KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
14-Nov-2023
Security has been heightened at Ahmedabad airport in Gujarat, Amritsar airport in Punjab, and Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi following threats from Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). Pannun urged Sikhs to avoid Air India flights on and after November 19. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) held a meeting with the multi-agency center to address these threats, including concerns related to the ICC Cricket World Cup final on November 19 in Ahmedabad.
14-Nov-2023
Harbhajan Singh, the former Indian cricketer, on November 14 rebuked Inzamam-ul-Haq's claim that he contemplated converting from Sikhism to Islam. Harbhajan asserted his pride in being Indian and Sikh, dismissing Inzamam's remarks as baseless.
14-Nov-2023
Amid a diplomatic dispute sparked by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations of Indian involvement in a terrorist's murder, India has urged Canada to strengthen its law enforcement framework against the misuse of freedom of expression, curb extremist activities, and prevent attacks on places of worship. This call comes in response to a video by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, warning against Air India travel on November 19. The video raises concerns over the ease of anti-India provocations in the West due to perceived laxity. India emphasizes the responsibility of Western nations to deny space to extremist elements and crack down on terrorism targeting Air India passengers.
14-Nov-2023
Balwinder Kaur, mother of detained Khalistani and chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD) Amritpal Singh, on November 14 expressed that Khalistan represents a governance model akin to Maharaja Ranjit Singh's era, emphasizing inclusive coexistence of Sikhs, Hindus, and other communities without fear, while addressing the media in Amritsar in Punjab. Amritpal is currently held under the National Security Act (NSA) in Assam.
13-Nov-2023
According to sources, India has requested evidence from the United States (US) under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) concerning an attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco by Khalistani elements in July 2023. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is conducting an ongoing probe into the incident, which prompted the US to condemn the attack as a 'criminal offence.' The request for evidence comes nearly eight months after the attack, during which US officials identified around 45 individuals involved in the violent incident.
13-Nov-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on November 13 intercepted a Pakistani drone near Tindi Wala village in Ferozepur district.
13-Nov-2023
Punjab Police and the Border Security Force (BSF) on November 13 arrested two drug smugglers, identified as Daljit Singh and Palwinder Singh, and seized 540 grams of heroin from their possession in Udhar Dhariwal village in Amritsar district. The accused revealed that the drug-smuggling module was orchestrated by Mann Bilawal Singh, a Canada-based smuggler, with the assistance of Pakistani counterparts. Mann Bilawal Singh, the alleged mastermind, is the nephew of Daljit Singh and the son of the former notorious smuggler Punjab Singh.
12-Nov-2023
Police on November 12 arrested two individuals, identified as Bakhtoor Singh and Dharma Singh, for the desecration of Gutka Sahib, a sacred Sikh scripture, in Dan Singhwala village in Bathinda district. Torn pages of Gutka Sahib and a liquor bottle were found in the dera.
12-Nov-2023
Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala's posthumous song "Watch-Out" was released on November 12 marking the fifth release since his murder in May 2022. The song, premiered on Moose Wala’s YouTube channel by his parents, reached over 15 lakh views and 7 lakh likes within the first 30 minutes of its release, with 4.17 lakh likes in the initial minute.
12-Nov-2023
On November 12, in a joint search operation, the Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police recovered a China-made quadcopter drone, model DJI Mavic 3 Classic, near Bharopal village in Amritsar district.
12-Nov-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police in a joint search operation on November 12 recovered a drone near Nesta village in Amritsar district. The drone was a China-made Quadcopter.
12-Nov-2023
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on November 12 stated that it had filed a charge sheet in the NIA special court in Mohali against Malkit Singh alias 'Pistol,' in connection with the cross-border smuggling of arms and ammunition by drones in Punjab's Gurdaspur district. The case, initially registered in March following a seizure by Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, involved the recovery of firearms, including five Austria-made pistols, magazines, and live cartridges. The NIA's investigations revealed links between members of the proscribed Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), and individuals in Pakistan, leading to the re-registration of the case in August. Both KLF and ISYF have been banned by the Indian government.
12-Nov-2023
Gokul Setia, the 34-year-old grandson of former Haryana Home Minister Laxman Das Arora, approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court expressing concerns about threats to his life from the Bambiha group in Chandigarh. He sought directions from the court for security measures for his family. Setia, a politician from Sirsa, cited information from the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) about a plot targeting him. He had previously received security after Punjab Police acknowledged the threat in February.
12-Nov-2023
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh on November 12 instructed Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) officials to expedite the decision on Balwant Singh Rajoana's mercy plea. Rajoana, a death row convict in the assassination case of former Chief Minister (CM) Beant Singh, had earlier urged the Akal Takht to direct Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to withdraw the mercy plea, threatening a hunger strike.
12-Nov-2023
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh on November 12, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab, called for unity among Sikh organizations to secure the release of individuals who have served their prison terms (Bandi Singhs). He emphasized the lack of government efforts in this regard.
11-Nov-2023
On November 11, the eve of Bandi Chhor Divas, Sikh Youth of Punjab activists held prayers at Sachkhand Darbar Sahib in Amritsar, Punjab, praying for the well-being, high spirits, and freedom of the Bandi Singhs. They carried placards with pictures of Jaggi Johal, Sandeep Singh Sunny, and Amritpal Singh, urging their release. The youth organization vowed to continue their democratic struggle against what they perceived as the government's injustice towards Sikh political prisoners, emphasizing the prisoners' right to be released after completing their sentences.
11-Nov-2023
According to sources, Pakistani smugglers are utilizing sophisticated drones to transport narcotics into India, leading to the recovery of 82 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 593 drone sightings along the India-Pakistan border since 2019 by the Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police. Central agencies suspect that these UAVs are used to finance and supply weapons to pro-Khalistan entities on the Indian side. Recent seizures include substantial quantities of heroin, RDX, IEDs, firearms, and cash. The Indian security establishment alleges a nexus between Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), narco-terrorism networks, and cross-border linkages, with evidence pointing to their collaboration.
11-Nov-2023
Members of the 1984 Sikh Katle Aam Peerat Welfare Society, having failed to meet Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on November 11, met Akal Takht Jathedar Raghbir Singh in Amritsar, Punjab. They urged the Jathedar to press the government for their demands, including increasing widow pensions to INR 10,000 per month, 5% job reservation for anti-Sikh riot victims, and the allocation of booths and houses, as directed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
11-Nov-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) is receiving support from residents, especially farmers, in combating drug smuggling along the India-Pakistan border, according to Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, the Special Director General of BSF's Western Command. An awareness campaign initiated by the force in Punjab's border areas has yielded positive results, with local residents, particularly farmers, providing information about suspicious contraband activities.
11-Nov-2023
Police on November 11 arrested three drug peddlers, identified as Jobanjit Singh alias Joban, Lovepreet Singh alias Love and Gurjant Singh, and seized 51 grams of heroin along with two electronic scales and a motorcycle from their possession in Chheharta in Amritsar district.
10-Nov-2023
The Lucknow Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (LGPC) on November 10 denounced the terror threat on flights made by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. They expressed concerns that Pannun may be serving divisive political interests, contending that his rhetoric aims to tarnish the reputation of Sikhs globally, despite their commendable contributions through sewa (selfless service).
10-Nov-2023
On November 10, during the 2+2 ministerial meeting in New Delhi, India's Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra expressed serious concerns to the United States (US) about the heightened activities of pro-Khalistani extremists in Canada.
10-Nov-2023
During his meeting with the Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi on November 10, United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged India to collaborate with Canada's investigation into the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Blinken emphasized the importance of both nations working together to address differences during the 2+2 summit between the US and India.
10-Nov-2023
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), on November 10, filed a third charge sheet at a Delhi court in the case related to gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror network. The charge sheet names Darman Singh alias Darmanjot Kahlon, Parveen Wadhwa alias Prince, Yudhvir Singh alias Sadhu, and Vikas Singh. It includes details about the accused individuals' involvement in terror-related activities. The total number of accused persons charged in the case has now reached 21.
10-Nov-2023
Police on November 10 arrested three associates of the Bambiha gang, identified as Jagjeet Singh, Anmol Singh and Manpreet Singh, and seized two illegal weapons, including a .32-bore pistol and a .30-bore pistol, apart from 10 live cartridges and a motorcycle from their possession in Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. The arrested individuals were working on the instructions of gangster Lucky Patial, operating the gang from Armenia.