inspector General (IG) (headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill on September 4 stated that Punjab Police plans to implement Section 64 (A) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, which grants immunity from prosecution to addicts who willingly seek de-addiction treatment from government-recognized hospitals or institutions. This approach will treat individuals caught with small quantities of heroin or narcotics for personal use as victims eligible for treatment rather than criminal prosecution.
04-Sep-2023
Punjab Police Inspector General (IG) (headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill on September 4, addressing the media in Chandigarh announced that in the past 14 months, Punjab Police have arrested 19,093 drug smugglers, including 2,778 major culprits. They have registered a total of 14,179 First Information Reports (FIRs), with 1,717 related to commercial drug quantities. Through cordon and search operations, the police recovered 1,400 kilograms of heroin in drug-affected areas in the state, and an additional 147.5 kilograms was seized from seaports in Gujarat and Maharashtra, making the total heroin recovery 1,548.27 kilograms during this period. Police have also recovered INR 13.96 crore of drug money from the possession of drug smugglers arrested in the span of the last 14 months. He also disclosed that the Police seized around 240 kilograms of heroin in August.
04-Sep-2023
Punjab Police on September 4 held police-public meetings in the rural as well as city areas of Punjab at various locations as part of a month-long campaign against drug abuse.