KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
26-Jun-2024
Chief Secretary Anurag Verma, on June 26, ordered strict compliance with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's directives to curb the drug menace while chairing a state-level Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) meeting in Chandigarh. He emphasised targeting major drug traffickers and publicising Section 31 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for habitual offenders.
26-Jun-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops, in a joint operation with Punjab Police on June 26, recovered a packet of heroin weighing 580 grams along with a drone near Kalia village in Tarn Taran district.
26-Jun-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops, in a joint operation with Punjab Police on June 26, recovered a packet containing 540 grams of heroin wrapped in yellow adhesive tape, along with a metal loop and an illuminating strip attached, near Noorwala village in Tarn Taran district.
26-Jun-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops conducted a search operation on June 26 and recovered a drone along with 510 grams of heroin in a packet tied to it, from fields near Barreke village in Ferozepur district.
26-Jun-2024
Amidst the ongoing crisis in the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, while addressing the anniversary of the Akal Takht's foundation at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on June 26, urged Sikh political leaders to unite under the Akal Takht's guidance. He emphasised the significance of 'Miri' (temporal authority) and 'Piri' (spiritual authority) and criticised current leaders for looking towards Delhi instead of the Akal Takht.
25-Jun-2024
Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, the son of Beant Singh, who assassinated former Indian Prime Minister (PM) Indira Gandhi, took the oath as a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha in New Delhi on June 25.
25-Jun-2024
Khalistani preacher and Member of Parliament (MP)-elect and the chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD), Amritpal Singh, was unable to take his oath as an MP on June 25, when the oath-taking ceremony for the newly elected MPs from Punjab was held, due to being detained under the National Security Act (NSA) in Dibrugarh jail in Assam.
25-Jun-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on June 25 announced a reward of INR 10 lakh each for information leading to the arrest of Harjit Singh and Kulbeer Singh, accused in the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Vikas Prabhakar in Punjab. The case, registered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and Arms Act, pertains to ongoing investigations where both individuals remain absconding.
25-Jun-2024
On June 25, during a monthly meeting overseen by District Commissioner (DC) Pallavi and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Simrat Kaur, it was disclosed that assets worth INR 9.85 crore were frozen and INR 1.16 crore in drug money was recovered from 113 peddlers under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in Malerkotla district, Punjab. Additionally, 20 kg of opium was seized from 13 individuals in the district. The meeting, part of the Narco Coordination Centre Mechanism, emphasized the need for community engagement in combating drug abuse and discussed upcoming seminars and rehabilitation initiatives for the affected youth.
24-Jun-2024
Tarsem Singh, father of Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh, who is currently detained under the National Security Act (NSA) in Dibrugarh jail in Assam, expressed uncertainty about his son taking the oath on June 25 as Member of Parliament (MP)-elect from Khadoor Sahib constituency in Punjab. Despite his detention, Amritpal has a window of 60 days to take the oath, according to his lawyer, Rajdev Singh Khalsa.
24-Jun-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on June 24 intercepted a drone and later recovered the drone along with 510 grams of heroin, from fields near PS Wala Hithar village in Fazilka district.
24-Jun-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on June 24 carried out a search operation, based on information provided by villagers, and recovered a packet containing 560 grams of heroin and a drone near Raja Rai village in Ferozepur district.
24-Jun-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on June 24 recovered a broken drone from fields near Thekalan village in Tarn Taran district.
24-Jun-2024
The police on June 24 arrested two drug smugglers identified as Jagannath Singh and Raj Kumar and seized INR 27.10 lakh along with a car from their possession in Amritsar, Amritsar district. The duo was reportedly in contact with Pakistan-based handlers since February and involved in exporting furnishings and agricultural produce. This arrest is part of a broader operation that began on June 20, leading to the capture of 10 individuals, the seizure of 4 kg of heroin, INR 29.17 lakh in drug and hawala money, two pistols, 45 bullets, and eight vehicles.
24-Jun-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on June 24 intercepted and shot down a drone ferrying 400 grams of heroin near Chaklabaksh village in Ajnala, Amritsar district.
24-Jun-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on June 24 recovered a packet containing 530 grams of heroin along with a drone, near Lakha Singh Wala village in Ferozepur district.
24-Jun-2024
In response to local residents and traders in Ambala calling for an end to the 133-day protest by farmers at the Shambhu border, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee leader Sarvan Singh Pandher, on June 24, insisted they were not protesting frivolously. They claimed the government had set up barricades preventing them from marching to Delhi and had not initiated talks or fulfilled promises regarding the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
23-Jun-2024
Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, via a statement on social media site X on June 23, described the 1985 Kanishka bombing of Air India Flight 182 as one of the worst acts of terrorism in history and paid homage to the 329 victims while emphasizing that terrorism should never be tolerated.
23-Jun-2024
Former diplomat and current Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs and Petroleum & Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, on June 23 paid tribute to the victims of the 1985 'Kanishka' flight bombing, denouncing it as one of the most reprehensible acts of terror against India, via a statement on social media site X. He stated that such extremist actions have no place in a sane and civilized world and lamented that the systems and mindsets supporting such terrorism still find sympathizers, undermining international efforts to combat violent extremism.
23-Jun-2024
Three associates of United States (US)-based smuggler Sarvan Singh alias Bhola Havelian, identified as Karanjit Singh, Akash Seth alias Raghu, and Sukhdeep Singh, who were arrested on June 22, were sent to two-day police custody in Amritsar. The suspects were found in possession of six pistols, six live cartridges, ten magazines, 200 grams of heroin, and an electronic weighing machine, and were involved in significant narcotic and weapon smuggling activities across the international border. Preliminary investigations revealed Akash Seth's involvement in smuggling approximately 15 kg of heroin and conducting INR 1.5 crore of 'hawala' transactions in the past month.
23-Jun-2024
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on June 23 discussed river water disputes and the ongoing depletion of underground water in Punjab. Attended by a large number of SKM members, the seminar concluded with a unanimous resolution asserting that water is a 'state subject' and that the central government should not have the authority to issue executive orders or make decisions concerning river water management.
23-Jun-2024
According to reports, Punjab continues to face severe challenges with drug addiction among its youth, with 14 recent deaths highlighting the ongoing crisis despite various initiatives over the years. Efforts like the "Tu Mera Buddy" program launched in 2018 and the more recent "The Hope Initiative" by Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann in 2023 aim to combat this issue through community involvement and awareness campaigns. However, the persistent high toll of drug-related fatalities underscores the need for more effective and sustained measures to address the drug menace, particularly against the backdrop of smuggling from across the Pakistan border.
22-Jun-2024
Punjab Police on June 22 busted a narcotics and organized crime nexus backed by United States-based smuggler Sarwan Singh alias Bhola Havelian, and arrested three operatives: Karanjit Singh, Akash Seth, alias Raghu, and Sukhdeep Singh and seized six pistols, six live cartridges, ten magazines, 200 grams of heroin, and an electronic weighing machine from their possession in Ajnala in Amritsar district. The arrested individuals were found to be directly in touch with Bhola Havelian, supplying weapons and heroin as part of the criminal operation.
22-Jun-2024
Acting on a complaint from District Drug Inspector Shishan Mittal, the police on June 22 recovered 590 intoxicating pills and INR 11.38 lakh in drug money from the bike of an alleged supplier, Vikas Kumar, in Abohar in Fazilka district, Punjab. Although Vikas Kumar remains at large, the authorities have registered a case against him.
22-Jun-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops and Punjab Police, in a joint operation on June 22, recovered a drone from fields near Noorwala village in Tarn Taran district.