KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
26-Feb-2024
Representatives of the Sikh community met with West Bengal (WB) Chief Secretary B.P. Gopalika on February 26, urging action against Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari and other Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members for allegedly making Khalistani remarks towards Sikh Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Jaspreet Singh. The meeting lasted about 15 minutes, with the chief secretary reportedly assuring the delegation of the state government's commitment to maintaining harmony.
26-Feb-2024
A court in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district in Punjab on February 26 acquitted three men, identified as Satwinder Singh, Gurdial Singh, and Jagroop Singh, accused of being trained by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for terror attacks in India. The court found Gurdial Singh and Jagroop Singh guilty under the Arms Act, sentencing them to one year's imprisonment. However, since they had already served more than three years in jail, they were released. Earlier, on June 4, 2017, with their arrest, the Punjab Police claimed to have busted a terror module with links to the ISI-backed banned outfit International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF).
25-Feb-2024
Police on February 25 dismantled an inter-state weapon smuggling network and arrested three associates of terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa, identified as Kunal, Gurlal, and Parvez and seized twelve .32 bore pistols, five .34 bore pistols, 33 magazines, and 20 live cartridges from their possession in Jalandhar in Jalandhar district. The weapons were confiscated from various locations in Tarn Taran and Ferozepur districts of Punjab.
25-Feb-2024
The CIA-II branch of the Police, on February 25, arrested a member of the notorious Tillu Tajpuriya gang identified as Kunal alias Shati, and seized an illegal country-made pistol and a stolen motorcycle from his possession near Kanaunda village in Jhajjar district of Haryana. The police stated that Kunal is an associate of Chiku Dhankar, who now leads the gang after Tajpuriya's demise.
25-Feb-2024
The Kirti Kisan Union (KKU) on February 25 announced protests scheduled for February 29 at all district headquarters in the state of Haryana. This call to action was prompted by their perception of the Haryana Police's repression of farmers. After investigating the case of Pritpal Singh, a victim of alleged police brutality, the union condemned the actions as fascist. They attribute responsibility for this to Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah and Haryana's Chief Minister (CM) Manohar Lal Khattar. The union deems the police operation entering Punjab's territory as illegal and unconstitutional.
25-Feb-2024
According to sources, a United States (US) government delegation led by Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Kristie Canegallo will visit India for the Homeland Security Dialogue (HSD) with officials from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA). The delegation aims to discuss a range of issues, including the asylum status used by criminals, pro-Khalistan elements carrying out terrorist activities in India, assistance to apprehend the attackers of the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, the extradition status of Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman Tahawwur Rana, terror fugitives, and financial investigations related to terrorism.
24-Feb-2024
Balwinder Kaur, the mother of Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh, in Amritsar on February 24, stated that she will continue her hunger strike despite the suggestion from the Akal Takht Jathedar to end it
24-Feb-2024
Police on February 24 arrested an inter-state drug supplier who had been evading authorities for the past year, identified as Kanwarbir Singh at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in New Delhi as he attempted to flee to Canada. He was identified as the kingpin of an interstate narcotics cartel.
24-Feb-2024
Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) leader Sarwan Singh Pandher stated on February 24 that the farmers will not halt their agitation until their demands are met. Despite clashes and a protester's death, the movement continues at Khanauri and Shambhu barriers on the Punjab-Haryana border. Talks with the government have failed to yield results, and the next course of action will be decided on February 29.
24-Feb-2024
The Bandel Gurudwara Singh Sabha spokesperson Devendra Singh Chawla on February 24 decried the Khalistan remarks by BJP leader referring to a Sikh IPS officer as defamatory and unconstitutional and urged Chief Minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee's intervention while speaking at a protest rally organised in Bandel in West Bengal.
24-Feb-2024
The Ludhiana Police on February 24 busted a gang of snatchers and arrested three of its members identified as Arvinder Singh, Kamaljit Singh and Ajay Kumar and seized 25 mobile phones, a sharp weapon and a motorcycle from their possession, in Ludhiana in Ludhiana district.
23-Feb-2024
On February 23, an elderly farmer, Darshan Singh, passed away due to cardiac arrest at the Khanauri border near Khanauri village in the Sangrur district of Punjab. He had been actively participating in the ongoing farmers' protest demanding various issues, including legal Minimum Support Price (MSP) and debt waiver.
23-Feb-2024
Nihang Sikhs, known for their warrior tradition, have joined the farmers in the ongoing farmers' protest near Delhi, citing a duty to fight against injustice. The Nihangs had previously participated in a similar protest in 2021 and have emphasized their solidarity with the farmers' cause.
23-Feb-2024
The West Bengal (WB) Police, on February 23, filed a First Information Report (FIR) against unknown Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders for calling a Sikh police officer a 'Khalistani' during a BJP march. The officer, Jaspreet Singh, was allegedly targeted by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, as per police claims. The FIR cites sections including outraging religious feelings and promoting enmity between communities. The incident occurred amidst tensions over accusations against a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader in Sandeshkhali in WB.
23-Feb-2024
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami on February 23 met with the families of Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh and his companions who are detained in Dibrugarh Jail in Assam, during their dharna in Amritsar in Punjab. The discussions included the detainees' situation, their hunger strike against government harassment, and the ongoing talks with the Punjab government. Dhami assured support, expressing SGPC's commitment to the cause, and mentioned plans to discuss the issue with Jathedar Sri Akal Takht Sahib for further strategy.
23-Feb-2024
Police on February 23 arrested an operative of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang identified as Guriqbalmeet Singh alias Robin and seized two pistols, 42 live rounds, six magazines, a mobile phone dongle with a SIM card, and an SUV from his possession in Bikaner district in Rajasthan. Police stated that he was involved in cross-border arms smuggling via drones and extortion calls. Robin, wanted in a prior case, formed an extortion gang with accomplices Jagmeet Singh and Gurmehar Singh, with connections to a Portugal-based gangster. Jagmeet was recently arrested, while Gurmehar is at large.
23-Feb-2024
Police on February 23 busted an inter-state opium smuggling gang and arrested three persons identified as Kartar Singh alias Kala, Sanjay Kumar, and Pradeep Kumar and seized 17.5 kg of opium, INR 15 lakh, and an SUV from their possession in Mandi Gobindgarh in Fatehgarh Sahib district in Punjab. The gang sourced opium from Jharkhand and distributed it locally. One suspect, identified as Anil Kumar, is still at large.
23-Feb-2024
The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU - Ugrahan) observed a 'black day' in response to the call by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) to protest against the death of farmer Shubhkaran Singh in Sangrur district, Punjab. They burnt effigies of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah, and Haryana Chief Minister (CM) Manohar Lal Khattar.
23-Feb-2024
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff of the Police on February 23 arrested four persons, identified as David Sidhu, Gagan Sidhu, Anshul Thakur, and Dharminder alias Sunny and seized five illegal .32 bore pistols, ten magazines and 20 live rounds from their possession in Ferozepur in Ferozepur district.
22-Feb-2024
Following an announcement by Balwinder Kaur, the mother of Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh, to stage a dharna on the Beas bridge in Amritsar, a heavy police force was deployed on February 22 to ensure law and order. However, the protest site was later shifted to Heritage Street in Amritsar.
22-Feb-2024
The Central Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (CGPC) in Jharkhand's Kolhan region on February 22 threatened to stage a dharna in West Bengal (WB) if action is not taken against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders who allegedly called a Sikh Indian Police Service (IPS) officer a 'Khalistani'. CGPC demanded immediate action from WB Chief Minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee, condemning the incident and asserting that it has crossed constitutional boundaries.
22-Feb-2024
A Sikh community delegation from seven Gurdwaras submitted a memorandum to West Bengal (WB) Governor C V Ananda Bose in Kolkata on February 22, demanding action against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari for allegedly referring to Sikh Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Jaspreet Singh as a 'Khalistani.' The governor assured that he would write to WB Chief Minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee for appropriate action and announced the establishment of a Punjabi Garden in Bhagat Singh's name.
22-Feb-2024
Criticism arose over the central government's suspension of certain social media accounts amid a broader confrontation, emphasizing the necessity for transparent processes.
22-Feb-2024
The labelling of a Sikh Indian Police Service (IPS) officer as 'Khalistani' in West Bengal raised concerns about profiling and the potential for such slurs to exacerbate tensions, emphasizing the importance of responsible political discourse.
22-Feb-2024
Activists and family members of detained pro-Khalistanis, led by Balwinder Kaur, the mother of Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh, who is the chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD), began an indefinite hunger strike outside Dibrugarh Jail in Assam on February 22. They are demanding the transfer of detainees to Punjab jails, expressing distrust in the government's ability to deliver justice. Despite rumored conflicts with the administration, they emphasize their resolve. The detainees have vowed to continue their hunger strike until being transferred to Punjab.