KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
27-Sep-2019
The state special operation cell (SSOC) of Punjab Police, based on a tip-off from arrested Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) members, recovered a drone from Mahawa village near Attari on the Indo-Pak border in Amritsar. The SSOC officials claimed that two KZF members,Akashdeep and Subhdeephad hid the drone in the bushes on the defense drain near the village.The Police have arrested seven members of the KZF terror module till now.
26-Sep-2019
The State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) has reportedly arrested another member of the module identified as Shudhdeep Singh alias Shubh from an undisclosed place in Punjab. With his arrest, the Punjab Police have arrested seven members of the terror module till now. Sources said that Shubhdeep accompanied Akashdeep, Balwant Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Balbir Singh while retrieving the consignment of arms, ammunition, explosives and fake Indian currency notes smuggled to Indian side of border with the help of drones.
26-Sep-2019
A five-member NIA team visited the spot where a China-made drone was destroyed by the alleged Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) terror module members. The interrogation of arrested persons revealed that they had also thrown several parts of the drone into UBDC canal near Dhode village near Jhabalin Amritsar district.
25-Sep-2019
The State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) of the Punjab Police arrested a Khalistani terrorist, Gurdev Singh, brother of Germany-based Gurmeet Singh Bagga alias Doctor, for his alleged involvement in the dropping of arms and ammunition by drones from across the border in Punjab from PAP Chowk in Jalandhar. FICN with a face value of three lakh was also recovered from his possession. Gurdev is the sixth person to have been arrested in connection with Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) terror module in Punjab so far.
24-Sep-2019
Intelligence agencies sounded an alert in the northern region, cautioning against a terror attack aimed at high-profile military targets following an influx of infiltrators from across the border with Pakistan. Sources said the input came from technical surveillance and consequently, all stakeholders in the northern region, particularly Punjab and adjoining districts of Rajasthan, have been notified about the need for extra security.
23-Sep-2019
The Amritsar judicial magistrate court sent five members of a Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) terror module busted by Punjab Police to 10-day Police remand. Punjab Police on September 22 arrested four KZF members from Chola Sahib village in Tarn Taran District. Police investigation revealed that one Maan Singh of Samurai village in Gurdaspur District, currently lodged in Amritsar jail in an Arms Act and UAPA case, had recruited Akashdeep when they were lodged together in the Amritsar jail. The four arrested accused and Maan Singh, who was brought on production warrant, were presented in the court which sent them to police remand till October 3.
23-Sep-2019
STF has recovered five AK 74 rifles, ten magazines, 200 rounds, 1 Austria made Glock pistol, 2 magazines and 20 rounds from Mamdot area near International Border with Pakistan in Firozpur District.
22-Sep-2019
Punjab Police busted a terror module of the revived Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF), that was conspiring to unleash a series of terrorist strikes in Punjab and adjoining States, by arresting four suspects along with a huge cache of arms, including five AK-47 rifles, pistols, satellite phones and hand grenades from Tarn Taran District. Those arrested were identified as Balwant Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Balbir Singh. The module was backed by the Pakistan-based ‘chief’ of the KZF, Ranjeet Singh alias Neeta, and his Germany-based associate, Gurmeet Singh alias Bagga. The module was planning to carry out multiple terrorist strikes in J&K, Punjab and other States.
22-Sep-2019
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh decided to transfer the ‘KZF terror module’ case to NIA for further investigation. A statement released by the Punjab CMO stated, "Module was conspiring to unleash series of terror strikes in Punjab and/or adjoining states. Police seized huge cache of arms including 5 AK-47 rifles, pistols, satellite phones and hand grenades. Further investigations in the case handed over to NIA." Punjab CM also urged the Central Government to direct the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Border Security Force (BSF) to launch necessary counter-measures to check for any possible threats.
18-Sep-2019
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal sought intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure “expeditious and across-the-board release of all Sikh prisoners languishing in different jails in the country even after serving the full term of their sentence”.
18-Sep-2019
An alleged Pakistani spy, identified as Vipin Singh, was arrested from Gurdaspur cantonment area on charges of passing vital information regarding Kartarpur Corridor construction work to Pakistan's ISI. Officials recovered a mobile phone from his possession and they claimed that the mobile phone was used by Vipin Singh to communicate with Pakistan-based handlers and share photographs of the Kartarpur Corridor construction site.
17-Sep-2019
Police, on the basis of disclosure made by a man arrested for drug peddling last week, recovered 13.72 kg heroin buried in a field across the barbed fence on the India-Pakistan border near Daoke village in Amritsar District. The accused, Samsher Singh, alias Shera, was arrested with 7.5 kg heroin and ₹28 lakh drug money in Ajnala’s Poonga village on September 13. Police had also recovered 1kg heroin from at Bhaini Rajpootan on Shera’s disclosure on September 15. The contraband was pushed into the Indian territory by Pakistan-based smugglers, the Police said.
17-Sep-2019
After intelligence warning about the ISI network's nefarious design to revive the pro-Khalistan elements and whip up passions for separatist movement, the Central Government is planning to have a joint counter operation centre in Punjab involving NIA, external spy agency R&AW, counter-terror unit of Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Punjab Police.
17-Sep-2019
Punjab Police procured five-day remand of seven persons arrested in connection with the September 4 Tarn Taran blast.Those arrested include Harjit Singh, Maandeep Singh alias Massa, Amritpal Singh Randhawa, Manpreet Singh, Channdeep Singh, Armarjit Singh and Malkit Singh. Harjit is considered to be the kingpin.The investigation revealed the close relations of the arrested persons with foreign-based pro-Khalistan leaders. Sources said that the suspects confessed their links with Khalistani elements, who were providing them funds.
16-Sep-2019
The Madras High Court in Tamil Nadu received a bomb threat from a person claiming to be a member of ‘International Khalistan Support Group’. In a five-line letter addressed to the registrar general of the High Court, Hardarshan Singh Nagpal, claimed he was a resident of Sudershan Park in Moti Nagar in New Delhi, and said he along with his son “will do multiple bomb blasts inside the high court buildings on September 30”.
16-Sep-2019
The Punjab Police detained 10 persons allegedly belonging to a Khalistani terror module for questioning in connection with the September 4 Tarn Taran blast. Police said, on the basis of strong leads, 10 persons had been detained, who were being questioned on the probable target of the bomb they were making. Officials also confirmed there was no trace of RDX from the blast site.
15-Sep-2019
Police arrested a Tanzanian woman, identified as Rehma and recovered 2 kg heroin from her at Dainwind village in Kapurthala of Kapurthala District. Kapurthala SSP, Satinder Singh said that she was visiting India on a business visa and living with her relatives. She had earlier supplied drugs five times in other cities in Punjab and was caught supplying drugs in Kapurthala District.
15-Sep-2019
Sikh hardliners praised Narendra Modi led Union Government for scrapping the black list that will allow many Sikhs to visit their motherland, meet relatives and celebrate 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. While expressing gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi, informal Sarbat Khalsa-appointed parallel acting Jathedar of Akal Takht Dhian Singh Mand said, “It is a highly commendable act of Indian government and deserves acknowledgement.”
15-Sep-2019
Former Khalistan ideologue Wassan Singh Zaffarwal also hailed Narendra Modi Government. “Now those Sikhs can come to their motherland, meet their relatives and participate in the celebration functions of 550th birth anniversary of the first Guru,” he said.
13-Sep-2019
One person, identified as Shamsher Singh Shera was arrested along with a cache of 7.5 kg of heroin and INR 28 lakh drug money from Amritsar in Punjab. SPS Parmar,IG, Border Range said that "We are interrogating the cross-border angle in this matter. We are also probing into the forward and backward linkages of the matter".
13-Sep-2019
A blacklist of Sikh foreign nationals who have been barred from travelling to India for decades has been reduced from 314 to just 2, a senior UMHA official said. The 312 nationals removed from the blacklist, formally called the ‘Central Adverse List’, will be “eligible to get Indian visa and the Overseas Indian Card” in due course, the official said. The decision to whittle down the list was taken after a ‘review’ of threats posed by these people to India. These blacklisted Sikhs have been mostly living in the US and Canada in North America; and the UK, France and Germany in Europe. It has included Sikh community leaders who had promoted the cause of Khalistan, former militants, those connected to the ideology without a criminal record, and those who sought political asylum contending threat to their lives from the Indian authorities.“This review is a continuous and dynamic process and is a part of a regular exercise. Such a review will afford an opportunity to such Sikh foreign nationals to visit India, meet their family members and reconnect to their roots, “the official said.
13-Sep-2019
The Punjab Government has decided to distribute religious literature in all prisons in the state to mark the 550th birth anniversary of the founder of Sikh religion, Guru Nanak Dev. On the eve of the Sikh Guru's birthday celebrations, the Punjab Government has also proposed to release 550 prisoners on account of good conduct.
13-Sep-2019
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) condemned the Pakistan Government’s decision to charge INR 1,400 per pilgrim as service charge for using the upcoming Kartarpur corridor, saying the neighbouring country is trying to impose ‘jazia’ (a tax non-Muslims pay under Sharia law) on Indian devotees.
12-Sep-2019
India urged Pakistan to show ‘some flexibility’ on the Kartarpur Corridor to ensure the celebrations of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev is conducted smoothly. Earlier in the day, Pakistan said that pilgrims will be charged $20 as service charge for visiting the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara.
11-Sep-2019
Police arrested six more suspects in connection with the explosion which took place near Kaler village in Tarn Taran District on September 4. The arrested suspects belong to Gurdaspur, Patti and Amritsar and were being interrogated. Two persons were killed and another one was injured in the blast that took place in an agriculture field.