KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
18-Jun-2024
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) of the Punjab Police on June 18 produced notorious gangsters Sampat Nehra and Deepak alias Tinu, operatives of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, under high security in a court in Mohali, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. They were brought on a production warrant in connection with an Arms Act case and placed on one-day police remand.
18-Jun-2024
A local court on June 18 granted bail to Javed Jhinjha and Ravinder Singh, members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, in an extortion case registered on May 18 in Chandigarh. Despite police opposition, citing ongoing investigations and recent incidents involving the gang, the court granted bail after the defence argued that their clients were falsely implicated and co-accused had already been granted bail.
18-Jun-2024
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on June 18 urged the Union government to order a high-level probe into notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's activities from jail, including a video call with Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti. Senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia highlighted Bishnoi's continued influence and threat to national security, citing his involvement in the assassination of singer Sidhu Moose Wala and recent criminal activities. Majithia called for concrete steps from the Centre and a thorough investigation into 43,000 calls made by gangsters from Punjab jails in recent years.
18-Jun-2024
In Rajasthan, Border Security Force (BSF) troops recently recovered six kilograms of heroin dropped by a Pakistani drone in the Sriganganagar sector, highlighting the ongoing issue of drug smuggling via drones. This border area has become more sensitive due to the nexus between Pakistani smugglers and Punjab's drug mafia. Rajasthan's Director General of Police (DGP) Utkal Ranjan Sahu and other experts advocate for anti-drone technology to curb these infiltrations. Recent incidents include multiple heroin drops and subsequent recoveries by the BSF and local police.
18-Jun-2024
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann announced on June 18 the transfer of at least 10,000 police personnel from constable rank onward in an unprecedented move to combat the drug menace in Punjab. The decision came after discovering a nexus between drug peddlers and police officers, highlighted by ignored complaints and early releases of accused individuals. Mann, along with Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, emphasized a crackdown on drug hotspots, increased police recruitment, and strict action against corrupt officers and gangsters, including property confiscations and de-addiction efforts for addicts.
17-Jun-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on June 17 recovered 570 grams of heroin and a 9×19 mm calibre bullet near Kahangarh village in Amritsar district.
17-Jun-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) and the Punjab Police, in a joint operation on June 17, recovered a packet of heroin weighing 550 grams along with a China-made drone near Roranwala village in Amritsar district.
17-Jun-2024
On June 17, Iqbal Singh Lalpura, the chairman of the National Commission for Minorities, visited Sukhwinder Singh, a recent assault victim, and discussed the incident with local officials and community members in Kaithal, Haryana. He also chaired a meeting at the PWD Rest House, emphasizing the importance of holding peace meetings to maintain harmony, condemned the attack, directed an investigation, and discussed preventive measures with district officials.
17-Jun-2024
Punjab Police on June 17 conducted raids on multiple hideouts of gangster and terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa, resulting in the arrest of five unidentified individuals and seized a bullet motorcycle and a car from their possession in Bathinda district. This operation was part of ongoing efforts to eradicate organized crime in Punjab.
17-Jun-2024
On June 17, railway stations in Punjab, including Beas and Bathinda, received bomb threats allegedly from the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The threats were purportedly made in retaliation for the killing of terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. Security at the mentioned railway stations has been significantly enhanced, and an investigation is underway to trace the source of the threat letter.
17-Jun-2024
Moga police on June 17 arrested two individuals, identified as Beant Singh and Sukhdeep Singh and seized 1 kg of heroin from their possession in Ajitwal, Moga district. Police revealed that Beant has been involved in drug peddling for seven years with five cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act against him, while Sukhdeep has been trafficking drugs for ten years with six cases registered.
17-Jun-2024
Punjab Police, in collaboration with the Border Security Force (BSF) and Village Defence Committees (VDCs), is set to conduct a week-long anti-drug campaign named 'Mission Nishchay' in Fazilka district. The campaign will target 42 villages along the India-Pakistan border from June 15 to 21, 2024. The initiative aims to engage community participation and gather intelligence on drug demand and supply, with a specific focus on youth and women. This action follows recent arrests in Fazilka, where police seized 5.5 kg of heroin and arrested seven individuals, highlighting the district's vulnerability to drug smuggling activities.
16-Jun-2024
Punjab Police on June 16 arrested family members of Canada-based terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa and his associate Yadwinder Singh Yadu, who were involved in the RPG attack on a police station in Tarn Taran, identified as Ranjodh Singh, brother-in-law of Lakhbir Singh Landa; his sister Jaspal Kaur; his mother Parminder Kaur; Jaikaar Singh, father of Yadwinder Singh; his mother Baljeet Kaur; and his sister Husanpreet Kaur in Jalandhar district.
16-Jun-2024
On June 16, Punjab Police conducted a large-scale cordon and search operation (CASO) across the state to tackle drug trafficking and recovered 2.7 kilograms of heroin, INR 1.50 lakh in cash, 12.2 kilograms of poppy husk, 5,820 intoxicant tablets, and a substantial quantity of illicit liquor. This crackdown involved over 450 teams and 3,000 personnel, targeting 280 drug hotspots, resulting in 140 First Information Reports (FIRs) and the arrest of 166 individuals. The operation is part of a broader strategy that includes enforcement, de-addiction, and prevention efforts, which have significantly increased heroin recoveries and improved conviction rates under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act since 2017.
16-Jun-2024
The Jalandhar Range police on June 16 conducted a cordon and search operation (CASO) across Jalandhar Rural, Kapurthala, and Hoshiarpur districts to combat drug smuggling, under the supervision of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Harmandir Singh Gill. DIG Gill personally visited several locations, including Ganna village near Phillaur, to support police efforts. The operation focused on disrupting drug supply networks, resulting in the detention of multiple suspects and the seizure of significant quantities of narcotics. The police also encouraged public cooperation in reporting suspicious activities to aid in creating a drug-free community.
16-Jun-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on June 16 carried out a search operation after receiving a tip-off and recovered a packet containing the body of a pistol and five rounds of 7.62 mm calibre from fields near Rattankhurd village in Amritsar district.
16-Jun-2024
The police on June 16 arrested a drug peddler, identified as Kulwinder Singh and seized 28 grams of heroin from his possession on Hindumalkot Road near Abohar in Fazilka district. His two accomplices, including a woman, managed to flee.
16-Jun-2024
According to reports, the Special Director General of Police (DGP) for Law and Order has instructed the Police Commissioner of Amritsar to take necessary action after Jatinder Kalra, former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state secretary, reported allegations of drug sales in Amritsar (North) to Governor Banwarilal Purohit. The allegations, initially made by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, highlight ongoing drug issues in a region where the ruling party had pledged to eliminate the drug menace. Kalra also noted that 14 individuals recently died from drug overdoses in the state, suggesting possible police-smuggler collusion.
15-Jun-2024
According to reports, in the first two weeks of June 2024, at least 14 alleged drug overdose deaths have been reported across Punjab, with nine occurring in just the last week, highlighting the ongoing struggle against drug abuse in the region. The police have initiated actions against alleged drug suppliers in connection with several deaths, reflecting the severity of the drug menace often linked to smuggling from Pakistan. The situation echoes a similar crisis in June 2018, underscoring the persistent challenge of drug-related fatalities in the state.
15-Jun-2024
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on June 15 intercepted a drone and recovered it along with a packet containing 550 grams of heroin on the outskirts of Rattankhurd village in Amritsar district.
15-Jun-2024
Khanna Police on June 15 conducted searches at the houses of three associates of Canada-based gangster and Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa, identified as Ricky, Vishnu Soni, and Ravi Rajgarh, in Ludhiana district. The operation aimed to monitor and verify the activities of these individuals. Landa is linked to Khalistani terrorism and is involved in numerous criminal and terrorist activities, including weapons smuggling.
14-Jun-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police, in a joint search operation on June 14, recovered one drone along with a packet of heroin weighing 557 grams from a farming field adjacent to Kahangarh village in Amritsar district. The drone was a China-made DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
14-Jun-2024
According to the Border Security Force (BSF), drone intrusions along the International Border in Punjab have surged, with the BSF and Punjab Police seizing 100 drones in the last six months. This marks a significant increase compared to the 107 drones seized in 2023 and 53 from 2020 to 2022. The majority of these drone activities, primarily used for contraband smuggling, were concentrated in the Amritsar and Tarn Taran sectors. In response, the BSF has enhanced its detection and interception capabilities, including training personnel and dogs. Additionally, they have seized 130 kg of heroin and apprehended 89 individuals involved in drug trafficking and illegal crossings.
13-Jun-2024
A Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mohali, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district on June 13 dismissed the bail plea of Jagwinder Singh alias Jagga, a member of the banned Khalistani organization Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). Singh was accused of aiding the hoisting of a Khalistan flag on the Moga Deputy Commissioner's office in 2020, as well as providing shelter and logistical support to the perpetrators. The court, citing the seriousness and gravity of the allegations, denied bail.
13-Jun-2024
According to sources, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India is conducting an in-depth investigation into the recruitment operations of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) in Punjab, following revelations that imprisoned KTF member Kamaljeet Sharma has been actively recruiting youths. Supported by information from the Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Radicalisation (CTCR) division of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA), the investigation also focuses on the international collaboration between KTF and the Bambiha criminal gang for carrying out terrorist activities, including smuggling arms and narcotics, and executing extortion and targeted killings in Punjab and surrounding regions. The investigation uncovered that KTF operatives based abroad are consistently enlisting new members with assistance from Kamaljeet Sharma, currently incarcerated in Patiala's central jail. According to the document, Sharma is recruiting fellow inmates to join KTF.