KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
17-Jul-2024
Delhi Police issued a high alert ahead of Independence Day due to a Khalistani plot in Delhi. Security measures have been intensified, with the police enhancing vigilance following increased Khalistani activities and the appearance of supportive posters in the city. Comprehensive security arrangements are being made for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flag-hoisting ceremony at the Red Fort.
17-Jul-2024
Police on July 17 busted a Pakistan-backed drug smuggling racket, arresting two individuals identified as Gurmukh Singh and Jagwant Singh along with 7 kg of heroin, four 9mm Glock pistols, one .32 bore pistol, five live cartridges, five magazines, and a car at a checkpoint near Muhawa village in Amritsar district. The accused were allegedly in contact with Pakistan-based operators and were smuggling weapons and drugs into the state via drones. Investigations are ongoing to uncover the network's connections and identify others involved.
17-Jul-2024
Punjab Police on July 17 arrested two individuals, identified as Ajay Singh and Pargat Singh and seized 950 grams of heroin from their possession in Mode village village in Amritsar district.
17-Jul-2024
Punjab Police on July 17 arrested one person, identified as Rajinder Singh and seized 60 grams of heroin along with a.32-bore pistol along with two live cartridges in Burj Rai Ke village in Ajnala in Amritsar.
17-Jul-2024
The Special Task Force (STF) of Punjab Police on July 17 arrested two individuals, identified as Navdeep Kaur and Gurinder Singh alias Sally, and seized 440 grams of heroin and a car from their possession in Mohali, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAAS) Nagar district. Investigations revealed that Navdeep obtained the drugs from Gagandeep and Sandeep. Gagandeep was arrested on July 20 with 1.5 kg of heroin. Other involved individuals include Gurvinder Singh, Randeep Kaur, her husband Sohan Lal, Constable Gurmeet Singh, and Gulshan and Lovepreet Singh, who were found in possession of 30 grams of heroin. Further investigation is ongoing to unravel the full network.
16-Jul-2024
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal announced on July 16 that he would appear before the Akal Takht to address allegations from a rebel faction within the SAD that he compromised Sikh community sentiments for political gains. Earlier, on July 15, the Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Raghbir Singh, had asked Mr. Badal to appear in person and submit a written explanation within 15 days at the Akal Takht in Amritsar, Punjab.
16-Jul-2024
A senior police officer revealed on July 16 that the Punjab Police has inducted three quick response teams (QRTs), specially trained by the Army, to tackle any eventuality, such as a terror attack or hostage situation, in Pathankot district, Punjab. These QRTs, equipped with specialized vehicles and a wide range of equipment, will be deployed in three subdivisions of the district. Each team, comprising ten police personnel trained in commando courses, will undertake regular patrolling to act as a force multiplier.
16-Jul-2024
As part of an experiment planned by the Punjab Police Special Task Force (STF) against drugs, 200 inmates lodged in prisons across Punjab were shifted to Bathinda Central Jail in Bathinda district, a “dead zone” where there is no signal to operate mobile phones. This measure aims to prevent inmates from operating smuggling networks via mobile phones. The STF conducted an intelligence-based study to identify these inmates, and communication from the jail is now only permitted via landline.
16-Jul-2024
The police on July 16 arrested two individuals, identified as Jaswinder Singh and Aman Kaur, and seized 70 banned tablets from their possession near Bhundarhi village in Jagraon, Ludhiana district.
16-Jul-2024
The police on July 16 arrested two individuals, identified as Naseeb Singh and Kuldeep Singh, and seized 45 banned tablets from their possession near the civil hospital in Raikot, Ludhiana district.
16-Jul-2024
The police on July 16 arrested one individual, identified as Harpreet Singh, and seized four grams of heroin from his possession in Basian village, Raikot, Ludhiana district.
16-Jul-2024
The police on July 16 arrested two individuals, identified as Jaspreet Singh and Harjinder Singh, and seized two grams of heroin from their possession near Ratipur village in Samrala, Ludhiana district.
16-Jul-2024
The police on July 16 arrested one individual identified as Saif Ali and seized 1.4 kg of opium from his possession in Khanna, Ludhiana district.
16-Jul-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on July 16 recovered two packets of heroin weighing 1.06 kg, along with three pairs of slippers, one dah (sharp-edged machete), a water bottle, and a gamcha (thin cotton towel), from the outskirts of Mahawa village in Amritsar district.
16-Jul-2024
A local court in Chandigarh on July 16 dismissed the bail applications of two Lawrence Bishnoi gang members identified as Parwinder and Anmolpreet Singh. They were arrested for planning to kill gangster Bhuppi Rana.
16-Jul-2024
Farmer union leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Abhimanyu Kohar, and Surjit Singh Phool announced on July 16 in Chandigarh that the unions protesting at the Punjab and Haryana borders will march towards Delhi once the Haryana Government removes the barricades. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) disclosed their plans to commence their "Dilli Chalo" march to press for demands, including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) on all crops. They urged traders and businessmen to join their cause and mentioned a convention in Delhi on July 22 to seek support from Opposition leaders in Parliament.
16-Jul-2024
Punjab Police on July 16 busted an interstate weapon smuggling network with the arrest of three persons identified as Sukhdev Singh alias Mattu, Sahil Kumar alias Mast, and Prabhjot Singh alias Prabh, and recovered three .32 bore pistols along with three magazines and six live cartridges from their possession in Vallah, Amritsar district. The arrests followed information indicating their involvement in procuring weapons from illegal dealers in Madhya Pradesh (MP) for delivery to criminal elements in Vallah. Preliminary investigations suggest that two of the arrested individuals have prior criminal records, including involvement in a murder case. Further investigations are ongoing to trace the weapon dealer in Madhya Pradesh and the intended recipients of the weapon consignment.
15-Jul-2024
According to sources, radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, currently held under the National Security Act (NSA) in Dibrugarh jail in Assam, has requested permission from Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to participate in the upcoming monsoon session starting July 22, 2024.
15-Jul-2024
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, via a written statement on July 15, summoned Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal to provide a written explanation within 15 days regarding allegations from rebel Akali members that he failed to represent the panth's sentiments. The Akal Takht also sought clarification from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) over INR 90 lakh spent on advertisements. Rebel leaders accused the former SAD regime of various mistakes, including the failure to punish those responsible for the 2015 sacrilege incidents.
15-Jul-2024
On July 15, a district-level meeting was held at Gurudwara Shri Patshahi Dasin Sahib in Sirsa, Haryana, where prominent members and representatives of Sikh organizations discussed efforts to unite the Sikh community and advocate for their rights. The attendees proposed fielding Sikh candidates in Assembly constituencies with significant Sikh populations and allocating reserved seats to Sikhs from specific categories. They also called for Punjabi teachers in schools, the formation of Special Investigation Teams (SITs) to address derogatory social media content, and the establishment of a minority commission and community centres.
15-Jul-2024
The Akal Takht on July 15 passed a resolution mandating that the Nishan Sahib flags at gurdwaras be either surmai (navy blue) or basanti (yellow), in accordance with Sikh Rehat Maryada. This decision follows concerns over the widespread use of kesri (saffron) colored flags, which some in the Sikh community view as a deviation from traditional colors. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) is set to oversee the transition to the prescribed colors to restore consistency with the Sikh code of conduct.
15-Jul-2024
Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Director General of Police (DGP) RR Swain, while addressing media persons at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Jagti, Jammu, on July 15, stated that an inter-state security meeting was held to discuss new infiltration methods by terrorists entering from the Punjab border. Swain revealed that despite the low number of terrorists, there has been a rise in terror attacks in J&K. He emphasized the operational challenges posed by the use of tunnels for infiltration, underscoring the threat posed by even a few unaccounted entities.
15-Jul-2024
On July 15, amidst Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh summoning Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal to provide a written explanation within 15 days regarding allegations from rebel Akalis that he failed to represent the panth's sentiments, the rebel leaders launched a "SAD reform movement" under the leadership of Gurpartap Singh Wadala. This movement aims to revitalize the party and commemorate forgotten leaders like Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Master Tara Singh.
15-Jul-2024
The Counter Intelligence (CI) wing of Bathinda Police on July 15 arrested drug smuggler Sandeep Singh alias Kaka and seized 4,100 kg of poppy husk in 210 bags from a container truck originating from Madhya Pradesh (MP), in Bathinda in Bathinda district. The Police revealed that the seized consignment was destined for Jalandhar, Moga, and Ferozepur districts in Punjab.
14-Jul-2024
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mohali, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district, dismissed the bail plea of Dharminder Singh alias Dhanna, arrested in a drug-terror case linked to the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and a Pakistan-based drug syndicate. The court rejected the plea citing serious allegations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and connections to a narcotic-terror network involved in heroin trafficking to Dubai and Pakistan.