KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
18-Aug-2024
A 27-year-old environmental and social activist from Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh (HP), identified as Siddharth Bakaria, has been receiving constant death threats from Khalistani supporters after posting on social media platform X about a Khalistani separatist poster of Bhindranwale placed on a vehicle in Banikhet, Chamba district, HP. Despite reporting the threats and an attempted attack by a group, including a man dressed as a Nihang Sikh, to the police, no action has been taken so far. He has written to the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Chamba District, Himachal Pradesh, requesting immediate action.
18-Aug-2024
Police Anti-Narcotic Cell on August 18 arrested an individual, identified as Gurdeep Singh alias Deepu and seized 15,000 Pregabalin 300 mg capsules along with a car from his possession in Abohar, Fazilka district.
18-Aug-2024
Police on August 18 arrested a drug dealer, identified as Jaidev and seized 7,000 Pregabalin 300 mg capsules and 100 tablets of Tramadol from his possession in Nihal Khera village in Fazilka district. The police revealed that Jaidev used to sell drugs and intoxicant capsules under the guise of selling cotton cake and feed at his shop.
18-Aug-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on August 18 recovered a packet containing 500 grams of heroin from fields near Machhiwara village in Ferozepur district.
18-Aug-2024
Patiala Police are investigating the use of web-based smart apps by criminals to procure and smuggle firearms for targeted killings and other crimes following the arrest of Tarun, a Rajasthan-based weapon smuggler, who was caught with four illegal pistols while attempting to deliver a consignment in Bathinda, Punjab. The investigation has revealed his connections with gangsters operating from foreign locations, particularly a Dubai-based criminal. Additionally, the police are tracing the source of the weapons, believed to be supplied by a man in Bihar, and have uncovered that the illegal weapon manufacturing industry has shifted from Uttar Pradesh (UP) to Madhya Pradesh (MP).
17-Aug-2024
Police on August 17 arrested two people identified as Jassu Ram and Rawal Ram and seized 2.7 kg of opium from their possession on Moga-Dharamkot road near Dharamkot in Moga district. The suspects had arranged the drug deal through social media and were caught during a police patrol.
17-Aug-2024
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on August 17 detained two drug lords, Akshay Chhabra and Jaspal Singh alias Goldy, under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (PITNDPS) in Punjab, with both set to be held in Dibrugarh, Assam. Despite being incarcerated, they continued their drug operations, leading to additional charges. Chhabra was arrested at Jaipur International Airport in 2022 while attempting to flee the country. Their Ludhiana-based syndicate is responsible for smuggling nearly 1,400 kg of heroin, and the NCB has seized significant quantities of drugs and frozen assets worth over INR 57 crore linked to the group.
17-Aug-2024
Punjab Police on August 17 arrested Gulab Singh, a key suspect wanted for the 77-kg heroin haul in 2023, in Deep Singh Wala village in Faridkot district. His arrest is expected to disrupt cross-border smuggling networks, as he was involved in delivering 36 kg of heroin and had connections with Pakistan-based smugglers.
17-Aug-2024
Punjab Police on August 17 arrested Gulab Singh, a key suspect wanted for the 77-kg heroin haul in 2023, in Deep Singh Wala village, Faridkot district. However, villagers claim that he had been freely roaming in Deep Singh Wala for a year, despite their repeated alerts to the police. The arrest came after the Naujawan Bharat Sabha (NBS) threatened protests, pressuring the police to act. Faridkot Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pragya Jain stated that the police had been actively searching for Gulab Singh, who was declared a proclaimed offender and had links to Pakistan-based drug traffickers.
17-Aug-2024
Police on August 17 arrested an individual, identified as Gurdev Singh for allegedly threatening to blow up Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport in Amritsar. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) received an email from Gurdev demanding INR 1 crore and claiming to have planted six bombs at the airport. During preliminary interrogation, Gurdev named two individuals, whose identities are currently being verified by the police.
17-Aug-2024
The Government Railway Police (GRP) on August 17 arrested an individual identified as Happy and seized ten pistols and ten magazines from his possession in Rajpura, Patiala district. The weapons were found in a bag discarded from a moving train at Rajpura Railway Station. The police recovered the bag and launched an investigation, which led to Happy’s arrest.
17-Aug-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on August 17 arrested a suspected smuggler, identified as Jaj Singh, and seized a mobile phone containing various suspicious contacts during an ambush near Dona Nanak village in Fazilka district. Singh was already on the BSF's list of suspected smugglers due to his involvement in previous narcotics cases.
17-Aug-2024
Jarnail Singh Sakhira, chief organizer of Sarbat Khalsa, criticized Sukhbir Singh Badal for failing to provide a detailed acknowledgment of alleged mistakes under the Shiromani Akali Dal's (SAD) regime, such as the Bargari sacrilege and the pardoning of Gurmeet Ram Rahim, following an emergency meeting of the group in Amritsar on August 17. Sakhira claimed that this omission undermines accountability and shifts the blame onto Sukhbir's late father, Parkash Singh Badal.
16-Aug-2024
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on August 16 alleged that since the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parted ways in 2020, the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government has been ignoring Sikh issues, including the demand to rename Sahibzadas Martyrdom Day and address concerns about historic gurdwaras. SGPC Chief Harjinder Singh Dhami also alleged deliberate neglect by the Central Government in engaging with the Akal Takht's panel on Sikh political prisoners. In contrast, sources claimed that when SAD and BJP were allies, Sikh issues were addressed more promptly, such as the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor in 2019.
16-Aug-2024
On August 16, protests erupted after an individual identified as Hardev Singh allegedly desecrated the Guru Granth Sahib at Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Bhagwanpur village in Kapurthala district. Granthi Sohan Singh discovered the desecration and reported the incident, leading to Hardev Singh being beaten by locals and later hospitalized. The protests, led by villagers and Sikh organizations, were suspended after the police assured that action would be taken.
16-Aug-2024
A Delhi court on August 16 reserved its order for August 30 on whether to frame charges against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler in connection with the killing of three people at Pul Bangash during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Tytler, accused by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of inciting the mob that carried out the killings, faces charges of rioting, abetment, and murder under the Indian Penal Code.
16-Aug-2024
On August 16, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) held an executive committee meeting in Chandigarh and decided to urge the Akal Takht Jathedar to lead efforts in addressing the cases of Balwant Singh Rajoana and other Sikh prisoners who remain in jail despite having completed their sentences. SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami criticized the government for discriminating against Sikhs and expressed frustration over the lack of response from the Centre while addressing the media after the meeting. The SGPC also decided to double the monthly compensation for Sikh prisoners from INR 20,000 to INR 40,000.
16-Aug-2024
In memory of the lakhs of Punjabis who lost their lives during the 1947 partition, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) organized an ardas (Sikh prayer) at Sri Akal Takht Sahib in Amritsar, Punjab, on August 16. Following the bhog of Sri Akhand Path Sahib, the event featured Gurbani Kirtan, with Ardas offered by Bhai Prem Singh and a hukamnama recited by Giani Malkeet Singh. Addressing the gathering, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh highlighted the severe suffering of Punjabis, especially Sikhs, during the partition and criticized the ongoing injustices against Sikhs, urging the community to unite against these challenges.
16-Aug-2024
The State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) of Punjab Police on August 16 arrested one person, identified as Vinod Kumar alias Rahul for running an inter-state organized arms smuggling racket and seized four .32 bore pistols from his possession near a toll plaza in Gharuan, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. Kumar, who has a criminal background, was involved in supplying illegal arms from Madhya Pradesh (MP) to Punjab and providing logistical support to various gangs. Further investigations are underway to uncover the full extent of the smuggling network.
16-Aug-2024
Punjab Police on August 16 arrested four members of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang, identified as Asrat Kanth alias Sabi, Kamalpreet Singh alias Komal Bajwa, Pardeep Kumar alias Gora, and Gurmeet Raj alias Juneja and seized one China-made 7.65 mm Glock, two .30 bore pistols, one revolver, four cartridges, three magazines, and two cars (a Mahindra XUV and a Maruti Brezza) from their possession following a hot chase on the Jalandhar-Batala Highway near Maqsuda in Jalandhar district. The operation exposed an international arms supply network linked to the gang, with weapons funneled through a key figure identified as Aman alias Anda in Germany and a local contact, Sanju alias Sahil Kumar, who is currently in jail. A fifth suspect, identified as Sajandeep, managed to escape.
15-Aug-2024
Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, on August 15 in Chandigarh, announced an annual award of INR 36 lakh from his discretionary quota to recognize the top three border village-level defence committees in six districts for their efforts in eradicating drugs. The awards include INR 3 lakh for the first, INR 2 lakh for the second, and INR 1 lakh for the third-best performing committees in each district. He also emphasized the importance of collective efforts against drug-related challenges and anti-national activities along the Punjab-Pakistan border.
15-Aug-2024
The Drug Disposal Committee of Amritsar rural police on August 15 incinerated 18.05 kg of heroin, 5,275 intoxicant tablets and capsules, poppy husk, and ICE (a type of drug), all linked to 34 cases, both pre-trial and post-trial, at Khanna Paper Mill in Amritsar, Punjab.
15-Aug-2024
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal, on August 15 in Ludhiana, urged the Sikh community to recognize 'traitors' whose aim is to 'weaken' the community, amid calls for his resignation following the party's poor performance in the Lok Sabha polls. Badal also emphasized the need to identify true leaders and warned against those who support the community's enemies.
14-Aug-2024
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) on August 14 announced the names of Punjab Police officers to be awarded the Medal for Gallantry, the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service, and the Medal for Meritorious Service in New Delhi. Members of the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) team, including Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Sandeep Goel, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Bikramjit Singh Brar, DSP Rajan Parminder Singh, Inspector Pushvinder Singh, Sub-Inspector (SI) Jaspreet Singh, SI Gurpreet Singh, and Constable Sukhraj Singh, will receive the Medal for Gallantry.
14-Aug-2024
All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) Chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina recently announced that Sikhs will field independent candidates in various constituencies for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) assembly polls, in an interview with The Week. This decision addresses long-standing grievances, including the exclusion of Punjabi from school curricula and unmet promises regarding minority status and job opportunities. Raina emphasized the need for fair representation and support from other local communities to address these issues effectively.