KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
10-Feb-2025
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) executive committee on February 10 officially terminated the services of Giani Harpreet Singh as the Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib in Amritsar district. The decision, led by SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, followed an investigation into allegations against him. Giani Jagtar Singh was appointed as acting Jathedar. Giani Harpreet Singh claimed his removal was politically motivated and stated he would continue working for the Sikh community.
10-Feb-2025
The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Harmeet Singh Kalka on February 10 in Amritsar condemned the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) executive committee’s decision to remove Giani Harpreet Singh as the Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, calling it a "black day" in Sikh history. Various Sikh leaders, including Kiranjot Kaur and Jaswinder Singh, criticised the move as political vendetta. Socio-religious organisation Misl Satluj alleged it was a calculated attempt to suppress dissent within the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Former DSGMC president Paramjit Singh Sarna, however, defended the SGPC’s action, citing Sikh traditions.
10-Feb-2025
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Parliament (MP) Sandeep Pathak on February 10 gave a Zero Hour notice in Parliament to discuss the rising drone activities on the India-Pakistan border, highlighting the illegal supply of weapons and drugs into Punjab. He stated that security forces seized 107 drones in 2023 and nearly 200 by November 2024, urging the deployment of advanced counter-drone technologies. Pathak also called for exposing Pakistan's conspiracy to push Indian youth into drug addiction at the international level.
10-Feb-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on February 10 recovered 35 grams of heroin and a Glock pistol with two magazines from fields near Kamlewala village in Ferozepur district. The items were wrapped in yellow adhesive tape, with a steel ring attached to the pistol, suggesting they were likely dropped by a drone.
10-Feb-2025
According to sources, despite the deportation of a United States (US)-based resident from Tahli village in Hoshiarpur district, aspirations of migrating abroad remain strong. While the deportee returned in handcuffs, a neighbour simultaneously celebrated his son's Green Card approval. Tahli village, with a population of around 1,600, has 300 to 400 residents already settled abroad. Similarly, in Bhadas village in Kapurthala district, where over 800 people have migrated, deportations have raised concerns. Village representatives acknowledge the risks of illegal immigration, but the lure of foreign opportunities continues to drive migration.
09-Feb-2025
On February 9, in a stronger-than-expected performance, five out of 11 Sikh candidates contesting the Delhi Assembly elections emerged victorious. In 2020, only two Sikh candidates had won, both from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). This time, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fielded three Sikh candidates—Manjinder Singh Sirsa (Rajouri Garden), Arvinder Singh Lovely (Gandhi Nagar), and Tarvinder Singh Marwah (Jangpura)—all of whom secured victories. AAP fielded four Sikh candidates, with Jarnail Singh (Tilak Nagar) and Punardeep Singh Sawhney (Chandni Chowk) winning. Congress fielded four Sikh candidates, but none were successful. Despite comprising only 5% of Delhi’s population, Sikh voters hold significant political influence, particularly in constituencies like Rajouri Garden and Tilak Nagar.
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.