KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
14-Jan-2024
Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat, in her memoir, revealed that in the 1980s, CPI(M) leader Harkishan Singh Surjeet had warned of Sikh extremists finding support in Canada. He had also emphasized the need for political solutions to address genuine demands in Punjab, criticized the Congress party's role, and highlighted the danger of communal sentiments fuelled by the Hindu Suraksha Samiti, a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) backed platform. Brinda Karat also recounted instances where the party, led by Surjeet, stood against violence, protecting Sikh families and homes from retaliation in the aftermath of Prime Minister (PM) Indira Gandhi's death.
14-Jan-2024
The Nawanshahr police, on January 14, arrested seven members of an 11-member inter-state gang of drug peddlers and thieves and seized six motorcycles, five cars, gold, and various stolen gadgets from their possession in Jalandhar district. The gang targeted secluded homes, gyms, and vehicles parked outside homes during the night. The police had previously arrested four other members of the gang, identified as Sonu Chaurasia, Ramandeep Minhas alias Rammi, Ravi Kumar, and Dalveer Singh, with 300 grams of heroin in their possession.
14-Jan-2024
Awan Kumar Khullar alias Sonu Cheema, the sarpanch (head of the Panchayat, village level local self-Government institution) of Adda Chabal village, was shot dead in broad daylight in Tarn Taran district on January 14. The assailant believed to be the Germany-based gangster Amritpal Singh Batth, shot Sonu Cheema while he was getting a shave. The gangster has around 18 criminal cases registered against him.
14-Jan-2024
Amritsar (Rural) police on January 14 recovered 5 kg of heroin and a tractor from Ranian village in the Amritsar district. Acting on a tip-off, the police conducted a raid at the residence of Jagdeep Singh alias Hira, who had been implicated in cross-border drug trafficking by sources. Reportedly, he was smuggling heroin on his tractor. Though Hira managed to slip away during the raid, the police successfully recovered the heroin and impounded his tractor.
14-Jan-2024
Police on January 14 arrested the right-hand man of the notorious gangster Harpreet Singh alias Happy Jatt and the prime suspect in the Jandiala Guru double murder, identified as Sahil and seized 3 kg of heroin, a .45 bore pistol with four live cartridges, and a .32 bore pistol with five live bullets from his possession in Jandiala Guru in Amritsar district. Earlier, two other individuals, Rahul and Gagandeep Singh, alias Gagan Haddi, were arrested in connection with the murders. Ongoing investigations aim to uncover their criminal links.
13-Jan-2024
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff of the police on January 13 arrested an individual identified as Gurbhinder Singh and seized 300 grams of opium from his possession, in Abohar in Fazilka district.
13-Jan-2024
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff of the police on January 13 arrested an individual identified as Karaj Singh and Gurpreet Singh, and seized 21 grams of heroin from his possession, in Abohar in Fazilka district.
13-Jan-2024
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) Patiala unit conducted a meeting on January 13 at Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib, chaired by SKM leader Davinder Singh Punia in Patiala district. During the meeting, they announced their decision to organize a tractor march on January 26 in Patiala, Samana, Pataran, Nabha, and Rajpura to commemorate the anniversary of the Kisan March in Delhi. The leaders criticized the central government's alleged false propaganda against Kisan leader Dr. Darsanpal, vowing a suitable response during the tractor rally.
13-Jan-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police, during a joint search operation on January 13 recovered a packet containing 672 grams of heroin from a farming field adjacent to Dal village in Tarn Taran district.
13-Jan-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police on January 13, during a joint search operation recovered a drone from a farming field adjacent to Rajoke village in Tarn Taran district. The recovered drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic, a Quadcopter model made in China.
12-Jan-2024
Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers investigating a human smuggling case, in Ahmedabad in Gujarat on January 12 revealed that agents instructed Punjabi immigrants to claim asylum as Khalistan supporters in the United States (US), exploiting their opposition to the Indian state. Gujaratis were advised to use various stories, such as political persecution due to Congress or Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) affiliation, or by citing inter-caste marriage and family feuds. Fourteen agents, including Joginder alias Jaggi Paji, Salim Dubai, and others, were booked for human smuggling, evidence destruction, and criminal conspiracy. The chartered flight, grounded in France for suspected trafficking, aimed to send individuals from North Gujarat and northern India to Mexico, with plans to cross into the US.
12-Jan-2024
Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, stated his plans to initiate Khalistan voter registration in India via a video message. He allocated USD 1 million for promotion in New Delhi ahead of the 75th Republic Day. Pannun also expressed his aim to raise the Khalistan flag on January 26, referring to it as "D-Day" in Delhi. He criticized French President Emmanuel Macron, the Republic Day Chief Guest, accusing him of aiding Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi. Previously, Pannun had called for airport shutdowns and urged Muslims to oppose the Ram Temple ceremony.
12-Jan-2024
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) of the Punjab Police, in a joint operation with central agencies, on January 12 arrested a key operative of Pakistan-based terrorist Harvinder Singh alias Rinda and United States (US)-based Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia, identified as Kailash Khichan and seized one .30 calibre Chinese pistol along with eight cartridges from his possession, from Lohawat village in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan. Khichan had been wanted in a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) since September 2023. He has a criminal history that includes extortion, violations of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and Arms Act violations in Punjab and Rajasthan. The arrest followed investigations that revealed Khichan's role in supplying weapons to associates of the Khalistani terror outfit Babbar Khalistan International (BKI) under the direction of terrorist Rinda.
11-Jan-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on January 11 recovered 470 grams of heroin and a drone from a farming field adjacent to Dhanoe Khurd village in Amritsar district. The recovered drone was a quadcopter, model DJI Mavic 3 Classic, made in China.
11-Jan-2024
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on January 11 issued a legal notice to social media platform X for not shutting down a fake account that was spreading hate propaganda against Sikhs. Amanbir Singh Siali, the SGPC's legal advisor, emphasized that such activities violate Indian laws, including the Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act. Despite prior communications, the social media platform allegedly refused to take action, prompting the SGPC to escalate the matter legally.
11-Jan-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on January 11 conducted a widespread operation targeting the banned terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), Lawrence Bishnoi crime syndicate, and other terrorist organizations at 32 locations across five states - Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, UP, and Delhi - as well as the Union Territory of Chandigarh. The operation resulted in the seizure of two pistols, two magazines and ammunition, cash amounting to INR 4.6 lakh, documents, and digital devices. NIA stated that the seized items were used for activities such as bomb explosions, targeted killings, extortions, and terror funding.
11-Jan-2024
Members of Qaumi Insaaf Morcha (QIM), comprising radical Sikhs, farmer union leaders, and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) workers, on January 11 organized a massive protest march from Gurdwara Jyoti Swarup Sahib in Patiala and proceeded to Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district in Punjab. The demonstrators, led by 'Panj Piaras,' demanded the immediate release of Sikhs held in jails despite completing their sentences, accusing the Union Government of discriminatory treatment.
11-Jan-2024
The Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar, in a recent interview, highlighted a contrast between India's relations with the United States (US) and Canada. He stated that the US does not tolerate extremist activities in the name of freedom of speech, unlike Canada. Jaishankar pointed out that the US takes a firmer position on the misuse of freedoms, while Canada has, at times, openly interfered in Indian politics. These comments come amid strained ties with Canada, following accusations by Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau linking India to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar—a claim dismissed as "absurd" by India. The minister emphasized the impact of Khalistani forces in Canadian politics on bilateral relations.
11-Jan-2024
Canada's High Commissioner to India, Cameron Mackay, during a seminar in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, stated on January 11 that despite recent tensions, the strategic interests of India and Canada are "absolutely aligned." Mackay emphasized the continuation of bilateral trade and investment relationships, highlighting that over 100 Indian companies are investing in Canada, and there are 600 Canadian companies present in India. He urged a focus on business-to-business ties, emphasizing that business relations remain unaffected by the diplomatic row between the two countries.
11-Jan-2024
Police on January 11 arrested two individuals identified as Akashdeep Singh and William Masih and seized 1.5 kg of heroin along with a bike from their possession near Jhanjhoti village in Ajnala tehsil, Amritsar district. Preliminary investigations suggest that the heroin was likely smuggled using a drone from Pakistan, orchestrated by a Netherlands-based drug peddler named Lovely, who has connections to Pakistan-based smugglers. Lovely's involvement in the illegal drug trade is being reported for the first time, and further investigations are underway to arrest their accomplice Najar Masih alias Naja.
10-Jan-2024
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on January 10 destroyed 19 kg of seized heroin in Mohali, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district, Punjab. Eleven cases, including ten heroin and one charas case, were disposed of, with the Border Security Force (BSF) playing a crucial role in the seizures and joint investigations.
10-Jan-2024
According to sources, India has decided not to resume Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with Canada due to unresolved issues related to Khalistani activities.
10-Jan-2024
Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and Czech Republic PM Petr Fiala held a bilateral meeting on January 10 during the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The leaders discussed various sectors, including automobiles, climate change, and defence, committing to elevating India-Czechia relations in innovative sectors to a Strategic Partnership on Innovation, as stated in a joint statement. Notably, the joint statement did not address the case of Indian national Nikhil Gupta, currently detained in the Czech Republic and accused by United States (US) authorities of involvement in a foiled plot to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
10-Jan-2024
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on January 10 extended an invitation to Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh for the inauguration of the Ram Temple, scheduled for January 22 in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh (UP). The invitation was delivered by representatives of Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, an affiliate of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), to the Takht secretariat.
10-Jan-2024
The Mansa chief judicial magistrate expedited the judicial process related to the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala by committing a third supplementary charge sheet to the sessions court within two weeks. The charge sheet was filed by the special investigation team (SIT), which names gangster Sachin Thapan as a key conspirator.