KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
13-Jun-2024
Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Ravneet Bittu, in an interview with Hindustan Times, expressed a willingness to support any central government initiative to pardon or release Sikh prisoners, including Balwant Singh Rajoana. He emphasized the importance of reconciliation and progress in Punjab.
13-Jun-2024
On June 13, Harjeet Singh Dhami, representing the families of the 1984 Anti-Sikh riot victims from Ramgarh Barkunda, handed over a list of 12 victims to Satnam Singh Gambhir, the East India President of the All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF), in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. This action follows a directive from the Jharkhand High Court, which requested a district-wise breakdown of uncompensated victims. Gambhir reaffirmed his commitment to securing justice and compensation for all victims, emphasizing the ongoing struggle despite a 40-year delay.
13-Jun-2024
In response to recent terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Punjab Police and the Border Security Force (BSF) have been placed on high alert in Punjab. Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav has directed increased vigilance and strengthened coordination with the BSF and Army to secure the 533 km international border with Pakistan. This includes deploying additional forces and specialized units such as Punjab Police commandos and Punjab Armed Police, alongside paramilitary forces, to prevent any cross-border incidents.
13-Jun-2024
Police intensified their crackdown on drug trafficking on June 13 by freezing assets worth INR 17 lakh belonging to convicted trafficker Gurdial Singh alias Dallu, in Fatehgarh Panjtoor village, Moga district. This action follows the forfeiture of properties valued at INR 2.14 crore from four drug smugglers in May 2024 under Section 68 (F) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
13-Jun-2024
Police on June 13 arrested one individual, identified as Kuldeep Kumar Chandu and seized 10 kg of poppy husk from his possession at Rampura village in Fazilka district.
13-Jun-2024
The Anti-Gangster Task Force on June 13 arrested an operative of jailed gangster Deepak Tinu, who is an associate of Lawrence Bishnoi-Goldy Brar gang, identified as Vijay and seized one .30 calibre pistol along with five live rounds from his possession near Gagan Chowk on the Rajpura-Chandigarh Highway in Rajpura in Patiala district. Vijay, who helped gangster Deepak Tinu escape in 2017, has a history of serious crimes in Punjab and Haryana. Investigations revealed that he was ordered by jailed/foreign handlers to assassinate members of the rival Bambiha Gang and had previously orchestrated a murder in Malaysia.
13-Jun-2024
Police on June 13 arrested an individual, identified as Hari Darshan alias Harry and seized a .315 bore weapon and five cartridges from his possession near Dharam Nagari in Fazilka district.
12-Jun-2024
According to intelligence received by security agencies, the banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) has escalated its anti-India propaganda by inciting the Muslim community to demand a separate state named 'Urduistan.' Exploiting social media platforms, SFJ is provoking Muslims with false narratives about Narendra Modi's leadership and alleged threats to Sharia Law. Security agencies are closely monitoring SFJ's activities, recognizing them as divisive maneuvers that threaten national unity and communal harmony. Intercepted communications suggest SFJ's attempts to garner international support, alleging backing from China, Canada, and Pakistan in their agenda for Khalistan and Urduistan.
12-Jun-2024
Following the attack on Sukhwinder Singh on June 10 in Kaithal, Haryana, farmers rallied in solidarity with the Sikh community, reminiscent of their unity during the 2020-21 protests. Demanding justice, they recently protested in Jind district, urging the arrest of Kangana Ranaut and condemning divisive actions. Raju, who had intervened during the attack on Sukhwinder, was hailed as a hero, emphasizing Haryana's commitment to unity. Farmer groups also planned an interfaith congregation to support Sikhs, affirming unity and denouncing hate crimes.
12-Jun-2024
Punjab Police's initiative to establish dedicated financial investigation units has yielded significant results, leading to the attachment and freezing of properties worth INR 188 crore acquired through illegal drug activities since 2022. With the addition of 60 financial domain experts recruited to assist in tracking drug money and other financial crimes, the force aims to strengthen its capabilities further. These units, comprising trained officials and civilian support staff, play a crucial role in identifying and seizing assets linked to drug dealers and other criminal activities, thereby contributing to the state's efforts to combat drug trafficking and financial fraud.
12-Jun-2024
Police on June 12 arrested a woman, identified as Mohan Kaur for attempting to smuggle 10 grams of drug powder to her grandson, Jaswant Singh, during a meeting at Central Jail in Faridkot district.
11-Jun-2024
Police on June 11 busted a trans-border narcotic smuggling network and arrested three drug smugglers, identified as Gursahib Singh, Sajan Singh, and Satnam Singhand seized 8 kg of heroin, one .30 bore pistol, 26 live cartridges of .30 bore, a Splendor motorcycle, and a Maruti Swift car from their possession at a checkpoint near Adda Khusro Tahli in Amritsar district. The smugglers were linked to a Pakistan-based network using drones to deliver heroin across the Indo-Pak border in Punjab. The case is registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Arms Act.
11-Jun-2024
On June 11, a Sikh man identified as Sukhwindar Singh was attacked and called a “Khalistani” by two youths while heading home on his scooter in Kaithal district in Haryana. Preliminary investigation revealed the man had consumed alcohol, and a case of assault was registered by the police against two unknown individuals. Despite no evidence of the slur being used, the incident drew condemnation from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Congress, and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders, who demanded swift action against the culprits.
11-Jun-2024
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in Amritsar on June 11 condemned the assault on a Sikh man, Sukhwinder Singh, in Kaithal, Haryana, and demanded immediate legal action against the culprits. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami expressed shock and emphasized that the incident reflects growing hate against the Sikh community. He called on the Haryana and central governments to urgently address these illegal activities.
11-Jun-2024
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) of the Punjab Police on June 11 arrested two more operatives of a terror module being run by foreign-based mastermind Iqbalpreet Singh alias Buchi, identified as Simarjot Singh and Arshpreet Singh alias Arsh, along with two pistols — one .30 calibre and one .32 calibre — and 11 cartridges in Ludhiana district. The arrests follow the earlier capture of four module members, including key operative Gurwinder Singh alias Shera, on May 14, 2024. The accused have criminal backgrounds and have cases registered in Punjab and Rajasthan.
10-Jun-2024
India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar recently criticized Canada for allowing space for separatists and extremists who advocate violence, stating that it harms bilateral relations and is detrimental to Canada.
10-Jun-2024
Canada’s High Commissioner in India, Cameron MacKay, condemned the display in Brampton celebrating the assassination of former Prime Minister (PM) Indira Gandhi. He stated that there is no place in Canada for hate or the glorification of violence.
10-Jun-2024
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann, on June 10, responded to the incident involving a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) constable slapping actress and Member of Parliament (MP) Kangana Ranaut. He stated that the constable's anger was likely fuelled by Kangana's remarks on the farmers' protest. He also criticized Kangana for labelling Punjab as a 'terrorist' state and highlighted Punjab's historical contributions and agricultural importance.
10-Jun-2024
Jalandhar Commissionerate Police, on June 10, arrested three criminals associated with the Canada-based terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa’s gang: Gurpreet Singh alias Gopy, Bhupinder Singh alias Bunty, and Jagroop Singh alias Joopa, in Jalandhar district. The arrests followed an attempted murder case reported by a security officer on June 3, leading to the suspects' confession of involvement in serious crimes, including robbery, extortion, and illegal arms dealing. The police also revealed that the accused were engaged in cross-border smuggling of weapons and drugs, with further investigations ongoing under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
10-Jun-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops, On June 10, in a joint operation with Punjab Police, recovered 536 grams of heroin near Rajatal village in Amritsar district.
10-Jun-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on June 10 recovered a broken drone from the fields adjacent to Naushera Dhalla village in Tarn Taran district.
10-Jun-2024
Commandants stationed at Frontier Headquarters in Jalandhar on June 10 convened to deliberate and strategize essential operational, administrative, and logistical matters. In addition to enhancing operational readiness, they assessed the current security landscape, ensuring comprehensive preparedness to address potential threats effectively.
09-Jun-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on June 9 intercepted a drone and subsequently recovered a packet of heroin weighing 530 grams along with the drone near Rattankhurd village in in Amritsar district.
09-Jun-2024
On June 9, Ravneet Singh Bittu, a three-time Member of Parliament (MP) from Punjab and a vocal critic of pro-Khalistan hardliners, was inducted into Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi's council of ministers in New Delhi. Bittu, the grandson of assassinated former Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Beant Singh, is known for his tough stance against the Khalistan movement and high parliamentary engagement.
09-Jun-2024
According to sources, Canadian intelligence chief David Vigneault made two unannounced visits to India in February and March 2024 to discuss the killing of Khalistan terrorist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Vigneault provided Indian officials with intercepted communications and other information related to the case. This occurred before Canada arrested four Indian nationals in connection with Nijjar's murder.