KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
30-Aug-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on August 30 conducted searches in connection with the death of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Vikas Bagga in Punjab. The searches, carried out at two locations linked to suspects facilitating logistics for the accused, yielded several digital devices and incriminating materials.
30-Aug-2024
On August 30, five high priests, led by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, convened in Amritsar to discuss death row prisoner Balwant Singh Rajoana’s request for the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to withdraw the mercy petition filed for his commutation. The petition, pending for 12 years despite Rajoana's three-decade imprisonment, was reviewed as the high priests called for Sikh intellectuals and organizations to submit their views to help form a consolidated opinion on the matter.
30-Aug-2024
The Wahabwala Police on August 30 seized assets worth INR 56.5 lakh from three drug smugglers—Swaran Singh, Nitin Kumar, and Rahul Kumar Pinnia—across two villages, Himmatpura and Dhani Sitto Gunno, in Fazilka district, Punjab. Property worth approximately INR 20 lakh, including a house, a pickup vehicle, and a motorcycle, was seized from Swaran Singh; INR 15.3 lakh worth of property, including a residential house and a motorcycle, was seized from Nitin Kumar in Himmatpura village; and property worth INR 21.03 lakh, including a residential house and a motorcycle, was seized from Rahul Kumar Pinnia in Dhani Sitto Gunno village.
30-Aug-2024
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently conducted searches as part of a money-laundering probe into international drug smuggler Jasmeet Hakimzada and discovered secret bank lockers containing 1.06 kg of unaccounted gold and 370 grams of diamond ornaments. Hakimzada, linked to the banned Khalistani terror outfit Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), is accused of operating a global narco-terror network, smuggling drugs, and laundering money through front companies in India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
30-Aug-2024
A Delhi court on August 30 ordered the framing of charges against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, which resulted in the deaths of three people in New Delhi. The court found sufficient grounds to proceed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including abetment to murder, rioting, promoting enmity between groups, and mischief by fire.
30-Aug-2024
The Akal Takht on August 30 declared Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal a ‘tankhaiya’ (sinner) for decisions that harmed the Sikh community's interests and the image of the SAD. Badal was held accountable for not addressing incidents of sacrilege in 2015 and for making controversial appointments during his tenure. The Akal Takht has instructed him to atone for his religious misconduct before the Guru Granth Sahib and the Sikh community; otherwise, he will continue to be considered a sinner in the Sikh religion.
30-Aug-2024
A local court on August 30 sentenced eight drug peddlers—Gurpreet Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Jasvir Singh, Amit Uppal, Shubham Bhalla, Baljeet Singh, Harpreet Singh, and Jaswinder Singh Grewal—to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment each for possessing 1.2 lakh Tramadol capsules, in Ludhiana district. The court also imposed fines of INR 3 lakh on six convicts and INR 1.5 lakh on two, with additional imprisonment for non-payment. The case was filed by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in 2019.
29-Aug-2024
Police on August 29 arrested notorious drug smuggler and member of the Kannu Gujjar gang, Naveen Kumar alias Kaka, and seized 1 kg of heroin from his possession in Lajpat Nagar, Jalandhar district. His two accomplices, identified as Vikram alias Nihang Baba and Kali, escaped after a violent gunfight with the police. The suspects are believed to be connected to an international drug network with links to Pakistan. Police are actively pursuing leads to capture the remaining fugitives.
29-Aug-2024
According to sources at the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the ED recently conducted searches as part of a money-laundering probe into an international drug smuggler identified as Jasmeet Hakimzada, who has ties to the banned Khalistani terror outfit Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF). The searches were carried out across Delhi, Amritsar, and Jalandhar in Punjab, Mumbai and Solapur in Maharashtra, and Indore in Madhya Pradesh. Jasmeet is accused of running a global narco-terror network, smuggling drugs and laundering money across several countries. His operation reportedly involved his parents and multiple front companies in India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
29-Aug-2024
Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) on August 29 claimed responsibility for writing pro-Khalistan slogans targeting the late Chief Minister Beant Singh's family in Doraha, Ludhiana district, Punjab. The slogans were found on Beant Singh's statue as well as at the railway station and bus stand. This incident occurred just two days before Beant Singh's death anniversary on August 31.
29-Aug-2024
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on August 29 took possession of the swaroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib that were returned by the police in Doha, Qatar. The scriptures were transported in accordance with Sikh traditions to Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Gurbaksh Singh within the Golden Temple complex.
29-Aug-2024
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on August 29 announced via the social media site X the appointment of senior leader Balwinder Singh Bhunder as the party's working president, ahead of a meeting of Sikh high priests in Amritsar to discuss key 'Panthic issues.'
29-Aug-2024
Fazilka police on August 29 arrested a person, identified as Gurpreet Singh alias Gogi and seized 530 grams of heroin, three live cartridges, and three mobile phones from his possession in Jalalabad, Fazilka district. His accomplice, identified as Sukhwinder Singh, managed to flee.
29-Aug-2024
The Jalandhar Police Commissionerate on August 29 arrested four smugglers, identified as Sunny Vehmi, Honey Kalyan, Money Sabharwal, and Neeraj and seized 250 grams of heroin from their possession near Dass Pura in Jalandhar district.
29-Aug-2024
The Tarn Taran police, in a joint operation with central agencies, on August 29, arrested two operatives, Harpreet Singh alias Happy and Lovepreet Singh, busting a Pakistan-backed arms smuggling module and seizing four sophisticated Glock-19 pistols (including one marked 'Made for NATO army'), four magazines, seven live cartridges, INR 4.8 lakhs in hawala money, and a Maruti Swift car from their possession near Sheron village in Tarn Taran district.
29-Aug-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on August 29 lodged a protest with Pakistan after a poster of Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was put up at the Wagah border, visible from the Indian side. BSF Inspector General Dr. Atul Fulzele stated that they objected to the poster's provocative political nature and requested its removal from the ceremonial area, but Pakistan has yet to comply.
29-Aug-2024
The Punjab Police on August 29 informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the renewed detention of Khalistani radical preacher and jailed Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh was based on new grounds and strictly in accordance with the law. The Police stated that Amritpal's detention in Dibrugarh, Assam, was due to the sensitivity of the case and denied that it was a response to his vocal criticism. The affidavit emphasized that Amritpal's activities posed a threat to state security and public order.
29-Aug-2024
Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) chief and former Member of Parliament (MP) Simranjit Singh Mann on August 29 made derogatory remarks about Kangana Ranaut, referencing 'rape' in response to her comments on the farmers' protest. When asked about Ranaut's claim that bodies were hanging and rapes were occurring during the protests, Mann mockingly suggested that if such incidents had occurred, Ranaut herself should have been the victim. Mann faced backlash for trivializing the crime against women, with political figures and women's commissions condemning his statement as disrespectful and shameful.
29-Aug-2024
According to reports, the Indian government issued a formal notice dated August 29 to the Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), extending its ban for five more years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The registered letter was sent from India’s High Commission in Ottawa and was received at SFJ’s office in Toronto, Canada. SFJ has 30 days to respond. Following the receipt of the notice, SFJ’s chief, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, wrote to Canada’s Minister of Public Safety, Dominic LeBlanc, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, urging them to 'appropriately respond to India’s extraterritorial move against a Canadian organization and its interference in Canada’s internal affairs.
28-Aug-2024
The Amritsar rural police on August 28 arrested a person identified as Angrej Singh and seized 507 grams of heroin from his possession in Bhindi Saida village, Ajnala, Amritsar district. Angrej was involved in cross-border drug peddling, utilizing methods such as drones. He had previously been convicted in 2018 for smuggling 3 kg of heroin and a pistol but was out on bail. He is also suspected of involvement in another drug case from earlier this year. Following his arrest, he was remanded for further interrogation.
28-Aug-2024
Gharinda police on August 28 arrested an individual, identified as Manpreet Singh and seized 155 grams of ICE (methamphetamine) and INR 29,000 in drug money from his possession in Kiralgarh village, Amritsar district. During interrogation, Manpreet revealed that he had bought the drugs from Sonu of Naraingarh, who is currently being pursued by the police.
28-Aug-2024
Khalra police on August 28 arrested a drug peddler with cross-border contacts, identified as Kuljit Singh, and seized 255 grams of heroin from his possession in Khalra village, Patti, Tarn Taran district. The police discovered that he had smuggled the consignment across the border using contacts made via his mobile phone.
28-Aug-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on August 28 held its first-ever discussion on organized crime with police officials from Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi at the Delhi Police Headquarters in New Delhi. The focus was on gangsters' connections with pro-Khalistan elements (PKEs), Pakistan-based terrorists, and drug smuggling networks. Presentations were made on extortion calls, cyberspace usage by criminals, and key arrests by each state. Collaborative action plans and best practices to combat organized crime were also discussed.
28-Aug-2024
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Singh Mann on August 28 inaugurated the office of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) and launched an anti-drug helpline and WhatsApp chatbot in Sector 79, Mohali, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. He announced that the unit has been renamed from Special Task Force (STF) to ANTF, with its manpower being doubled and INR 12 crore allocated for its modernization. Additionally, a new headquarters will be established in Mohali, with INR 10 crore sanctioned for the state's Enforcement-De-Addiction-Prevention strategy.
28-Aug-2024
Police on August 28 arrested a gangster identified as James and seized two illegal .32 bore weapons and 10 cartridges from his possession at a checkpoint near Tarkhanmajra village in Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib district. The police stated that James had been involved in multiple extortion cases in Fatehgarh Sahib and Ludhiana.