KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
27-Aug-2023
Police arrested siblings, identified as Karanvir Kaur and Gurpreet Singh for allegedly selling heroin to Manpreet Singh, who died of drug overdose on August 25, and recovered 5 grams of heroin and Rs 25,000 drug money from them, in Bhaloor village in Moga district. Based on the investigation, it was found that Manpreet obtained drugs from the siblings residing in the same village, who are also involved in selling heroin.
27-Aug-2023
Punjab Police’s Special Task Force (STF) on August 27 arrested an alleged drug smuggler, identified as Partap Singh, and recovered 350 grams of heroin from his possession near Rayya in Amritsar district. The STF received intelligence about his smuggling activities and attempted to apprehend him at a checkpoint near Dunial village in Baba Bakala tehsil of Amritsar district. The suspect fired at the police, prompting them to return fire and injure him. According to Jagjit Singh Soroa, Assistant Inspector General (AIG), STF, Jalandhar, Singh has been hospitalised and will be quizzed after discharge.
26-Aug-2023
Five farmer organizations, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Rajewal), All India Kisan Federation, Kisan Sangharsh Committee (Punjab), Bharti Kisan Union (Mansa), and Azad Kisan Sangharsh, on August 26 held a meeting in Chandigarh to plan mass dharnas on September 4 at district headquarters in Punjab, demanding fair compensation for flood-affected individuals. The groups will submit memorandums to deputy commissioners during the protests.
26-Aug-2023
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on August 26 criticized Governor Banwarilal Purohit for sending a letter warning of potential President's Rule and alleging a failure of the constitutional machinery in the state. Mann stated that law and order are under control, addressing concerns raised about the state's condition. He accused the Governor of displaying hunger for power and emphasized that the state government is actively addressing flood relief and challenges in releasing funds from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Mann urged Purohit to prioritize addressing the state's concerns instead of pursuing power.
26-Aug-2023
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal on August 26 opposed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s attempts to control gurdwaras and expressed its disagreement with the imposition of President's rule in Punjab. He also emphasized the need for Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann to respect constitutional authorities.
26-Aug-2023
Two Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), Parvesh Chopra and Sanjiv Kumar, were transferred on August 26 to Bathinda and Mansa districts, respectively, in Punjab, for attending a birthday party with the alleged gangster Kamal Kumar alias Bori.
26-Aug-2023
The police on August 26 arrested an alleged gangster, identified as Kamal Kumar alias Bori on charges of illegal detention, criminal intimidation, and violating the Arms Act, from Amritsar, Punjab. According to sources, more than 15 cases have been registered against Bori.
25-Aug-2023
A National Investigation Agency (NIA) special court in New Delhi on August 25 ordered the confiscation of property belonging to Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh Sandhu alias Landa, at his ancestral village of Kirian in Tarn Taran district of Punjab. Landa, a gangster-turned-terrorist, has been residing in Canada since 2017. He had been affiliated with the Khalistani terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and its associate Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, who is a terrorist operative based in Pakistan. Landa is the mastermind behind several terror attacks in India, including the 2022 rocket-propelled grenade attacks on the Punjab Police Intelligence Headquarters and the Sarhali police station in Punjab. He was earlier declared a proclaimed offender on July 27.
25-Aug-2023
Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh of Akal Takht Sahib on August 25 declared prohibition on administrative meetings of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) due to a recent incident where members exchanged abusive language in a meeting, in Amritsar, Punjab.
25-Aug-2023
According to sources, the Border Security Force (BSF) has contacted Pakistan Rangers to obtain more information regarding alleged Indian smugglers who were arrested between July 29 and August 3, accused of attempting to transport 'narcotics, weapons, and ammunition' into Pakistan. However, as of now, no response has been received.
25-Aug-2023
Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit on August 25 criticized Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann for the deteriorating law and order situation caused by the rampant drug trade in the state. Purohit also asked the CM to provide a report detailing the actions taken to combat this issue. Purohit's concerns arise from reports of widespread drug abuse, their availability in chemist shops, and even instances of government-controlled liquor vend selling drugs. These incidents have led to public protests and raised concerns about the breakdown of law and order.
25-Aug-2023
Five Punjab Police inspectors identified as Gurwinder Singh, Neeraj Kumar, Gagandeep Singh, Harinder Singh and Dharminder Kalyan, were transferred after videos emerged of them attending a birthday party where gangster Kamal Kumar alias Bori was also present, in Amritsar, Punjab. Two Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSPs) Sanjeev Kumar and Parvesh Chopra, were also present at the party, but no action has been taken against them yet. The videos were allegedly shot at social activist Kumar Darshan’s birthday party, organised at a hotel in Amritsar on August 7.
25-Aug-2023
United Kingdom (UK) Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch on August 25 labelled the incident in March 2023 attack on the Indian High Commission in London as a "disgrace", while attending the B20 Summit in New Delhi, India. "In any country no matter how much of a global superpower there will always be problems and in the UK one of the most interesting things, and I say this as one of the immigrants to the country, is that quite a lot of the times people don't integrate the way we want them to and they bring problems and the same negative attitudes and the same issues from wherever they come from and bring it to the UK," stated Badenoch.
25-Aug-2023
The Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) chief, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, released a new video in which he threatened Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) staff and expressed his anger over India's moon mission (Chandrayaan-3), referring to it as a ‘blood’ mission. In the latest video, he stated, “In Modi's India, this isn't merely a moon mission; it's a 'blood' mission. Instead of fuel, you've utilized the blood of our Sikhs and the people of Punjab. The attempt to conceal the Sikh genocide under the guise of a soft moon landing won't succeed. Modi's India, SFJ intends to unveil your actions. ISRO, you are within the sights of pro-Khalistani Sikhs. You are marked as a target. In Modi's India, you are ruthlessly exploiting the Sikh community, both economically and physically, resulting in genocide. SFJ will respond, and your celebrations will be short-lived. ISRO, you are the prime target and under the radar of pro-Khalistani Sikhs.”
24-Aug-2023
Madhya Pradesh (MP) Police on August 24 arrested a man, who was previously arrested in Delhi in 2021 for supplying arms to Khalistan supporters, identified as Rajendra Singh Baranwala along with his four accomplices in connection with a series of thefts in different areas of Indore in Indore district of MP. The gang, led by Rajendra Singh Baranwala attempted 15 break-ins in August between August 1 and 20, successfully stealing gold and silver coins as well as cash from three locations. In 2021, Baranwala was arrested in Delhi for supplying arms to Khalistan supporters, and 18 illegal pistols were seized from his possession.
24-Aug-2023
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on August 24 issued a proclamation notice against Ranjit Singh Neeta, the chief of Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) who is currently believed to be residing in Pakistan, giving him 30 days to surrender, in Mohali, Punjab. Neeta is wanted for his alleged involvement in multiple acts of terrorism, including bombings and attacks in India. The notice cites various incidents of Neeta's alleged involvement in various bombings, including those on trains like Shalimar Express and Sealdah Express, as well as attacks such as the one on Kailash Guest House in Delhi.
24-Aug-2023
Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Jathedar, Giani Harpreet Singh, expressed concern on August 24 over threatening letters sent to Sikh families in Rawalpindi and Panja Sahib, Pakistan, urging them to convert or leave. He has called upon India and Pakistan to ensure the safety of Sikh families and highlighted a history of targeted violence against Sikhs in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
24-Aug-2023
The Damdami Taksal (Ajnala), a breakaway faction of the prominent Sikh seminary, convened a meeting on August 24 at the Gurdwara Dukh Bhanjansar Sahib in Amritsar, Punjab and decided to escalate their efforts in pressuring the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab due to perceived unfulfilled promises concerning Sikh religious matters. The group, led by Amrik Singh Ajnala, criticized the government's inaction on issues such as the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib, drug abuse, and corruption. They announced a 'Rosh March' scheduled for September 6, with the intention of marching to the residence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and staging a protest.
24-Aug-2023
According to sources, the recovery of weapons used in the assassination of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala remains unresolved 15 months after the incident. While 15 weapons were recovered from the six shooters in separate operations by the Punjab and Delhi Police, including those matching the bullets found at the crime scene, a .30 bore pistol and another 9mm pistol used by other assailants in the Punjabi singer's murder remain unrecovered. Priyavrat Fauji, who led the 'Fauji module' responsible for the shooting, has not yet surrendered the weapons. The alleged main conspirator, Sachin Thapan, recently extradited from Azerbaijan, did not lead to the recovery of the weapons. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) discovered that the weapons were supplied by Pakistan-based arms smugglers, revealing links between Indian gangsters and terror agencies.
24-Aug-2023
Jailed gangster, Lawrence Bishnoi, on August 24 was taken into custody by Gujarat's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) after being granted a four-day police remand by a court Naliya in Kutch district of Gujarat. Bishnoi is implicated in using narcotics to fund terror activities, with ATS claiming to have found a money trail linking him to individuals involved in such activities. This is his second custody, related to a case involving heroin intercepted from a Pakistani fishing trawler in 2022, and he's also accused in the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala.
24-Aug-2023
Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police, in a joint operation, on August 24 recovered 360 grams of heroin from the outskirts of Rajoke village in Tarn Taran district.
24-Aug-2023
According to reports, flooded rivers along the Indo-Pak border have posed a challenge for the Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police in monitoring anti-national activities in the border areas of Punjab. Smugglers are exploiting the situation to transport narcotics. Despite the challenges posed by the flooding, BSF personnel are maintaining constant vigilance, and recent arrests by the Special Task Force (STF) have unveiled smuggling routes and connections with drug smugglers based in Pakistan.
23-Aug-2023
Prior to the visit of the United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to India during the G20 Summit, Alex Ellis, the High Commissioner of the UK to India, in an interview, on August 23, discussed the extensive agenda for their bilateral meeting, including defence cooperation and progress on a free trade agreement as well as security challenges posed by China and Khalistani elements. Ellis acknowledged the Khalistan issue, emphasizing that extremism is not acceptable, and asserted that the UK has increased security, police presence, and cooperation with Indian authorities to address the problem, recognizing it as a shared concern rather than just an Indian one.
23-Aug-2023
A Delhi court on August 23 framed charges against Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a case related to the burning of a gurdwara during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, in New Delhi. The court deemed him the "principal abettor" in the incident, stating that evidence supported his involvement in an unlawful assembly that aimed to burn the gurdwara and destroy Sikh properties as a response to the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
23-Aug-2023
Punjab Police on August 23 shared a video showing a Pakistani drone airdropping a small packet of heroin in the Tarn Taran district of Punjab. According to the police, smugglers from across the border are now resorting to delivering narcotics during the daytime as well, posing a fresh challenge for the security forces. On the same day, Tarn Taran Police arrested an individual identified as Jugraj Singh in the Tarn Taran district and recovered 2 kilograms of heroin along with a drone from his possession. Singh was arrested when his bike was intercepted at a checkpoint, according to Tarn Taran Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gurmeet Chauhan.