KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
22-Mar-2024
According to reports from central intelligence agencies, Pro-Khalistan Entities (PKEs) are experiencing a leadership vacuum, prompting efforts to cultivate new leaders besides Khalistani terrorists and the chief of the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The report said that fragmentation within PKEs has led to discord among supporters and reduced violent protests, citing the absence of strong leadership. Pakistan-backed groups are also trying to intensify their recruitment to advance the Khalistan agenda in the United Kingdom (UK) and Canada, amid concerns over unchecked human trafficking.
22-Mar-2024
The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) on March 22 directed immediate sanitisation of high-security zones in jails to prevent inmates from making extortion and threatening calls using mobile phones. The court demanded jail-wise data on mobile phone recoveries and seizures from Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh over the past three months. The court emphasised the urgency of sanitising high-security zones to curb extortion and threatening activities, scheduling further hearings for April 15. The proceedings were initiated following an in-custody interview with gangster and criminal Lawrence Bishnoi.
21-Mar-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on March 21 arrested two key operatives, identified as Deepak Khurana alias Deepu and Avtar Singh alias Sunny, in the Attari drug seizure case involving over 102 kg of heroin valued at INR 700 crore, in New Delhi. Both accused were involved in drug distribution, handling cash, and laundering drug proceeds. They were associated with the prime accused Razi Haider Zaidi and Shahid Ahmed alias Qazi Abdul Wadood. The narcotics, smuggled from Afghanistan via the Integrated Check Post (ICP) Attari in Amritsar district, Punjab, were intended for distribution in India under the direction of Dubai-based Shahid Ahmed.
21-Mar-2024
Khalistan preacher and chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD), Amritpal Singh, along with his associates, ended their hunger strike in Dibrugarh jail in Assam on March 21. Following the orders of Jathedar Singh Sahib of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, a delegation including Giani Malkit Singh met the detainees, offering prayers and Prasad of Hari Ki Pauri. The hunger strike, initiated on February 16, protested against privacy and human rights violations in the jail.
21-Mar-2024
According to sources, following the United States (US) claims of an alleged plot to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an intelligence operative from India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) has been removed from his position, and several others have been reshuffled. India's investigation concluded that rogue operatives, not authorized by the government, were involved in the plot. Although the Indian government revealed little officially, it informed US authorities about the findings of the high-level committee.
20-Mar-2024
Police on March 20 arrested gangster, Movish Bains, a member of the Puneet Bains Gang from the Jandiali area in Ludhiana district. This arrest came two weeks after two gangsters, Movish and Mukul, shot at each other near a shrine in Vijay Nagar, Ludhiana. The arrest followed a tip-off, during which Movish attempted to escape but sustained leg injuries in the process.
20-Mar-2024
Police on March 20 booked Lakhbir Singh Landa along with his accomplice Satnam Singh Satta for extortion from a couple in Ruriwala village in Tarn Taran district. Landa and Satta allegedly sought INR 25 lakh in extortion from Partap Singh, who reported shots fired at his house by Landa's associates. Subsequently, Landa allegedly made a phone call claiming responsibility for the incident and demanding the money.
20-Mar-2024
Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Raghbir Singh, while speaking in Amritsar on March 20, advised Sikh youths not to perform stunts on motorcycles, tractors, and cars during the national festival of Hola Mahalla, which will be held from March 21 to March 26 at Sri Anandpur Sahib in Rupnagar district in Punjab.
20-Mar-2024
The All-Kashmir District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (DGPC) Coordination Committee was formed on March 20 with elected members from District Gurdwara Committees, aiming to address issues within the Sikh community in Kashmir. They advocate for Pahari status for Sikh-populated areas, a special job package for Sikh boys, implementation of Punjabi language in education, and political reservation similar to that of Kashmiri Pandits. Additionally, they seek a swift resolution of Gurdwara land issues, government assistance for Gurdwara construction in Gulmarg and Tral, and heritage status for Gurdwara Amirakadal and Maharajgunj in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
20-Mar-2024
Jassee Singh, representing Sikhs of America (SOA), recently met with top officials in India including Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar in New Delhi. Singh stated that Indian leaders assured commitment to the safety of the Sikh community globally and discussed the involvement of the Sikh diaspora in India's development. He refuted allegations of mistreatment by some Sikh groups in the United States (US) and Canada, emphasizing Sikhs' rights in India. Singh announced 100 scholarships for youth in Amritsar and the adoption of two roads for cleanliness.
20-Mar-2024
A delegation of 'Panj Pyaras' is scheduled to visit Central Jail in Dibrugarh, Assam, on March 21 where Khalistan sympathizer and the chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD), Amritpal Singh, and nine others are detained under the National Security Act (NSA). This action follows a hunger strike by relatives of Amritpal that ended in Amritsar, Punjab, on March 17, 2024.
20-Mar-2024
Khalistan terrorist and the chief of the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, on March 20 issued a threat against former Indian ambassador to the United States (US) Taranjit Singh Sandhu via a video, offering INR 25 lakh to anyone who targets him. Pannun accused Sandhu of involvement in the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. According to top intelligence sources, this is an open threat to Sandhu, who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on March 19.
20-Mar-2024
According to a Bloomberg report released on March 20, an investigation by the Government of India reportedly found that rogue officials, not authorized by it, were involved in a foiled plot to kill US-based Khalistani terrorist and the chief of the banned Khalistani terrorist outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The findings have been submitted to US authorities, although there's no official confirmation yet. According to the report, at least one possibly retired individual who was no longer employed by India's external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), was found to be directly involved in the foiled plot.
20-Mar-2024
On March 20, unidentified drug smugglers opened fire on a team of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officials and courier delivery personnel, injuring one person, during a raid following a tip-off about a parcel containing 500 grams of opium bound for the United Kingdom (UK), near Sunranwala village in Kapurthala district in Punjab. When the officials attempted to stop the smugglers’ car, the occupants fled, prompting a chase by the officials. Subsequently, occupants of another car and a jeep fired 25-30 rounds at the officials, injuring a courier man.
20-Mar-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with the Punjab Police on March 20, arrested an unidentified person and seized a packet containing 533 grams of heroin and a mobile phone without a SIM card from Dal village in Tarn Taran district. Another unidentified individual was later arrested in connection with the recovery.
20-Mar-2024
The Rajasthan High Court on March 20 granted bail to Lovepreet Singh and Harmanpreet Singh, alleged operatives of the banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), accused of writing "Khalistan Zindabad" slogans in Hanumangarh, Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The Court questioned the invocation of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against them, citing insufficient evidence to presume guilt. The accused were granted bail on a personal bond of INR 50,000 each, with two sureties of INR 25,000 each.
19-Mar-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), on March 19, acting on orders from a special NIA court, attached immovable properties belonging to two accused individuals identified as Gurwinder Singh alias Baba and Harbhinder Singh alias Pinder alias Dhillon, who were involved in the killing of Shaurya Chakra awardee Balwinder Singh Sandhu by Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) agents, in Punjab. The investigations revealed their involvement in aiding the murder plot, with Gurwinder supplying weapons and Harbhinder assisting in reconnaissance. The properties include 9 marla of land in Peeran Bagh village and 2 kanal 7 sarsai of land in Salimpur Arian villages registered in Gurwinder's name in Gurdaspur district, Punjab, and 2 kanal and 10 marla of land in Jeobala village in Tarn Taran district, Punjab, registered in Harbhinder's name.
19-Mar-2024
Two years after the Kasol village IED blast in Himachal Pradesh (HP), the Fazilka police on March 19 arrested two members of a terror module operated by Khalistani terrorist Harvinder Singh alias Rinda for their involvement in the blast, identified as Ravitej Singh and Balwinder Singh alias Ballu, and seized one pistol and two cartridges from their possession in Abohar in Fazilka district in Punjab.
19-Mar-2024
Four days after fugitive swindler Amandeep Kamboj alias Aman Skoda, was arrested by Fazilka police in Varanasi, in Uttar Pradesh (UP), the Police on March 19 arrested his nephew Praveen Kumar alias Prince and seized one 0.32 bore pistol from his possession in Chak Punna Wali village in Fazilka district in Punjab.
19-Mar-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has uncovered the continued operation of a terrorist-gangster syndicate within Indian jails, with ties to pro-Khalistan elements. Gangs such as the Bambiha group, along with affiliates like Neeraj Bawana and Kaushal Chaudhary, have expanded their influence through extortion and killings across states. Rivalry between factions like the Lawrence Bishnoi and Chaudhary gangs has led to targeted violence, including murders orchestrated from within prison walls. Key figures like Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dalla, in collaboration with Naveen Dabas, have conspired for cross-border weapon deliveries, aiming to terrorise and target specific political and social groups. These activities involve threats, extortion, and international networks spanning Canada, the United States (US), Europe, and Asia, as uncovered by the NIA's investigations.
19-Mar-2024
In response to a petition filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC), the Punjab government announced on March 19 its intention to issue fresh orders for the detention of Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh and his associates under the National Security Act (NSA). This decision follows the completion of their one-year detention period under the NSA, initially invoked by the Punjab police. While the law prohibits extending detention beyond one year, there is provision for issuing fresh orders pending the release of the official orders by the state government. Currently, Amritpal and his associates are lodged in Dibrugarh jail in Assam.
19-Mar-2024
A year-long probe conducted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) uncovered parallels between the emerging gangster-Pro Khalistan Elements (PKEs) nexus and the 1990s Dawood Ibrahim gang, with Lawrence Bishnoi and Kaushal Chaudhary gangs playing central roles akin to Dawood and Chhota Rajan. Lawrence Bishnoi's syndicate, resembling Dawood's D-Company, expanded its influence across North India, engaging in targeted killings and extortions, with ties to foreign associates like Goldy Brar in Canada. Meanwhile, Kaushal Chaudhary's gang operated in multiple states, collaborating with associates like Bhupinder Singh and Gaurav Patyal. The alliances forged by Bishnoi spanned various north Indian states and even overseas, making him a formidable figure in criminal operations, while funds from extortion activities were channelled abroad for investment, notably in Thailand by associates like Manish Bhandari. The PKEs-gangsters nexus, fuelled by incidents like the Bargari Morcha agitation, led to contacts with Pakistan-based terrorists like Harmeet Singh alias PhD, resulting in targeted killings and even a jailbreak orchestrated by gangster-turned-terrorist Ramanjit Singh. Further connections extended to United States (US)-Canada links, with figures like Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dalla collaborating with Khalistan militants for extortion and targeted killings, contributing to diplomatic tensions between India and Canada. The investigation also unveiled ties to Philippines-based gangsters for extortion and terror funding, illustrating the international reach and complexity of the syndicate's operations.
19-Mar-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police conducted a joint search operation on March 19 based on intelligence from the BSF Intelligence Wing and arrested one unidentified person and seized approximately 14.50 kg of opium plants after discovering illegal poppy cultivation along with coriander in an agricultural field near Chak Khewa and Dhani Bachan villages in Jalalabad tehsil, Fazilka district.
19-Mar-2024
Police on March 19 busted a weapon supply racket being operated from New Delhi and arrested five members, identified as Shivam, Karanbir Singh, Mohan Dev, Baljeet Singh Jeeta, and Akashdeep Singh and seized five pistols and seven bullets from their possession near Kaddon Chowk, close to Kaddon village in Ludhiana district of Punjab. The investigation revealed Mohan as the kingpin orchestrating the operation from Delhi. Additionally, Shivam and Karanbir were already facing trial in drug peddling cases, while Mohan Dev had a previous case of possessing illegal weapons against him.
18-Mar-2024
The Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee on March 18 convened a meeting in Kaithal in Kaithal district of Haryana where it was decided that an 11-member panel led by Jagdish Singh Jhinda, former president of the Committee, would tour Sikh-majority districts to collect community feedback on involvement in the Lok Sabha elections. This decision was made to ensure comprehensive engagement with the Sikh community regarding their stance on electoral participation.