KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
07-Oct-2024
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff of Moga police on October 7 arrested seven members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, identified as Gobind Singh, Tejinder Singh alias Teju, Dilpreet Singh, Lovepreet Singh alias Labu, Dilraj Singh alias Akasi, Kamaldeep Singh alias Kamal, and Gurdeep Singh, and seized five .32-bore pistols, seven magazines, and six rounds of ammunition from their possession in Moga district. The gang, in collaboration with an overseas member, Jagdeep Singh alias Jagga Dhurkot, was involved in extortion using threats and firearms.
07-Oct-2024
Police on October 7 arrested four gangsters, identified as Dheeraj Batta, Amaninder Singh, Sandeep Singh, and Taranpreet Singh alias Taran, for killing their former accomplice, reportedly for forming his own gang, and seized the weapon and car used in the crime in Patiala, Punjab. The gangsters were involved in snatching, extortion, and drug trafficking. The murder took place on October 2 following a fallout between Dheeraj and the victim, Taranjit Singh.
07-Oct-2024
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Rajwinder Singh was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Thakkarpura village, Tarn Taran district, on October 7. The incident occurred when three men on a motorcycle opened fire on Singh's car as he was celebrating his party's victory with colleagues. Police have launched an investigation and are working to apprehend the attackers.
06-Oct-2024
Police, on October 6, arrested two drug peddlers, identified as Arshdeep Singh alias Bhola and Sahib Singh, and seized 110 grams of heroin and INR 9.16 lakh drug money, along with a scooter from their possession, in Amritsar in Amritsar district.
06-Oct-2024
Tensions have escalated within Delhi's Sikh religio-political circles over the past week as former Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) chief Paramjit Singh Sarna faced accusations from current DSGMC president Harmeet Singh Kalka, who labelled him an 'agent of Pakistan' and claimed he was colluding with the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The feud intensified after Sarna questioned Kalka’s meeting with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president J.P. Nadda on October 2, suggesting it compromised the DSGMC's integrity. In response, Kalka accused Sarna of undermining the Akal Takht by organizing a pilgrimage to Pakistani gurdwaras at an inappropriate time.
06-Oct-2024
The Special Cell of Delhi Police arrested an unidentified man on October 6 and recovered 2 kg of cocaine along with a Toyota Fortuner car from a village near Amritsar in Amritsar district. This follows a major drug bust on October 2, during which over 562 kg of cocaine and 40 kg of hydroponic marijuana were seized in Delhi. The accused was reportedly planning to flee the country and had links to Jitender Pal Singh Gill, an associate of the alleged kingpin Virender Basoiya. The raid on October 6 was based on information received from Jitender Pal Singh. Investigations revealed a plan to smuggle an additional 100 kg of cocaine into Punjab, with further arrests pending based on documented evidence.
05-Oct-2024
In a joint operation on October 5, Punjab’s Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) and Bathinda police foiled a dacoity attempt, arresting Jaspreet Singh alias Jassa, the kingpin of the Jassa Burj Gang, along with his three accomplices—Karanveer Singh alias Karni, Resham Singh, and Hardeep Singh—and seizing four .32-bore pistols and 11 cartridges from their possession in Bathinda. The gang had been planning to rob a financier in the Rama Mandi area when they were apprehended.
05-Oct-2024
Police on October 5 arrested a senior constable of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) for allegedly attempting to smuggle 120 grams of narcotic powder into Amritsar Central Jail and also booked an inmate, identified as Jadish Singh alias Jagga, for possessing a keypad phone with a SIM card in Amritsar district. Jail staff had received a tip-off about the constable's involvement in supplying narcotics. Following a complaint lodged by Nareshpal, Assistant Superintendent of the Jail, Islamabad police registered a case under Section 22-B of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and Section 42 of the Prisons Act against both individuals.
05-Oct-2024
Dal Khalsa's political secretary, Kanwar Pal Singh, on October 5, criticized Israel's aggression and the United Nations' (UN) inaction, accusing world powers of reducing the UN to a redundant body. He called for stronger international condemnation of Israel's actions, criticized India's double standards on the Israel-Palestine conflict, and advocated for Palestinian statehood and sovereignty.
05-Oct-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF), on October 5, following a tip-off, recovered a packet containing 568 grams of heroin from farming fields near Dal Village in Tarn Taran district.
04-Oct-2024
On October 4, Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, emphasized the urgent need to combat the drug menace in Punjab while presiding over a function celebrating Bhai Lalo Ji’s birth anniversary at Gurdwara Sri Vishwakarma Bhavan in Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib district.
04-Oct-2024
Punjab Police on October 4 arrested two operatives, identified as Sukhdeep Singh alias Raja and Krishan, while busting an international drug trafficking syndicate and seized 1.5 kg of heroin along with a Hyundai Aura (HR 12 AT 7091) car from their possession in Derabassi, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. The accused were part of a network smuggling heroin in jackets, sourced from an Afghan national based in Delhi. The police are currently seeking to arrest Lakhwinder Singh, the key figure in the syndicate, and further investigations are ongoing.
04-Oct-2024
Rahul Gandhi's recent statements during his United States (US) visit have been seized upon by designated Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun to further his Khalistani agenda. Pannun has repeatedly cited Gandhi's comments regarding Sikh identity and alleged persecution in India to justify his calls for a Khalistan referendum. These remarks have sparked controversy, with Pannun portraying them as an endorsement of secessionist movements.
04-Oct-2024
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President, Harjinder Singh Dhami, in Amritsar on October 4, objected to the online sale of Sikh scriptures, including Gutka Sahib, by Amazon, stating that it violates Sikh maryada (conduct).
03-Oct-2024
On October 3, Sikh activists from various organizations, including the Baba Makhan Shah Lubana Foundation and Society, approached the Akal Takht in Amritsar and urged Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh to withdraw the notice served to former SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur. The notice, issued on September 26, related to a decades-old murder case and alleged 'roma di beadbi' (dishonoring of hair). The activists argued that the notice was based on personal and baseless allegations and should be revoked.
03-Oct-2024
According to reports, the India-United States (US) relationship has seen progress, but two key issues—Bangladesh's regime change and the Khalistan movement—are causing tensions. India’s security concerns and political sensitivities regarding Bangladesh conflict with the US's positive view of the regime change. Similarly, the US's approach to Khalistani elements, based on its democratic principles, has strained trust, particularly given India’s painful history with Punjab's insurgency. Resolving these issues will require deeper dialogue and cooperation to address mutual concerns and prevent further mistrust between India and the US.
03-Oct-2024
Lakhwinder Kaur, the wife of Badal Singh, one of the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, testified in court in New Delhi on October 3 that an eyewitness had informed her that Congress leader Jagdish Tytler incited the mob that killed her husband at Gurdwara Pul Bangash. She cited Granthi Surender Singh as the source of this information, stating that Tytler had provoked the mob to attack Sikhs and set fire to the gurdwara. The next hearing is scheduled for October 15.
03-Oct-2024
Assam Chief Minister (CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma, while speaking at a rally in Sonipat, Haryana, on October 3, addressed the issue of drug trafficking, emphasizing that drugs such as heroin and ganja, frequently recovered in Assam, were being transported to Punjab and Haryana. He mentioned that over the past three and a half years, Assam police had arrested more than 200 individuals involved in drug-related activities and urged the public to prevent such individuals from entering politics.
03-Oct-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops, in a joint operation with Punjab Police on October 3 recovered one packet of heroin weighing 550 grams from fields adjacent to Daoke village in Amritsar district.
02-Oct-2024
The Delhi Police's Special Cell arrested Jatinderpal Singh alias Jassi, an individual based in the United Kingdom (UK), at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport in Amritsar district on October 2, in connection with the largest-ever drug bust involving 560 kg of cocaine and 40 kg of hydroponic marijuana.
02-Oct-2024
Amritsar Police on October 2 dismantled an interstate weapon smuggling gang with the arrest of five individuals identified as Mohammad Akbar, Javed Khan, Qasim, Mukesh Kumar, and Allmin, seizing three .32 bore pistols and 30 live bullets from their possession in Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Nagar, Amritsar district. During interrogation, it was revealed that Mukesh and Allmin were responsible for supplying illegal weapons, with Mukesh procuring them from Rajasthan and distributing them across other parts of Punjab through his network.
02-Oct-2024
Gurdaspur Member of Parliament (MP) Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, in Amritsar on October 2, expressed concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab, claiming that gangsters were influencing voters during the panchayat polls under the patronage of the state government. Randhawa highlighted incidents involving gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria’s family being honored by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) officials and the free movement of gangster Gopi Goli in Kalanaur, which has terrorized villagers.
02-Oct-2024
Police on October 2 busted an interstate arms smuggling gang and arrested its kingpin, Sunil Kumar alias Jeona, seizing five .32-bore pistols and eight live cartridges from his possession near Adda Nijharan in Jalandhar district. Preliminary investigations revealed that Sunil Kumar was smuggling arms from Madhya Pradesh (MP) to Punjab and had links to high-profile criminals abroad, including members of the Landa Harika gang.
02-Oct-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on October 2 recovered three packets of heroin weighing 1.823 kg from fields near Wan village in Tarn Taran district. Although the suspects escaped before the troops arrived, the heroin, suspected to have been dropped by a drone, was found wrapped in yellow tape with an improvised copper wire loop attached.
02-Oct-2024
In the past week, the Jalandhar police disposed of seized drugs, including 62.3 kg of poppy husk, 932 grams of heroin, 270 grams of intoxicating powder, 10 grams of ganja, 850 grams of charas, along with 290 tablets and 14 injections, across 68 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, in Jalandhar district. The disposal was carried out at an authorised facility.