KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
13-Jun-2026
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal, on June 13, speaking at a public event in Jalandhar, claimed that 70 per cent of the drugs reaching Punjab were entering through Gujarat, alleging that the State had become a major gateway for narcotics under the rule of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which he referred to as the “ED Party.” Kejriwal also described gangster Lawrence Bishnoi as the “ED Party ka damaad” (“the BJP’s son-in-law”), implying that he was receiving protection from the Central Government.
12-Jun-2026
On June 12, two motorcycle-borne assailants allegedly opened fire at the BMS Fashions showroom in Santokhpura, Jalandhar district, shattering the glass panes near the entrance after firing two shots. According to showroom owner Subhash Chander, his son had received an extortion call from an unidentified number on June 11, which went unanswered. The callers subsequently contacted him via WhatsApp and allegedly demanded INR 5 million as extortion money.
12-Jun-2026
According to Punjab Police records, more than 400 small weapons smuggled from Pakistan have been seized in 2025, with recoveries increasing nearly eightfold after Operation Sindoor. Since March 1, 2025, the Amritsar Police alone have recovered around 325 pistols, most allegedly smuggled from Pakistan. The Border Security Force (BSF) has also reported a sharp rise in cross-border arms trafficking, seizing over 200 sophisticated weapons, including AK-47 rifles, and intercepting 139 pistols in the past six months. The border districts of Amritsar and Tarn Taran recorded the highest number of drone intrusions and arms recoveries. Repeated seizures of foreign-made Glock, Beretta, and Turkish PX5 pistols, along with assault rifles, sub-machine guns, and ammunition, underscore the growing threat posed by drone-enabled smuggling networks and the enhanced capabilities of criminal and extremist groups.
12-Jun-2026
On June 12, the 143rd day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangstran Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahar— the police conducted 571 raids, arrested 358 persons and recovered six weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 119 individuals, while 7 persons were verified and released after questioning. Three proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
12-Jun-2026
On June 12, Punjab Police, on day 468 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 74 drug smugglers, and seized 208 grams of heroin, 150 kg of poppy husk, 1119 intoxicant pills and INR 262000 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
11-Jun-2026
On June 11, the 142nd day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangstran Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahar— the police conducted 593 raids, arrested 360 persons and recovered four weapons from their possession. Six proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
11-Jun-2026
Amritsar Police on June 11 dismantled a drug-smuggling network linked to Dubai-based kingpin Karan Chheharta and arrested six persons, identified as Gautam, Kabir alias Kaku, Sameer alias Sabarwal, Gurpreet Singh alias Keeda two juveniles and seized 30 kg of heroin from Chheharta in Amritsar district. Investigations revealed that Kabir was in direct contact with Karan, who allegedly coordinated drone-based heroin consignments from across the border and shared drop locations with local operatives for distribution across Punjab. Karan, who faces multiple NDPS Act cases, was reportedly operating from Dubai while maintaining links with Pakistan-based smugglers and recruiting youths, including juveniles, to transport and distribute narcotics. Kabir alias Kaku is also facing two criminal cases.
11-Jun-2026
As part of the third phase of the Punjab Government’s flagship anti-drug campaign, Yudh Nashian Virudh, the Punjab Police have launched a statewide crackdown on hawala networks allegedly involved in laundering drug proceeds and financing drug and arms smuggling. The operation aims to dismantle the financial infrastructure supporting organised criminal syndicates operating in the border State. In Amritsar, police identified 32 suspected hawala operators through intelligence inputs and financial investigations. One accused has been arrested, while the others have been summoned for questioning and their financial transactions are under scrutiny. Since the launch of the campaign, the Amritsar Police have arrested 21 hawala operators and recovered INR 18 million in suspected drug-related funds.
11-Jun-2026
Two unidentified men on a motorcycle on June 11 fired multiple rounds at the 24 Hs Fitness gym linked to Punjabi singer Guru Randhawa in Paschim Vihar area in New Delhi. Investigators said at least seven shots were fired during the attack. No injuries were reported. Soon after the firing, a social media message allegedly issued by the Anil Pandit faction of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang surfaced online, claiming responsibility for the attack. The message reportedly cited Guru Randhawa's growing proximity to Bollywood actor Salman Khan as the reason behind the firing.
11-Jun-2026
On June 11, gangster Shakeel Ansari, a Punjab resident and close associate of the Rohit Godara gang, was injured in an encounter with the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) and the Sadar Police in Sri Ganganagar district in Rajasthan. According to police, Ansari opened fire on the police team while attempting to flee, prompting retaliatory action in self-defence that left him injured in the leg.
11-Jun-2026
On June 11, Punjab Police, on day 467 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 104 drug smugglers, and seized 1.2 kg of heroin, 3 kg of poppy husk, 257 intoxicant pills and INR 6250 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
10-Jun-2026
Gangster Vainket Garg was extradited from Georgia and brought to the Special Task Force (STF) headquarters in Gurugram, Haryana on June 10. According to STF Inspector General B. Satheesh Balan, Garg heads a criminal network of around 53 members involved in murder, targeted killings, attempted murder, extortion, organised crime, and the illegal use of firearms across Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Panchkula, and Chandigarh. Investigations revealed that Garg fled India on December 10, 2024, via Indira Gandhi International Airport, travelling first to the United Arab Emirates before relocating to Georgia on January 26, 2025.
10-Jun-2026
On June 10, the 141st day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangstran Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahar— the police conducted 557 raids, arrested 303 persons and recovered two weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 123 individuals, while 12 persons were verified and released after questioning. Seven proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
10-Jun-2026
On June 10, Punjab Police, on day 466 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 90 drug smugglers, and seized 5.2 kg of heroin, 35 kg of poppy husk, 360 intoxicant tablets and INR 2,600 in drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
10-Jun-2026
Multiple bomb threat emails, some referencing ‘Khalistan’ and ‘Operation Blue Star’, were sent on June 10 to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur, the Chief Minister’s Office, and the mayoral offices in Mumbai and Pune, in Maharashtra. The threats prompted evacuations and security searches at several locations; however, officials stated that no suspicious objects were found during subsequent investigations.
10-Jun-2026
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav announced on June 10 the third phase of the “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, launching a three-day statewide drive against illegal hawala operators involved in laundering drug proceeds and supporting narcotics networks. He stated that Punjab Police is pursuing a financial disruption strategy focused on identifying, tracing, freezing, and confiscating assets linked to drug trafficking. Since the campaign began, police have targeted the financial infrastructure of organised drug networks through legal action against traffickers, hawala operators, drug proceeds, and illegally acquired assets, with the latest phase aimed at further weakening the economic foundations of drug syndicates in the State.
09-Jun-2026
On June 9, Punjab Police, on day 465 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 100 drug smugglers, and seized 1.8 kg of heroin, 50 kg of poppy husk, 606 intoxicant pills, and INR 1,900 in drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
09-Jun-2026
On June 9, the 140th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangstran Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahar— the police conducted 554 raids, arrested 275 persons and recovered five weapons from their possession. Four proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
09-Jun-2026
Punjab Police, in coordination with central agencies, on June 9 arrested two men, identified as Davinder Singh and Rajwinder Singh, and recovered two hand grenades from their possession in Amritsar district. Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused were in direct contact with foreign-based handlers and were allegedly acting on their instructions. Police said the recovery of the grenades points to a larger conspiracy aimed at disturbing peace and public order in the border state.
09-Jun-2026
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on June 9 conducted coordinated searches at 18 locations across nine districts in Punjab and Haryana in connection with three terror-gangster network cases linked to Pakistan-based operative Shahzad Bhatti. NIA teams examined several individuals and seized digital devices, documents, and information related to communication networks, financial transactions, and the activities of persons under investigation. The searches were aimed at identifying Bhatti's associates and other individuals allegedly linked to the broader terror conspiracy being investigated in the three cases.