KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
17-May-2025
On May 17, Punjab Police, on day 77 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 117 FIRs, arrested 250 drug smugglers and recovered 2.5 kg of heroin, 19 quintals of poppy husk and INR 46 lakhs drug money from their possession, across Punjab.
17-May-2025
On May 17, journalist-turned-author Jagtar Singh released his latest book, Sikh Struggle Documents 1920 to 2022, at the Chandigarh Press Club in Chandigarh. The book traces the origins of the Khalistan idea, which Singh asserts first emerged in 1940 in reaction to the Muslim League’s Pakistan Resolution. It includes 180 rare documents, some previously unseen, such as correspondence related to the 1985 Rajiv-Longowal Accord. Drawing on his deep coverage of Punjab politics, Singh argues that the modern Khalistan narrative—particularly within the diaspora—continues to strain India’s relations with countries like Canada and the United States (US).
17-May-2025
On May 17, a delegation from the All-India Sikh-Punjabi Welfare Council met the Pilibhit District Magistrate to raise concerns over the alleged mass conversion of approximately 3,000 Sikhs to Christianity in villages near the India-Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit district. Authorities have since launched a probe into allegations of coercion, inducements, and false promises made by Nepali pastors reportedly active in the area. Local Sikh leaders, citing poverty and illiteracy as contributing factors, submitted a list of 160 families said to have converted. No arrests have been made so far.
16-May-2025
Gharinda police on May 16 arrested two drug peddlers, including a woman identified as Balbir Kaur and Amritpal Singh alias Kaka, and seized 1.5 kg of heroin from their possession, at a naka (checkpoint) near Dhanoe Khurd village in Amritsar district. Their accomplice, Sahibdeep Singh alias Sabu, managed to escape and is currently absconding.
16-May-2025
On May 16, Punjab Police, on day 76 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 118 FIRs, arrested 146 drug smugglers and recovered 87 kg of heroin, 1 kg of opium, 407 kg of poppy husk and INR 42,005 drug money from their possession across Punjab.
16-May-2025
The Amritsar Commissionerate Police on May 16 arrested one individual, identified as Rahul Singh alias Kalu, and seized 510 grams of heroin and INR 30.18 lakhs drug money along with a counting machine from his possession, in Amritsar in Amritsar district. Police revealed that Rahul was in contact with foreign-based drug smuggler Tony German and was supplying heroin in local areas after receiving the consignments from Pakistan.
16-May-2025
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on May 16 raided fifteen locations across Gurdaspur, Batala, Amritsar, and Kapurthala districts in Punjab in a crackdown on the banned Khalistani terror group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). The operation targeted gangster Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia, a close aide of Pakistan-based terrorist Harwinder Singh alias Rinda, and seized mobile and digital devices, documents, and other incriminating materials. The raids are linked to the December 2023 grenade attack on a police station in Gurdaspur.
16-May-2025
A Delhi court on May 16 concluded recording the statement of former Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh GK as a prosecution witness in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler. Singh said he received a pen drive in 2018 allegedly containing Tytler’s recorded confession, which he handed to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The case concerns the killing of three Sikhs at Gurdwara Pul Bangash. The next hearing is scheduled for June 4.
16-May-2025
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann and former Delhi CM Arvind on May 16 claimed that 99 per cent of drugs had been eradicated from villages, as they launched the “Nasha Mukti Yatra” at Lakhanpal village in Phillaur in Jalandhar district. The leaders blamed previous governments for fostering the drug crisis and vowed to uproot it completely, with Kejriwal asserting that no other state has seen such a widespread anti-drug initiative.
15-May-2025
Punjab Police on May 15 arrested pharmacist, Amanjot Singh alias Jota Sandhu seizing 85 kg of heroin linked to a narco-smuggling module controlled by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), in Bhittewad village, Ajnala, Amritsar district. The drugs were reportedly smuggled via drones from Pakistan under United Kingdom (UK)-based handler Lalli and his Pakistan-based accomplice Shah, with Amanjot serving as a key receiver and distributor across Punjab.
15-May-2025
Ferozepur police on May 15 arrested one individual, identified as Sukhdev Singh alias Babbi and seized 1.446 kg of heroin from his possession, near Madhre village in Ferozepur district.
15-May-2025
Ferozepur police on May 15 recovered a packet containing 441 grams of heroin from near Jagdish border outpost in Ferozepur district.
15-May-2025
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on May 15 in Rajasthan praised India’s precise counter-terrorism strikes against Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), saying the country has set a new global benchmark by striking terrorism while upholding peace. He also highlighted India’s rising global stature and military strength and paid tribute to Shekhawat’s legacy of transparency, inclusive leadership, and political civility.
15-May-2025
The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) on May 15 directed the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) to appoint a senior officer to scrutinize all drug smuggling cases from jails across the state. The court criticized the Amritsar (Rural) SSP for a casual approach in investigating smuggling allegations linked to Amritsar Central Jail and emphasized that senior jail officials must also face legal action.
15-May-2025
Police on May 15 arrested Constable Ranjeet Singh for allegedly injecting drugs in the bathroom of a gurdwara in Kotkapura, Faridkot district, Punjab, after gurdwara staff caught him with drugs and a syringe; a medical examination and departmental inquiry are underway.
15-May-2025
According to the Border Security Force (BSF) data, cross-border smuggling from Pakistan into Punjab has persisted despite heightened alert after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. In May so far, the BSF has seized six drones, 3.4 kg of heroin, five pistols, 2.7 kg of explosives, two grenades, and 35 rounds of ammunition along the International Border (IB). Under Operation Sindoor, counter-unmanned aerial systems have also been deployed as part of an integrated air-defence effort.
15-May-2025
Officiating Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, on May 15 in Amritsar, urged India and Pakistan to reopen the Kartarpur Corridor, closed since May 7 following Indian airstrikes under ‘Operation Sindoor’. He said tensions had eased and keeping the corridor shut was unjustified, adding that reopening it would promote peace, harmony, and regional cooperation.
15-May-2025
On May 15, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar stated at the Embassy of Honduras in New Delhi that India achieved key objectives in Operation Sindoor by destroying terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan. He affirmed that any future dialogue would focus solely on counter-terrorism. Dr. Jaishankar also noted strong international support for India post the Pahalgam attack and highlighted the significant damage inflicted by India’s military response.
15-May-2025
On May 15, Punjab Police, on day 75 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, conducted cordon and search operations at major bus stands across all 28 districts, arresting 124 drug smugglers, registering 83 FIRs and seizing 4.02 kg of heroin, 2.5 kg of opium, and INR 27,090 in drug money.
15-May-2025
Gurdaspur Police on May 15 demolished illegally constructed houses of two drug smugglers identified as Baljinder and Lakhwinder, in Dida Sansian village in Gurdaspur district.
15-May-2025
Punjab Police on May 15 carried out simultaneous search operations in jails across Jalandhar Commissionerate, Hoshiarpur, Shaheed Bhagat Singh (SBS) Nagar, Jalandhar Rural, Kapurthala, and Rupnagar districts to crack down on illegal activities behind bars. Teams inspected barracks, kitchens, toilets, and other areas.
15-May-2025
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami on May 15 provided financial assistance of INR 5 lakh each to the families of four Sikhs who were recently killed in cross-border shelling by the Pakistan Army in Poonch, during his visit to Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
15-May-2025
Gurdaspur Police on May 15 arrested two individuals, identified as Sukhpreet Singh and Karanbir Singh, under the Official Secrets Act in Dorangla, Gurdaspur district, Punjab, for compromising national security by leaking sensitive military information related to Operation Sindoor to their handlers in Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Dorangla, a known hotspot for drone activity along the border, was the location of the arrest. A forensic examination of their mobile phones reportedly revealed critical details about troop movements and strategic locations in Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), and Himachal Pradesh (HP).
14-May-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) on May 14 recovered a drone in broken condition from fields near Metla village in Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district. The recovered drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
14-May-2025
Police on May 14 arrested two individuals, identified as Gurmukh Singh and Varinderpal Singh, and seized 500 grams of heroin, INR 15.19 lakh drug money and a camera fitted toy drone from their possession, in Akalgarh village in Amritsar district.