KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
06-Apr-2026
Panic gripped the Ferozepur district courts complex on April 6 morning after an email claimed a bomb had been planted on the premises. Authorities evacuated the complex as a precaution, but no suspicious object was found during the search. The threat email was sent to the court’s official ID.
06-Apr-2026
On April 6, several private and government schools in Amritsar district received threat emails mentioning “Khalistan,” targeting three private schools, one government school, and some government offices. Police teams, along with bomb squads, were deployed to inspect the locations, but no suspicious objects were found.
05-Apr-2026
According to reports, the recent recovery of 10 sophisticated firearms—nearly supplied to gangsters for targeted killings in Punjab—has highlighted Bihar’s emergence as a hub of illegal weapons manufacturing. A senior IPS officer noted that the illegal arms industry, which earlier operated in Uttar Pradesh and later shifted to Madhya Pradesh, is now increasingly rooted in Bihar. He added that its proximity to the Nepal border enables easy escape routes and sustains a steady supply chain. Police officials also flagged the high quality of the recovered .32 bore pistols, each capable of firing multiple rounds with low chances of misfire, making them particularly lethal in targeted attacks.
05-Apr-2026
On April 5, the 75th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 527 raids, arrested 241 persons and recovered nine weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 108 individuals, while 84 persons were verified and released after questioning. Five proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
05-Apr-2026
On April 5, Punjab Police, on day 400 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 120 drug smugglers, and seized 1.6 kg of heroin, 164 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 8890 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
05-Apr-2026
Punjab Police, in a joint operation with Chandigarh Police and with assistance from the Haryana Police STF, on April 5 arrested the two main accused—Gurtej Singh and Amanpreet Singh—from Rewari, Haryana, in connection with the April 1 grenade attack outside the BJP office in Sector 37, Chandigarh. With this, all seven accused in the case are now in custody, marking the dismantling of the Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-backed terror module within 48 hours of the initial arrests. Investigations revealed that the handlers—Baljot Singh alias Jot, based in Portugal, and Harjeet Singh Laadi, based in Germany—had promised the accused INR 2 lakh to carry out the attack.
05-Apr-2026
Commissionerate Police Amritsar on April 5 busted an organized drug trafficking module, arresting two persons, identified as Atish Suman and Sawinder Singh,and recovering 4.130 kg of heroin from their possession in Amritsar district.
05-Apr-2026
The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and Police on April 5 arrested an accused, identified as Bikramjit Singh alias Vicky in connection with a grenade smuggling case in Punjab, in Deesa, Banaskantha district in Gujarat. He is suspected to be linked to a Pakistani gangster working for the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Acting on inputs from Punjab Police, the ATS and Banaskantha Police nabbed him while he was working as a labourer at a roadside restaurant under a false identity. Investigations indicate he played a key role in plotting attacks on police stations and other security units on the instructions of his handlers.
05-Apr-2026
Shimla Police on April 5 stated that Rubal Chauhan, a Rohru resident arrested in connection with the April 1 grenade attack outside the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Sector 37, Chandigarh, had no local links to the conspiracy. A native of Thana village in Rohru subdivision, Himachal Pradesh, Chauhan, along with other accused, had collected a consignment of arms and grenades from a village in SBS Nagar on March 28. Police said the accused had no local links in the Rohru area, as he rarely visited his ancestral village and had been studying in Chandigarh for some time.
05-Apr-2026
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered a 548-grams heroin packet near Naushera Dhala village in Tarn Taran district. The contraband is suspected to have been dropped by a drone from the Pakistan side.
05-Apr-2026
Punjab Police on April 5 foiled an Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-backed module allegedly planning grenade attacks on police establishments across Punjab and other states by arresting three persons—Sarabjit Singh, Bikramjit Singh, and Amandeep Singh—and recovering two hand grenades and a Glock pistol from separate locations in Punjab and Gujarat. Preliminary investigations revealed that the module was involved in systematically targeting police establishments across multiple states. Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said the grenades bore markings of POF (Pakistan Ordnance Factory), indicating cross-border linkages. State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) teams arrested Sarabjit Singh and Amandeep Singh, recovering grenades and a pistol from them. During the probe, Bikramjit Singh—identified as the key operative and primary contact of Pakistan-based intelligence operatives—was traced to Deesa in Gujarat, from where he was operating.
05-Apr-2026
Security was heightened at the Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (TSPL) thermal power plant in Banawala village, Mansa district, after suspicious drone-like objects were spotted overhead on the night of April 5. Police said the unidentified movements triggered immediate action, and a search operation was conducted in and around the premises, but nothing objectionable was found.
04-Apr-2026
The State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) of Punjab Police on April 4 arrested a man, identified as Sarabjit Singh and recovered two hand grenades, two pistols, and two magazines from his possession, in Amritsar district. Preliminary investigations revealed that the explosives were intended to target police and other vital installations. Police sources said Sarabjit, a former daily wager, came into contact with heroin smugglers around three years ago and gradually became involved in trafficking drugs, illegal arms, and explosives smuggled from Pakistan using drones.
04-Apr-2026
Faridkot Police have named Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) district vice-president Amit Kumar Sharma alias Mishra in a case involving the recovery of a foreign-made pistol and ammunition. The investigation links him to associates of the Goldy Brar gang, and police have launched multiple raids to apprehend him. In response, Sharma filed an anticipatory bail plea in the district court, with the hearing scheduled for April 10. Police officials said the probe has revealed deep-rooted links between the BJP leader and the criminal network.
04-Apr-2026
On April 4, the 74th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 551 raids, arrested 245 persons and recovered four weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 69 individuals, while 72 persons were verified and released after questioning. Three proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
04-Apr-2026
On April 4, Punjab Police, on day 399 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 118 drug smugglers, and seized 3.7 kg of heroin, 3.7 kg of ganja, 934 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 7120 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
04-Apr-2026
Chandigarh Police and the Counter Intelligence wing of Punjab Police on April 4 arrested five accused—Balwinder Lal alias Shami, Jasvir Singh alias Jassi, Charanjit Singh alias Channi, Rubal Chauhan, and Mandeep alias Abhijot Sharma and seized a live hand grenade, a .30 bore Zigana pistol, and 10 cartridges were seized from their possession, in connection with the April 1 grenade blast outside the BJP office in Sector 37, Chandigarh. Two key accused, Gurtej Singh and Amanpreet Singh, remain absconding, with joint police teams conducting raids to apprehend them. According to Chandigarh Director General of Police (DGP) Dr. Sagar Preet Hooda and Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav, preliminary investigations indicate the attack was carried out by an Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-backed module under the direction of foreign-based handlers in Portugal and Germany.
03-Apr-2026
Punjab Police on April 3 busted an illegal arms smuggling network, arresting Suraj Kumar and recovering five pistols and four cartridges from his possession, in Patara, Jalandhar district. Preliminary investigations revealed that he, along with associate Davinderpal Singh alias Deepu and other gang members, procured illegal arms from Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura region and supplied them across Jalandhar and nearby areas.
03-Apr-2026
On April 3, the 73rd day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 483 raids, arrested 198 persons and recovered 13 weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 72 individuals, while 106 persons were verified and released after questioning. Five proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
03-Apr-2026
On April 3, Punjab Police, on day 398 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 98 drug smugglers, and seized 6.3 kg of heroin, 700 grams of opium, 3.5 kg of poppy husk, 421 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 8400 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
03-Apr-2026
Amritsar Rural Police on April 3 foiled a terror plot by arresting a suspect, identified as Harman Singh and recovering a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) from his possession in the Ramdas area of Amritsar district. The device is suspected to have been dropped on the Indian side by Pakistan-based handlers using a drone. Police said the accused is being interrogated to identify his network and handlers, with central intelligence agencies also likely to question him. Preliminary investigations revealed multiple Pakistani mobile numbers on his phone, indicating contact with Pakistan-based operatives through internet-based calling platforms.
03-Apr-2026
The Border Security Force (BSF) on April 3 recovered a drone carrying a suspected heroin packet from fields near the Ravi River in Gurdaspur district. The recovery was made near the BSF Chowki at Bharyal following a specific tip-off, indicating an attempt to smuggle narcotics across the border.
03-Apr-2026
The Counter Intelligence wing of Punjab Police on April 3 raided the houses of two suspects in Rattangarh village in the Morinda area of Ropar district in connection with the April 1 blast outside the BJP office in Chandigarh. While police did not officially confirm any arrests, family members claimed that Amanpreet Singh was detained. The main accused, Gurtej Singh, was not found during the raid.
03-Apr-2026
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charge sheeted two accused, including Pakistani gangster Shehzad Bhatti, in connection with the of March 16, 2025 grenade attack at YouTuber Roger Sandhu’s house in Jalandhar district. Having taken over the case from Punjab Police in December 2025, the NIA named Bhatti as an absconder in a supplementary chargesheet filed before a special court. The second accused, Dipander Pratap Singh alias Deepan Rana, has been arrested.
02-Apr-2026
An alleged member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, Rajpal Singh Chandrawat, surrendered before Madhya Pradesh Police on April 2 in an extortion case carried out in the name of key operative Harry Boxer, in Madhya Pradesh. A resident of Nagda, he surrendered a month after the case was registered at Kasrawad police station in Khargone district on a complaint by cotton trader Dilip Rathore.