KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
21-Jan-2024
The Jalandhar Commissionerate of Police on January 21 arrested two members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, identified as Nitin and Ashish and seized two .30 bore pistols, ammunition, and their car during a crossfire near Nakodar Road in Jalandhar district.
21-Jan-2024
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh on January 21 stated that he finds Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann guilty of religious misconduct in the police firing incident at Gurdwara Akal Bunga Chaoni Nihang Singha on November 23, 2023. The Jathedar stated that the police entry into the Gurudwara, wearing shoes, and the subsequent use of force violated the Sikh code of conduct (maryada), causing harm to religious sentiments without provocation.
20-Jan-2024
On January 20, Gangster Jagdeep Singh alias Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, who is implicated in the Sidhu Moose Wala murder case, was transferred to Bathinda jail in Bathinda district,along with seven associates, nearly two weeks after he was booked for breaking an LED TV in Kapurthala jail. The move was part of an exchange program aimed at separating Bhagwanpuria from the rival Bambiha gang. As part of the exchange, five Bambiha gang members were brought to Kapurthala jail. Bhagwanpuria, expressing concerns about his safety in Bathinda jail, filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The transfer was cited as an administrative decision by the Kapurthala jail authorities.
20-Jan-2024
Khalistani terrorist Gurupatwant Singh Pannun on January 20 issued a video message, threatening 'political death' to Delhi and Punjab Chief Ministers (CMs) Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann, respectively, unless his three associates - Jagdish Singh, Manjeet Singh, and Davinder Singh, who were arrested by the Punjab Police - are released by February 15. Pannun also accused Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann of accepting USD 6 million in donations from Khalistan supporters. The three arrested men disclosed to the police that Pannun had instructed them to raise the Khalistan flag and spray pro-Khalistan graffiti on walls ahead of Republic Day. Threatening to assassinate Mann, Pannun said that “hands that hold the Khalistan flag will not shy away from holding rocket launchers”.
20-Jan-2024
According to reports, the radical Sikh outfit Dal Khalsa has written to French President Emmanuel Macron, expressing disappointment over his participation as the chief guest in India’s Republic Day celebrations. The letter urges Macron to engage in discussions with Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on issues such as transnational targeted killings of Sikhs, equal prisoner norms, human rights, and the right to self-determination. The letter also mentions the murder of Canadian Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and opposes France's endorsement of India's UN Security Council membership bid.
20-Jan-2024
Police on January 20 arrested six criminals identified as Kanwaljit Singh, Bhupinder Singh, Many Singh, Balraj Singh, Mehtab Singh and a Darjeeling-based woman Pema Doma Bhutia, and seized nine pistols and INR 15,000 drug money from their possession, at Pathankot-Gurdaspur Road near Paniyar Sugar Mill in Gurdaspur district.
20-Jan-2024
The Sadar police on January 20 arrested two drug peddlers identified as Gurjit Singh and Jagdev Singh, and seized 3 kg of heroin along with INR 78,000 in drug money, and 4 mobile phones from their possession, in Sadar in Mansa district.
20-Jan-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) has deployed troops from the 66th Battalion in the Fazilka sector in Punjab, to enhance security along the International Border (IB). Despite challenging weather conditions, including dense fog and temperatures dropping to 5 degrees Celsius, the troops are conducting thorough night-time checks to prevent anti-national activities.
19-Jan-2024
The State Special Operating Cell (SSOC) of Punjab Police on January 19 arrested three associates of Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, identified as Jagdish Singh, Manjeet Singh, and Davinder Singh, in Rajpura in Patiala district. SSOC traced transactions ranging from INR 25,000 to INR 50,000, intended for pro-Khalistan activities on social media and public places.
19-Jan-2024
The Qaumi Insaaf Morcha has declared a protest at 13 toll plazas in Punjab, scheduled for three hours on January 20. They plan to take control of the plazas from 11 am to 2 pm, making them free for all commuters, in demand for the release of Sikh political prisoners known as 'Bandi Singhs.
19-Jan-2024
Slogans and pro-Khalistan graffiti were found on the boundary wall of a school in the Uttam Nagar area of West Delhi on January 19, prompting a police investigation. Similar graffiti had earlier appeared in Nihal Vihar in West Delhi. These incidents occurred ahead of Republic Day, with Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun threatening to hoist the Khalistani flag in Delhi on January 26.
19-Jan-2024
According to sources, based on intelligence inputs, the Border Security Force (BSF) has issued a two-week security alert for its troopers deployed on the India-Pakistan border in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, ahead of Republic Day celebrations. The alert, part of 'Operation Shard Hawa,' aims to thwart potential infiltration and terrorist attacks. Intelligence inputs suggest six types of threats, with reports indicating active support from Pakistan Rangers and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for infiltration attempts from launch pads like 'Masroor Bada Bhai.' Additionally, it is reported that Pakistan-based terrorists are using drones to transport China-made weapons and drugs into Indian border areas.
19-Jan-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF), during a search operation on January 19 recovered three packets containing approximately 3 kg of heroin from a farming field near Jhugge Lal Singh village in the Ferozepur district.
19-Jan-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on January 19 arrested two unidentified individuals and seized 530 grams of heroin along with two motorcycles during a frisking operation near the International Border (IB) in the Amritsar sector of Amritsar district. The individuals, who had crossed the border fence for farming, were found with two large packages and a smaller packet concealed in slippers. This incident highlights the ongoing efforts to combat drug smuggling along the border.
19-Jan-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on January 19 recovered a China-made drone from fields near Amishah village in Tarn Taran district.
19-Jan-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on January 19 recovered one AK-47 assault rifle, two magazines,40 cartridges and INR 40,000 cash, from fields near India-Pakistan border in Lakha Singh Wala Hithar village in Ferozepur district.
18-Jan-2024
Amid heightened preparations for Republic Day in Delhi, pro-Khalistan slogans that read 'SFJ, January 26, Khalistan' were discovered on a pillar in the Nihal Vihar area of West Delhi. Delhi Police and other security agencies are on high alert, intensifying security measures for the upcoming Republic Day celebrations.
18-Jan-2024
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath on January 18 received a threat from Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of the banned Khalistani terrorist organization Sikh For Justice (SFJ), following the arrest of three individuals ahead of the Ram Temple ceremony in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. Pannun issued a threatening voice message, accusing the police of torturing two pro-Khalistan youths and filing false cases against them. The recorded message warns of an SFJ response on January 22, coinciding with the Ram Temple ceremony in Ayodhya. Security agencies are on high alert and actively investigating the matter.
18-Jan-2024
The Special Task Force (STF) on January 18 arrested Sukhwant Singh, a drug peddler, and seized 7 kg of heroin from his possession in Chakk Bajiada village in Ferozepur district. Sukhwant had connections with cross-border smugglers and had previously received heroin from Pakistan.
18-Jan-2024
Uttar Pradesh (UP) Anti-Terror Squad (ATS), on January 18, arrested three members of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), identified as Shankar Dussad alias Shankar Jajod, Ajit Kumar Sharma, and Pradeep Puniya, in Ayodhya, UP. Dussad, a former gangster, had forged Khalistan ties while in Bikaner Jail. He was in touch with Khalistan leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun through another Canada-based arms smuggler, Lakhbir Singh Sandhu alias Landa. According to the police, Khalistan leaders had instructed Dussad to visit Ayodhya and prepare a map of the site. The police have intensified security measures in Ayodhya ahead of the event.
17-Jan-2024
On January 17, a group of Sikhs led by Gurcharan Singh Babbar, president of the All India Sikh Conference (AISC), was detained at Kulhal border in Uttarakhand while en route to Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar to reclaim the demolished historical Gurdwara Gyan Godri Sahib. The AISC had called for Sikhs worldwide to converge on January 17 to reclaim the Gurdwara and 25 acres of Nanakwara land on the Parkash Purb of Guru Gobind Singh. The Uttarakhand administration, citing a lack of permission, stopped the convoy and detained the individuals, prompting their return. The AISC plans to revisit Uttarakhand to reclaim the historical site.
17-Jan-2024
The Special Task Force (STF) of Ludhiana range on January 17 arrested three men identified as Davinder Singh alias Lovepreet, Dharminder Singh and Iqbal Singh alias Bunty, and seized 1.07 kg of heroin and a .32-bore illegal pistol, an electronic weighing machine, and live cartridges from their possession, in Singhpura Munana village in Moga district. The STF seized 515 grams of heroin, the electronic weighing machine and 20 pouches from possession of Davinder, 290 grams of heroin from Dharminder, and 265 grams of heroin and a .32-bore pistol from Iqbal.
17-Jan-2024
The Crime Branch of Chandigarh Police on January 17 arrested Gagandeep Singh alias Gagan, a notorious and wanted criminal associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and seized a revolver from his possession in Sector 36 in Chandigarh. Gagandeep has a criminal record with over 21 cases, including murder, attempted murder, dacoity, theft, extortion, and Arms Act violations in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh.
17-Jan-2024
A special court in Mohali declared Lakhbir Singh Landa, chief of the banned Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF), an absconder, and ordered the confiscation of his associates' properties, in Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. Landa faces charges of sedition, conspiracy, and unlawful activities. Designated a terrorist by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), he is accused of orchestrating terror attacks in India, including the 2018 grenade blast in Amritsar, Punjab. Landa is also associated with the Khalistani terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and has been hiding in Canada since 2017. He was involved in RPG attacks on the Punjab Police Intelligence Headquarters and the Sarhali police station in Punjab and is deemed the mastermind in various terrorism cases.
17-Jan-2024
A member of the Sikh Nihang sect, Ramandeep Singh, was sent to a week-long police remand by a court for allegedly killing a youth at Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi Chaura Khooh in Phagwara, Kapurthala district. Singh had claimed that the victim intended to commit desecration, but preliminary investigations found no evidence of such an incident. The victim remains unidentified, and no one has claimed the body. Ramandeep Singh faces charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 304 (culpable homicide) and section 295A (outraging religious feelings), with the possibility of further charges pending investigation.