KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
06-Sep-2023
The Bharti Kisan Union (BKU-Ekta-Ugraahan) led a protest march of farmers and other residents to the Mini Secretariat in Ludhiana, Ludhiana district, on September 6. They submitted a memorandum urging strong measures to combat drug issues and redirect the youth toward productive activities. BKU's general secretary Sudagar Sinh Ghudani emphasized the need for a comprehensive awareness campaign against drug addiction and the creation of employment opportunities for rural youth.
06-Sep-2023
A hearing regarding the case of the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala was held on September 6 in the Sessions Court in Mansa district of Punjab. Twenty-one defendants appeared in court via video conference, while four could not be produced. The next court hearing for the case is scheduled for September 20.
06-Sep-2023
The Punjab & Haryana High Court (HC) on September 6 granted bail to Chandeep Singh alias Gabbar Singh, an alleged Khalistani terrorist, in a case involving charges under various sections, including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA), and the Explosive Substance Act, 1908. The court noted that the prosecution failed to establish a connection between the appellant and the UAPA charge, which carries a potential life sentence. Therefore, the appellant was entitled to bail after nearly four years of detention. The court also emphasized the need for a fresh consideration of bail and criticized the slow progress of the trial.
05-Sep-2023
On September 5, the Government of India’s media wing, the Press Information Bureau's (PIB) fact-check unit, debunked the claim made by the banned Khalistani terror organization, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), that it had put up pro-Khalistan posters and graffiti at five places to be visited by the G20 delegates in Delhi. Earlier, in a video uploaded on September 5, SFJ chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun had claimed that SFJ had put up graffiti and posters in five locations in New Delhi: Tilak Bridge, Bhairon Marg Bridge, Africa Avenue, Ring Road Bridge, and Sardar Patel Bridge.
05-Sep-2023
In a video uploaded on September 5, the chief of the banned Khalistani terror organization, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, urged G20 nations to support the Khalistan movement and called upon Khalistan supporters to organize demonstrations at five key locations in the national capital, New Delhi: Tilak Marg Bridge, Sardar Patel Bridge, Bhairon Marg Bridge, Africa Avenue Road, and Ring Road Bridge.
05-Sep-2023
The convener of Quami Insaaf Morcha (OIM) Pal Singh France on September 5 declared their intention to persist with their protest until their demand for the release of Sikh prisoners who have completed their sentences in terror-related cases is fulfilled, in Mohali, Punjab. The road had been closed since January 7 when the QIM began their protest.
05-Sep-2023
Director General of Police (DGP) Kuldeep Singh, who heads the Special Task Force (STF) against drugs on September 5 stated that Punjab has witnessed record-breaking heroin seizures, with a total of 868.46 kg confiscated, potentially surpassing 1,000 kilograms by year-end, in Chandigarh. He attributed part of this surge to the swollen Ravi and Sutlej rivers, which have facilitated drug smuggling.
05-Sep-2023
Police on September 5 carried out a massive cordon and search operation (CASO) between 7am and 10 am at 206 locations associated with individuals with criminal backgrounds across all districts of Punjab. The CASO was directed by Punjab's Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav. Special Director General of Police (SDGP-Law and Order) Arpit Shukla explained that these raids were executed simultaneously, with personal oversight by the Commissioner of Police and Senior Superintendent of Police (CPs/SSPs), following inquiries into individuals linked to anti-social elements, some of whom reside abroad.
05-Sep-2023
Punjab Police Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on September 5 convened a meeting with 44 Village Level Defence Committees (VLDCs) to devise a comprehensive strategy for dismantling the drug supply network and combating drug smuggling, in the Pathankot district of Punjab. The VLDCs were praised for their role in providing real-time information to disrupt drug networks.
05-Sep-2023
Punjab Police Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on September 5 announced the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) to address the challenges posed by drones and drug-related issues in border areas, in Gurdaspur in Gurdaspur district.
04-Sep-2023
Punjab Police Inspector General (IG) (headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill on September 4, addressing the media in Chandigarh stated that to combat the high rate of drug overdose deaths in Punjab, drug suppliers will now be charged with culpable homicide if their clients die of an overdose, extending accountability beyond drug peddling to include fatalities caused by drugs.
04-Sep-2023
Police on September 4 arrested one person, identified as Vishal Kumar and seized 10 grams of heroin and a pistol of .315 bore from his possession, near Lalheri village in Ludhiana district. Another .315 bore pistol was also recovered, following his interrogation.
04-Sep-2023
According to reports, Pro-Khalistani outfits, backed by Pakistan's Inter Service-Intelligence (ISI), have been notorious for spreading false narratives and demands that lack resonance in Punjab. Recent incidents, such as graffiti with pro-Khalistan slogans in Delhi ahead of the G20 summit, reveal their efforts to gain attention. Two individuals arrested in connection with the graffiti were allegedly paid by SFJ chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is operating from the US with support from his aide in Canada. These activities have raised concerns about the influence of Pakistan's ISI and Khalistani groups operating in foreign countries, particularly Canada, and have strained diplomatic relations, especially in light of the Trudeau administration's perceived leniency toward such groups on Canadian soil.
04-Sep-2023
According to reports, Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala, a Canada-based operative of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), recently expressed concerns on social media about the actions of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against him and his associates. He warned against the possibility of a fake social media account potentially created by the NIA to identify his contacts. The NIA has been actively pursuing Dala and his associates for their involvement in organized crime and terrorist activities, which include recruitment, fundraising through extortion, and smuggling arms and explosives across borders. The KTF, along with other proscribed terrorist groups, has been implicated in promoting terrorism in India, including bombings and targeted killings.
04-Sep-2023
In preparation for the G20 Summit, Delhi's security establishment has upgraded its facial recognition system, now boasting a potential 90% accuracy rate. The system integrates databases from intelligence agencies, Delhi Police's criminal and terrorist suspect records, as well as CCTV camera feeds, triggering alerts upon identifying individuals in the database. Authorities are focusing on monitoring pro-Khalistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) based jihadi elements. Additional security measures include the deployment of 1,000 facial recognition cameras and comprehensive policing and surveillance efforts in sensitive areas.
04-Sep-2023
Punjab Police Inspector General (IG) (headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill on September 4 stated that Punjab Police plans to implement Section 64 (A) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, which grants immunity from prosecution to addicts who willingly seek de-addiction treatment from government-recognized hospitals or institutions. This approach will treat individuals caught with small quantities of heroin or narcotics for personal use as victims eligible for treatment rather than criminal prosecution.
04-Sep-2023
Punjab Police Inspector General (IG) (headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill on September 4, addressing the media in Chandigarh announced that in the past 14 months, Punjab Police have arrested 19,093 drug smugglers, including 2,778 major culprits. They have registered a total of 14,179 First Information Reports (FIRs), with 1,717 related to commercial drug quantities. Through cordon and search operations, the police recovered 1,400 kilograms of heroin in drug-affected areas in the state, and an additional 147.5 kilograms was seized from seaports in Gujarat and Maharashtra, making the total heroin recovery 1,548.27 kilograms during this period. Police have also recovered INR 13.96 crore of drug money from the possession of drug smugglers arrested in the span of the last 14 months. He also disclosed that the Police seized around 240 kilograms of heroin in August.
04-Sep-2023
Punjab Police on September 4 held police-public meetings in the rural as well as city areas of Punjab at various locations as part of a month-long campaign against drug abuse.
04-Sep-2023
Police on September 4 arrested two youths, identified as Pawan of Bir Talab and Gurwinder Singh and recovered 400 gm of heroin from their possession in Bir Talab village in Bathinda district. After arresting Pawan and seizing 400 grams of heroin from his possession, the police arrested Gurwinder Singh, a college student, based on Pawan’s disclosure.
04-Sep-2023
The Tarn Taran police on September 4 busted a drug and hawala racket by arresting six individuals identified as Lovejit Singh alias Lovepreet Singh, Sukhwinder Singh, Sukhmanjit Singh, Shashank Wadhwan, and his two brothers, Abhishek Wadhwan and Neeraj Wadhwan. Police also recovered a .315 bore pistol, 1.2 kilograms of heroin, and INR 1.14 crore in drug money from their possession. Lovejit, Sukhwinder, and Sukhmanjit were arrested in Amritsar, Punjab, while Shashank, Abhishek, and Neeraj were arrested in Madhya Pradesh (MP).
03-Sep-2023
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) in a video released on September 3, has called for challenging India's sovereignty during the G20 Summit, urging Sikhs to support the Khalistan referendum and email G20 nations' representatives to repudiate India's territorial integrity. He also released an audio message urging Kashmiri Muslims to migrate to Delhi and disrupt the G-20 Summit. Earlier he had threatened to hoist the Khalistan flag at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport and has previously claimed responsibility for anti-India graffiti at metro stations in Delhi.
03-Sep-2023
Punjab Police on September 3 conducted a special cordon and search operation involving 150 police teams and approximately 1,200 personnel at suspected hideouts of persons linked with Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh alias Landa, in 28 police districts in Punjab. Multiple individuals have been detained for additional scrutiny, and potentially incriminating evidence confiscated from their possession is currently under further examination. The operation included raids, detentions, and the seizure of incriminating materials. Additionally, police checked arms licenses, inquired about ammunition sources, gathered information on foreign-based family members, examined bank transactions from abroad, and assessed property details for further investigation.
03-Sep-2023
According to sources, Punjab Police are implementing a multipronged strategy to combat drug abuse, especially in border areas, with the goal of making Punjab a drug-free state in a year. They are increasing coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF) and forming village defence committees (VDC) to combat cross-border drug smuggling using drones. Additionally, efforts to raise awareness about the harmful effects of drugs and provide rehabilitation for drug abuse victims are underway, with plans for public cooperation, meetings, rallies, and seminars. The police are also investigating the supply chain of drug peddlers to disrupt the entire network.
02-Sep-2023
Four smugglers, Rajdeep Singh, Ram Singh, Jaspal Singh and Rajwinder Singh who were arrested on September 2 in connection with a cross-border drug smuggling operation involving drones, were sent to three-day police custody by the Duty Magistrate in Batala Gurdaspur district.
02-Sep-2023
The Punjab Police, on September 2, busted a drug cartel that was being operated from inside Faridkot jail in Punjab, by arresting seven persons and recovering 15 kilograms of heroin and INR 7 lakh in drug money from them. On September 1, the police arrested the delivery persons, identified as Gurpinder Singh alias Bhinda, Narinder Singh, Ranjodh Singh alias Jodha, and recovered 15 kilograms heroin from their possession, from near Haruwal village in Dera Baba Nanak Tehsil in Gurdaspur district. On the basis of information provided by Bhinda, the police arrested the four receivers on September 2, identified as Rajdeep Singh, Ram Singh, Jaspal Singh and Rajwinder Kaur and recovered INR 7 lakh drug money and two cars from their possession, near Town Hall in Amritsar city in Amritsar district. The mastermind, Jaspreet Singh alias Kali, currently in Faridkot Jail, was discovered to be coordinating a drug cartel with Pakistan-based smugglers via WhatsApp.