KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
13-Mar-2025
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, while addressing the media in Chandigarh on March 13, stated that the ongoing ‘War Against Drugs’ campaign has yielded significant results, with the arrest of 1,759 drug traffickers and the seizure of over 81 kg of heroin, 51 kg of opium, 7.5 lakh intoxicating tablets, and 970 kg of poppy husk, along with other synthetic drugs, in 13 days across Punjab. Additionally, the properties of 29 individuals associated with drug trafficking have been demolished.
13-Mar-2025
Police on March 13, in a raid, arrested five unidentified drug peddlers and seized 3 grams of heroin, 325 intoxicating pills and INR 1.35 lakh in drug money along with three scooters, four motorcycles and a Maruti car from their possession, in Baazigar Basti in Dhuri in Sangrur district. The raids, were part of the ongoing 'War Against Drugs' campaign. The Police warned drug peddlers to either quit the trade or leave the state, assuring support for those willing to reform.
13-Mar-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on March 13 arrested a smuggler, identified as Kuldeep Singh and seized five packets of heroin weighing 2.6 kg from his possession, near Lakha Singh Wala village in Ferozepur district. The operation was launched based on a tip-off, and the recovered packets, wrapped in yellow adhesive tape with nylon threads and illumination strips, indicated that the consignment was dropped using a drone from across the border.
13-Mar-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police on March 13 recovered one packet of heroin weighing 549 grams, from fields near Wan village in Patti in Tarn Taran district.
12-Mar-2025
The head of Damdami Taksal, Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa ‘Dhuma,’ via a video message, strongly opposed the removal of Takht Jathedars by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), calling it a violation of Sikh traditions, and called for a Panthic gathering on March 14 at Anandpur Sahib to protest against what he termed disrespect towards Sikh principles. Without naming anyone, he accused SGPC and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders of making self-serving decisions. Once aligned with SAD-SGPC, the Taksal's political stance shifted after the SAD-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance ended, with Baba Harnam Singh later extending support to the BJP in the Maharashtra elections.
12-Mar-2025
Punjab Police on March 12 conducted raids at 543 locations, arresting 118 drug smugglers and registering 71 First Information Reports (FIRs), arrested 118 drug smugglers and seized 994 grams of heroin, 4,633 intoxicant tablets/pills/injections, and INR 1.47 lakh in drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers, across Punjab. The Police stated that they will continue such operations as part of a three-pronged strategy—Enforcement, De-addiction, and Prevention (EDP)—to eradicate drugs from Punjab.
12-Mar-2025
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) in a joint operation with the Moga police on March 12 arrested an operative of foreign-based gangster Gaurav alias Lucky Patyal, and Davinderpal Singh alias Gopi Lahoria of the Davinder Bambiha gang, identified as Malkit Singh alias Manu and seized one .32 calibre pistol along with four cartridges from his possession, in Moga in Moga district. Manu, who has a criminal background with at least seven cases related to murder and attempt to murder, was injured in an exchange of fire with the police before being arrested.
12-Mar-2025
According to data shared by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) in Parliament on March 12, Punjab registered 9,025 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in 2024, marking a decline from 11,564 in 2023 and 12,423 in 2022. Despite this decrease, Punjab recorded the second-highest number of NDPS cases in the country last year, following Kerala. Meanwhile, the Border Security Force (BSF) has seized approximately 35 kg of narcotics and neutralized over 45 drones originating from Pakistan in 2025 so far. The central government has intensified anti-drug measures, including the establishment of a dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) in every state and a specialized unit targeting darknet and cryptocurrency-related drug trafficking.
12-Mar-2025
The Centre recently informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that radical Khalistani preacher and jailed Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh has been granted a 54-day leave of absence from the Lok Sabha, preventing his disqualification due to prolonged absence. The approval was sanctioned by a parliamentary committee, ensuring he retains his parliamentary seat despite his incarceration.
12-Mar-2025
Punjab Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state president Aman Arora on March 12 stated that as part of the ongoing campaign against drugs, the Punjab government had registered 1,163 First Information Reports (FIRs) under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act since March 1, leading to the arrest of 1,615 alleged drug peddlers and the seizure of 1,115 kilograms of narcotics, seven lakh pills and capsules, and approximately INR 60 lakh in drug money across Punjab, while addressing the media in Chandigarh.
11-Mar-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police on March 11, recovered a 523-gram packet of heroin from fields near Wan village in Patti in Tarn Taran district.
11-Mar-2025
Police on March 11 arrested two individuals, Neeraj Kumar alias Bobby and his wife Komal Ghahi, and seized 6 grams of heroin from their possession in Sherpur Bet village in Ludhiana district. The raid turned violent when Neeraj attacked Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Sukhwinder Singh, biting his arm and striking him with a metal spring. Neeraj’s father, Kulwant Kumar, attempted to obstruct the police and locked them inside the house before fleeing. While Neeraj and Komal were arrested, a manhunt has been launched to apprehend Kulwant.
11-Mar-2025
Punjab Police on March 11 raided 580 locations across the state, arresting 110 drug smugglers and seizing 2.8 kg of heroin, 500 grams of opium, 10,904 intoxicant tablets/pills/injections, and INR 2.88 lakh in drug money. A total of 68 First Information Reports (FIRs) were also registered.
11-Mar-2025
Punjab Police on March 11 demolished a building owned by drug smuggler Budh Singh Budha in Udham Singh Wala in Sangrur district.
11-Mar-2025
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on March 11 stated that the conviction rate in drug cases had risen to 86% in the past three years, underscoring the government’s commitment to eradicating drugs while addressing a press conference in Chandigarh. He revealed that under the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign, police have registered 1,072 First Information Reports (FIRs) and arrested 1,485 drug peddlers in 11 days, seizing 76 kg of heroin, 50 kg of opium, INR 50 lakh in cash, around seven lakh drug tablets, 4.5 kg of drug powder, and 950 kg of poppy husk, along with other synthetic drugs, from smugglers across Punjab.
11-Mar-2025
Acting Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, while speaking in Agwan village in Gurdaspur district on March 11, advocated for the release of jailed radical Khalistani preacher and Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, along with other Sikh prisoners, including Jagtar Singh Hawara and Balwant Singh Rajoana. He also criticized the government for imprisoning Sikh youth instead of addressing the long-pending demand for their release.
11-Mar-2025
Giani Raghbir Singh, who was recently sacked as Akal Takht Jathedar by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), criticized the ‘hasty’ installation of Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj as Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib and Acting Jathedar of Akal Takht in Amritsar on March 11, calling it a violation of maryada. He pointed out the absence of traditional ceremonies, including the formal announcement and ceremonial turban presentation.
11-Mar-2025
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mohali, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district, on March 11 sentenced six terrorists linked to the proscribed Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF)—identified as Akashdeep Singh, Balwant Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Balbir Singh, Maan Singh, and Gurudev Singh—to life imprisonment for smuggling explosives and arms via drones in Punjab for a planned terror attack in 2019. Three other convicts, identified as Shubhdeep Singh, Sajanpreet Singh, and Romandeep Singh, were sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for their roles in the same case. The NIA investigation revealed that they coordinated with Germany-based Gurmeet Singh alias Bagga and Pakistan-based Ranjeet Singh alias Neeta to transport weapons into Tarn Taran district, Punjab.
11-Mar-2025
Damdami Taksal leader Harnam Singh Dhuma on March 11 intensified his criticism of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and announced a major Panthic gathering at Anandpur Sahib in Rupnagar district during Hola Mohalla on March 14 to oppose the SGPC’s recent decision to replace the jathedars.
10-Mar-2025
Police on March 10 arrested Tejinder Singh, a drug peddler associated with the Bambiha gang, after a brief encounter, seizing a cache of narcotic tablets and an unlicensed firearm from his possession, in Rajpura in Patiala district.
10-Mar-2025
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee’s (SGPC) removal of two Takht jathedars has triggered outrage within the Sikh community. On March 7, the SGPC dismissed Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh and Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Sultan Singh, citing inefficiency in addressing Sikh concerns. Many view this move as a ‘black day’ in contemporary Sikh history, further eroding the SGPC’s credibility. Growing calls demand separating the Akal Takht from the SGPC and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to restore its independent authority.
10-Mar-2025
The Delhi High Court on March 10 admitted an appeal by the Delhi Police challenging a 2022 trial court order acquitting an individual in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. The case pertains to the murder of Sher Singh in Mangolpuri, where Babu Lal and Shiv Shankar were accused. While the lower court acquitted Babu Lal due to a lack of witness identification, the High Court found grounds for an appeal. The move follows Supreme Court scrutiny over delays in riot-related cases, urging expedited appeals against past acquittals.
10-Mar-2025
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) installed Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj as the Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib at 2:45 am on March 10, seven hours ahead of schedule, amid threats from Nihang outfits and a boycott by Sikh organisations in Anandpur Sahib, Rupnagar district, Punjab. Later that afternoon, he assumed additional charge as acting Jathedar of Akal Takht in Amritsar without any ceremony—a historic first. The installation sparked controversy over alleged violations of Sikh Maryada, with critics questioning the absence of key rituals and opposition from several Sikh groups.
10-Mar-2025
Pro-Khalistani slogans were found on a wall in Jhumba village, Bathinda district, on March 10, a day before President Droupadi Murmu’s scheduled visit. The banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) claimed responsibility, with its leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun releasing a video calling the President an 'Indian terrorist' and urging university protests. Bathinda police have registered a case and assured swift action. Murmu is set to attend convocation ceremonies in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh from March 10 to 12.
10-Mar-2025
Punjab Police arrested international drug trafficker Shehnaz Singh alias Shawn in Ludhiana, Ludhiana district on March 10. Wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Shawn was allegedly smuggling cocaine from Colombia to the United States (US) and Canada under the guise of a trucking business. He was linked to a massive drug bust in the US on February 26, 2025, involving 391 kg of methamphetamine and 109 kg of cocaine.