KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
16-Jan-2026
On January 16, Punjab Police, on day 321 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 54 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 71 drug smugglers and seized 1.3 kg of heroin, 500 grams of opium, 208 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 16,510 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
16-Jan-2026
Amritsar rural police on January 16 arrested three members of a drug smuggling gang, identified as Ajul Arora, Dilprit Kaur, and Pratham Sharma and seized 4.863 kg of heroin, four pistols, two rifles, and 84 live cartridges in Amritsar district.
16-Jan-2026
Security agencies have heightened vigilance ahead of the 77th Republic Day, with updated posters of high-profile “wanted” terrorists displayed at Delhi metro stations and markets in New Delhi. Topping the list is Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala, chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), reflecting the serious threat posed by his transnational terror–gangster network. A former local gangster, Dala took over the outfit after the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in June 2023. Though currently based in Canada and recently linked to a shootout there, Indian agencies are intensifying efforts to dismantle his network to prevent any disruption during national celebrations.
16-Jan-2026
Panic gripped the Fazilka Deputy Commissioner’s office in Fazilka district on the morning of January 16 after it received an email threatening a bomb blast, which was later found to be a hoax.
16-Jan-2026
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Singh Mann on January 16, during a meeting with British Columbia Premier David Eby in Chandigarh, emphasized strengthening trade relations with Canada, particularly with British Columbia. He said Canada has long been a strong partner for India and Punjab and expressed hope to further deepen trade and investment ties.
16-Jan-2026
According to intelligence inputs, Pakistan-based actors, led by Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), are planning to flood Punjab with drugs, arms, and ammunition to revive the Khalistan agenda, with surplus contraband routed to Jammu and Kashmir. Officials say the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is under pressure from Canada-based Khalistani elements as their plans in Punjab have failed due to effective policing and lack of local support. With youth rejecting the separatist ideology, BKI is now attempting to use drug money to recruit them.
16-Jan-2026
Singer Pratik Bachan alias B Praak has reportedly received an extortion threat of INR 10 crore from a suspected member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Punjabi singer Dilnoor lodged a complaint with the Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), stating that a caller identifying himself as Arju Bishnoi demanded the ransom and warned of serious consequences within a week if the money was not paid.
16-Jan-2026
Delhi Police’s Crime Branch on January 16 arrested a Lawrence Bishnoi gang member, identified as Pardeep Sharma, in connection with an extortion case involving a INR 4 crore demand from a Rajasthan-based businessman, in Uttam Nagar, southwest Delhi. A wanted shooter, Sharma is linked to multiple cases in Rajasthan, including extortion, firing incidents, and illegal arms supply.
15-Jan-2026
Police on January 15 said they arrested three accused, including two shooters, from Howrah railway station in Kolkata, West Bengal, in connection with the December 15, 2025, Balachauria murder case, taking the total arrests to nine. Kanwar Digvijay Singh alias Rana Balachauria was shot dead during a kabaddi tournament in Sector 79, Sohana, on December 15, 2025. Police said the murder was carried out on the directions of foreign-based gangsters Balwinder Singh alias Donny Bal and Amarjit Singh alias Khabba, and that Balachauria had earlier survived two attacks at different locations.
15-Jan-2026
A hardware store owner and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, Balvinder Singh Satkartar, was shot dead when three unidentified bike-borne assailants opened fire at his hardware store in Miani village of Hoshiarpur district on January 15. Satkartar was killed on the spot, while Lakhwinder Singh, a resident of Matiyana village, sustained a gunshot wound to his shoulder and was injured. Police said seven bullet shells were recovered from the spot, and efforts are underway to identify the assailants.
15-Jan-2026
On January 15, Punjab Police, on day 320 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 58 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 84 drug smugglers and seized 40.1 kg of heroin, 609 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 2060 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
15-Jan-2026
Counter Intelligence on January 15 busted an inter-state narcotics smuggling racket by arresting four operatives, identified as Narinder Singh, Suraj, Jacob Masih, and Ajay Kumar and seizing 40 kg of heroin, near DPS School in Amritsar district. Preliminary investigations revealed the consignment was collected on the instructions of a habitual offender and was meant for further distribution across Punjab.
15-Jan-2026
Police on January 15 arrested a man, identified as Dimple and seized 4 grams of heroin near the Musapur railway crossing on Musapur Road in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district.
15-Jan-2026
Police on January 15 arrested a person, identified as Jasveer Singh and seized 6 grams of heroin from him in Ladhana Jhikka, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district.
15-Jan-2026
Police on January 15 arrested a youth, identified as Gurpreet alias Gopi and seized 36 intoxicating tablets from him on the Mukandpur link road in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district.
15-Jan-2026
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) on January 15 arrested the mother and wife of notorious drug smuggler Sandeep Singh alias Seepa, identified as Rano and Harpreet Kaur and recovered 2 kg of heroin, INR 47.50 lakh in drug money, 100 grams of gold, and 500 grams of silver, in Ludhiana district. Preliminary investigations revealed the gold and silver were purchased using drug proceeds. Earlier, on November 22, 2025, ANTF had arrested Sandeep Singh with 50.14 kg of heroin in Fazilka district; so far, a total of about 52 kg of heroin and ₹68 lakh in drug proceeds have been recovered in the case.
14-Jan-2026
The North District Anti-Narcotics Team of Delhi Police on January 14 arrested two sharpshooters, including a minor, linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, identified as Deepak and a juvenile accomplice, and seized two pistols, live cartridges, and a scooter, after an encounter with police at Hiranaki Mod in outer Delhi, New Delhi.
14-Jan-2026
Barnala Police on January 14 arrested two gangsters, identified as Akram Khan alias Akku and Pardeep Singh alias Deepu and seized a pistol following an exchange of fire on Raikot Road in Barnala district. The accused allegedly opened fire at the police team, with a bullet striking a police vehicle. Police retaliated in self-defence, during which Akram Khan sustained a gunshot injury.
14-Jan-2026
On January 14, Punjab Police, on day 319 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 74 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 98 drug smugglers and seized 5.4 kg of heroin, 510 grams of opium, 110 kg of poppy husk, 724 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 4580 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
14-Jan-2026
A notorious shooter linked to the Prabh Dasuwal gang and wanted in connection with the January 4 killing of former AAP sarpanch Jarmal Singh, Sukhraj Singh alias Gunga, was killed in a police encounter during a recovery operation in the Vallah area of Amritsar district on January 14. According to the police, Gunga was in custody when two unidentified men on a motorcycle allegedly opened fire from behind in an attempt to free him. At least six rounds were fired, one of which punctured a police vehicle’s tyre, triggering a gunfight. Amid the chaos, Gunga allegedly tried to snatch the 9 mm service pistol of ASI Harjinder Singh, in-charge of Police Post Vijay Nagar. During the ensuing scuffle, three rounds were fired—one hit the vehicle window, while two struck Gunga.
14-Jan-2026
Police on January 14 arrested one person, identified as Vinod Sharma alias Vicky, and seized 6 grams of heroin from his possession near Mehali Gate in Phagwara, Kapurthala district.
14-Jan-2026
Police on January 14 arrested a woman, identified as Babi, and seized 6 grams of heroin from her possession in Sunder Nagar, Kapurthala district.
14-Jan-2026
Police on January 14 busted a four-member gang involved in cross-border arms smuggling and arrested one of its members, identified as Laras Masih and seized two foreign-made pistols, one magazine, and 11 live rounds from his possession in Jarmastpur village, Tarn Taran district. Police said the accused smuggled weapons from Pakistan and supplied them to gangsters and other criminals to carry out crimes, after which the weapons were taken back.
14-Jan-2026
Ferozepur Police on January 14 busted a cross-border drug smuggling module, arrested two accused, and recovered 4.013 kg of heroin in Ferozepur district. A preliminary investigation revealed that the recovered consignment had been smuggled from Pakistan.
14-Jan-2026
Three prominent schools in Amritsar were closed on January 14 after receiving bomb threat emails, prompting precautionary security measures. The emails, sent to school managements, claimed the premises would be blown up and reportedly mentioned a terrorist organisation, raising serious concerns.