KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
03-Apr-2025
Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on April 3 stated that 70 percent of the drones entering Punjab from across the border had stopped arriving, as there was no one left on this side to receive the drug consignments, while speaking at an event held at the Punjab Police Academy in Phillaur, Jalandhar district. Mann emphasised that drug users would not be targeted, but strict action would be taken against drug peddlers, including the demolition of their properties.
03-Apr-2025
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Headquarters Dr. Sukhchain Singh Gill on April 3 announced the dismissal of woman constable Amandeep Kaur from service for her alleged involvement in a drug case in Bathinda district. It was also revealed that Kaur had violated the Punjab Police’s social media policy by posting Instagram reels in uniform, flaunting luxury items, and mocking the police force. Authorities have initiated an investigation into her assets to determine if any property was acquired through illegal means.
03-Apr-2025
The Operations Cell of the Chandigarh Police on April 3 busted an international drug peddling gang and arrested four individuals, identified as Akashdeep Singh alias Akash, Shamsher Singh alias Shera, and Gurlal Singh alias Lala and seized 297.40 grams of heroin, 100 cocaine crack balls (47.10 grams), one country-made pistol, INR 5,200 in drug money, a Swift car, and a drug weighing machine from their possession in Chandigarh. Investigations revealed that the gang was being operated from Goindwal Jail in Punjab, with Gurlal Singh orchestrating the network from behind bars. The gang was also involved in sending drug proceeds to Pakistan through hawala channels.
03-Apr-2025
The Operations Cell of the Chandigarh Police on April 3 arrested a Tanzanian national, Shufaa alias Shufee, and seized 100 cocaine/crack balls from her possession at the Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT), Sector-17, Chandigarh. A resident of Uttam Nagar in Delhi, Shufaa is suspected of operating a drug network across the Delhi-Punjab region. Police revealed that she had been previously convicted in 2018 for possession of a commercial quantity of heroin and was sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.
03-Apr-2025
Police on April 3 arrested six unidentified individuals in connection with the vandalism of a statue of B. R. Ambedkar, and seized two vehicles used in the act, in Batala, Gurdaspur district. The incident occurred during the night between March 31 and April 1, triggering protests by Dalit groups. Investigations are underway to determine the motive and whether the accused were acting under instructions from others. This incident follows a similar case of vandalism involving an Ambedkar statue in Phillaur on March 30.
03-Apr-2025
Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh on April 3 informed Parliament that the government regularly monitors reports of persecution faced by Sikh communities in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He highlighted instances of forced conversions, vandalism, and intimidation, and stated that India raises such concerns with Pakistan through diplomatic channels. Singh also noted that 74 Afghan Sikhs were evacuated in 2021 under Operation Devi Shakti, due to the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan.
03-Apr-2025
Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on April 3 launched a six-day padyatra from the Kartarpur Corridor in Dera Baba Nanak, Gurdaspur district, to raise awareness against drug abuse and unite organisations working on the issue. Emphasising the need for collective action, he urged all sections of society to support the government and police in combating the menace. Kataria also drew attention to challenges such as drone-based smuggling from Pakistan, describing it as a narco-terror war. The padyatra is scheduled to conclude at Jallianwala Bagh on April 8.
02-Apr-2025
Police on April 2 arrested a woman constable, identified as Amandeep Kaur, and seized 17.7 grams of heroin along with a Mahindra Thar vehicle (PB 05 AQ 7720) from her possession in Bathinda district.
02-Apr-2025
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state president and Punjab Cabinet Minister Aman Arora, while addressing the media in Chandigarh on April 2, announced that AAP volunteers will guard statues of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar across Punjab on April 14, in response to threats issued by banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Arora condemned Pannun’s remarks as 'derogatory' and challenged him to come to Punjab. He also highlighted Ambedkar’s contributions to the nation and accused Pannun of misusing Sikhism to spread hatred and division.
02-Apr-2025
Jalandhar Rural Police on April 2 invoked provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in the case registered against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), in connection with the vandalism of the protective glass around the statue of B. R. Ambedkar, at Phillaur police station in Jalandhar district. The incident, which took place on March 31, involved pro-Khalistan and anti-Constitution slogans spray-painted on the glass, along with the display of derogatory banners—part of a deliberate attempt to incite communal discord.
02-Apr-2025
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on April 2 issued a stern warning to drug peddlers, vowing to deliver "bulldozer justice" to those responsible for destroying families by pushing addiction, addressing students before launching the Walk Against Drugs campaign in Ludhiana in Ludhiana district. Mann highlighted the role of opioid-opiate treatment (OOAT) centres and rehabilitation facilities, assuring support for victims to recover, complete their education, and secure employment.
02-Apr-2025
Punjab Police on April 2 ongoing anti-drug campaign arrested 59 drug smugglers and recovered 1.6 kg of heroin along with INR 5.53 lakh drug money from their possession, across Punjab.
02-Apr-2025
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Border Range, Satinder Singh, while addressing the media in Amritsar on April 2, stated that the Amritsar border continues to be a hotspot for drug and arms smuggling from Pakistan. He revealed that Amritsar Rural Police had seized 103 kg of heroin out of the total 114 kg recovered across four border districts since January 1, 2025. A total of 706 drug peddlers, including major traffickers, have been arrested. Police also confiscated 1.13 kg of charas, 10 kg of poppy husk, 5.8 kg of opium, and drug money amounting to INR 62 lakh, including USD 4,000 (INR 52.9 lakh from Amritsar alone). Additionally, the police recovered 68 pistols, two revolvers, two AK-47 rifles, and three hand grenades smuggled via drones. Legal action has also been initiated to demolish properties linked to drug smugglers.
02-Apr-2025
On April 2, authorities launched an investigation into the movement of a car or bike near villages adjoining the Badshahpur police post following a loud explosion that caused widespread panic in Badshahpur village, Samana, Patiala district. The blast, heard around 2 a.m., shattered windowpanes of a nearby building, though police confirmed it did not occur within the police post. While officials ruled out a grenade attack, they are examining possible targeted motives behind the incident.
01-Apr-2025
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia, on April 1 in Ludhiana, praised the Bhagwant Mann-led government’s anti-drugs campaign and asserted that, under the guidance of AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, the drug menace would be eradicated from Punjab. During a press conference, Sisodia, along with AAP Punjab president Aman Arora, outlined the state government's strategy to combat drug abuse.
01-Apr-2025
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary Tarun Chugh, on April 1, strongly condemned the defacing of the protective glass around the statue of B. R. Ambedkar in Phillaur, Jalandhar district, while addressing the media in Patiala, Punjab. He accused the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of failing to curb anti-national elements attempting to disrupt social harmony in the state. Chugh urged the state government to take strict action against such forces and ensure the maintenance of communal peace.
01-Apr-2025
Members of Valmiki organisations on April 1 burned an effigy of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of the banned Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), after he claimed responsibility for defacing the statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in Nangal village, Phillaur, Jalandhar district. The incident sparked widespread protests across Punjab, with various political and social leaders demanding the immediate arrest of those involved. Former Union Ministers Vijay Sampla and Som Parkash strongly condemned the act, describing it as an attempt to create instability in the state. Sampla further urged the authorities to seek Pannun's extradition and prosecute him under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for his derogatory remarks against Ambedkar and Guru Ravidas.
01-Apr-2025
Punjab Police on April 1 averted a potential terror attack with the arrest of an operative linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), identified as Jaiveer Tyagi alias Jawed, and seized a hand grenade from his possession in Amritsar district. According to police, Tyagi was conspiring with his cousin, Sehlam, to target government infrastructure. He was arrested near Tara Wala Pul in Amritsar before he could carry out the attack.
01-Apr-2025
The Counter Intelligence (CI) team in Ferozepur on April 1 busted a cross-border drug smuggling racket with the arrest of a smuggler, identified as Sukhdev Singh alias Sukhi, and seized 3.5 kilograms of heroin from his possession in Mohan Ke Uttar village, Jalalabad, Ferozepur district. Preliminary investigations revealed that Sukhdev was in direct contact with a Pakistan-based smuggler who used drones to drop drug consignments across the border. Further investigations are underway to uncover the entire network of suppliers, dealers, and buyers.
01-Apr-2025
The administration in Amritsar on April 1 demolished the property of a drug peddler, identified as Gurmeet Singh, in the Maqboolpura area of Amritsar district. The action was carried out as part of the Chief Minister’s 'Drug-Free Punjab' initiative. According to police, Gurmeet Singh is a notorious smuggler with three cases registered against him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and is currently lodged in jail.
01-Apr-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police, on April 1 recovered a packet of heroin weighing 492 grams from fields near Dhariwal village in Ajnala, Amritsar district.
01-Apr-2025
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on April 1 issued a strong warning against the growing gangster culture and its glorification in popular media, asserting that the judiciary must ensure those involved in criminal activities face the full force of the law. Justice Harpreet Singh Brar emphasized that such criminality would not be tolerated and that decisive legal action was essential to restore public confidence in the justice system.
31-Mar-2025
The banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) on March 31 claimed responsibility for defacing the protective glass around the statue of B. R. Ambedkar in Phillaur. In a video message, SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun referred to Ambedkar as a 'devil' and accused him of erasing Sikh identity through the Indian Constitution. Experts noted that SFJ appears to be targeting a new front: exploiting caste fault lines in Punjab. They also warn that such actions are part of a broader attempt to polarise the state along caste and religious lines.
31-Mar-2025
The banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) on March 31 defaced the protective glass around a statue of BR Ambedkar, spray-painting pro-Khalistan slogans, in Nangal village in Phillaur, Jalandhar district. Khalistani terrorist and SFJ chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun claimed responsibility, threatening to remove all Ambedkar statues in Punjab before April 14. Heavy security was deployed as Dalit organisations demanded swift police action, warning of further protests. Tensions gripped the region following the incident.
31-Mar-2025
State spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Prof. Sarchand Singh Khiala, has demanded the release of Sikh prisoner Prof. Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar before Khalsa Sajna Diwas in a letter addressed to Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Smt. Rekha Gupta. Bhullar, who has spent 29 years in jail, is currently undergoing treatment in Amritsar Central Jail. Khiala urged the Delhi government to implement the 2019 Central Government notification for his release, citing humanitarian and legal grounds. He emphasized that the issue of Sikh prisoners is both legally complex and emotionally significant for the Sikh community.