KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
23-Apr-2026
On April 23, police claimed to have solved an extortion case with the arrest of five gang members who had demanded INR 50 lakh from a sarpanch (village head) in Samrala, Ludhiana district. The victim, Baljit Singh of Manjali Kalan village, had received a threat call on April 18 in which the caller warned of shooting him if the demand was not met.
23-Apr-2026
Police on April 23 arrested a drug smuggler, identified as Gurmeet Singh alias Meetu and seized 512 grams of heroin, near Chak Sahu village in Faridkot district. Preliminary investigations indicate he was in direct contact with a foreign-based mastermind and acted as a local handler, distributing drug consignments in the area.
23-Apr-2026
Amritsar Rural Police on April 23 arrested a man, identified as Bikramjit Singh for allegedly spying on Indian Army establishments on behalf of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), from Baba Bakala in Amritsar district. Preliminary investigations suggest he had been in contact with an ISI handler via mobile communication and is suspected of sharing photographs and sensitive information related to military installations.
23-Apr-2026
Kapurthala police on April 23 arrested a person, identified as Lovepreet Singh alias Love and recovered 30 grams of heroin along with INR 11,800 in suspected drug money, near Bhano Langah village in Kapurthala district.
23-Apr-2026
Amritsar Police on Apri 23 arrested Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh from Dibrugarh Jail, Assam, in connection with the Ajnala police station violence case after his detention under the National Security Act (NSA) expired. He was produced before the Ajnala Sub-Divisional Court, Amritsar, via video-conferencing, where police sought a 15-day remand, but the court granted two days of police custody. He will remain lodged in Dibrugarh during this period. Earlier, citing security and law and order concerns, the Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) permitted the state to keep him in Dibrugarh Jail even after the NSA detention ended and allowed all proceedings to be conducted virtually.
23-Apr-2026
A local court in Patiala has declared Canada-based gangster-turned-designated terrorist Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dala, a native of Moga district, a proclaimed offender after he failed to appear in a criminal case, in Patiala district. The FIR, registered on October 4, 2024, at Sanaur police station under provisions of the BNS and the Arms Act, names several accused from Mansa and Muktsar districts. Investigations indicate the group was part of an organised gang involved in extortion, robbery, and intimidation of traders and businessmen using illegal weapons. During the probe, Arsh Dalla’s name also surfaced as a key figure linked to the gang, following which he was formally nominated in the case.
23-Apr-2026
On April 23, four schools in Ludhiana received bomb threat emails, prompting authorities to alert the police in Ludhiana district. The messages also reportedly warned of a blackout in Punjab on April 24. Anti-sabotage checks were conducted and the schools were evacuated as a precaution, with parents asked to take their children home. All premises were later declared safe.
23-Apr-2026
On April 23, India and the United Kingdom (UK) pledged to strengthen cooperation against pro-Khalistan extremism and address threats to maritime trade in the Strait of Hormuz during high-level talks in New Delhi. National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval hosted his UK counterpart Jonathan Powell for the annual India–UK Strategic Dialogue.
22-Apr-2026
On April 22, Punjab Police urged the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to stop an OTT platform from streaming the docuseries “Lawrence of Punjab,” citing concerns it could incite crime. The series, scheduled for release on April 27, reportedly portrays the life and criminal trajectory of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, including references to major incidents such as the murder of Sidhu Moose Wala. In a letter to the ministry, Special Director General of Police (DGP) (Cybercrime) V. Neeraja warned that the content—featuring dramatized portrayals, real footage, and narrative elements—could glorify and amplify organised crime. Police also requested that even the trailer be restricted from global circulation.
22-Apr-2026
On April 22, an absconding shooter of the Tillu Tajpuria gang, a proclaimed offender, was arrested along with an illegal pistol, live cartridges, and a motorcycle, after a brief exchange of fire with the Delhi Police’s Special Cell, in Rohini, New Delhi.
22-Apr-2026
Amritsar (Rural) Police have reached Dibrugarh, Assam, to formally arrest Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh in connection with the February 2023 Ajnala police station attack case. He is likely to be arrested on April 23 following the expiry of his detention under the National Security Act (NSA). Amritpal has been lodged in Dibrugarh Central Jail since April 23, 2023, after being taken into custody under the NSA.
22-Apr-2026
According to reports, charges have been framed against gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and 19 others under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), along with provisions of the Arms Act and Explosives Act, paving the way for a full trial into an alleged interstate crime syndicate. Delhi Police, represented by Advocate Akhand Pratap, argued that the evidence establishes a well-organised network operating across multiple states, justifying prosecution under MCOCA. The FIR was registered by the Special Cell in March 2021 with prior approval under Section 23 of the Act against the Bishnoi–Kala Jatheri gang, which allegedly operated across Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and other regions.
22-Apr-2026
On April 22, the Supreme Court asked the Union government to respond within two weeks to the mercy plea of Balwant Singh Rajoana, a convict in the Beant Singh assassination case, seeking commutation of his death sentence to life imprisonment on grounds of inordinate delay. Rajoana, a former Punjab Police constable, has been in jail for over 29 years awaiting execution.
22-Apr-2026
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on April 22 filed a public interest petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking to restrain the release and online exhibition of the web series “Lawrence of Punjab,” reportedly based on gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, portrays his rise from a student leader to a criminal syndicate head. Calling himself a public-spirited citizen, Warring urged the court to direct the Union of India and other authorities to stop or ban the series.
22-Apr-2026
On April 22, the 92nd day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 541 raids, arrested 254 persons and recovered six weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 79 individuals, while 61 persons were verified and released after questioning. Three proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
22-Apr-2026
On April 22, Punjab Police, on day 417 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 98 drug smugglers, and seized 1.1 kg of heroin, 67 kg of poppy husk, 514 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 7430 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
22-Apr-2026
The Counter Intelligence (CI) wing in Amritsar on April 22 arrested an alleged illegal arms smuggler, Gurmukh Singh and recovered two .30 bore pistols and two 9mm Glock pistols, along with magazines, near Gurdwara Morcha Sahib on the Amritsar–Ajnala road in Amritsar district. Authorities said the accused was involved in arms and ammunition smuggling in collaboration with a Pakistan-based handler, identified as Faizal. Preliminary investigations suggest he had recently procured a consignment from unidentified individuals in Kalanaur, Gurdaspur, and was en route to deliver the weapons when he was apprehended.
22-Apr-2026
Police on April 22 arrested two individuals, Vicky Ram and Vishal Pandey and seized 59 kilograms of poppy husk from their vehicle, in Moga district.
21-Apr-2026
Police on April 21 arrested one person, identified as Deepak Singh alias Deepu, and seized 4.04 kg of heroin from his possession in Amritsar district.
21-Apr-2026
Police on April 21 arrested four persons, identified as Rajinder alias Ghuddu, Randeep alias Dil, Gurpreet alias Gopi, and Prince Singh alias Prince and seized 3.01 kg of heroin from their possession in Chheharta, Amritsar district. Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said preliminary investigations revealed that the accused were in contact with a Pakistan-based smuggler who was sending consignments via drones and coordinating drug distribution across the state through local handlers. He added that further investigations are underway to establish the forward and backward linkages of the smuggling network.
21-Apr-2026
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on April 21 stated that the state has witnessed a significant decline in gangster-related incidents following a statewide crackdown. He claimed a 100 per cent drop in gangster-linked murders, from four cases in January to none in March. He added that gangster-linked firing incidents declined by 69 per cent, from 29 in January to nine cases reported till April 20, while extortion cases fell by 10.9 per cent, from 110 in January to 98 in March. The DGP said that the police have not only reduced crime but also strengthened public trust through the “Gangsters Te Vaar” operation. “The records speak for themselves in terms of dismantling crime syndicates. This is just the beginning, as Punjab Police is closing in on these gangsters to ensure their complete elimination,” he stated. He added that the operation targets not only high-profile gangsters but also their wider networks across Punjab. “Individuals involved in petty crimes are often recruited by gangs. By cracking down on such elements, we have disrupted their operations and reinforced a zero-tolerance policy towards crime in the state,” he said.
21-Apr-2026
Balkaur Singh, father of slain Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, has called for a ban on the upcoming OTT series “Lawrence of Punjab,” alleging it glorifies crime and risks sending a harmful message to society. The show is reportedly based on gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, an accused in Moosewala’s murder case. He expressed concern that the teaser presents a troubling portrayal of a gangster’s life and also criticised successive governments, claiming politics has increasingly relied on criminal elements.
20-Apr-2026
The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) has ruled that Amritpal Singh, currently lodged in Dibrugarh Jail, will appear virtually before a trial court in Amritsar in connection with the 2023 Ajnala police station attack case. The interim order was issued by a Division Bench on a plea by the Punjab Government seeking directions to keep Amritpal in the Assam jail after his detention under the National Security Act (NSA) ends on April 22.
20-Apr-2026
Punjab Police on April 20 busted a narcotics and illegal arms smuggling module with the arrest of four individuals and recovery of 9.925 kg of heroin, two foreign-made pistols, eight magazines, and 40 live cartridges, in Hoshiarpur district. Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused were acting as local handlers for foreign-based gangsters involved in drug trafficking and the supply of illegal weapons.
20-Apr-2026
The Amritsar Police Commissionerate on April 20 busted a cross-border, Madhya Pradesh-based illegal arms supply module, arresting three accused and recovering six pistols—one PX5 .30 bore, three .32 bore, and two .30 bore—along with seven live cartridges, in Amritsar district. Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused were sourcing illegal weapons from Madhya Pradesh and were in contact with Pakistan-based smugglers through social media platforms. The network is suspected of facilitating cross-border arms smuggling and supplying weapons to criminal elements across Punjab.