KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
27-Feb-2026
Reports of a mysterious blast at a police station in Phagwara, Kapurthala district, sparked panic late on February 27. However, police dismissed the claim as false, stating that no explosion had occurred. They nonetheless responded with heightened alertness and preventive measures to maintain public safety and law and order. The alert followed a social media post in which an organization claimed responsibility for a purported grenade blast, describing it as retaliation for alleged “fake police encounters,” and specifically referring to the killing of 19-year-old Ranjit Singh in Gurdaspur.
27-Feb-2026
On February 27, unidentified assailants fired gunshots at the car of Kundal village sarpanch (village head) Jagmandeep Singh Minku in Abohar, Fazilka district. In his complaint, Jagmandeep stated that he was not inside the vehicle at the time of the incident and claimed that he had been receiving death threats.
27-Feb-2026
Police registered a fresh case after allegedly recovering 16 narcotic capsules and smack from an inmate, Harpreet Singh alias Happy, during his appearance at the district court complex in Ludhiana. The accused was already facing trial in a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
27-Feb-2026
Ajaypal Singh alias Ajay, arrested in connection with the grenade attack at Kapania Bakery in Nakodar, Jalandhar district, has allegedly confessed that he and six others were tasked with carrying out the attack by Harwinder Rinda, a designated terrorist linked to Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and reportedly based in Pakistan. According to police, the seven accused were promised INR 2 lakh for executing the attack. Rinda had allegedly demanded INR 30 lakh in extortion from the bakery owner and, when the demand was not met, conspired to carry out the grenade attack.
27-Feb-2026
A prosecution witness has refused to identify gangster Lawrence Bishnoi during the trial of an attempt-to-murder case registered 14 years ago in Chandigarh. Bishnoi was produced before the court via video conferencing from Ahmedabad jail in Gujarat. Defence counsel Harish Bhardwaj stated that the witness, Navneet Singh, told the court he neither knew nor recognised Bishnoi. The case stems from a 2012 clash between two student union groups at DAV College in Sector 10, following which police registered an attempt-to-murder case against Bishnoi and others.
27-Feb-2026
According to a statement issued by Shamsher Singh Padhri, press secretary of Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), Bapu Tarsem Singh—father of jailed MP Amritpal Singh—alleged that the encounter killing of 19-year-old Ranjit Singh in Gurdaspur exposed what he termed the “anti-Sikh face” of the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab. He demanded that the case be handed over to the CBI for an impartial probe.
27-Feb-2026
According to reports, Canadian officials have confirmed that there will be no Bhangra performance during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to India. Unlike former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Carney is also not scheduled to visit Punjab as part of his itinerary.
27-Feb-2026
India and the United Kingdom (UK) on February 27 identified pro-Khalistani extremism and the activities of anti-India groups in the UK as key areas of mutual concern during the 6th Home Affairs Dialogue (HAD) held in New Delhi. India also underscored its concerns over security breaches involving Indian dignitaries and diplomatic missions in the UK. Both sides identified additional areas for proactive cooperation, including drug trafficking, migration, criminal justice and law enforcement collaboration, and cyber security. The Indian delegation was led by Secretary (Border Management) Rajendra Kumar, while the UK side was headed by Simon Ridley, Second Permanent Secretary at the Home Office.
26-Feb-2026
On February 26, the 37th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 601 raids, arrested 203 persons and recovered one weapon from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 147 individuals, while 145 persons were verified and released after questioning. Eight proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
26-Feb-2026
On February 26, Punjab Police, on day 362 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 67 drug smugglers, and seized 2.4 kg of heroin, 301 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 3350 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
26-Feb-2026
The killing of Ranjit Singh, one of the three accused in the Gurdaspur twin policemen murder case, in a police encounter triggered a major controversy, with his family refusing to accept his body on February 26. They demanded that the state government register a murder case against the police personnel involved before they would proceed with the last rites. On February 25, Punjab Police had shot dead Ranjit Singh and arrested Dilawar Singh for their alleged role in the February 22 killing of an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) and Home Guard personnel in Gurdaspur. A third accused, Inderjit Singh of Adhian village, remains absconding. Police have claimed that the trio had been paid by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to carry out the attack.
26-Feb-2026
Kanwar Pal Singh, Secretary for Political Affairs of Dal Khalsa, expressed disappointment over the exclusion of Punjab from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s itinerary during his upcoming visit, noting that it departs from the practice followed by his predecessors. He added that Sikhs continue to hope for justice and fairness, albeit with cautious optimism.
26-Feb-2026
The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on February 26 arrested an accused, identified as Rahmat Ali Sheikh in connection with a high-profile heroin and arms smuggling case linked to Punjab, from the Rakhial area of Ahmedabad in Gujarat. He was wanted in a case registered at Raja Sasi Police Station in Amritsar district involving the smuggling of heroin, hand grenades, and pistols allegedly sourced from across the Pakistan–Punjab border. Two co-accused had earlier been arrested in the case along with drugs and arms. During interrogation, officials found that Rahmat Ali was allegedly a key operative in a larger narcotics and grenade–pistol network. He is accused of facilitating the delivery of a consignment of heroin, hand grenades, and pistols from the Pakistan side of the Punjab border to associates in Punjab in January.
25-Feb-2026
Police on February 25 arrested Sukhbir Singh, a key accused in the February 18 murder of Sarpanch Harbrinder Singh, at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar while he was attempting to board a flight to Dubai. He was deboarded before take-off. Police have alleged that he facilitated financial transactions linked to the crime. With his arrest, the total number of accused held in the case has risen to seven.
25-Feb-2026
Punjab Police on February 25 shot dead a youth, identified as Ranjit Singh in an encounter and arrested another one, Dilawer Singh for their alleged role in the February 23 murder of two policemen, near Purana Shalla village in Gurdaspur district. A third suspect, Inderjit Singh, remains absconding. Police stated that the trio had allegedly been recruited by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to execute the killings in exchange for money. Deputy Inspector General (Border Range) Sandeep Goel stated that Ranjit Singh was picked up from his village in the early hours of February 25. He was being taken to recover the pistol allegedly used in the killings when the police jeep overturned near Gahlri village due to dense fog, allowing him to escape. According to the DIG, Ranjit, who was later spotted riding a motorcycle, was signalled to stop by a police team led by CIA SHO Gurmeet Singh. His motorcycle reportedly skidded, and finding himself cornered, he opened fire on the police. In the ensuing retaliatory firing, he was injured and subsequently declared brought dead at Gurdaspur Civil Hospital. The SHO also sustained injuries in the exchange.
25-Feb-2026
On February 25, the 36th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 546 raids, arrested 148 persons and recovered two weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 143 individuals, while 134 persons were verified and released after questioning. Three proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
25-Feb-2026
On February 25, Punjab Police, on day 361 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 88 drug smugglers, and seized 5 kg of heroin, 175 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 27520 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
25-Feb-2026
The State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), Fazilka, in coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF), on February 25, arrested a person, identified as Gurnam Singh alias Gama and seized 2.102 kg of heroin, seven pistols—including one Glock, four .30 bore pistols, and two 9 mm pistols—along with magazines, live cartridges, and a motorcycle, near Baghe Ke Uttar village in Fazilka district. A senior official stated that the seizure points to the involvement of gangsters in a cross-border smuggling network. The consignment of arms, ammunition, and contraband was reportedly smuggled from Pakistan via drones operated by Pakistan-based traffickers.
25-Feb-2026
Police on February 25 arrested two additional members of a gang, identified as Arshdeep Masih alias Shubham and Phillips alias Pawan and recovered 264 grams of heroin, a pistol, an AK-47 magazine, and 17 rounds of ammunition from their possession in Amritsar district. The alleged kingpin, Laras Masih had been arrested around six weeks earlier. Subsequently, his associate Sandeep Masih was arrested on February 3, leading to the recovery of illegal weapons and heroin. In total, the police have seized four pistols, 37 rounds of ammunition, three AK-47 magazines, and 528 grams of heroin from the accused so far.
25-Feb-2026
On February 25, activists of Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) organised a ‘Khalsa Vahir’, projecting it as a programme aligned with ‘Khalsai Jaho-Jalal’ (Sikh values and traditions), in Amritsar district. Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh’s father, Tarsem Singh, and MP Sarbjit Singh Khalsa were among those present at the event.
24-Feb-2026
Unidentified assailants allegedly opened fire on the car of a lawyer linked to jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi near the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT), Kashmere Gate, in New Delhi on February 24.
24-Feb-2026
The Punjab Government has introduced a new reward policy to encourage public assistance in the arrest of gangsters and wanted criminals in Punjab. Under the “Reward Policy of the State of Punjab for the Arrest of Wanted Criminals,” individuals can receive rewards of up to INR 2 lakh or more for providing credible information. The policy authorises field officers to sanction cash rewards for informers and police personnel involved in exceptional operations. The reward amount will be determined based on the gravity of the offence, the level of risk undertaken, and the quality of information provided. Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav stated that the initiative is part of the ongoing “Gangstran Te Vaar” campaign to make Punjab gangster-free and aims to institutionalise a transparent and motivating reward mechanism.
24-Feb-2026
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal, addressing the party’s “Punjab Bachao Rally” in Ferozepur on February 24, promised that if voted to power in next year’s Assembly elections, his government would declare gangsters and drug traffickers as “terrorists.” He also pledged to introduce legislation to deny bail to gangsters and drug lords and to seize their properties.
24-Feb-2026
On February 24, the 35th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 587 raids, arrested 183 persons and recovered three weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 150 individuals, while 133 persons were verified and released after questioning. Seven proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
24-Feb-2026
On February 24, Punjab Police, on day 360 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 83 drug smugglers, and seized 431 grams of heroin, 12 kg of poppy husk, 323 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 4860 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.