KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
27-Jul-2023
The police on July 27 arrested five persons identified as Gurpreet, Rohit, Jaswinder Jassa, Sarvesh and Bhoop Ram under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in Abohar in Fazilka district.
27-Jul-2023
The Chandigarh Police's anti-narcotics task force (ANTF) on July 27 arrested Shubham Jain and recovered 108 gm amphetamine and 70 gm heroin. Based on Subham’s disclosure, the Police arrested Puneet Kumar on July 30 and recovered an illegal .32-bore country loaded with five live cartridges, near Bazaar Number 4 in Ferozepur Cantonment in Ferozepur district. Puneet’s father is serving as an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) in Ferozepur. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Udaypal Singh, Puneet was part of a drug syndicate and used international numbers to communicate with other smugglers based in Pakistan, while his accomplice, Shubham Jain, delivered drugs locally.
26-Jul-2023
The Khanna police on July 26 busted an inter-state weapon supply gang by arresting four members, identified as Prashant Kaura, Krish Lawrence, Karambir Singh and RJ Rupak Joshi and recovered 32 bore pistol with two magazines, 13 live cartridges of .32 bore, a country made .315 bore pistol, six live cartridges of .315 bore, a Tata Nexon and OPTRA car from their possession, in Doraha, in Ludhiana district. The arrests were made during a special drive to apprehend criminals involved in supplying weapons in Punjab.
26-Jul-2023
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on July 26 arrested a key aide of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, Vikramjeet Singh alias Vikram Brar, for his alleged involvement in the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala as well as targeted killings, weapons smuggling, and extortion, after his deportation from United Arab Emirates (UAE) in New Delhi. Earlier, an NIA team had travelled to the UAE to facilitate his deportation and subsequently brought him back to India. According to NIA, Vikram Brar, a native of Rajasthan, acted as a bridge between Bishnoi's gang and Khalistani terrorists, sending extortion money abroad. An Interpol-issued global arrest warrant was in effect for him.
26-Jul-2023
A Delhi court on July 26 summoned Congress leader Jagdish Tytler on August 5 for his alleged involvement in the Pul Bangash killings (New Delhi) during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a charge sheet on May 20, accusing Tytler of inciting the mob that set ablaze a gurdwara and killed three Sikhs. Charges of rioting, abetment, and murder have also been invoked against him.
26-Jul-2023
Punjab Police on July 26 conducted a large-scale Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in Faridkot, Muktsar, and Moga districts of Punjab and arrested 79 anti-social elements and seized 128 grams of heroin, 115 kg poppy husk, 2560 intoxicant tablets, a huge quantity of illicit liquor and Lahan (raw material used to make liquor) and INR 68,500 of drug money from their possession. Police also registered a total of 66 First Information Reports (FIRs). According to the Special Director General of Police (DGP), law and order, Arpit Shukla, these efforts reflect Punjab Police's determination to root out the menace of drugs from the state and transform it into a vibrant and prosperous region known as the 'Rangla Punjab.'
26-Jul-2023
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on July 26 announced the release of short videos called 'The Punjab Files' to expose alleged conspiracies against Sikhs and Punjabis, in an aggressive strategy to champion the cause of Punjabis. The videos, based on historic accounts, will be released from July 29. The party has faced challenges since losing power in the 2017 Assembly elections and now has only three Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs).
26-Jul-2023
The Indian government on July 26 informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) that it lacks documents to establish the Indian citizenship of Avtar Singh alias Khanda, a pro-Khalistan leader who passed away in the United Kingdom (UK) on June 15. Khanda's sister, Jaspreet Kaur, filed a petition in the HC to perform his cremation in their hometown, Moga in Punjab. The HC has asked for the required documents from the petitioner's counsel. Khanda's body is currently at a hospital in the UK for post-mortem and investigation. The matter has been adjourned until August 4.
26-Jul-2023
Sukhbir Singh Badal, the president of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in a written statement, on July 26 demanded two reserved seats in the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) assembly for the Sikh community. He advocated for equitable representation alongside seats proposed for Kashmiri Pandits and refugees from Pakistan-occupied J&K in the J&K Reorganization Bill.
25-Jul-2023
Gangster Deepak alias Deepu Banur was brought from Patiala jail to Chandigarh on July 25 for a two-day custody on a production warrant and is being interrogated in connection with an extortion case.
25-Jul-2023
The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) in Mansa, Punjab on July 25 committed the trial of the Sidhu Moosewala murder case to the District and Sessions Court, as it is exclusively triable by that court. All accused, including gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, appeared via video-conferencing. The next hearing is scheduled for August 9. A total of 29 accused were arrested, with some killed in encounters or inside jail. The court directed Jail Superintendents to present all accused physically on August 9, except for four- Goldy Brar, Lipin Nehra, Anmol Bishnoi and Sachin Bishnoi Thapan,who are currently abroad.
25-Jul-2023
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on July 25 attached three properties of suspected members of organised crime syndicates, a house in Delhi owned by Irfan alias Chhenu Pehalwan, and two houses belonging to Kaushal Chaudhary and Amit Dagar in Gurugram, Haryana. The properties were attached as part of a crackdown on a terrorist-gangster-drug smuggler network with connections to designated individual terrorist Arsh Dala and other foreign-based terrorists. The properties attached were considered "proceeds of terrorism" and were used for planning terror conspiracies and executing crimes. Irfan was involved in multiple criminal cases, including murder and extortion, and supplied logistics support, including arms and ammunition, to the Bambiha gang. He provided a safe haven to the gang's absconding associates on the instructions of key operatives Chaudhary and Bhupi Rana. Choudhary and Dagar were closely associated with foreign-based terrorists and conspired with them and ground operatives through social media for extortion and killings.
25-Jul-2023
The Police along with the Special Task Force (STF) on July 25 conducted a targeted cordon and search operation in Ferozepur and Fazilka districts of Punjab and arrested 19 individuals and seized 320 grams of heroin, INR 13.96 lakh of drug money, and a large quantity of lahan and 27 vehicles. The operation to combat drug trafficking and anti-social activities was supervised by Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Gurinder Singh Dhillon, and resulted in the registration of 15 First Information Reports (FIR).
25-Jul-2023
The Kartarpur Corridor reopened on July 25 after a five-day closure due to flooding in the River Ravi caused by the release of water from dams. Around 700 pilgrims were unable to visit the shrine during the closure and will need to reapply for the pilgrimage. The corridor offers visa-free access to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan.
25-Jul-2023
The Kartarpur Corridor reopened on July 25 after a five-day closure due to flooding in the River Ravi caused by the release of water from dams. Around 700 pilgrims were unable to visit the shrine during the closure and will need to reapply for the pilgrimage. The corridor offers visa-free access to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan.
24-Jul-2023
Punjab Police and Border Security Force (BSF) on July 24 recovered a heroin packet weighing around 3.7 kg from a field in Rajoke village in Tarn Taran district. The authorities suspect that the drugs were airdropped by a drone from across the Pakistan border.
24-Jul-2023
The Punjab Police on July 24 conducted a cordon and search operation (CASO) in the Bathinda range targeting drug peddlers and anti-social elements and arrested 41 individuals, and seized 197.13 gm heroin, 14 kg poppy husk, 225 litres of illicit liquor, INR 3.5 lakh in drug money and eight mobile phones from the suspects. The operation took place in the police districts of Bathinda and Mansa from 8 am to 1 pm, under the supervision of the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) (Bathinda Range) SPS Parmar.
24-Jul-2023
Police on July 24, after a brief encounter, arrested two gangsters of the Sukha Duneke gang, identified as Ajay Gumber and Sandeep alias Sunny Bhinder, and recovered an illegal .315 bore pistol, a .32 bore pistol, one magazine, six live and three empty cartridges, along with an unregistered motorcycle from the accused in Sri Muktsar Sahib district.
23-Jul-2023
According to sources, a recent intelligence report that was sent to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) warns that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is planning to send weaponry, including small firearms, grenades, and sticky bombs, into India's Jammu and Punjab regions using drones. The ISI has established drone centres in Lahore and Sialkot in Pakistan, operated by Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, to carry out these activities. The drones are loaded with weapons and narcotics for delivery to launchpads in Sialkot and Narowal, with the aim of distributing weapons and intensifying the narcotics problems in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. Indian security forces are on high alert to counter these threats. Drone-based weapon deliveries have seen a significant rise since 2020, prompting increased vigilance by Indian intelligence agencies.
23-Jul-2023
Punjab Police on July 23 arrested two smugglers, identified as Subeg Singh and Sandip Singh alias Seepa and recovered 18 packets of heroin weighing 20 kilograms, worth Rs 100 crores from them at Haste ke Road near Rano village in Fazilka district. According to Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav, acting on a tip-off about the use of drones to drop the consignment from Pakistan, the state Special Operation Cell (SCO) carried out the operation and caught the accused who were caught trying to flee on a motorbike.
22-Jul-2023
Chandigarh Police, in a press conference on July 22, revealed that despite being in Patiala jail, gangster Deepu Banur, a close ally of Lawrence Bishnoi, was involved in running an extortion racket and arranging weapons for his gang. After Chandigarh Police busted an active extortion racket in the tricity and arrested two members of the Deepu Banur gang, their operation cell revealed that the gangster was running the racket from Patiala jail. The gang used the money generated from their racket for gambling, lending, and narcotics nexus, as revealed by Superintendent of Police (SP) Mridul.
22-Jul-2023
Police on July 22 arrested nine persons and recovered an illegal pistol, two live cartridges, three stolen motorcycles, 45 kg of copper, and 50 litres of hooch from the suspects in Muktsar in Sri Muktsar Sahib district. Additionally, a proclaimed offender in a case related to the Excise Act was also arrested by the police.
22-Jul-2023
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on July 22 filed a chargesheet against three designated Khalistani terrorists, including Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), Arshdeep Dalla alias Arsh Dala of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), and Lakhbir Singh Sandhu alias Landa of BKI, along with six others, identified as Harjot Singh, Kashmir Singh Galwaddi, Tarsem Singh, Gurjant Singh, Deepak Ranga and Lucky Khokhar. These terrorists have established networks to carry out terror activities, including recruiting, motivating, and handling associates in India, as well as smuggling weapons and drugs across the border. The NIA reported that Rinda illegally fled to Pakistan in 2018-19 and has been supported by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). He was involved in several terrorist activities, including an RPG attack on the Punjab Police Intelligence Headquarters in May 2022. The investigation also reveals a complex mechanism of fundraising for BKI and KTF, with funds being routed through informal and formal channels to India-based associates. The accused have been involved in various terrorist activities, including attacks on police headquarters and targeted killings. The NIA is actively investigating the connections of 16 other accused linked to BKI and KTF, who are either absconding or under arrest. The chargesheet was presented in a special court as part of the agency's efforts to expose and counter the activities of these banned extremist groups.
21-Jul-2023
Punjab Police Counter Intelligence (CI) on July 21 arrested Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and Amritsar District President of Students Organisation of India (SOI) Tejbeer Singh and recovered 110 grams of heroin, a car and INR 3 lakh in drug money from him, in Amritsar. His links with notorious gangsters came to light after the arrest of Gurjit Singh, who confessed to receiving heroin from gangsters Manu and Doni to supply further to Tejbir. Tejbir's close association with gangster Doni wanted in multiple criminal cases, including murders, was discovered during investigations.
21-Jul-2023
The banned Khalistani separatist organisation Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) on July 21 launched a global "Kill India" campaign targeting Indian diplomats and announced its plan to “besiege” Indian missions in Canada, United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), Portugal, Italy, Germany and Australia on India's Independence Day, August 15. SFJ, in their latest poster and video, labelled Indian Mission chiefs Sanjay Kumar Verma (High Commissioner of India to Canada), Taranjit Singh Sandhu (Indian Ambassador to the US), Vikram Doraiswami (High Commissioner of India to the UK), and Manpreet Vohra (High Commissioner of India to Australia) as 'Chief Architects' responsible for sponsoring and inciting violence against pro-Khalistan Sikhs. In Australia, the High Commissioner of India to Australia, Manpreet Vohra, the Consul General of India in Melbourne, Dr. Sushil Kumar, and the Consul General of India in Sydney, Manish Gupta, were labelled as "Indian Terrorists in Australia" in SFJ’s poster.