KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
19-Feb-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on February 19 recovered one packet of suspected heroin weighing 700 gm, during an extensive search operation near Roranwala Khurd village in Amritsar district.
19-Feb-2024
The Jalandhar Police Commissionerate on February 19 busted a drug smuggling racket by arresting one person identified as Rohit Kumar and seized 200 grams of heroin from his possession, near Joginder Nagar T-point in Rama Mandi in Jalandhar district.
18-Feb-2024
Police on February 18 arrested two additional members of a gang responsible for armed robberies at petrol pumps, including an incident involving firing at a police party, identified as Mohan Kumar alias Mandeep and Akash Kumar and seized two pistols and six cartridges from their possession near Taragarh village in Hoshiarpur district. the gang had committed multiple crimes, including looting INR 50,000 from a petrol pump in Poonge village and INR 15,000 from another pump in Dasuya in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab.
18-Feb-2024
Dr. Inderbir Singh Nijjar, a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) representing Amritsar South, retained the presidency of the Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD) in the recent elections held on February 18, securing 247 votes against former IRS officer Surinderjit Singh Pal. However, the opposition claimed a significant victory by securing one key post of honorary secretary, with Ramneek Singh Freedom defeating Ajit Singh Basra. The CKD, a 120-year-old Sikh organization, operates numerous educational and welfare institutions. Dr. Nijjar emphasizes a commitment to furthering its mission, inspired by the ideals of Bhai Vir Singh.
18-Feb-2024
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) has extended internet suspension to 20 police stations across seven districts in Punjab, up from 11 stations in three districts previously. The suspension will remain in effect until midnight on February 24. Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann criticized the central government's decision, expressing his intent to revoke the suspension. This move follows UMHA's earlier telecom service suspension in Shutrana, Khanauri, and Fatehgarh Sahib due to Bharat Bandh (shutdown) calls by farmer unions on February 15.
18-Feb-2024
In a video shared on social media, the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) chief, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, on February 18 called upon protesting farmers to arm themselves with weapons and 'use a bullet for a bullet.' He claimed that weapons were readily available at Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan and across the international border with Rajasthan, igniting concerns amid ongoing farmer’s demonstrations in India. Pannun's call for violence was swiftly dismissed by Pakistani authorities as baseless.
18-Feb-2024
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) of the Punjab Police shot dead gangster Gurmeet Singh Mann alias Kala Dhanaula, during an encounter in Barnala in Barnala district in Punjab, on February 18. Dhanaula was wanted in over 40 cases and was the head of his own gang. Three of his accomplices were arrested at the scene, while two policemen sustained injuries during the operation.
17-Feb-2024
Jobanjit Singh Sandhu, a key accused in the Mundra port drugs haul case, escaped police custody on February 17 in Punjab while being transported from Amritsar to Bhuj jail in Kutch, Gujarat. Sandhu was initially arrested in connection with the massive seizure of 2,988 kilograms of heroin valued at INR 21,000 crore at Gujarat's Mundra port in 2021.
17-Feb-2024
The police on February 17 arrested one individual identified as Namdev, along with an unidentified accomplice, and seized 1 kg of heroin, INR 60,000 in drug money, and a scooter from his possession in Hardo Rattan village in Amritsar district. Based on information provided by him, the police, on February 18, recovered 2 kg of heroin near the defense drain in Hardo Rattan village. Namdev disclosed that he received location coordinates from Pakistan-based smugglers, implicating Tanvir, also known as Rana, in drug peddling.
17-Feb-2024
A viral video, shared by a user on February 17, depicts a Sikh man allegedly threatening the life of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, garnering over 6 lakh views and 15,000 likes. In the video, the man claims that in the coming years, PM Modi might be killed. The authenticity of the video and the speaker's identity remain unverified. The threat evokes historical tensions, reminiscent of the assassination of Prime Minister (PM) Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards after Operation Blue Star.
17-Feb-2024
The police on February 17 recovered several electronic gadgets from the cells of National Security Act detainees, including members of the pro-Khalistani group Waris Punjab De (WPD) and its leader Amritpal Singh, in Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam. Confiscated items included smartphones, pen drives, and Bluetooth devices. Additional security measures, such as installing extra CCTV cameras, were implemented.
17-Feb-2024
On February 17, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Parliament (MP) Vikramjit Singh Sahney and Congress Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Pargat Singh raised concerns about hate propaganda targeting Sikhs amid ongoing farmers' protests, through posts on the social media site X. Sahney urged Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah to ban social media accounts promoting hate speech. He highlighted screenshots of handles calling for a repeat of the 1984 Sikh genocide. MLA Pargat Singh criticized the Punjab government and police for not taking action against such accounts, while pro-farm social media accounts faced suspension by the central government.
17-Feb-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on February 17 recovered 440 gm of heroin from farming fields near Bharopal Village in Amritsar district.
17-Feb-2024
The police on February 17 arrested two men, Sukhdeep Singh and Mahinder Singh, for making extortion calls to a local businessman, posing as aides of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, and demanding INR 30 lakh from him, in Sri Muktsar Sahib district in Punjab.
16-Feb-2024
Police on February 23 arrested three sharpshooters of the Tillu Tajpuriya gang, identified as Rohit alias Laddu, Mohit, and Siddharth and seized three pistols, two live cartridges, two empty cartridges, a mobile phone, and a car from their possession after a brief exchange of fire in Alipur, North Delhi district in Delhi.
16-Feb-2024
Amritsar rural police, on February 16, busted a major drug syndicate being operated from Dubai by arresting five peddlers identified as Sarwan Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Vishal Singh, Harmeet Singh, and Hari Singh along with 4.4 kg of heroin, a .32 bore pistol along with 5 bullets, two cars, a tractor, and INR 3.8 lakh in drug money from their possession in Gharinda, Amritsar district. The investigation also uncovered a significant hawala racket, revealing several financial transactions across different locations. The syndicate's operations were linked to Bantu of Mehta, who operated from Dubai. The arrests were made following the interrogation of two initial drug smugglers, Sarwan Singh and Sukhdev Singh, with the police seizing 2 kg of heroin from their possession. This was followed by the arrest of Vishal Singh, with the police seizing 900 gm of heroin and INR 3.8 lakh in drug money from his possession. Subsequently, Harmeet Singh and Hari Singh were arrested, with the police seizing 1.5 kg of heroin, a .32 bore pistol along with 5 bullets, and a tractor from their possession.
16-Feb-2024
According to sources, it was revealed that gangster Rajan Bhatti’s association with Punjab-based drug smugglers began during his incarceration in New Delhi's Tihar Jail, where he came in contact with them. Upon his release in April 2023, Bhatti engaged in heroin smuggling facilitated by his contacts in Uganda, with shipments originating from Afghanistan and processed in East African countries like Kenya and Uganda. The heroin, sold at lower prices in Punjab, was distributed locally, with proceeds laundered through hawala channels. Bhatti's network also extended to illegal arms procurement, as evidenced by a recent weapons consignment arranged by associates from Madhya Pradesh (MP).
16-Feb-2024
The Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government objected to the Centre's invocation of special powers under the British-era Telegraph Act of 1886 to ban mobile internet in Patiala, Sangrur, and Fatehgarh Sahib districts of Punjab from February 12 to 16, citing a public emergency and law-and-order concerns based on Intelligence Bureau (IB) reports. Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann, on February 15, protested during a meeting with Union ministers, asserting that the Centre had bypassed the state government's authority. While the Centre claimed no obligation to inform the state, Punjab officials highlighted the rare instance of the Union government issuing internet suspension orders outside Delhi. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) issued orders on February 12, invoking the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services rules, affecting specific areas in the mentioned districts, with a brief ban in Bathinda, Mansa, and Barnala.
16-Feb-2024
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on February 16 raided the house of international drug smuggler Akshay Chhabra and seized five of his vehicles, worth around RUB 44.50 million, near Dugri in Ludhiana district. These vehicles were allegedly purchased with drug money. Earlier, on November 15, 2022, the NCB Chandigarh team had recovered a staggering 20,326 kg of heroin from Chhabra. This latest raid underscores the authorities' ongoing efforts to crack down on drug trafficking networks operating within the region.
15-Feb-2024
After two days of confrontation, the situation at the Shambhu border between protesting farmers and Haryana Police remained relatively calm on February 15, near Shambhu village in Patiala district of Punjab. No attempts were made by farmers to enter Haryana, leading to a decrease in tension. Farmers continued to camp at the border, delaying their march towards Delhi as they awaited the outcome of meetings between their leaders and Union ministers.
15-Feb-2024
Police on February 15 arrested three persons identified as Lovpreet Singh, Sher Singh Shera and Jajbir Singh and seized 310 gm of heroin from their possession, in Van Tara Singh village in Tarn Taran district.
15-Feb-2024
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on February 15 urged the Prime Minister to intervene and address farmers' demands, including a law guaranteeing Minimum Support Price (MSP), in Chandigarh. The ministers—Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Arjun Munda, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai—are set to meet with farmers to discuss their grievances.
15-Feb-2024
Lakha Sidhana, a former gangster turned pro-Khalistan activist, was spotted at Delhi's farmer protest sites, urging defiance against police barricades. With a history of criminal activity and political involvement, Sidhana's presence has heightened security concerns, given his pending cases and prior association with militant groups. In his statements, he accused the government of exploiting farmers and called for regime change, raising fears of violence amidst the already tense protests against new agricultural laws.
15-Feb-2024
A video circulating on social media shows an alleged farmer expressing fervent anti-Indian sentiments amidst the ongoing farmer protests in India. In the video, the farmer passionately appeals to the international community for intervention, citing perceived injustices and sacrifices made by Punjabis. He can be seen stating, 'We appeal to the international community to intervene. We don't want to live with these people (Indians).' Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Minister (CM) Manohar Khattar has criticized the farmers' methods, particularly their planned march towards Delhi, likening it to an army offensive. Despite resistance, predominantly Punjab farmers remain steadfast at border points, awaiting the Centre's proposals before deciding on their next move, highlighting the ongoing tensions surrounding the protests.
15-Feb-2024
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) announced on February 15 that its offices and educational institutions would remain closed on February 16 in solidarity with the Bharat Bandh (shutdown) called by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and farmers' unions of India. SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami emphasized the significance of farmers in the country's economy, urging the government to promptly address their demands to preserve farming culture and ensure farmers' well-being.