KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
03-Nov-2024
On November 3, a day after a petrol bomb was thrown at the residence of Harkirat Singh Khurana, president of the Shiv Sena Hind Sikh Sangat wing, the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack via email to several journalists. However, Ludhiana police expressed scepticism regarding the claim, stating that they would only take action once the authenticity of the email is verified.
03-Nov-2024
On November 4, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a petition filed by Balwant Singh Rajoana, a convict in the Beant Singh assassination case, seeking to commutate his death sentence to life imprisonment in New Delhi. Rajoana, a former Punjab Police constable, has been in jail for 28 years and argues that the "inordinate delay" of over 12 years in deciding his mercy petition constitutes sufficient grounds for relief. The Supreme Court previously refused to commute his sentence in May 2023 but agreed to re-examine the issue after Rajoana's fresh petition highlighted the ongoing uncertainty regarding his fate.
03-Nov-2024
The Ludhiana rural police on November 3 arrested a drug peddler, identified as Baljeet Singh alias Meeta, and seized 20 kg of poppy husk and INR 2.15 lakh drug money from his possession near Dakha village in Ludhiana district.
02-Nov-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on November 2 recovered a drone from fields near Kamirpura village in Amritsar district. The recovered drone was a China-made DJI MAVIC 3 Classic model.
02-Nov-2024
Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, on November 2 in New Delhi, denounced Canada’s inclusion of India in its list of "cyber threat adversaries" as baseless and part of an ongoing strategy to malign India. Jaiswal criticized the National Cyber Threat Assessment 2025-2026 report by Canada's Centre for Cyber Security (CCS), which accused Indian state-sponsored actors of espionage against Canada without evidence. Citing similar past allegations, Jaiswal emphasized India's rejection of such "absurd categorisations," noting that this comes amid escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
02-Nov-2024
On November 2, a Bhog of Akhand Path was held at Gurdwara Jhanda Bunga Sahib within the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, Punjab, to honour those killed in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Addressing the gathering, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami criticized the prolonged denial of justice to affected Sikh families, highlighting the lasting trauma caused by the Congress-led violence. Tributes were paid, with leaders calling for justice and acknowledging the deep hurt inflicted on the Sikh community.
02-Nov-2024
Dal Khalsa on November 2 announced a two-day event to mark 40 years since the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, featuring a seminar at Fatehgarh Sahib in Fatehgarh Sahib district and a Sikh congregation at Mullanpur Dhaka in Ludhiana district, Punjab. The group’s leaders expressed ongoing grievances over the lack of justice, alleging extrajudicial actions against Sikhs with backing from Indian leadership, and conveyed gratitude to Canada for acknowledging these claims. Dal Khalsa leaders criticized both India’s legal system and the United Nations (UN) for failing to hold those responsible accountable for crimes against humanity.
02-Nov-2024
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, on November 2 in New Delhi, criticized Congress for its “failure to apologise meaningfully” for the 1984 anti-Sikh violence, describing it as a “genocide” rather than mere “riots” and accusing the party of targeting Sikhs. Puri emphasized the lack of justice over the past 40 years, pointing out that individuals responsible, like Jagdish Tytler, remain in party leadership.
02-Nov-2024
Three unidentified individuals threw a petrol bomb at the residence of Harjot Singh Khurana, a leader of Shiv Sena (Hind)’s Sikh wing, in Model Town in Ludhiana district on November 2. CCTV footage showed the motorcycle-borne attackers throwing a bottle filled with an inflammable liquid, which initially sounded like a Diwali firecracker to Khurana, until he noticed damage to a neighbour’s car. Police found broken glass near Khurana's house and are working to identify the suspects.
02-Nov-2024
The Police on November 2 arrested one individual, identified as Gurdeep Singh and seized .32 bore country-made pistol from his possession, near Bughipura village in Moga district.
02-Nov-2024
The Police on November 2 arrested one individual, identified as Gursimran Singh and seized .32 bore pistol from his possession, near Bhinder Kalan village in Moga district.
02-Nov-2024
The Bihar Police on November 2 arrested an individual identified as Mahesh Pandey, who had made a threatening call to Independent Member of Parliament Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, impersonating an associate of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, from New Delhi. The police clarified that there were no established links between Pandey and the Bishnoi gang. Pandey confessed to contacting Yadav via WhatsApp using a borrowed SIM card from his wife’s sister in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after discovering Yadav's contact details online.
02-Nov-2024
According to sources, the Mumbai Police are seeking to extradite Anmol Bishnoi, the younger brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, from the United States (US) after receiving notifications from US authorities about his presence there. Anmol is implicated in several high-profile criminal cases, including the murder of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddique, and is accused of supplying weapons for the 2022 murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala.
01-Nov-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF), along with the Punjab Police in a joint operation on November 1 recovered a packet of heroin weighing 527 grams from fields near Narlie village in Tarn Taran district.
01-Nov-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF), along with the Punjab Police in a joint operation on November 1 recovered a drone from fields near Dal village in Tarn Taran district. The recovered drone was a China-made DJI Air 3S model.
01-Nov-2024
On November 1, the Golden Temple in Amritsar commemorated ‘Bandi Chhor Divas’ with a solemn observance, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. In line with Akal Takht’s directive, only select areas of the shrine were illuminated, and there was no fireworks display. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh urged unity among Sikh organizations, addressing issues such as youth migration, rising anti-Sikh sentiment, and government interference in Sikh institutions.
01-Nov-2024
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami, on November 1 in Amritsar, clarified that its 11-member advisory board of Sikh intellectuals will provide guidance strictly on Panthic issues referred by the Akal Takht, adhering to Sikh ‘rehat maryada’ principles. He emphasized that the board is purely advisory, with all final decisions resting with the Akal Takht's high priests. Established in 1990, the board's purpose is to support, not challenge, the Akal Takht’s authority, contrary to certain media interpretations.
01-Nov-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on November 1 recovered one packet of heroin weighing 570 grams, along with a drone from fields near Pulmoran village in Amritsar district. The recovered drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
01-Nov-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on November 1 recovered a drone from fields near Dhanoe Kalan village in Amritsar district. The recovered drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
01-Nov-2024
The Punjab Police on November 1 identified individuals arrested in connection with an inter-state illegal weapons smuggling module linked to US-based gangster Dilpreet Singh. Those arrested include Karanjeet Singh alias Dhanni, Jashandeep Singh alias Maya alias Chillar, Ishmeet Singh alias Rishu, Amritpal Singh alias Spura, Dilpreet Singh alias Dil, Varinder Singh alias Ravi, and Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi.
01-Nov-2024
Gangster Bikramjit Singh Vicky was injured in a police encounter on November 1 while being taken to recover the weapon used in the murder of Aam Aadmi Party worker Gurpreet Singh Gopi, near Goindwal Sahib in Tarn Taran district. Vicky, who was arrested in Lucknow earlier, allegedly opened fire on the police team during the recovery operation, prompting officers to return fire and injuring him in the leg.
31-Oct-2024
Amritsar Police Commissionerate on October 31 dismantled interstate illegal weapons smuggle module linked to United States (US) based Dilpreet Singh, and arrested seven unidentified operatives, and seized 12 pistols, 16 magazines, and 23 live cartridges from their possession, in Amritsar in Amritsar district. Preliminary investigations revealed that the module was providing logistical support to various gangs by procuring weapons from Madhya Pradesh (MP). Investigation is underway to identify others involved in the network.
31-Oct-2024
According to report, gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, implicated in 85 criminal cases across Punjab, Mumbai, and Canada, has been unanimously elected as the youth wing head of the All-India Jeev Raksha Bishnoi Sabha. The decision was made during a meeting held in Dutaranwali village in Abohar in Fazilka district.
31-Oct-2024
Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, issued a video message threatening Hindus celebrating Diwali with fireworks in Punjab. In the video, he instructed Sikh youth to prevent fireworks at Hindu temples and households, starting with polite requests but, if needed, through aggressive enforcement in what he termed the “traditional Khalsa way.”
31-Oct-2024
According to sources, India has requested assistance from the United States government and Interpol after more than 400 bomb hoax threats disrupted Indian air travel in recent weeks. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is already cooperating with Indian authorities, focusing on tracing the origins of these threats, many of which were routed through Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in Germany and the United Kingdom. The investigation seeks to identify any connections between these threats and Khalistani groups.