KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
26-Oct-2023
Bangladesh's Minister of Liberation War Affairs, A.K.M. Mozammel Huq, on October 26 stated in New Delhi that killers, particularly those involved in the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country's founding father, should not find shelter in any country, referring to the fugitives who fled to Canada. The primary accused in Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's assassination, Noor Chowdhury, has been living in Canada since 1996, but extradition requests have been rejected based on Canada's Extradition Act.
25-Oct-2023
Gurmit Singh Pinky, a former militant with links to the Khalistani terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) who later became an informer, died on October 25 at a hospital in Chandigarh.
25-Oct-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on October 25 recovered two bottles containing 1.5 kg of heroin from a field near Dal village in Tarn Taran district.
25-Oct-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on October 25 recovered a China-made drone on the outskirts of Dhanoe Khurd village in Amritsar district. The recovered drone is a Quadcopter (DJI Mavic 3 Classic).
25-Oct-2023
Police on October 25 arrested a drug supplier, identified as Ranjeet Singh alias Rana, and recovered 105 grams of heroin from his possession in Daoke village in Amritsar district. Rana revealed that his village near the India-Pakistan border was a hub for heroin smuggling, and he had been in contact with Pakistani-based suppliers via WhatsApp.
25-Oct-2023
Waris Punjab De (WPD) chief Amritpal Singh's father, Tarsem Singh, was allegedly prevented from boarding an international flight at Amritsar Airport in Punjab on October 25. While the destination remains unclear, it's believed he was heading to Qatar to oversee the family's transportation business. However, no official statement has been released regarding the incident.
25-Oct-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on October 25 recovered a China-made drone near the international border (IB) in a paddy field near Dhanoe Khurd village in Amritsar district. The recovered drone was a Quadcopter Model - DJI Mavice 3 Classic.
25-Oct-2023
Police on October 25 arrested four members of an arms supply gang, identified as Sorav Kumar, Ranjit Singh, Shivraj Soni, and Kushar Ashis Ram Saroop and seized five pistols, comprising three of .32 bore caliber and two of .315 bore, along with 26 live cartridges and two laptops from their possession in Mohali, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district.
24-Oct-2023
Former Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) head Paramjit Singh Sarna on October 24 accused the current DSGMC body of misusing funds and sought the intervention of Akal Takht Jathedar to scrutinize their finances in Amritsar, Punjab.
24-Oct-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police on October 24 recovered a small bottle filled with 356 grams of heroin and a drone from the outskirts of Mastgarh village in Tarn Taran district. The recovered drone was a Quadcopter of model DJI Mavic 3 Classic.
24-Oct-2023
The Punjab Police have made a significant drug seizure of 1,090 kg of heroin in less than 10 months this year, surpassing the previous highest recovery of 759.82 kg in 2020. During this period, they registered 9,571 cases and arrested 13,197 individuals, with around 3,000 of them considered major offenders. The authorities also confiscated 778.36 kg of opium, 32,883.04 kg of poppy husk, 55.44 kg of charas, and 0.07 kg of cocaine. While the crackdown on drug smuggling has intensified, the recorded recovery remains a fraction of the total drug consumption in Punjab, estimated at four to five lakh heroin addicts.
24-Oct-2023
Jamalpur Police on October 24 arrested four drug peddlers, identified as Ashu Mehta, Amandeep Singh, Maninder Singh and Suman Tiwari, and seized 260 grams of heroin, an electronic weighing machine and a Maruti Suzuki Swift car from their possession in Jamalpur in Ludhiana district.
24-Oct-2023
The Barnala police on October 24 revealed that they have arrested four former kabaddi players, identified as Parmjit Singh, Jagraj Singh, Gurmeet Singh, and Wajir Singh, who were allegedly involved in the murder of Head Constable Darshan Singh and seized a country-made .315 bore pistol, two live cartridges, a car, and a motorcycle from their possession in Barnala in Barnala district. During their arrest, Parmjit Singh sustained injuries in a brief encounter with the police, leading to an additional attempt-to-murder case being filed against him.
24-Oct-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on October 24 intercepted a drone and recovered 420 grams of heroin near the International Border (IB) near Wan village in Tarn Taran district.
24-Oct-2023
Pro-Khalistan slogans threatening to create 'Khalistan' in Rajasthan and targeting prominent figures, including the Prime Minister, were discovered in the Hanumangarh railway yard in Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan, on October 24. Intelligence and security agencies are concerned about potential unrest in the area due to its significant Sikh population and suspect the involvement of individuals traveling from Punjab.
23-Oct-2023
The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) on October 23 rejected the parole plea of Paramjit Singh Bheora, a convict in the assassination case of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. Bheora had sought parole to attend his niece's wedding in Delhi on October 29, but the plea was dismissed as there is no provision in the Punjab Jail Manual or relevant rules for the release of convicted prisoners to attend family events. Bheora, who led the terrorist organization Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2010 for his involvement in the 1995 car blast that killed the former CM.
23-Oct-2023
The State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) of Punjab Police on October 23 busted a cross-border smuggling racket by arresting a drug trafficker, identified as Rahul along with 12 kilograms of heroin and a Honda Amaze car in Amritsar district. According to the Police, Rahul had direct connections with the notorious drug smuggler Ranjeet alias Cheeta.
23-Oct-2023
Two unidentified masked and armed men shot at kabaddi player Harvinder Singh Bindri in Nihal Singh Wala town in Moga district on October 23. The incident, captured on CCTV, involved the attackers conversing with Singh's mother before shooting him in the foot. Initial investigations suggest that the attackers were sent by someone abroad to intimidate Singh, possibly due to his participation in the upcoming panchayat elections.
23-Oct-2023
According to sources, Canadian diplomats in Chandigarh and Punjab have been abusing their powers to grant visas to individuals with criminal backgrounds who support the Khalistan cause. These visas are being issued to bolster the Khalistan movement. Additionally, Canada's refusal to assist in extradition cases and its perceived interference in India's affairs have strained relations between the two countries.
22-Oct-2023
The Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on October 22 reiterated India's commitment to maintaining diplomatic parity with Canada and he expressed concerns over Canadian interference in Indian affairs during an event in New Delhi. Despite the diplomatic tensions, Canada's visa services continue to operate in India, although processing times may be affected due to reduced staffing. Canada has a significant Indian-origin population, particularly among Sikhs, and hosts a large number of Indian international students. This diplomatic dispute has significant implications for both nations.
22-Oct-2023
The Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, in New Delhi, on October 22 subtly blamed Canada's ruling Liberal Party, led by Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau, for strained bilateral relations, citing concerns over Canada's handling of Khalistani extremists.
22-Oct-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police on October 22 recovered three packets of heroin weighing 2.916 kilograms and a drone battery with a capacity of 5935 milliampere-hours (mAh) from a nearby paddy field on the outskirts of Mastgarh village in Tarn Taran district. The joint search operation was launched based on specific information regarding the presence of contraband items in the area.
22-Oct-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops recovered a quadcopter in broken condition from the field near Rao Ke Hitar Village in Ferozepur district.
22-Oct-2023
According to police sources, Kapurthala district in Punjab is grappling with an alarming increase in women involved in drug trafficking, with 25 First Information Reports (FIR) filed against women for narcotics peddling in the past year at the Subhanpur police station. Around 40% of drug-related FIRs in Subhanpur involve women. This surge in female involvement in the drug trade has been partly attributed to videos of women selling drugs circulating on social media. Economic incentives, particularly for families, and the incarceration of husbands or family members in drug-related cases are driving factors behind women's participation in this illicit trade. Police have conducted awareness campaigns but face challenges in persuading women to give up drug peddling.
22-Oct-2023
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gulneet Singh Khurana on October 22 revealed in an attempt to combat drug addiction, a vigilante anti-drug committee took the law into their own hands by kidnapping a suspected drug smuggler identified as Daljinder Singh alias Noor, brutally beating him to death, and disposing of his body in a drain in Ghumman Kalan village in Bathinda district. The Bathinda police have registered a case against 14 committee members, including the head of the committee, and arrested two persons.