KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
22-Jun-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on June 22 recovered a drone along with a packet containing a pistol and an empty magazine from a field near Lakha Singh Wala village in Ferozepur district.
22-Jun-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops and Punjab Police, in a joint operation on June 22, recovered a packet containing 520 grams of heroin and a drone from fields near the international border (IB) near Gahlewala village in Fazilka district.
21-Jun-2024
The police on June 21 arrested five unidentified individuals and seized 50 grams of heroin, 155 habit-forming tablets, and 3.5 kg of poppy husk from their possession in Malerkotla, Malerkotla district. As part of their intensified crackdown on drug peddling, 178 police officers conducted door-to-door searches and vehicle checks on major roads.
21-Jun-2024
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, on June 21 in New Delhi, expressed strong disapproval of the Canadian parliament's observance of a minute's silence for Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He reiterated India's opposition to political support for extremism. Relations between India and Canada have been strained since Trudeau's allegations of potential Indian involvement in Nijjar's killing, which New Delhi has dismissed as absurd.
21-Jun-2024
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, on June 21, criticized the one-year extension of the National Security Act (NSA) on newly elected Member of Parliament (MP) and Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh from Khadoor Sahib, along with other Sikhs detained in Assam. Dhami argued that this action by the state and central governments overlooks human rights and the sentiments of Punjab's populace, demanding the revocation of the NSA and the release of those detained.
21-Jun-2024
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on June 21 stated that they had not received a formal request for consular access to Nikhil Gupta, extradited to the United States (US) on charges related to a murder-for-hire plot against Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
21-Jun-2024
Punjab Police on June 21 launched a large-scale cordon and search operation (CASO) named Eagle-IV across all 28 police districts, resulting in 254 arrests. The operation, aimed at drug hotspots, involved senior officers from Punjab Police Headquarters and led to the registration of 221 First Information Reports (FIRs) and the checking of 4,575 suspicious persons.
21-Jun-2024
A group of Nihangs clashed with police, resulting in the arrest of five individuals near the Chhoti Baradari locality in Jalandhar district on June 21. The Nihangs, demanding the closure of a local liquor vend, resisted eviction by the police, with one Nihang, Amanjot Singh, brandishing a sword.
21-Jun-2024
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, in an interview with The Tribune, defended the transfer of nearly 10,000 lower-rank police officials, citing administrative reasons and denying any drug-related taint on the transferred personnel. Yadav highlighted the involvement of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in narco-terrorism, noting that 906 drones have been sent from across the border since 2019, with 101 of 247 drones shot down this year alone. He emphasized a zero-tolerance policy towards connivance with drug smugglers, mentioning the dismissal and arrest of corrupt police officials and the significant increase in drug seizures — from 170 kg in 2017, to 1,350 kg in 2023, and about 500 kg so far in 2024.
21-Jun-2024
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on June 21 filed a police complaint against fashion designer and influencer Archana Makwana for performing yoga at the Golden Temple on International Yoga Day and sharing the photos on social media, which they deemed hurtful to Sikh religious sentiments. Makwana has since apologized, stating her actions were not intended to offend and promising greater mindfulness in the future. The SGPC also suspended three employees for failing to uphold the temple's conduct standards during the incident.
20-Jun-2024
Punjab Police on June 20 busted a trans-border illegal arms and narco-terrorism hawala racket, arresting eight individuals identified as Ranjit Singh alias Kaka, Rajinder alias Raja, Abhishek alias Abhi, Vishal alias Shalu, Lovepreet alias Kalu, Gurbhej alias Bheja, Gurjant, and Jaspal and seized 4.1 kg of heroin, two pistols (one made in Pakistan), 45 live cartridges, and INR 2.07 lakh in cash from their possession in Amritsar, Amritsar district. The operation revealed connections with Pakistan-based entities and is part of ongoing efforts to dismantle cross-border criminal activities in the region.
20-Jun-2024
The Punjab Police on June 20 conducted a widespread raid targeting 246 major drug smugglers who had been caught with 2 kg or more of drugs and were currently out on bail. Special Director General of Police (DGP) Law and Order, Arpit Shukla, stated that these individuals had been active over the past five years. The operation involved 113 police teams and 1,200 officers across all 28 police districts from 7 am to 12 pm. During the raids, incriminating materials, including mobile phones, were seized, with further examinations planned for the collected evidence.
20-Jun-2024
On June 20, two farmer groups, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM - Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), announced plans to besiege the Superintendent of Police (SP) office in Ambala, Haryana, on July 17. These groups, protesting at the Punjab-Haryana border points, criticized the Punjab Government for not fulfilling its promise of an 8-hour power supply to farmers and opposed delaying paddy transplantation, arguing it would increase moisture in the crop, making it unsuitable for procurement. Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal highlighted that free power was a form of compensation for not receiving fair prices for their produce.
20-Jun-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on June 20 arrested Jaspreet Singh, a key operative linked with Canada-based Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh Sandhu alias Landa, and seized a .32 bore revolver, 69 cartridges of various bores, 100 grams of heroin, 100 grams of opium, INR 2,20,500 in cash, and various digital devices from his possession in Ferozepur in Ferozepur district.
20-Jun-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on June 20 recovered a Chinese-made DJI Mavic 3 Classic drone from Rattankhurd village in Amritsar district.
20-Jun-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on June 20 recovered a drone from Dal village in Tarn Taran district. The recovered drone was a Chinese-made DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
20-Jun-2024
India on June 20 formally protested to the Canadian High Commission regarding Khalistani extremists holding a 'citizens court' outside the Indian consulate in Vancouver, expressing serious objections to the demonstration and the effigy burning of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This incident has escalated tensions, particularly after Canada's moment of silence in Parliament for slain Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
20-Jun-2024
The Delhi Police on June 20 arrested Sumit, a sharpshooter of the Tillu Tajpuriya gang, after a brief shootout in Rohini, North West Delhi district. Sumit, wanted for multiple crimes, including two murder cases, was apprehended following a tip-off about his presence in the area. During the arrest, he engaged in gunfire with the police, resulting in him being shot in the leg and subsequently hospitalized.
20-Jun-2024
President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Sukhbir Singh Badal, on June 20, criticized the extension of the National Security Act (NSA) against Khalistani preacher and Member of Parliament (MP)-elect from Khadoor Sahib, Amritpal Singh, as a violation of constitutional and human rights. This criticism comes amid internal party dissent and demands for reform following the SAD's poor performance in recent elections, winning only one of the thirteen Lok Sabha seats it contested in Punjab.
19-Jun-2024
According to reports, India's strategic autonomy is encountering resistance from the Anglosphere, particularly Canada, the United States (US), and Australia, due to its actions against Khalistani separatists. Canada recently commemorated Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, reflecting its continued support. The US has accused India of plotting against another Khalistani terrorist, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, while Australia's media have reported concerns about Indian espionage activities. Despite this coordinated opposition, India maintains strong economic ties with the US and Australia and remains steadfast in its national security stance, indicating it will not yield to Western pressure.
19-Jun-2024
Indian national Nikhil Gupta was recently extradited to the United States (US) from the Czech Republic over his alleged involvement in a plot to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Gupta’s testimony will be closely watched not just by the US but by other countries as well. This development comes amid strained relations between India and countries like Canada, Australia, and Germany over accusations of espionage and interference. Notably, Canada and the US have expressed concerns about India's actions against Khalistani separatists, further complicating diplomatic ties. Additionally, in the past, Pakistan and Germany have accused India of extrajudicial killings and spying activities, respectively.
19-Jun-2024
The Dal Khalsa, on June 19, praised the Canadian House of Commons for honoring Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, asserting that India's designated terrorist was a respected Sikh figure with international recognition. They also organized a Panthic Samagam where a resolution was adopted to recognize Khalistani terrorist Nijjar as a national martyr in Amritsar, Punjab. They urged the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to similarly honor Nijjar.
19-Jun-2024
On June 19, it was revealed that the Punjab Government had extended the detention of Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh and his nine aides under the National Security Act (NSA) by three months just before the Lok Sabha election results were declared on June 4. Amritpal won from Khadoor Sahib in Tarn Taran district in Punjab by a record margin. Despite his election victory, Amritpal and his associates will remain in Dibrugarh Jail in Assam, with the extension based on an advisory board's recommendation. Amritpal’s family and lawyers have not yet received the extension orders.
19-Jun-2024
The police on June 19 froze assets worth INR 41,67,000 of an individual identified as Mahal Singh, who had been sentenced under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, in Ghuriana village in Fazilka district. The properties frozen included 23 marlas and 7 kanals of land (worth INR 5,77,000) and a Maruti Suzuki Brezza car (worth INR 7 lakh) in his name. Additionally, 10 kanals and 15 marlas of land (valued at INR 7,76,000) were in the name of his wife Sarabjit Kaur, 12 kanals and 4.1 marlas of land (valued at INR 8,80,000) were in the name of his mother Kulwant Kaur, and 17 kanals and 1.6 marlas of land (valued at INR 12,34,000) were in the name of his son Updesh Singh. This action follows the recovery of 3.5 kg of opium from Singh in April 2022.
18-Jun-2024
On June 18, a 23-year-old woman, struggling with severe drug addiction and routinely using chitta (heroin), was rescued and admitted to Civil Hospital by Muktsar police in Sri Muktsar Sahib district, Punjab. Previously restrained by her mother to prevent drug use, the woman displayed severe physical deterioration, including multiple injection marks. Hospital sources expressed concern about her health, suspecting her to be HIV positive due to her condition and lifestyle. Her addiction exemplifies the broader drug crisis affecting many in her community.