KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
09-Feb-2025
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Harmeet Singh Kalka and his faction played a crucial role in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) success in the Delhi Assembly elections by mobilizing Sikh support. Manjinder Singh Sirsa secured victory in Rajouri Garden by 18,190 votes, while Tarwinder Singh Marwah (Jangpura) and Arvinder Singh Lovely (Gandhi Nagar) also won. Meanwhile, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), despite celebrating the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) defeat, continued to lose political ground. SAD’s Delhi unit had actively campaigned against Sirsa, but a significant section of Sikh voters backed him. The party’s decline, evident since its split from the BJP in 2020 and its poor performance in the 2022 Punjab elections, persisted despite efforts to regain influence through alliances with former rivals.
09-Feb-2025
Delhi Police on February 9 arrested a sharpshooter associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, identified as Harish and seized a semi-automatic pistol and five live cartridges from his possession, from Rohini in North West Delhi district in Delhi. The Police revealed that Harish, a close associate of gangster Ankit Shehrsha, was arrested following a tip-off, thwarting his attempt to execute another firing incident on Shehrsha’s orders.
09-Feb-2025
Amritsar Rural Police on February 9 arrested an Army jawan, identified as Sandeep Singh, for allegedly leaking confidential information to Pakistan-based intelligence agencies and seized three mobile phones from his possession in Patiala district. Currently posted at the Nasik Army camp, he was on leave at the time of his arrest. His apprehension followed the interrogation of Amritpal Singh, who was earlier arrested for involvement in spying and cross-border drug peddling. Further investigations are underway.
09-Feb-2025
The Punjab Police on February 9 busted a terror module after an encounter and arrested three terrorists, identified as Lovepreet, Karandeep, and Buta Singh, and seized an AK-47 rifle, a .30-bore Glock pistol, and a .32-bore pistol from their possession near Amritsar airport in Amritsar district. The Police confirmed their links to gangster-turned-terrorist Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia.
09-Feb-2025
Amritsar Central Jail Superintendent Hemant Sharma revealed that 960 mobile phones were confiscated from inmates last year, more than double the 450 seizures recorded in 2023. To counter security threats, including contraband smuggling through "fenka" (throwing from outside), the jail will install “V-Kavach” jammers with approval from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA). These jammers will block mobile signals and counter drones and IED threats, particularly around high-risk prisoners' barracks. Authorities have also strengthened security with quick response teams and prisoner informants to monitor suspicious activities.
08-Feb-2025
Jalandhar Rural Police on February 8 arrested a drug peddler, identified as Baldev Singh alias Ballo and seized 50 grams of heroin along with a TVS Apache motorcyclep from his possession, near Kartarpur in Jalandhar district.
07-Feb-2025
An affidavit submitted by the anti-Sikh riots cell in the Supreme Court on February 7 revealed that out of 650 cases registered by Delhi Police, charge sheets were filed in 362 cases, but only 39 cases resulted in the conviction of 442 individuals. The affidavit highlighted lapses in the investigation, including untraced cases, unfiled murder charges, and perfunctory appeals dismissed due to delays. It also noted that serious crimes, such as murder and gang rape, were never properly investigated.
07-Feb-2025
Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of Amritsar, arrested three unidentified individuals and seized two packets of heroin weighing 1.069 kg near Barwan village in Pathankot in Gurdaspur district on February 7. The heroin, wrapped in yellow adhesive tape and attached to a nylon string, is suspected to have been dropped by a drone. Investigations are underway to identify the source and intended recipients of the contraband.
07-Feb-2025
A Delhi court on February 7 deferred its verdict to February 12 in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots murder case against former Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Sajjan Kumar. The case pertains to the killings of Jaswant Singh and his son in Saraswati Vihar. Kumar, already serving a life sentence in another riots case, was accused by the prosecution of leading the mob.
07-Feb-2025
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab chief Aman Arora on February 7 asserted that AAP will win the Delhi elections. He questioned why Punjab should consider only a Jat Sikh as Chief Minister (CM), emphasizing the need for inclusive leadership. With two years left for the Punjab Assembly polls, he highlighted the party’s focus on industrial investment and improving law and order.
07-Feb-2025
The Police on February 7 busted an inter-state drug cartel operating in Punjab from Uttar Pradesh (UP) via Haryana with the arrest of six persons, identified as Parvinder Singh, Sahil, Pankaj Chaudhary alias Virat, Shubham, Shahid and Wasim, and seized 2.57 lakh tablets, capsules, 21,364 injections and 738 vials containing banned medicines, along with three cars, motorcycle and scooters from their possession in Fatehgarh Sahib in Fatehgarh Sahib district in Punjab.
07-Feb-2025
Punjab Minister for Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Affairs Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on February 7 reaffirmed the state government’s zero-tolerance policy towards travel agents involved in human trafficking and vowed strict action against them. He condemned the handcuffing and shackling of 104 Indian nationals deported from the United States (US), calling it a human rights violation. Following a complaint by a deportee, an Amritsar-based travel agent, Satnam Singh, has been booked, and his office sealed. Dhaliwal urged more victims to come forward and sought intervention from Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar for better treatment of deportees.
07-Feb-2025
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff of Punjab Police on February 7 arrested an individual, identified as Happy Singh, and seized two unlicensed .32 calibre pistols, four live cartridges, and a bike from his possession at a naka (checkpoint) near the Abohar-Killianwali bypass in Fazilka district. Police intercepted Singh while he was en route to Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan and suspect him of smuggling illegal weapons. A case has been registered under the Arms Act, and further investigation is underway.
06-Feb-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on February 6 recovered a Pakistani drone from the outskirts of Mahawa village in Amritsar district. The recovered drone was identified as a DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
06-Feb-2025
Langroya village, once a major drug hotspot in Nawanshahr, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district, has shown signs of improvement due to police crackdowns and rehabilitation efforts. Since January 1 last year, 33 First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered, leading to key arrests and community outreach programs. Former peddlers have been rehabilitated with jobs, while women previously involved in the trade have taken up goat rearing. Police have also introduced sports activities to keep youth engaged. Encouraged by Langroya’s progress, authorities plan to extend similar strategies to other drug-affected villages in the district.
06-Feb-2025
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Jalandhar Range on February 6 arrested an unidentified smuggler and seized 10.163 kg of heroin from his possession in Mohali, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district, Punjab. Further investigations are underway to uncover the entire network.
06-Feb-2025
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Chief Secretary Kulwant Singh Manan on February 6 confirmed that the executive body meeting will be held on February 10 at its headquarters in Amritsar, Punjab. The agenda includes discussions on the inquiry against suspended Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, along with other Panthic and administrative matters.
05-Feb-2025
On February 5, family members and supporters of gangster Sagar Newton blocked the Ferozepur Road highway in Ludhiana, alleging he died under mysterious circumstances while in judicial custody. They placed his body on the road, demanding action against jail officials before cremation. His family rejected claims that he died of a diabetes attack and kidney failure, insisting he was fit during his last court appearance in January. The protest caused heavy traffic congestion in the area.
05-Feb-2025
According to reports, despite harsh conditions abroad, Punjabi youth remain eager to migrate, often risking their lives for the promise of better opportunities in Western countries. The recent deportation of illegal immigrants from the United States (US), including 30 from Punjab, and the return of Indians who served as helpers in the Russian Army underscore this desperation. Experts attribute the large-scale migration to limited job opportunities and security concerns in Punjab, emphasizing that migration should be a last resort. They advocate for skills development and local employment initiatives to address the root causes of this trend.
05-Feb-2025
Amritsar Rural Police on February 5 arrested a serving Army constable and two others on charges of spying and cross-border drug peddling, identified as Amritpal Singh, Mandeep Singh alias Maddy, and Madhav Sharma, along with 500 grams of heroin, a .30 bore pistol, INR 10 lakh in drug money, and a cash counting machine in Amritsar in Amritsar district. They allegedly shared sensitive Army information with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Another Army constable, Rajbir Singh, has been nominated in the case.
05-Feb-2025
On February 5, 2025, a United States (US) military aircraft carrying 104 illegal Indian immigrants landed at Shri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport in Amritsar, Punjab. This marks the first batch of deportations under the US crackdown on illegal immigration. Among the deportees, 30 are from Punjab, while others are from Haryana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh (UP), and Chandigarh. Punjab authorities are verifying their backgrounds before release.
04-Feb-2025
Gangster Sagar Neutron alias Newton died while undergoing treatment at PGIMER, Chandigarh, on February 4. He was lodged in Sangrur jail and was accused in at least 18 cases, including murder. Neutron was arrested in August 2024 for gang violence, weapons smuggling, and links to jailed gangster Boota Khan. His counsel alleged custodial torture and demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe.
04-Feb-2025
The Punjab Government on February 4 opposed former Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Beant Singh’s assassination case convict Jagtar Singh Hawara's petition seeking transfer from Tihar Jail in Delhi to a prison in Punjab. Arguing before a court in New Delhi, the government stated that since he was tried in Chandigarh, he cannot be shifted to Punjab. The Punjab Advocate General asserted that any transfer should be to Chandigarh, not Punjab, citing a similar petition dismissed by the Delhi High Court in 2018.
04-Feb-2025
On February 4, the 39th anniversary of the Nakodar police firing, Baldev Singh and Baldip Kaur, parents of victim Ravinder Singh, stated that justice remained elusive, in Nakodar, Jalandhar district. They criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for inaction despite promises made before coming to power, stating that eight letters had been sent to Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann, the latest on January 8, 2025. The Justice Gurnam Singh Commission report, formed in 1986, was never fully disclosed, with Part II still withheld.
04-Feb-2025
In an interview with The Economic Times, Congress leader Ajay Maken criticized former Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that he is promoting pro-Khalistan forces in Punjab and engaging in anti-national activities. He cited former Punjab Police chief KPS Gill’s 2017 warning about Kejriwal providing space for radical elements, calling it prophetic.