KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
27-Oct-2024
Sriganganagar Police, acting on a tip-off from Delhi Police's Special Cell about potential threats linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, on October 27 conducted raids on several paying guest accommodations, detaining 20 individuals, including some from Jammu and Kashmir, for questioning in Sriganganagar district, Rajasthan. Authorities disclosed that five criminals associated with the Bishnoi gang had conducted reconnaissance to target Sunil Pehalwan, the nephew of former Member of Legislative Assembly Raj Kumar Gaur, and the Special Cell also recovered a GPS tracking device from a suspect linked to Arzoo Bishnoi, a former gang member now operating independently.
26-Oct-2024
The Counter Intelligence (CI) wing of the Punjab Police during an operation on October 26 arrested two associates of Turkey-based drug smuggler Navpreet Singh alias Nav Bhullar, identified as Navjot Singh and Lovepreet Kumar, and seized 105 kg of heroin, 31.93 kg of Caffeine Anhydrous, 17 kg of dextromethorphan (DMR), and six firearms, including five foreign-made pistols and one country-made pistol (desi katta) in Baba Bakala, Amritsar district. The operation was prompted by intelligence regarding Bhullar's Pakistan-backed smuggling racket, with drugs reportedly smuggled through the riverine belt along the Indo-Pak border. Further investigations are ongoing to trace the broader network involved in the cartel.
26-Oct-2024
On October 26, the Bambiha gang demonstrated a significant show of force as two assailants fired multiple rounds outside a businessman's residence in the Rani Bagh area of North West Delhi. A threat note referencing Kaushal Chaudhary and the Bambiha gang was found at the scene. While no extortion demands have been reported, police have launched an investigation to track down the perpetrators.
26-Oct-2024
Police on October 26 arrested four individuals, identified as Gurbhej Singh, Lakhwinder Singh, Satinder Singh alias Kala, and Bharat alias Bhau, and seized 100 grams of heroin, 10 cartridges of 12 bore, and eight cartridges of 315 bore from their possession in Jalandhar district. The arrests are linked to cases of illegal arms possession, drug trafficking, and extortion, with authorities noting the group’s involvement in an active racket aimed at destabilizing law and order in the state. Gurbhej Singh is reportedly the chief of the Khalistani outfit Waris Punjab De (WPD) and serves as a personal gunman for jailed Khalistani preacher and MP Amritpal Singh.
26-Oct-2024
According to sources, Canada has yet to provide the death certificate of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, despite India’s request under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) reportedly requires the document to update court records in multiple cases against Nijjar, but Canada has instead asked for an explanation for the request.
26-Oct-2024
According to sources, investigation agencies remain puzzled a week after a blast struck a CRPF school in Rohini, North West Delhi. Despite questioning around 50 individuals and examining CCTV footage, no suspects have been identified, and no evidence suggests a Khalistan link. Technical assistance has yet to yield leads, and a senior official noted that the lack of clues is stalling progress in the case.
26-Oct-2024
Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, speaking at an event in Pune on October 26, criticized Canada for fostering a "permissive atmosphere" that overlooks organized crime, asserting that India's repeated concerns over criminal activities linked to pro-Khalistan elements were ignored. Jaishankar condemned the Canadian government’s actions against Indian diplomats, calling them unjustified, and emphasized that India would resolutely defend its national interests and sovereignty.
26-Oct-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on October 26 recovered a packet of heroin weighing approximately 550 grams, along with a broken China-made DJI Mavic 3 Classic drone, near Dhanoe Kalan village in Amritsar district.
26-Oct-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on October 26 recovered a broken drone near Uttar Dhariwal village in Amritsar district.
26-Oct-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on October 26 recovered a packet of heroin weighing around 510 grams and a drone, near Roranwala Khurd village in Amritsar district. The recovered drone was a China-made DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
26-Oct-2024
Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police on October 26 recovered a drone from fields near Wan village in Patti in Tarn Taran district. The recovered drone was a China-made DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
25-Oct-2024
Fazilka police, In the past week, arrested five individuals allegedly involved in supplying arms to Lawrence Bishnoi gang members, identified as Manpreet Singh, Sandeep Singh, Akash, Jaspreet, and Avinash (alias Gagan), and seized four .32 bore pistols, 13 cartridges, and three magazines from their possession in Fazilka district. The arrests took place sequentially, with Manpreet Singh apprehended on October 15, followed by Sandeep Singh on October 18, Akash and Jaspreet on October 19, and Avinash on October 25.
25-Oct-2024
The Punjab state Home Department on October 25 suspended seven Punjab Police personnel—Deputy Superintendents (DSPs) Gursher Singh Sandhu and Sammer Vaneet, Sub-Inspectors Reena, Jagatpal Jangu, Shaganjit Singh, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Mukhtiar Singh, and Head Constable Om Parkash—for allegedly facilitating a televised interview with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi while in custody.
25-Oct-2024
The Punjab state Home Department on October 25 suspended seven Punjab Police personnel—Deputy Superintendents (DSPs) Gursher Singh Sandhu and Sammer Vaneet, Sub-Inspectors Reena, Jagatpal Jangu, Shaganjit Singh, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Mukhtiar Singh, and Head Constable Om Parkash—for allegedly facilitating a televised interview with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi while in custody.
25-Oct-2024
Kapurthala police on October 25 arrested two members of the Kaushal Chaudhary gang, identified as Munish alias Mani, and Lalit Kumar, in connection with a firing incident at a mobile phone store in Kapurthala on October 7, seizing two country-made pistols and seven live rounds from them in Dudholo village, Palwal district, Haryana.
25-Oct-2024
India’s recalled High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, recently asserted in an interview with ANI that only a small fraction of Canadian Sikhs support Khalistani separatism. He urged that if Canada sympathizes with such individuals, it should allocate land within Canada for a “Khalistan.” Verma emphasized that while these extremists represent a Canadian domestic issue, any attempts to threaten India’s territorial integrity would prompt intervention from Indian authorities. He also clarified that the broader Sikh diaspora in Canada largely seeks a peaceful, family-oriented life and contributes positively to society.
25-Oct-2024
Former Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Amarinder Singh, while addressing reporters in Ludhiana on October 25, criticized Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau for “ruining” India-Canada relations, alleging that Trudeau’s focus is solely on securing Sikh votes by aligning with Khalistani supporters. Singh recounted Trudeau’s 2018 India visit, during which he reluctantly met Singh, highlighting Trudeau’s support for figures linked to Khalistani sympathies.
25-Oct-2024
India’s recalled High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Verma, recently recounted an alarming incident in Alberta during an interview with ANI, where Khalistani assailants came within inches of harming him with a sword, rather than a kirpan, while he attended a business event with his wife. Verma condemned the Khalistani agitators for threatening peace-loving Indo-Canadians, noting the intervention of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Despite the strained India-Canada relations, Verma emphasized his hope for restoring ties between the two countries.
25-Oct-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has announced a reward of INR 10 lakh for information leading to the arrest of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's brother, Anmol Bishnoi, who has been named in two chargesheets under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Anmol is wanted for his involvement in criminal networks, including incidents linked to a political party and a shooting outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s residence. The NIA believes his arrest could expose broader “Gangster-Terror” connections and has appealed to the public for assistance in its crackdown on organized crime and terror activities across India.
25-Oct-2024
The Delhi Police's Special Cell on October 25 arrested seven shooters associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, identified as Ritesh Kumar, Sukhram Singh, Sahil Bishnoi, Amar Singh, Badal, Parmod, and Sandeep, and seized six firearms and 24 cartridges from their possession across four states: Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana. The arrests follow the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) recent announcement of an INR 10 lakh reward for information leading to the capture of Bishnoi’s brother, Anmol, implicated in a shooting outside actor Salman Khan’s Mumbai residence. Lawrence Bishnoi, currently imprisoned in Sabarmati Jail, Gujarat, is also a prime suspect in the high-profile Sidhu Moose Wala murder case.
25-Oct-2024
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami on October 25 in Amritsar expressed gratitude upon being announced as a candidate for the position of president in the annual election of office-bearers. Dhami also strongly condemned what he described as "mischievous conspiracies" by anti-Panth forces attempting to take control of the Sikh body under government influence
25-Oct-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is currently investigating six cases involving designated Khalistani terrorist and Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. As part of its crackdown, the NIA has attached three of Pannun's properties in Chandigarh and seized multiple land parcels in Amritsar linked to him. This investigation underscores the agency's focus on dismantling terror networks, with the NIA maintaining a conviction rate of 95.13 percent. Recently, searches at four locations in Punjab resulted in the seizure of various incriminating materials, including digital devices. Pannun, designated a terrorist in India, holds both United States (US) and Canadian citizenship.
25-Oct-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on October 25 arrested three unidentified persons and recovered 3.16 kg of heroin along with two pistols and an empty magazine from his possession near Naushera Dhalla village in Tarn Taran district.
25-Oct-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police on October 25 recovered a packet of heroin weighing 279.8 grams from near Wan village in Tarn Taran district.
25-Oct-2024
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) and the Gurdaspur police in a joint operation on October 25 arrested notorious smuggler Avtar Singh Tari under the Preventive Detention of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, from Shahoor Kalan village in Kalanaur in Gurdaspur district.