KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
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.
04-Feb-2025
National Commission for Minorities (NCM) chairperson Iqbal Singh Lalpura, in an interview to PTI on February 4, described India as a "heaven" for minorities and said Sikhs regard Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "messiah" for his contributions to the community over the past decade. He criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi for allegedly exploiting Sikhs for votes while doing little for them. Lalpura highlighted Modi’s role in facilitating the Kartarpur Corridor and commemorating Sikh history, asserting that minorities in India have ample opportunities. He also defended India’s record on communal harmony, contrasting it with the declining minority populations in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
04-Feb-2025
According to senior police officials, Punjab Police have compiled the criminal history of nearly 100 wanted criminals, with 20 suspected to be hiding in the United States (US). Officials are hopeful that the US crackdown on illegal immigrants may expedite the deportation or extradition of Punjab-based gangsters, including Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Notable criminals believed to be in the US include Anmol Bishnoi, Happy Passia, and Sarwan Bhola. Punjab Police are coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA), and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on the deportation process.
04-Feb-2025
The Amritsar Police Commissionerate on February 4 arrested three operatives of gangster-turned-terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa, identified as Jagroop Singh Charna, Jugraj Singh alias Gazi, and Shamsher Singh alias Shera, and seized a .32 bore pistol and two live cartridges from their possession in Amritsar in Amritsar district. Jagroop was injured in an encounter while attempting to escape police custody. The police stated that the accused were involved in extortion activities on Landa’s behalf, targeting prominent businessmen in Punjab.
03-Feb-2025
Tarsem Singh, father of jailed radical Khalistani preacher and Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, announced on February 3 that the Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) had formed 10-member district-level panels in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Sangrur districts of Punjab. The party, launched on January 14 while Amritpal remains jailed under the National Security Act (NSA), aims to expand into Gurdaspur and Ferozepur districts.
03-Feb-2025
Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, Gaurav Yadav on February 3 announced the installation of 2,300 CCTV cameras at 703 strategic locations from Pathankot to Fazilka, aimed at strengthening the second line of defence, during the inauguration of a new Cyber Crime Police Station and an upgraded Command and Control Centre in Pathankot, Pathankot district, Punjab. Additionally, Yadav chaired a joint meeting with the Army and Border Security Force (BSF), emphasizing coordination to combat terror and smuggling networks. He also visited the BSF's Shaheed Kamaljeet Singh Border Outpost to assess security arrangements.
03-Feb-2025
Jalandhar Rural Police on February 3 dismantled an interstate drug trafficking network operating between Bihar and Punjab, arresting four individuals identified as Pooja Kumari, Babita Devi, Arnav Kumar Jaiswal, and Mohit Dhanda and seizing 20.2 kg of ganja and 50 grams of heroin from their possession near Bidhipur railway gate in Jalandhar, Jalandhar district. The authorities uncovered the network's strategy of using railway routes and women carriers to evade detection. Further investigations are underway to trace the network’s linkages.
03-Feb-2025
The Police on February 3 arrested three roadways employees, identified as Ajit Singh alias Raju, Deepak Sharma, and Keerat Singh and seized 55 grams of heroin, 20 small empty plastic packets, and a digital weighing scale from their possession in Jalandhar, Jalandhar district. Further investigations are underway to identify any larger network involved in drug trafficking.
03-Feb-2025
On the evening of February 3, a suspected blast was reported near the non-functional Fatehgarh Churian police post on the Amritsar-Attari bypass road in Amritsar district, Punjab. This incident marks the sixth such occurrence in the past two months. Police officials stated that although a noise was heard, no evidence of an explosion was found. A police team stationed nearby also reported hearing the sound. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause and identify those responsible.
03-Feb-2025
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on February 3 affirmed that retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Prabodh Kumar would continue to lead the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the in-custody interview of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, which allegedly glorified crime. The court upheld its constitutional authority to appoint a retired officer for investigations, emphasizing Kumar’s familiarity with the case since January 2023.
03-Feb-2025
According to senior police officers, Punjab Police has identified 46 gangsters wanted for violent crimes and extortion, who are currently incarcerated in jails located in other states and are now working to bring them back to Punjab for investigation and to dismantle their criminal networks. Under the guidance of Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, district police chiefs have been tasked with creating dossiers to request their custody from courts in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Delhi. The goal is to investigate their involvement in Punjab-based cases and dismantle their networks.
03-Feb-2025
A Delhi court on February 3 exempted former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officer Vikash Yadav, accused by the United States (US) Department of Justice (DoJ) of "murder-for-hire" and money laundering in a plot to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, from personal appearance, citing a threat to his life. Yadav had previously sought a similar exemption in November 2024. Arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell in December 2023 for alleged extortion and kidnapping, Yadav was granted regular bail in April 2024. The court will next hear the case on March 24, with the presence of the investigating officer requested.
02-Feb-2025
On February 2, two accomplices of gangster Jeevan Fauji, identified as Sarbjeet Singh and Sunil Masih, were injured in a police encounter during a weapons recovery operation, when the two suspects opened fire on the police after being led to a location near Shahpur Jajjan village in Gurdaspur district, where weapons were hidden. They were later referred to an Amritsar hospital, and their condition is reported to be stable.
02-Feb-2025
The Delhi Police Special Cell and Haryana Police, in a joint operation on February 2, arrested wanted gangster Joginder Geong at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport after his deportation from the Philippines. Geong had been residing in the Philippines while engaging in criminal activities and was detained in Bacolod City by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) in July 2024. Philippine authorities described him as a key figure in an organised crime syndicate with suspected links to Khalistani separatists.
01-Feb-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on February 1 arrested two unidentified drug smugglers and seized a packet of heroin weighing 550 grams, which had been dropped by a Pakistani drone, near Chanduwadala village in Gurdaspur district.
31-Jan-2025
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on January 31 in New Delhi stated that the separatist and extremist threat from the United Kingdom (UK) is well known and should not be condoned or falsely equated. His remarks followed a leaked UK Home Office report, which listed "pro-Khalistan extremism" and "Hindu nationalist extremism" as threats to "understand." The report, authored by Andrew Gilligan and Dr. Paul Scott for Policy Exchange, marked the first mention of Hindu nationalist extremism in such a review. UK Security Minister Dan Jarvis clarified that the leaked document does not represent government policy.
31-Jan-2025
The banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), led by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, was upheld as an “unlawful association” by a Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) tribunal in its January 2024 verdict. The Indian government’s submission detailed SFJ’s threats to top leaders, incitement of violence, attempts to radicalize Indian Army soldiers, and efforts to provoke separatism among Christians in Manipur, Muslims, and Tamils. SFJ has also endangered diplomats and politicians by issuing threats and promoting anti-India activities globally. With 104 cases registered against it, SFJ recently threatened Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta for upholding the ban, calling his ruling “judicial tyranny.”
31-Jan-2025
According to a report, a Delhi court is set to deliver its verdict on February 7 in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots murder case against former Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Sajjan Kumar. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja reserved the judgment after the prosecution concluded its arguments regarding the killings of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh in Saraswati Vihar on November 1, 1984. The case, initially registered at Punjabi Bagh police station, was later taken over by a special investigation team (SIT). The prosecution alleged that Kumar led a mob that looted, burned properties, and killed Sikhs in retaliation for Indira Gandhi’s assassination.
31-Jan-2025
The Police on January 31 arrested a policeman, identified as senior constable Tasbir Singh, for allegedly supplying heroin inside Bathinda jail and seized 15 grams of heroin from his possession in Bathinda district. The investigation is ongoing to identify his sources and the recipients of the drugs.
31-Jan-2025
The Police on January 31 arrested three individuals, identified as Viren Rai, Pankaj Puri, and Gurpreet Singh alias Raju, and seized 21 grams of heroin and a car from their possession in Chabbewal, Hoshiarpur district, Punjab.