KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
19-Sep-2024
According to sources in the Punjab Police, the hand grenade and RDX used in the September 11 explosion in Chandigarh were military-grade equipment smuggled from Pakistan using a drone. This has raised concerns about the persistent use of drones by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and terrorist operatives to smuggle arms and drugs across the Punjab border. The attack was masterminded by ISI-backed terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda and United States (US)-based gangster Happy Passia, who utilized drones to drop the weapons. Despite efforts to combat this threat, Punjab has witnessed around 1,100 drone sightings since March 2022, with the Border Security Force (BSF) shooting down 150 drones.
19-Sep-2024
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated in New Delhi on September 19 that during the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and United States (US) President Joe Biden, all issues of mutual concern would be discussed. While he did not confirm whether the Khalistan issue would be specifically raised, he emphasized that a wide range of topics would be covered in the talks.
19-Sep-2024
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, in New Delhi on September 19, strongly rejected the lawsuit filed by Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the United States (US), labelling it as 'unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations' against the Indian government. Misri reaffirmed India’s position on Pannun, highlighting his links to the banned Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) organization, which is designated as a terrorist group under Indian law. He emphasized that the lawsuit does not alter India’s stance on Pannun or his activities.
19-Sep-2024
The Akal Takht, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) recently condemned actor and Member of Parliament (MP) Kangana Ranaut’s remarks against Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, labelling her upcoming film “Emergency” as anti-Sikh. Kangana Ranaut stated, 'Ninety-nine percent of the people of Punjab don’t consider Bhindranwale a saint; he was a terrorist… sitting with an AK-47 in a temple.'
19-Sep-2024
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravneet Singh Bittu stated in New Delhi on September 19 that he would not apologize for calling Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi a 'number 1 terrorist,' asserting that the Gandhi family was responsible for burning Punjab and causing the loss of generations. He expressed his pain as a Sikh and claimed that Gandhi's comments on the Sikh community were supported by Khalistani separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who has been designated a terrorist in India.
19-Sep-2024
The global anti-terror watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on September 19 awarded India the highest rating in its Mutual Evaluation Report, recognizing the country’s strong anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT) framework. The report highlighted serious terrorism and terrorist financing threats from groups like ISIL and Al-Qaeda, urging India to conclude prosecutions and appropriately sanction terrorist financiers. It also commended India’s financial inclusion efforts while advising improvements in addressing money laundering cases and implementing preventive measures in certain sectors.
19-Sep-2024
The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) emphasized the urgent need to address the escalating gangster culture in Punjab, highlighting the threats posed by extortion rackets and the erosion of public trust in the justice system. The court noted a spike in extortion cases following a controversial interview with Bishnoi, urging swift action against gang activities to restore societal order. It also condemned the media's portrayal of gangsters, warning that it fosters a dangerous sense of impunity among youth, and called for stringent law enforcement to dismantle criminal enterprises.
19-Sep-2024
Sources in the Delhi police on September 19 revealed that gangster Lawrence Bishnoi has launched online gaming apps operated from Dubai, enlisting the help of major bookies in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Delhi. Bishnoi, an accused in the 2022 murder of singer Sidhu Moose Wala, is using the gaming business to invest black money and has delegated various operational responsibilities to close associates. A businessman based in Dubai is running the app under Bishnoi's instructions, while Goldy Brar and Rohit Godara handle its promotion. Bishnoi is currently imprisoned in Sabarmati jail in Gujarat, and his younger brother Anmol is managing gang-related matters abroad.
18-Sep-2024
According to reports, Punjab's heroin crisis is worsening, driven by the increasing use of drones for smuggling, often with support from Pakistani state actors. Independent analyst Antariksh Singh highlighted the scale and sophistication of these operations, with drones now playing a major role in narcotics drops near the International Border. Despite efforts such as forming Village Defence Committees (VDCs) and deploying a Drone Emergency Response System (DERS), the crisis persists, with smugglers using encrypted communication and hawala transactions to evade authorities. Singh emphasized that until security agencies target the middlemen, the heroin epidemic will continue to devastate Punjab.
18-Sep-2024
The Ludhiana police on September 18 busted a gang of robbers, arresting seven of its members and seizing 68 mobile phones, one toy pistol, two motorcycles, two sharp weapons, and five baseball bats from their possession in Ludhiana district. The arrests followed a police complaint by Manpreet Singh, who reported being attacked and robbed by a group of around 15 youths armed with sharp weapons. The police are actively working to identify and apprehend the remaining gang members.
18-Sep-2024
Punjab Police on September 18 arrested one person, identified as Jagroop Singh, and seized 5 kg of heroin, two phones, and his motorcycle from his possession in Vaniye Ke village, Ajnala, in Amritsar district. Acting on a tip-off, police teams apprehended Jagroop, who was allegedly en route to deliver the drugs.
18-Sep-2024
Punjab Police on September 18 recovered 5 kg of heroin and a hexacopter from fields near Manjh village in Ajnala, Amritsar district.
18-Sep-2024
The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) on September 18 condemned the misuse of police protection as a status symbol, emphasizing that state security should be reserved for individuals facing genuine, verifiable threats. The court highlighted that resources should be allocated judiciously to address broader societal issues, particularly in Punjab, a border state facing significant challenges from illegal activities and smuggling.
18-Sep-2024
The Delhi High Court on September 18 rejected the bail plea of United Kingdom (UK) resident and Khalistani terrorist Jagtar Singh Johal, who is accused of funding the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and involvement in targeted killings in Punjab. The court cited Johal's association with other conspirators and his role in funding arms procurement, categorizing the offences as serious with 'trans-national links' under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
18-Sep-2024
Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, via a video message on September 18, 2024, questioned the Congress for not condemning Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun's support of Rahul Gandhi’s recent statement on Sikhs in India and accused the party of aligning with anti-national elements.
18-Sep-2024
The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) on September 18 questioned the Punjab and central governments, as well as Dibrugarh jail authorities, regarding the extension of the National Security Act (NSA) against Khalistani radical preacher and Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh and his associate, actor Daljeet Kalsi. The court has requested all relevant records to be presented at the next hearing on October 3.
18-Sep-2024
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, while speaking at a centenary congregation at Gurdwara Sri Baoli Sahib in Sri Goindwal Sahib, Tarn Taran district, on September 18, criticized Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann for not declaring a holiday in Punjab on the occasion of Gurgaddi Diwas of Guru Ramdas and Joti Jot Diwas of Guru Amardas.
18-Sep-2024
Former Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Som Parkash, via the social media site X on September 18, urged actress and Member of Parliament (MP) Kangana Ranaut to refrain from making unnecessary comments against the Sikh community, stating that such remarks hurt their sentiments.
17-Sep-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on September 17 recovered a packet containing 545 grams of heroin from near Dhanoe Kalan village in Amritsar district.
17-Sep-2024
Sikh activist Sukhraj Singh, whose father was killed in the 2015 Behbal Kalan police firing in Punjab, has been summoned by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in New Delhi in connection with the attack on the Indian Embassy in London in March 2023. The NIA notice requires his presence on September 19, 2024, for questioning under charges related to the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, and the Prevention of Insults to National Honours Act. Sukhraj, who recently announced his candidacy for the Gidderbaha by poll, expressed uncertainty about the summons, suggesting it might be linked to his past interactions with Khalistani terrorist Avtar Singh Khanda.
17-Sep-2024
A Chandigarh court has issued notices to Member of Parliament (MP) and actress Kangana Ranaut, along with others, in a criminal complaint filed by Ravinder Singh Bassi, president of Lawyers for Humanity, alleging that her movie Emergency maligns the image of Sikhs and misrepresents facts. The court has scheduled the hearing for December 5, 2024.
16-Sep-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on September 16 shot a Pakistani intruder along the International Border (IB) after he ignored warnings to stop in the Amritsar sector near Ratankhurd village in Amritsar district. PKR 270 in various denominations was recovered from his possession.
16-Sep-2024
In a joint operation with Punjab Police on September 16, the Border Security Force (BSF) arrested two individuals, Puran Singh and Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukha, who admitted to retrieving a narcotics consignment dropped by a Pakistani drone, and recovered two packets containing approximately 1 kg of heroin near Chak Amira village in Fazilka district.
16-Sep-2024
The Amritsar police on September 16 busted a trans-border narcotic smuggling network with the arrest of a drug smuggler, identified as Kanwaljit Kaur alias Massi, and seized 4.580 kg of heroin from her possession in Chheharta, Amritsar district. Police revealed that Kaur and her son-in-law, Jugraj Singh, were in contact with Pakistan-based smugglers and used drones to transport drugs.
16-Sep-2024
The Akal Takht recently summoned 17 Sikh ministers from the Akali Dal-BJP government for their failure to address sacrilege incidents during their tenure, which led to the excommunication of former Chief Minister (CM) Sukhbir Singh Badal. While some interpreted this as a response to political shortcomings, others feared it signalled a resurgence of Khalistani sentiments. Historical parallels with the terror-filled 1980s suggest that when religious authority overshadows state power, it often leads to militant uprisings. Despite earlier hopes that Punjab had moved beyond Khalistan, recent electoral successes of separatist candidates indicate that pro-Khalistan ideologies have been gaining momentum, driven by both local and diaspora influences.