KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
03-Sep-2024
The Jalandhar Commissionerate on September 3 arrested Kannu Gujjar, a key associate of gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, and seized eight pistols, 55 live cartridges, and eight magazines from his possession after an encounter near Hamilton Tower on 66ft Road in Jalandhar district. Gujjar confessed that the gang was planning a major crime and attempted to escape custody by firing at the police before being shot and injured.
03-Sep-2024
Police on September 3 arrested an individual, identified as Baljit Singh and seized 5,500 intoxicating tablets from his possession, near Balluana village in Abohar in Fazilka district.
03-Sep-2024
Police on September 3 arrested two drug smugglers, identified as Ankit and Amandeep Singh, and seized 60 grams of heroin from their possession in Jalandhar, Jalandhar district.
03-Sep-2024
Police on September 3 arrested a drug smuggler, identified as Gagandeep Singh and seized 60 grams of heroin from his possession, in Jalandhar in Jalandhar district.
03-Sep-2024
Police on September 3 arrested a drug smuggler, identified as Ruldu and seized 10 grams of heroin from his possession, in Jalandhar in Jalandhar district.
02-Sep-2024
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) recently postponed the release of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) Kangana Ranaut's film Emergency, citing concerns over religious sentiments and sensitive content. Sikh organizations, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), objected to the film's portrayal of Khalistani separatist and militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. They argued that the film could incite communal tensions and misrepresent the Sikh community, leading to a delay in certification.
02-Sep-2024
The Akal Takht, the highest Sikh authority, declared Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal "tankhaiya" for violating the Sikh religious code during his tenure as Deputy Chief Minister from 2007 to 2017. Badal was summoned to appear before the Akal Takht for atonement. Although he accepted the ruling, he remains SAD president, and his refusal to resign could further damage his political standing. Historically, being declared "tankhaiya" has had a negative impact on the political careers of Sikh leaders.
02-Sep-2024
On September 3, a woman from a well-off family was found dead from a drug overdose in Dakoha, Jalandhar district, Punjab. Her partner, also an addict, had died the previous day, on September 2.
01-Sep-2024
On September 1, Sukhraj Singh, son of one of the 2015 Behbal Kalan police firing victims, announced his independent candidacy for the Gidderbaha assembly bypoll in Gidderbaha, Sri Muktsar Sahib district. Singh, whose father was killed during a protest against a sacrilege incident, criticized successive governments for failing to deliver justice and expressed his intent to hold them accountable directly in the assembly.
01-Sep-2024
Sanam Sutirath Wazi, the author of the recently released book The Kaurs of 1984, discussed the significance of documenting the overlooked experiences of Sikh women during the 1984 anti-Sikh pogrom in an interview with The Hindu. Wazi emphasized the need to capture personal accounts as vital components of our collective history, especially as firsthand witnesses are dwindling. His book highlights the resilience and activism of Sikh women, challenging dominant narratives and advocating for a more nuanced and inclusive historical account of the tragedy.
01-Sep-2024
A Sikh organization has filed a public interest litigation at the Madhya Pradesh High Court in Jabalpur, seeking a ban on the release of Kangana Ranaut's film Emergency. The organization alleges that the film infringes on the Sikh community's fundamental rights. The petition is scheduled to be heard by a division bench on September 2.
01-Sep-2024
On September 1, Sikh organizations staged a protest in Kotkapura, Faridkot district, Punjab, demanding action on longstanding sacrilege and police firing cases. The protestors called for the prosecution of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim and the return of the Behbal Kalan case to the Faridkot court. Families of victims from the 2015 Behbal Kalan firing criticized both the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) governments for neglecting these issues after coming to power.
01-Sep-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on September 1 intercepted a drone and seized a packet of heroin weighing 536 grams from the premises of Radha Swami Satsang, near Naushera Dhalla village in Tarn Taran district. The recovered drone was a Chinese-made DJI MAVIC 3 Classic model.
01-Sep-2024
The Amritsar rural police on September 1 busted a trans-border drug and weapon smuggling module with the arrest of cross-border trafficker Ravinder Singh, seizing three pistols from his possession in Daoke village, Amritsar district. Singh revealed his involvement with Arshdeep Singh and a Pakistan-based drug peddler known as 'Chacha.' Further investigations are underway to track down Arshdeep and assess the extent of their smuggling activities.
01-Sep-2024
Police on September 1 arrested four individuals identified as Sunil Kumar and his wife Jaswinder, Mohan Lal and Sunita, and seized 37 grams of heroin along with a car and a bike from their possession in Jalandhar in Jalandhar district.
01-Sep-2024
Police, on September 1, arrested nine members from two different gangs and seized 11 stolen or snatched bikes, along with numerous sharp-edged weapons, from their possession in Jalandhar, Jalandhar district
31-Aug-2024
On August 31, a letter from the Akal Takht went viral on social media, directing 17 former Akali ministers to provide clarifications regarding alleged "sins" along with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal. While Sukhbir submitted his clarification on the same day, the other ministers have been instructed to appear before the Akal Takht within 15 days. The Sikh clergy declared Sukhbir "tankhaiya" (guilty of religious misconduct), holding the ministers equally accountable.
31-Aug-2024
Patti Sadar Police on August 31 arrested two motorcycle-borne individuals, identified as Jaspal Singh and Gurbhej Singh and seized 245 grams of heroin from their possession from near Talwandi Mehar Singh Wali village in Tarn Taran district.
31-Aug-2024
The Ferozepur police on August 31 conducted a search operation and seized 1.28 kg of heroin from Bare ke village in Ferozepur district.
31-Aug-2024
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff of the Ferozepur police on August 31 arrested four individuals identified as Gurbhej Singh alias Bheja, Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh, Paramjit Singh alias Pamma, and Surjit Singh, and seized 20 grams of heroin along with INR 14.80 lakh in drug money from their possession at a naka (checkpoint) in Zira, Ferozepur district.
31-Aug-2024
On August 31, a day after being declared "tankhaiya" (guilty of religious misconduct) by Sikh high priests, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders Sukhbir Singh Badal, Daljit Singh Cheema, Guljar Singh Ranike, and Sharanjit Singh Dhillon appeared before the Akal Takht, seeking atonement for their actions during their government's tenure from 2007 to 2017. The leaders submitted individual apology letters, which were accepted, and now await the high priests' decision on the religious punishment.
31-Aug-2024
On August 31, the presidium of the Akali Dal reform movement, formed by Akali rebels, demanded the immediate resignation of SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal following his declaration as "tankhaiya" (guilty of religious misconduct) by the Akal Takht. They argued that an individual with this designation could neither hold any position, participate in social functions, nor engage in religious activities until he completed his punishment and was readmitted. The presidium also resolved to advocate for Punjab's rights, the release of Bandi Singhs, and securing river waters and grants from the Centre.
31-Aug-2024
The police on August 31 destroyed large quantities of drugs seized from various peddlers in 16 cases—728 grams of heroin, 2.45 kg of sulfa, 40 habit-forming tablets, and 102 kg of poppy husk—at Nabha Paper Mill, under the supervision of a Drug Disposal Committee, in Malerkotla district, Punjab.
30-Aug-2024
On August 30, a clash occurred between security guards assigned to Balkaur Singh, father of late Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala, at his residence in Moosa village, Mansa district, Punjab. Gurdeep Singh, a police commando, sustained a severe head injury during the altercation and was treated at Mansa Civil Hospital. The police have launched an investigation into the incident.
30-Aug-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on August 30 conducted a raid at the residence of Sukhwinder Kaur, general secretary of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU-Krantikari), in Rampura Phul, Bathinda district. The raid, carried out under tight security, is part of an investigation into alleged links between some farmer leaders and separatist elements. Although Sukhwinder was not present, the operation has been condemned by farm leaders as an attempt to intimidate those involved in the farmers' movement.