KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
17-May-2023
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on May 17 announced a reward of INR 1 lakh for individuals who provide information on drone movements and help in the recovery of weapons and narcotics brought by drones from Pakistan. The reward aims to deter smugglers from involving local residents in collecting drugs dropped by drones.
17-May-2023
The Criminal Investigation Agency (CIA) arrested five persons and recovered 300 kg of poppy husk from a truck parked near a school boundary wall in Behak Khas village in in Fazilka Tehsil in Firozepur district on May 17. The truck, accompanied by an SUV, was apprehended by the police, and the occupants attempted to flee but were apprehended.
16-May-2023
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on May 16 offered free legal assistance to Nirmaljit Singh Saini, who shot and killed a woman found drinking alcohol inside a gurdwara complex in Patiala. The committee honoured the accused's parents and emphasized the importance of upholding rules and traditions within gurdwaras to respect devotees' religious sentiments.
16-May-2023
The Lehra police in Sangrur have initiated an investigation and registered a case against three individuals after the death of Gurpreet Singh, who was found unconscious near a drain in Sangrur district.
16-May-2023
Banned pro-Khalistan group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) urged freedom fighters in Jammu and Kashmir to block Srinagar International Airport during the G20 summit. In a video released by SFJ's Counsel General Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, he falsely claims that India is illegally occupying Jammu and Kashmir and planning a terror attack to blame Kashmiri freedom fighters and Pakistan. SFJ has also launched an email campaign urging G20 ambassadors to boycott the Kashmir summit.
16-May-2023
The radical Sikh group Dal Khalsa on May 16 called for the implementation of a code outlining the appointment, removal, powers, and working sphere of the Takht Jathedars to prevent unsavoury situations. This demand comes after a controversy arose when Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh attended the engagement ceremony of AAP MP Raghav Chadha and actor Parineeti Chopra.
16-May-2023
Police arrested a man, identified as Jobanjeet Singh, for drug smuggling from Pakistan using drones and recovered with 2.6 kg of heroin, 2 kg of intoxicating powder, INR 7.40 lakh in drug money and a .32 bore pistol from Tarn Taran district on May 16. The police investigation revealed his connection with Pakistani smugglers, who used drones to drop heroin in Bharopal village and near Gharinda in Amritsar. The accused had been active in the smuggling business for approximately four years. Further investigation is ongoing to establish his network's links.
15-May-2023
Former Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) President Baljit Singh Daduwal met Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to discuss issues related to the Sikh community on May 15. Daduwal urged action against sacrilege perpetrators under UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act), withdrawal of NSA (National Security Act (NSA) on Sikhs in Dibrugarh Jail, and holding SGPC elections.
15-May-2023
The President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Harjinder Singh Dhami, on May 15 accused anti-Sikh forces of targeting Gurdwaras under a conspiracy, following the shooting of a 35-year-old woman near the Gurudwara premises in Patiala.
15-May-2023
Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit will visit border districts on June 7 and 8 to monitor coordination between security and intelligence agencies and take feedback from people regarding their problems. This will be his fourth tour to the border area in the past year.
14-May-2023
According to Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) sources, the notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi is set to be transferred from Sabarmati Jail in Ahmedabad to Tihar Jail in Delhi.
14-May-2023
Police arrested a woman drug smuggler, identified as Kamaljit Kaur, and seized 5 grams of heroin and 1500 intoxicant tablets from her possession in Phagwara in Kapurthala district on May 14.
14-May-2023
A woman, identified as Parminder Kaur, allegedly consuming liquor inside Gurdwara Dukhniwaran Sahib was shot dead by man outside the manager’s room on May 14. The man was arrested later. The incident occurred when the woman was being taken to the manager's room, and the shooter, a property dealer, fired multiple shots.
13-May-2023
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on May 13 installed portraits of Amarjit Singh Khemkaran and Jathedar Dalip Singh Talwandi at the Golden Temple's Central Sikh Museum in Amritsar. Amarjit was a constable-turned-separatist who was killed in the 1984 Operation Bluestar, while Jathedar Dalip Singh Talwandi had participated in several morchas and Punjabi Suba Lehar. The family members of both were felicitated on the occasion with siropas. The SGPC general secretary said that the installation of their portraits was an attempt to showcase that the Sikh community never forgets those who contribute to the cause of Panth.
13-May-2023
A letter seized from an arrested individual in connection with the Amritsar blasts reveals a plot to enforce "Taliban-style punishments" for those violating the Sikh code of conduct. The letter calls for the release of pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh and references an incident where a girl with the national flag colours was denied entry into the Golden Temple. It warns of strict penalties for violations, including possessing tobacco, not covering heads, and emphasizes adherence to the Sikh religious code. Punjab police suspect links between the arrested individuals and Pakistan-based agencies or pro-Khalistan elements. Investigation sources suggest that these connections may have provided financial resources for their anti-India activities. Azadbir Singh, one of the accused, is believed to be the mastermind behind the blasts, with hopes of uncovering more information about the terror module.
13-May-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) has reportedly shot down 11 Pakistani drones along the Punjab border as of April 30 this year. However, there were a total of 87 instances of drone intrusion into Indian territory during the same period. In 2022, BSF shot down 17 drones in the Punjab sector, while one drone was downed in the Rajasthan sector. The frequency of Pakistani drone movements into Indian territory has decreased, posing challenges for BSF in intercepting them. Punjab had the highest number of drone sightings, followed by Gujarat, Jammu, and Rajasthan. Drones have become a significant tool for gunrunning and drug supply by Pakistani state actors and their terror affiliates. Indian agencies are actively seeking solutions to address the drone menace supported by Pakistani terror syndicates and intelligence agencies.
12-May-2023
The Antim Ardas, a Sikh funeral prayer, was held for Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) Chief Paramjit Singh Panjwar at Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Gurbax Singh Ji Akali near Akal Takht Sahib in Amritsar on May 12. Panjwar was killed by armed assailants while in hiding in Lahore, Pakistan on May 6. The Bhog of Shri Akhand Path Sahib of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee was held in his memory. Singh Sahib Giani Jagtar Singh bestowed Siropas upon family members of Panjwar. Panth Sewak Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu called Panjwar's death a testament to his dedication to fighting for the liberation of Khalistan.
12-May-2023
According to sources, two terrorists arrested by Delhi Police's Special Cell were promised at least INR 1 crore from Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for targeted killings and were to seek shelter at Waris Punjab De (WPD) chief Amritpal Singh's heavily guarded house. They were also tasked to eliminate several political figures and were found to have received hawala money to kill a Bajrang Dal functionary. The killings were to be funded by Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) terrorist Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dalla and ISI-backed Khalistani factions. Special Cell tracked the terrorists after intercepting some of their communications with foreign handlers.
12-May-2023
The Amritsar City Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against five accused involved in three explosions near Golden Temple, revealing their links with foreign-based handlers and multi-source funding for terror activities. The accused procured explosive material with the help of their masters, who are based in India and abroad, and received money from different channels. Officials suspect that the accused were radicalised with the help of social media posts of pro-Khalistani leaders, and the role of some pro-Khalistani organisations has also emerged in the case.
12-May-2023
Three Indian nationals were arrested by the Counter Intelligence Unit of the Delhi Police for being a part of a drug nexus from Pakistan. The accused were allegedly supplying drugs trafficked from Pakistan via drones, in exchange for money transferred through a hawala network from drug mafias to Pakistan. The accused have links in the US and the Philippines and were supplying drugs in Punjab and other parts of the country from 2010-2011. The Punjab Police have taken their custody and started an investigation.
12-May-2023
According to the FIR registered by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, the prime suspects in the Amritsar serial blasts, Azadbir Singh and Amrik Singh, were allegedly acting on the instructions of foreign-based handlers who aimed to disturb the peace and incite religious sentiments. They received funding from their handlers through various channels.
12-May-2023
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) arrested two persons and seized 5.48 kg of heroin worth INR 38 crore at Attari in Amritsar district on May 12. The heroin was found hidden in a shipment of 4,000 brooms in around 40 bags, and was stashed in hollow bamboo sticks within three of the bags. The consignment was imported by an Afghan national using fake Indian identification documents, in connivance with his Indian national wife, who were both arrested.
11-May-2023
According to police, two terrorists arrested by Delhi Police in January were allegedly tasked by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)'s Kashmir-Khalistan (K2) desk to enter Red Fort in New Delhi and open fire at security personnel in a rerun of an attack in 2000. They were also in the final stage of carrying out five targeted killings, including two sadhus in Haridwar, to fan communal riots. The chargesheet filed against the two men, Jagjit Singh Jassa and Naushad, includes murder, criminal conspiracy, and destruction of evidence. They had already committed one murder, beheading a man named Raj Kumar, and were planning to carry out four more. The video of the beheading was sent to their foreign-based handlers, including an ISI operative, through the chat application Signal.
11-May-2023
Police on May 11 arrested five suspects believed to be members of a terror module in connection with the series of low-intensity blasts near the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The police recovered 1kg of explosives and inflammatory literature from the accused, who had admitted to carrying out the blasts. The five accused were identified as Amrik Singh, Ajad Veer Singh, Sahib Singh, Dharmender and Harjit.
11-May-2023
Police on May 11 conducted a coordinated drive against suspected drug peddlers and their sympathisers in Ludhiana, Malerkotla and Khanna police districts of Punjab.