KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
11-Feb-2024
The city-1 police on February 11 arrested two persons, identified as Laddi and Kamaldeep and seized 50 gm of heroin from their possession in Abohar in Fazilka district, while one accomplice Shobha Singh remains at large. According to the Police, the trio were allegedly involved in smuggling heroin into Punjab, and selling it at high rates for profit.
11-Feb-2024
Haryana authorities have fortified the state's border with Punjab at Shambhu near Ambala district ahead of the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march on February 13. They have deployed concrete blocks, sandbags, and anti-riot vehicles. Similar arrangements have been made in Jind and Fatehabad districts, with concrete blocks and spike strips placed on roads to thwart the march. Mobile internet services and bulk SMS have been suspended in seven districts, including Ambala, Kurukshetra, and Jind, from February 11 to 13. The farmers, demanding a minimum support price (MSP) guarantee and other reforms, plan to head to Delhi from various borders, including Ambala-Shambhu, Khanauri-Jind, and Dabwali. Districts like Ambala and Kaithal have imposed Section 144, while Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal criticized the Haryana government's efforts to deter the farmers' movement, emphasizing their readiness for dialogue with the Centre.
11-Feb-2024
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on February 11 criticized the Haryana government for creating a border 'between Punjab and India' by fortifying the state's border with Punjab ahead of the farmers' 'Dilli Chalo' march, comparing it to the border with Pakistan. The border sealing includes concrete blocks, sandbags, barbed wire, and anti-riot vehicles at Shambhu near Ambala, with similar arrangements in Jind and Fatehabad districts of Haryana. The farmers' unions plan to march to Delhi on February 13 to press for minimum support price (MSP) and other demands.
11-Feb-2024
The Sikh group Dal Khalsa has voiced opposition to the awarding of the Bharat Ratna to former Prime Minister (PM) Narasimha Rao, citing his alleged involvement as a 'prime suspect' in the 1984 Delhi massacre of Sikhs during his tenure as the Union Home Minister (UHM). Additionally, they criticized the honouring of LK Advani, who had previously labeled the Anandpur Sahib Resolution as a 'separatist document.'
10-Feb-2024
Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong, reaffirmed Australia's respect for India's sovereignty and condemned the actions of Khalistani supporters in an interview with NDTV in New Delhi. She stated that their protests hold no status and emphasized the importance of a democratic society where all individuals feel safe and respected.
10-Feb-2024
Anti-Gangster Task Force team of Rajasthan Police on February 10 arrested two active operatives of Lawrence Bishnoi, Rohit Godara and Vikram Gurjar alias Vikram Bamarda gang, identified as Boduram Gurjar and Bunty Gurjar and seized two illegal pistols, three magazines, two cartridges of 7.65 mm, five cartridges of 12 bore from their possession, in Sikar in Sikar district in Rajasthan. Their accomplice Sardar Gurjar and Rajkumar Gurjar managed to escaped, and efforts are underway to arrest them.
10-Feb-2024
Rajan Bhatti, a close associate of Canada-based terrorist Lakhbir Singh alias Landa, who was arrested on February 9 after an encounter, was sent to a five-day police remand on February 10, in Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district in Punjab. Bhatti was wanted for multiple criminal cases including targeted killings and drug smuggling, with connections to Punjab-origin suppliers in Uganda, and faces charges in Punjab and Chandigarh, where he had previously evaded police custody multiple times.
10-Feb-2024
Punjab Member of Parliament (MP) Vikramjit Singh Sahney on February 10 urged the Central government to prioritize deploying anti-drone technology to combat drug addiction among the youth. He emphasized the need to address the connections between Pakistani drug suppliers, youth recruitment in border areas, and drug mafias in Indian jails. Sahney highlighted the serious concern of drugs being infiltrated via drones across the India-Pakistan border and called for stringent measures, tighter control over drug availability, and enhanced support for rehabilitation centers to effectively tackle the drug menace. He also commended the efforts of both the Central and Punjab governments in establishing anti-narcotics task forces and special operation cells to combat drug trafficking and smuggling.
10-Feb-2024
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 10, urged the government to confer the Bharat Ratna on party stalwart Master Tara Singh, citing his unparalleled contribution to India's freedom and the retention of West Punjab within India. Badal emphasized that Tara Singh's efforts were crucial in preventing the loss of territories, including Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh, to Pakistan. Additionally, Badal highlighted Tara Singh's fearless struggle to keep areas from United Punjab to Delhi as part of India, thereby preventing Muhammad Ali Jinnah's ambitions for Pakistan's expansion.
10-Feb-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on February 10 intercepted and recovered a drone near Chann Kalan village in Amritsar district. The drone was a Quadcopter model DJI Mavic 3 Classic, manufactured in China.
09-Feb-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on February 9 night, shot down a China-made drone near the International Border near Rosary village in Gurdaspur district. The drone was recovered by BSF Jawans on the morning of February 10.
09-Feb-2024
A local Mohali court in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district on February 9 granted permission to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to extradite Canada-based gangster Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dalla, who allegedly has ties to the banned Khalistani terror group Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). Dalla is wanted for numerous heinous crimes including murder, extortion, and targeted killings, as well as facilitating terror activities by providing funding and weapons.
09-Feb-2024
The Maharashtra Government's amendments to the Nanded Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1956, have sparked protests, with leaders of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) joining demonstrators in Nanded, Maharashtra. The amendments would empower the government to nominate 12 members to the 17-member board, thereby reducing SGPC's representation. Sikh organizations, led by the Panj Pyaras, protested and submitted a memorandum to the Nanded Collector. SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami criticized the move, calling it an interference in Sikh affairs, and urged Chief Minister (CM) Eknath Shinde to reconsider.
09-Feb-2024
The Maharashtra state government announced that the Management Committee of Nanded Sikh Gurudwara in Nanded, Maharashtra, will exclusively comprise Sikh community members, emphasizing their expertise and contributions to society. Non-Sikh individuals won't be part of the committee. The government urged against misinformation and clarified that a bill would be presented in the Legislative Assembly for discussion. The new committee will consist of 17 members, including three elected representatives, two from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in Amritsar, and others appointed by the state government.
09-Feb-2024
According to the Police, gangster Rajan Bhatti, who was arrested by Punjab Police's State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) on February 8 in Mohali, was involved in smuggling heroin and illegal arms, facilitated by Punjab-based contacts in Uganda. Bhatti, associated with Canada-based terrorist Lakhbir Singh alias Landa, was wanted in multiple cases. Police recovered firearms, heroin, and drug money from his hideout in Sector 70. Bhatti, a proclaimed offender in several cases, was remanded to police custody for five days following his court appearance on February 9.
09-Feb-2024
Farm activists, in response to the Samyukt Kisan Morcha's (SKM) call, are scheduled to hold prayers in gurdwaras and temples on February 10 for the success of their agitation, which is set to begin on February 13. Preparation for the protest is underway, with activists arranging for long stays in Delhi with their tractor-trolleys.
09-Feb-2024
The police on February 9 busted an inter-state arms smuggling racket and arrested seven persons identified as Jashandeep Singh, Karandeep Singh, Sharanjit Singh, Deepak Kumar, Sandeep Singh, Narinder Singh, and one unidentified person and seized ten .32 bore caliber pistols, along with ten magazines and 15 live cartridges, a .12 bore double-barrel rifle, and a car from their possession in Amritsar in Amritsar district. The suspects were smuggling weapons from Madhya Pradesh to Punjab under the direction of Ritik Rally, based in Australia, and the incarcerated Kunal Mahajan. The police also suspect the involvement of a handler based in the United States (US) in the racket.
09-Feb-2024
The police on February 9 arrested Pardeep Kaler, a prime accused in the 2015 sacrilege incidents, a week after reports surfaced of him serving 'langar' at the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh (UP). He was arrested in Haryana. Kaler, formerly associated with Dera Sacha Sauda, had been evading arrest for eight years.
08-Feb-2024
Punjab Police’s State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) on February 8 arrested a wanted gangster-cum-drug lord, and a close associate of terrorist Lakhbir Singh alias Landa, identified as Rajan Bhatti, and seized a .32 bore pistol with four live rounds, a .45 bore pistol with five live rounds, 270-gm heroin and INR 7,97,000 drug money from his possession in Sector 70 in Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. Bhatti was injured in police firing during the operation. The arrest followed months of surveillance and intelligence efforts by Punjab Police. Bhatti, wanted in over 15 cases including drug smuggling and extortion, had evaded capture for years. His arrest is expected to aid in further investigations, with SSOC teams interrogating him for valuable information on his criminal network.
08-Feb-2024
Police on February 8 stated that it had arrested eight gangsters of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, identified as Sanjay Bawa, Deepak Kumar, Gajinder Rajpurat, Manoj, Pappu, Deepak Kumar ,Radhe and Abhishek Gill; and seized one pistol of .30 bore with five cartridges, one pistol of .32 bore with five cartridges, one country-made gun .315 bore, four magazines, one motorcycle and two scooters from their possession, near Dhobi Ghat near TV Tower in Jalandhar in Jalandhar district. According to the police, the gang had targeted industrialists and businessmen with international connections, including ties to gangster Suraj in the United Kingdom (UK). The investigation is ongoing to uncover further details about their operations.
07-Feb-2024
Rajpura police on February 7 busted an inter-state drugs module with the arrest of two persons identified as Kulwinder Singh Kindi and Palwinder Singh Billa along with 1.05 lakh banned Lomotil tablets in Rajpura in Patiala district.
07-Feb-2024
Security agencies on February 7 recovered 1 kg of heroin near Rudiana village in Gurdaspur district, believed to have been dropped by a drone.
07-Feb-2024
Police on February 7 busted a gang involved in the interstate trade of illegal arms and arrested one of its members, identified as Balkaran Singh alias Rai along with 10 country-made pistols in Nawanshahr in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district in Punjab. The investigations revealed that the gang, led by Arun Kumar alias Mani from Central Jail in Ludhiana, Punjab, was supplying weapons in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Haryana. Balkaran, previously involved in drug trafficking, was directed by Kumar to procure weapons from Madhya Pradesh for criminal activities.
07-Feb-2024
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) on February 7 arrested three associates of terrorists Harwinder Singh alias Rinda and Lakhbir Singh alias Landa, identified as Jobanjit Singh alias Joban, Bikramjit Singh alias Bikka and Kulwinder Singh alias Kala and seized two .32 calibre pistols along with 10 live cartridges and a Maruti Swift car from their possession, near Shafipur village in Amritsar district.
07-Feb-2024
The Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), on February 7, strongly denounced the recent amendment to the Nanded Sikh Gurdwara Sachkhand Shri Hazur Abhchal Nagar Sahib Act, 1956, by the Government of Maharashtra. The amendment increases government-nominated members to 12 out of 17, reducing SGPC's representation and omitting other Sikh organisations. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh deemed it an attempt to take direct control of the historic Sikh Shrine and ordered SGPC to urgently engage with the Maharashtra government to reverse the amendment. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami urged Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Eknath Shinde to reconsider, citing resentment within the Sikh community over the perceived government dominance.