KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
02-Mar-2025
A special court in Ludhiana on March 2 sentenced Punjab Police head constable Gobind Singh and his associate Nasib Singh to three years in prison for attempting to smuggle opium to Canada by concealing it inside hockey sticks. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had intercepted a parcel containing 438 grams of opium at a courier office in Ludhiana in 2024, leading to their arrest. Investigations uncovered a broader smuggling network with links to Canada.
02-Mar-2025
The Jalandhar Commissionerate Police on March 2 arrested two gangsters linked to the US-based Sonu Khatri Gang following a chase and gunfight, identified as Sukhwinder Kumar alias Sukh and Harpreet Singh alias Mamu alias Preet and seized two sophisticated .32 bore pistols, seven live cartridges, and a motorcycle from their possession near the Suchi Pind area in Jalandhar district. The accused were wanted in multiple criminal cases, including the April 2024 murder of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Police Sub-Inspector Deepak Sharma.
02-Mar-2025
Kapurthala Police on March 2 launched a large-scale crackdown on drug-related activities under the Punjab government’s ‘Yudh Nashe Virodh’ campaign, conducting extensive raids in drug-affected areas of Kapurthala and Phagwara. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gaurav Toora stated that the police are implementing an "Enforcement, De-Addiction, and Prevention" (EDP) strategy, including surprise checks, criminal searches, and awareness campaigns.
02-Mar-2025
On March 2, members of various Sikh organizations, including Shiromani Akali Dal 1920, Alliance of Sikh Organizations, International Sikh Federation, Misal Sutlej, Darbar-e-Khalsa, and Giani Dit Singh Sahit Sabha, gathered at Akal Takht to perform ardas for the implementation of the December 2 hukamnama and demanded the excommunication of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders for defying a panel’s directive. Before the prayer, they held a demonstration outside the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar. A memorandum was submitted to Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, urging action against SAD leaders. The Sikh leaders emphasized that Akal Takht’s authority stands above the Sikh Gurdwara Act of 1925 and must be upheld.
02-Mar-2025
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on March 2 strongly condemned the attack on two Sikh businessmen and the vandalism of their showroom in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. SGPC chief secretary Kulwant Singh Mannan wrote to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, demanding swift action against the perpetrators. He emphasized that the attack included the forcible removal of a turban and urged authorities to add charges of hurting religious sentiments.
02-Mar-2025
Jalandhar Rural Police on March 2 demolished illegal structures belonging to two drug smugglers, Jasvir Singh alias Sheera and Bholi, in Khanpur and Mandi villages of Phillaur, Jalandhar district. Police stated that Bholi had been arrested in cases involving smack, poppy husk, and other narcotics, while Sheera was booked for smuggling charas and intoxicant injections. The demolition was carried out following a request from the block development and panchayat officer (BDPO), ensuring legal procedures were followed. This marks the seventh such demolition in Punjab since February 25.
01-Mar-2025
Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Raghbir Singh on March 1 rejected the membership drive conducted by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and directed the remaining five members of the seven-member committee to initiate a fresh enrolment process, in Amritsar, Punjab. The committee, formed on December 2, 2024, was chaired by SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, who has now resigned. Other members included Kirpal Singh Badungar, Iqbal Singh Jhunda, Gurpartap Singh Wadala, Manpreet Singh Ayali, Santa Singh Umaidpuri, and Bibi Satwant Kaur. Singh stated that only Dhami's resignation had been received and that a coordinator would soon be appointed to oversee the process.
01-Mar-2025
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Spokesperson RP Singh on March 1 in Chandigarh reaffirmed the party’s commitment to securing justice for the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh violence, stating that the BJP would push for a death sentence for former Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Sajjan Kumar. He credited the verdict to the efforts of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah. Singh urged the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to appeal to a higher court and demanded action against Jagdish Tytler and Kamal Nath. He further alleged that Sikh riot victims were deliberately pushed into drug addiction to weaken their pursuit of justice.
01-Mar-2025
Punjab Police on March 1 conducted a large-scale Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) at identified drug hotspots, resulting in the arrest of 290 drug smugglers and the registration of 232 First Information Reports (FIRs). The operation led to the seizure of 8.14 kg of heroin, 1.21 kg of opium, 3.5 kg of cannabis, 19 kg of poppy husk, 700 gm of charas, 16,238 intoxicant tablets/pills/injections, and INR 8.02 lakh in drug money. Over 900 police teams, comprising 8,368 personnel, carried out 798 raids across Punjab.
01-Mar-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) Inspector General (Punjab Frontier) Atul Fulzele on March 1 in Chandigarh criticized the Punjab government for excluding BSF from recent discussions on drug eradication. He stated that since October 2023, BSF had submitted a list of 136 notorious drug smugglers for action under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, but no action had been taken. Fulzele also highlighted delays in installing Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras near the international border, affecting surveillance. He emphasized that while BSF’s jurisdiction was extended up to 50 km, it did not come with expanded legal powers, necessitating better coordination with state police.
01-Mar-2025
Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh on March 1 stressed the importance of public cooperation in Punjab’s anti-drug campaign, ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ (War Against Drugs), led by Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Singh Mann. During his visit to the Model De-Addiction Centre at Government Rajindra Hospital and Saket Hospital in Patiala district, he reiterated that drug smugglers must either leave the state or abandon their trade, as the government was committed to imprisoning them. He assured that drug addicts would be rehabilitated and provided job opportunities to reintegrate into society.
01-Mar-2025
The Amritsar Police on March 1 arrested two drug smugglers, identified as Karanpal Singh and Ranjit Singh, who were part of a trans-border smuggling racket, and seized 4 kg of heroin and a motorcycle from their possession near Jhabal Road in Amritsar district.
01-Mar-2025
The Ferozepur Police on March 1 arrested three drug smugglers, identified as Balkar Singh, Gurmeet Singh, and Lakhwinder Singh, and seized 2 kg of heroin and a motorcycle from their possession in Nehar Guddar Dhundi village in Ferozepur district.
01-Mar-2025
The Counter-Intelligence (CI) wing of Amritsar Police on March 1 busted an illegal weapons smuggling module with the arrest of Gurbaaz Singh, an associate of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang, and seized six pistols smuggled from Madhya Pradesh (MP), in Amritsar district. Police stated that Gurbaaz is already facing eight cases related to attempted murder, snatching, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and violations of the Arms Act. The preliminary probe revealed that the firearms were smuggled from MP for criminal activities in Punjab.
01-Mar-2025
On March 1, a member of the Goldy Brar gang, identified as Malkiat Singh alias Maxi, was injured in an encounter while attempting to escape police custody at Bhankharpur in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. Police stated that Malkiat opened fire, hitting a police vehicle, prompting retaliation, during which he sustained a gunshot wound to his left leg. He was taken to Dera Bassi Civil Hospital for treatment.
01-Mar-2025
The Mumbai Police Crime Branch on March 1 arrested Roshan Bhaskar Dudhwadkar, a member of a gang involved in illegally sending around 80 individuals to Canada, Turkey, the Netherlands, and Poland using fabricated passports and visas, in Mumbai in Maharashtra. Dudhwadkar was apprehended at the airport upon arrival from Bangkok and detained at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). During interrogation, he revealed that he worked for Rajubhai alias Rajesh Panchal, a Gujarat resident, who charged INR 30-50 lakh per person for illegal immigration. Police are searching for Panchal and other associates, suspecting airport staff involvement in the racket.
01-Mar-2025
According to sources, police are investigating whether jailed Khalistani radical preacher and Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh had access to gangster Jaipal Bhullar’s hidden funds, allegedly stashed in a foreign country and Punjab. Amritpal, detained under the National Security Act (NSA) in Dibrugarh Jail, Assam, was booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on January 9 in connection with the murder of Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau. Gurpreet, former treasurer of Amritpal-led Waris Punjab De (WPD), was shot dead in Faridkot on October 9, 2024, after turning against him. Police suspect Jaipal’s money may have funded the murder, but officials remain tight-lipped about the probe.
01-Mar-2025
The counter-intelligence wing of Ferozepur Police on March 1 arrested a gangster, identified as Hardeep Singh alias Deepa and seized sophisticated weapons, including a Glock pistol, a Beretta .30mm pistol, a pump-action gun, 141 assorted cartridges of 9mm and .30 calibre, along with 45 grams of heroin and a Swift car, in Faridkot, Faridkot district. Preliminary investigations revealed that the weapons were sourced from Pakistan for use in terror and criminal activities.
01-Mar-2025
Amritsar Rural police on March 1 arrested two smugglers, identified as Jagtar Singh and Angrez Singh and seized 1 kg of ICE (methamphetamine) and INR 1.4 lakh drug money from their possession, near Attari village in Amritsar district.
01-Mar-2025
Frustrated by the delay in implementing Akal Takht's December 2, 2024, directives, a coalition of panthic (Sikh) groups, the Alliance of Sikh Organisations, urged Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh on March 1 to summon former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal and other leaders. They also demanded a meeting of panthic representatives rather than just the five Sikh high priests. The groups submitted a memorandum calling for action against those allegedly violating the directives and raised concerns over the integrity of the committee overseeing SAD’s enrolment process.
28-Feb-2025
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh on February 28 met Harjinder Singh Dhami at his residence in Hoshiarpur and urged him to withdraw his resignation as president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). Dhami had resigned on February 17 on ‘moral grounds’ following controversy over the dismissal of Giani Harpreet Singh as Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib. The Jathedar praised Dhami’s leadership and reiterated that the SGPC needed an esteemed figure like him.
28-Feb-2025
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on February 28 launched the “War on Drugs” campaign, aiming to eliminate the drug menace in Punjab within three months. Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann and a five-member Cabinet subcommittee, led by Finance Minister Harpal Cheema, unveiled the policy in Chandigarh, focusing on prevention, enforcement, de-addiction, and rehabilitation. Officials were directed to target major drug traffickers, seize and demolish smugglers’ properties, and regulate private de-addiction centres. The government also plans to introduce special courts for speedy trials in drug cases and restrict government benefits for convicted drug peddlers.
28-Feb-2025
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora on February 28 dismissed allegations blaming the Punjab government for drug smuggling from Pakistan, stating that the Border Security Force (BSF) bears greater responsibility for preventing narcotics trafficking across the international border. Speaking at a press conference in Chandigarh, he highlighted a 600% increase in heroin seizures under the current administration. Arora warned drug smugglers to either cease operations or leave Punjab, asserting that the newly formed Cabinet subcommittee would strictly enforce anti-drug measures.
28-Feb-2025
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on February 28 issued a final warning to drug traffickers in Punjab, urging them to either abandon smuggling or leave the state, during a press conference in Chandigarh. He stated that the Aam Aadmi Party government had intensified its crackdown on drug networks, seizing INR 612 crore worth of smugglers' assets over the past three years. Cheema reaffirmed that no individual involved in the drug trade, regardless of their influence, would be spared.
28-Feb-2025
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) recently dismantled a narco-terror module linked to Canada-based Khalistani elements and arrested three individuals—Jashandeep Singh, Gurpreet Singh alias Malla, and Vishal Lala. Jashandeep, a Non-Resident Indian (NRI), was apprehended at Delhi airport while attempting to flee to Thailand. The operation, which began in late January 2025 with Gurpreet’s arrest, led to the seizure of 1.386 kg of heroin. The module, active in the Ferozepur belt, was involved in drug peddling, arms smuggling, and targeted killings, with narcotics and weapons smuggled via drones by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-backed operatives.