KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
18-Mar-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on March 18 arrested five unidentified smugglers in a successful intelligence-led operation in Gurdaspur district of Punjab. The operation began with the seizure of heroin transported by drone, after which the BSF provided crucial information to the Gurdaspur police, leading to the initial arrest of two smugglers. Subsequent investigation efforts resulted in the apprehension of three more individuals, marking a significant blow to long-standing drug trafficking networks in Punjab.
18-Mar-2024
Amritsar (Rural) police on March 18 arrested two drug peddlers identified as Gurmukh Singh alias Bodhi, and Dilbagh Singh and seized 500 grams of heroin from their possession in Attari village in Amritsar district. The heroin had been dropped near a government school ground in Attari, prompting a response from the Punjab Police following a tip-off from village defense committee members regarding drone activity. The suspects were arrested when they attempted to retrieve the heroin. An investigation is underway to determine Dilbagh Singh's involvement in drug smuggling and potential links with Pakistan-based smugglers.
18-Mar-2024
On March 18, Sukhwinder Singh alias Rana Mansoorpuria, who shot and killed a Punjab Police constable during a raid on March 17 in Mansoorpur village, was fatally shot in an encounter with the Police near Purana Bhangala village in Hoshiarpur district in Punjab. An extensive search operation was launched after the constable's death, with Rana eventually located and surrounded by police teams, resulting in the fatal encounter when he refused to surrender.
18-Mar-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on March 18 recovered 3.306 kg of heroin, believed to have been dropped by a drone, from near the dargah of Bodal Saha Peer Baba adjacent to Mehdipur village in Tarn Taran district.
17-Mar-2024
On March 17, a man was allegedly prevented from filming a gathering organized by Sikh groups aimed at demanding the transfer of Waris Punjab De (WPD) chief and Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh, along with his nine associates who have been detained in Assam's Dibrugarh jail since March 2023, at Heritage Street in Amritsar district. The man, reportedly belonging to a national security agency, claimed that he was also attacked. Amritsar Commissioner of Police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar stated that they were investigating the incident.
17-Mar-2024
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, in a virtual briefing with senior police officers on March 17, assured readiness for free, fair, and peaceful elections following the Election Commission of India's (ECI) announcement of the general election schedule. Yadav emphasized strict adherence to the Model Code of Conduct and ECI guidelines and discussed planned special campaigns to arrest proclaimed offenders, execute non-bailable warrants, and curb illicit liquor and narcotics trade.
17-Mar-2024
On March 17, a senior constable of the Punjab Police's Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff, identified as Amritpal Singh, was shot dead by gangster Sukhwinder Rana during a raid at Mansoorpur village in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab. The raid was conducted after receiving information about Rana's presence and illegal weapons. Police have deployed a large force to search for Rana, announcing a reward of INR 25,000 for information on his whereabouts.
17-Mar-2024
Police on March 17 arrested two youths, identified as Balwinder Singh Ballu and Ravitej Singh and seized one country-made pistol of .12 calibre and two live cartridges from their possession in Abohar in Fazilka district.
17-Mar-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on March 17 recovered 600 grams of heroin that was dropped by a drone in fields near Naushera Dhalla village in Tarn Taran district.
16-Mar-2024
Dal Khalsa, on March 16, demanded that the Punjab government immediately bring Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim and Honeypreet to Punjab on police remand for interrogation. Paramjit Singh Mand, Dal Khalsa's working president, accused successive governments, including Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Congress, of protecting Ram Rahim.
16-Mar-2024
Punjab police on March 16 placed Panth Sewak personality Diljit Singh under house arrest. A team of six police officials visited him, informing him of the state government's decision. The circumstances surrounding Diljit Singh's confinement remain undisclosed.
16-Mar-2024
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) of the Punjab Police on March 16 arrested three operatives of Goldy Brar and Rohit Godara of the Lawrance Bishnoi gang, identified as Ajay Singh alias Ajaypal, Ankit, and Lakhwinder Singh alias Lucky and seized two .32 caliber pistols, 11 live cartridges, and a car from their possession in Zikapur, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. The trio was allegedly tasked with conducting target killings for the Lawrance Bishnoi gang.
16-Mar-2024
An encounter occurred between police and four gangsters on March 16, with three gangsters sustaining gunshot wounds while one escaped, near the Panjgrain-Aulakh village road near Aulakh village in Faridkot district, Punjab. The gangsters, allegedly planning to kill a member of a rival gang in Kotkapura, opened fire on the police upon discovery. Sources revealed that the plot involved Sagar, incarcerated in Panipat jail in Haryana, who assigned the task to gangster Sukhjit Singh Situ in Faridkot jail in Punjab, who then delegated it to the four gangsters involved.
15-Mar-2024
The Supreme Court (SC) issued a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on March 15 regarding a plea for furlough by former Congress councillor Balwan Khokhar, who is serving life imprisonment in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in New Delhi. Khokhar had sought furlough to maintain social ties, and the matter is listed for further hearing in April 2024. The case involves the killing of five Sikhs in Delhi in 1984 following the assassination of Prime Minister (PM) Indira Gandhi.
15-Mar-2024
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) of the Punjab Police on March 15 arrested two gangsters identified as Jagdeep Singh alias Rinku and Balwinder Singh alias Babbu and seized two pistols and ten live cartridges from their possession in Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. Both are associated with the Gurpreet Lehmbar and Jassa Nurwala gang, known for various serious crimes across Ludhiana, Jagraon, Moga, Bathinda, and Sangrur districts in Punjab.
15-Mar-2024
Kapurthala police on March 15 arrested three gangsters identified as Sukhwant Singh Sukha, Roshan Singh, and Ajay Kumar and seized 12 pistols and 48 cartridges from the trio near a checkpoint on the Phagwara bypass in Kapurthala district. Initially, 4 pistols were found during a search of their vehicle, and subsequent interrogation led to the discovery of 8 more pistols and cartridges hidden at various locations. The gang, led by Sukhwant Singh Sukha from Jalandhar, allegedly procured the firearms from Madhya Pradesh for criminal activities in Punjab. Further investigation revealed links to a local gang with plans to expand and strengthen its presence.
15-Mar-2024
The Phagwara Police on March 15 arrested a criminal identified as Dildar Singh and seized one pistol, nine live cartridges, INR 9.80 lakh in cash, and two passports from him near Haveli Restaurant on the Jalandhar-Phagwara highway in Kapurthala district.
15-Mar-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on March 15 recovered a package containing a pistol, two magazines, and 3.38 kg of heroin during a search operation in fields near Kakkar village in Ajnala tehsil in Amritsar district. Officials noted the presence of a metal hook and an illumination ball attached to the packet, indicating that it had been dropped by a drone.
14-Mar-2024
Social media platforms, including YouTube and X, blocked access to a CBC documentary on Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on March 14, following directives from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The documentary, part of CBC's 'The Fifth Estate' program, featured CCTV footage of Nijjar's murder in British Columbia and an interview with Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who issued threats against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Some members of the Indo-Canadian community criticized the documentary for being biased and propagandistic.
14-Mar-2024
A sub-committee formed by the Akal Takht in Amritsar, Punjab, to address the hunger strike of Waris Punjab De (WPD) leader and Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh and his associates, who were detained under the National Security Act (NSA) in Assam, criticized Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann for his perceived lack of seriousness toward Sikh affairs on March 14. The committee also announced that the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) will provide support for a panthic gathering on March 17 to address the deteriorating conditions of the detainees and their protesting family members.
14-Mar-2024
On the Sikh New Year, on March 14, Dal Khalsa held prayers at Akal Takht Sahib in Amritsar in Punjab and released the original Nanakshahi calendar while urging Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh to resolve the calendar controversy. They criticised the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for publishing a Bikarmi calendar under the Nanakshahi label for nine years, causing division in the Sikh community. Dal Khalsa appealed for unity and resolution of the calendar dispute, dedicating this year's calendar to the 40th anniversary of the Indian attack on Darbar Sahib.
14-Mar-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on March 14 detained an unidentified employee from the Patiala health department for allegedly issuing a fake birth certificate to a wanted member in a terrorist-gangster nexus case in Patiala district in Punjab. The detained employee was in charge of the birth and death certificate branch. This action was taken following NIA raids in Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh (MP), Rajasthan, and Chandigarh in connection with the terrorist-gangster nexus case involving designated terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dalla, and other suspects associated with the Khalistan terrorist outfit Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). The fake certificate, issued between 2016 and 2017, facilitated the individual's procurement of other documents, including a passport used to flee the country.
14-Mar-2024
A 'Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat' was organized on March 14 by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) at Ramlila Ground in New Delhi, attended by farmers and agricultural laborers from 18 states protesting against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government’s farm policies. The gathering resolved to launch a nationwide agitation against the BJP during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, demanding a guaranteed Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops and accusing Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi of unfulfilled promises. They declared March 23 as "Save Democracy from the Threat of Money and Muscle Power Day" and demanded action against Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni's son in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case.
13-Mar-2024
Police from Udyog Vihar Police Station on March 13 seized nearly 600 grams of opium concealed in face cream jars that were sent from Punjab to New Zealand, in Gurugram, Haryana. The parcel raised suspicion when a courier company reported it contained suspicious items. The sender, Mandeep Singh from Punjab, is currently under investigation. The package was intended for Kuldeep Singh in New Zealand.
13-Mar-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police conducted a joint operation on March 13 and recovered a grey bag containing 3.236 kg of heroin, along with a metal hook and illuminating strips attached to it, from a residential premise in Mehandipur village in Tarn Taran district. This well-coordinated effort successfully prevented a narco-syndicate from smuggling narcotics into India from across the border.