KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
11-May-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on May 11 recovered a drone from a field near Gola Dola village in Gurdaspur district. The recovered drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
10-May-2025
The Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check Unit on May 10 debunked several false claims circulating on social media, including fabricated allegations of an Indian drone attack on the Nankana Sahib gurdwara in Pakistan. The unit clarified that the video was doctored and aimed at inciting communal tensions. It also dismissed as fake reports of an Indian pilot captured in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), a cyberattack on India’s power grid, flight disruptions on the Mumbai-Delhi route, and explosions near airports in Srinagar and Jaipur. A viral video of young men crying was confirmed to be from a private defence coaching institute, not the Indian Army. Citizens were urged to rely solely on official sources for verified information.
10-May-2025
On May 10, Sikhs staged a protest outside Hall Gate in Amritsar, burning the effigy of Pakistan’s Army Chief Asif Munir and the Pakistani flag. Member of Parliament (MP) Gurjeet Singh Aujla joined the protest, condemning Pakistan’s false propaganda and defending the Sikh community’s role in safeguarding India. He highlighted Sikhs’ historical sacrifices, emphasising their commitment to India’s sovereignty despite past attacks. Aujla underscored India’s secularism and accused Pakistan of supporting terrorism, while asserting that India has never targeted Pakistan with terrorism.
10-May-2025
On May 10, Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj visited villages near the Attari border, including Pakka Dhanoa and Attari, in Amritsar district, Punjab to assess the situation of local residents amid rising tensions. He reviewed the relocation of sacred saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to secure locations and expressed satisfaction with the arrangements. Giani Gargaj prayed for peace in South Asia, urged continued prayers for collective well-being, and promoted Sikh values, encouraging youth to preserve their distinct identity and stay away from drugs.
10-May-2025
Police on May 10 arrested two drug peddlers, identified as Manjindar Singh alias Mani and Sandeep Singh alias Billa and seized 230 intoxicating tablets from their possession, in Nakodar in Jalandhar district.
10-May-2025
Police on May 10 arrested a drug peddler, identified as Kuldeep Kumar alias Sarpanc alias Katta, and seized with158 intoxicating tablets from their possession, in Kang Khurd village in Jalandhar district.
10-May-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police on May 10, recovered a drone, a pistol and a magazine from the agricultural fields near Ganeshe Wale Jhugge village in Ferozepur district.
10-May-2025
On May 10, a suspected drone crashed near Sikri village and missile debris was found near Dhoot Khurd in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district, triggering panic among residents. Villagers reported loud explosions around 5 am, prompting swift action by local police and Army teams. Explosives were recovered and safely defused at the crash site, while missile-like components were seized and are being examined by security officials. The Army has taken possession of the debris for further investigation.
09-May-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), on May 9 recovered a packet of heroin weighing 673 grams from field near Khemkaran in Tarn Taran district.
09-May-2025
The Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, on May 9 approved expanding the Farishtey scheme to include war and terror-affected victims. This ensures immediate, hassle-free medical treatment for these victims at government and empanelled private hospitals. The government aims to reduce mortality and morbidity from such injuries and has introduced cash rewards, commendations, and legal immunity to incentivise public assistance.
09-May-2025
The Punjab government on May 9 approved an INR 51.41 crore proposal to procure anti-drone systems for deployment along the state’s 532-km border with Pakistan, during an emergency meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Chandigarh. The move aims to counter drone attacks targeting Indian military facilities. Other decisions included promoting maize cultivation under the diversification plan, installing V-Kavach jammers in high-security jails, and transferring 135 acres of land for industrial development.
09-May-2025
Mohali Police on May 9 arrested two persons, identified as Manpreet Singh alias Mannu and Jaspreet Singh, and seized 44.16 grams of heroin, INR 4,300 in drug proceeds and a digital weighing scale from their possession, in Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district.
09-May-2025
Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, while speaking to the media, dismissed India’s claims of a Pakistani attack on Amritsar as 'propaganda.' He claimed that 'two crore Sikhs stand with Pakistan,' vowed to raise the Khalistan flag in Delhi, pledged support for Pakistan, and issued threats of violence against India.
09-May-2025
On May 9, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) dispatched teams from Amritsar to Poonch to safely relocate the sacred saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib after a gurdwara was struck during Pakistan’s retaliatory shelling. SGPC officials also visited injured Sikh civilians admitted to a hospital in Amritsar, offering support and aid.
09-May-2025
On May 9, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, while addressing the media in New Delhi, denounced Pakistan’s denial of cross-border attacks as 'blatantly farcical' and part of a deliberate disinformation campaign aimed at communalising India’s counter-terror operations. He confirmed that a gurdwara in Poonch was hit by Pakistani shelling, resulting in the deaths of local Sikh civilians. Misri also condemned Pakistan for targeting Christ School and a Christian convent in Poonch, which led to further civilian casualties and damage to religious infrastructure. Defending India’s strike on Bahawalpur, he described it as a legitimate operation against Jaish-e-Mohammed, the group linked to the murder of journalist Daniel Pearl.
09-May-2025
On May 9, amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) initiated the relocation of the sacred saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib from gurdwaras in border areas such as Dera Baba Nanak and Galarhi to safer locations in Punjab. Additionally, gurdwaras in border districts have been instructed to offer shelter and langar to displaced residents.
09-May-2025
On May 9, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht and Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, led a special ardas at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Sri Anandpur Sahib, Rupnagar district, for sarbat da bhalla amid rising India-Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack. He urged both governments to pursue dialogue, warning that war brings only devastation, especially to communities in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir.
09-May-2025
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Chandigarh Kanwardeep Kaur, speaking in Chandigarh on May 9, urged the public not to trust rumours circulating on social media amid rising India-Pakistan tensions following Operation Sindoor. She advised residents to rely on official social media channels for accurate information, emphasising that the situation in the city remained normal with all markets open. Kaur also assured that contingency reserves and quick reaction teams were on standby, and vital installations were secured with police deployment.
09-May-2025
On May 9, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann announced the approval of a INR 51.4 crore budget for the purchase and installation of anti-drone systems to strengthen border security, following an emergency cabinet meeting in Chandigarh. The technology is intended to prevent drone take-offs and neutralise those entering the state, supporting the Border Security Force's efforts against drug and weapon smuggling. Mann urged the public to remain calm and ignore rumours, reaffirming Punjab’s commitment to national security.
09-May-2025
On May 9, three people—including a woman—identified as Lakhwinder Singh, Monu Singh, and Sukhwinder Kaur, were injured in Khai Pheme Ke village, Ferozepur district, Punjab, following a swarm drone attack launched by Pakistan. A drone intercepted by the Army's air defence system crashed into a house, triggering an explosion due to a CNG car parked outside. The blast caused the house to catch fire.
09-May-2025
On May 9, residents of the Khasa area in Amritsar district, about 16 km from the International Border, reported seeing multiple drones being neutralised mid-air by the air defence system. Explosions were heard around 5 a.m., with local resident Rajinder Singh describing red streaks in the sky followed by bursts and blasts. The district administration advised residents to stay indoors, while officials declined to comment. Similar explosions were also reported in the nearby Chheharta area.
08-May-2025
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force of Punjab Police on May 8 neutralised a drug trafficker, identified as Raju, and seized two kg of heroin, INR 15 lakh drug money and one pistol from his possession, after a brief encounter in Jagraon in Ludhiana district. His accomplice managed to flee the scene.
08-May-2025
Pro-Khalistan and 'SFJ Zindabad' slogans were found painted on an Indian Railways wall near Dashmesh Public School in Faridkot district on May 8. The graffiti, allegedly the work of supporters of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), prompted swift police action. A case was registered under Sections 196 (using evidence known to be false), 197 (issuing or signing false certificates), and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with Section 3 of the Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1985. Police have intensified surveillance, and a forensic analysis of the graffiti is underway.
08-May-2025
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, while addressing the press in New Delhi on May 8, stated that Pakistan had repeatedly violated the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) by creating deliberate legal obstacles. He emphasized that India had shown considerable restraint by adhering to the treaty for 65 years despite such provocations. Misri noted that India had issued multiple notices over the past two and a half years seeking discussions to modify the treaty. He cited demographic shifts, climate change, and terrorism as key factors undermining India’s treaty rights. India has now placed the treaty in abeyance, demanding that Pakistan irrevocably cease support for cross-border terrorism.
08-May-2025
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, while addressing the press in New Delhi on May 8, stated that Pakistan had deliberately targeted the Sikh community in Jammu and Kashmir by attacking a gurdwara in Poonch and killing 16 civilians, including women and children. Misri described the Pahalgam terror attack as the 'original escalation' and emphasized that India’s response was precise, controlled, and non-escalatory. He reiterated that India’s intent is not to escalate tensions but to respond proportionately to acts of terror.