KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
06-Oct-2023
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on October 6 stated that India would address all issues with the Canadian Speaker of the Senate, including recent strains in bilateral relations stemming from allegations made by Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau, during the upcoming Parliament-20 meeting of G20 presiding officers in New Delhi.
06-Oct-2023
Dal Khalsa leader Kanwar Pal Singh on October 6 issued a warning in Amritsar, Punjab, amidst the resurgence of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal dispute following a recent Supreme Court (SC) directive. He asserted that any attempt to construct the SYL canal in Punjab could lead to a rebellion in the state. They argue that Punjab has a legitimate right to its river waters and that the past sacrifices made by Khalistani militants in defence of these rights will not be in vain. The group contends that the canal was planned against Riparian principles and accuses successive Indian governments of unjustly diverting Punjab's river waters to non-riparian states, thus violating the Indian Constitution in the process.
05-Oct-2023
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on October 5 received a terror email, in which the sender threatened to assassinate Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and blow up the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, where several ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 matches are scheduled, if the Indian government fails to pay INR 500 crore and release notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. This threat has raised security concerns, especially since a similar threat was issued recently by the Khalistani terrorist outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). Police are working to determine if the email is connected to SFJ or if it's a hoax, given Bishnoi's recent claims regarding a gangster killing in Canada. Increased security measures are being implemented in Mumbai, which is set to host World Cup matches.
05-Oct-2023
A two-day anti-terror conference organized by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), with a focus on dismantling the terror ecosystem and disrupting terror funding, concluded on October 6 in New Delhi. The conference was inaugurated by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, on October 5, emphasizing a ruthless approach to prevent the formation of new terrorist organizations, echoing the zero-tolerance policy of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi.
05-Oct-2023
Tarn Taran Police on October 5 arrested a person, identified as Shera Singh, and seized 3 kg of heroin from his possession in Mehndipur Village in Tarn Taran district.
05-Oct-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police conducted a joint search operation on October 5 and recovered a broken drone from a field on the outskirts of Rasoolpur village in Tarn Taran district. The drone was a Made in China Quadcopter Model DJI Matrice.
05-Oct-2023
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff of Amritsar Police on October 5 identified two foreign-based handlers of three arrested smugglers, Rohan Singh, Rajesh Singh, and Tejpal Singh, who were found with 500 grams of heroin and INR 50,000 in drug money near Amritsar-Attari bypass in the Amritsar district. The handlers are located in the United Kingdom (UK) and Malaysia but have not yet been officially named in the case. The smugglers were allegedly connected to an international drug cartel with links to a Pakistan-based notorious smuggler identified as Bhatti.
05-Oct-2023
Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), on October 5 expressed concerns to the United Kingdom (UK) authorities regarding the safety of Indian diplomats and diplomatic facilities, following a pro-Khalistan protest in London on October 2. India has raised the issue of security for its diplomats and premises with UK authorities. Bagchi also emphasized that discussions are ongoing to address this issue, with the expectation of a reduction in Canada's diplomatic presence in India. This reduction is being sought by India in order to achieve parity in two countries' respective diplomatic presence and to address concerns about Canadian interference in India’s internal matters.
05-Oct-2023
The Kangra police on October 5 formed a seven-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a thorough probe into the pro-Khalistan graffiti found scribbled on the boundary wall of the Jal Shakti Department in Dharamshala in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, just days ahead of a Cricket World Cup 2023 fixture. The SIT, led by Himachal Pradesh police officer RP Jaswal, is tasked with a swift and thorough probe into the incident.
05-Oct-2023
According to reports, Balwinder Kaur, the mother of Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh, has requested the Central government to transfer her son and other detainees held under the National Security Act (NSA) from Dibrugarh jail in Assam to prisons in Punjab. She cited difficulties in visiting them in Dibrugarh and expressed concern over the alleged denial of their basic right to meet lawyers. Amritpal's wife, Kirandeep Kaur, mentioned that the police were working on obtaining permission for a lawyer to visit Amritpal in jail, but they had not yet received confirmation, prompting a hunger strike by the detainees.
05-Oct-2023
The United States (US) Embassy in New Delhi on October 5 denied reports that its ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, had warned of potential strain in US-India relations due to the diplomatic dispute between India and Canada over Khalistani extremism. Earlier, Politico had reported that Garcetti expressed concerns to his team about the potential deterioration of bilateral relations between the US and India due to India's dispute with Canada and suggested that the US might need to limit contacts with Indian officials for an unspecified period.
05-Oct-2023
The Punjab Police reportedly informed the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) that they have identified 56 Pro-Khalistan Entities (PKEs) operating in various countries, including the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), and Canada and some of these entities are alleged to have been involved in 15 targeted killings in Punjab within the past six years. During the two-day "Anti-Terror Conference" held in New Delhi on October 5-6 and organized by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Punjab Police Inspector General of Police (Internal Security) Nilabh Kishore delivered a presentation where he disclosed this information. According to Punjab Police's findings, among the 56 PKEs identified, 13 are located in the US, 12 in Canada, 7 in Germany, 6 in the UK, 6 in Pakistan, with 2 each in the Philippines, Armenia, Portugal, and Malaysia, along with 4 others situated in various countries. It also revealed that some of these PKEs, with the assistance of gangsters based in India, were responsible for executing 15 ‘targeted killings’ in the state of Punjab, spanning from 2017 to September 30, 2023, including the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala in May 2022, as well as three grenade attacks, two RPG attacks, and two IED explosions.
05-Oct-2023
At the "Anti-Terror Conference" organized by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on October 5-6 in New Delhi, the Punjab Police revealed that during their significant efforts against pro-Khalistan outfits, it has filed 130 FIRs under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), arrested 580 individuals, dismantled 99 modules, and seized 82 drones. In their crackdown on criminal gangs, the Punjab Police stated that they have arrested 4,597 individuals and killed 22 in different encounters. The arrested gang members include 16 individuals from Haryana, 6 from Uttar Pradesh, 4 from both Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, 3 from Rajasthan, and 9 from other locations.
05-Oct-2023
Punjab Police Inspector General of Police (Internal Security) Nilabh Kishore, at the "Anti-Terror Conference" hosted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in New Delhi on October 5-6, announced that, in response to a proposal submitted by the Punjab Police, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) officially designated 11 individuals as terrorists and identified three entities as terrorist organizations. He further mentioned that six additional proposals are currently under consideration. Additionally, 11 pro-Khalistan activists have been deported, red-corner notices have been issued for 13 individuals, properties of four individuals have been seized under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and red-corner notices are currently in the process of being issued for 40 more individuals.
04-Oct-2023
The Special Task Force (STF) on October 4 arrested three individuals, identified as Avtar Singh, Joginder Singh and Gurvinder Singh and seized 100 grams of heroin from their possession in Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. The accused allegedly sourced heroin from Amritsar for INR 2,000 per gram and sold it for INR 3,200 per gram in Mohali. Avtar had two prior drug smuggling cases in Amritsar, Punjab and Tarn Taran, Punjab, while Joginder had one drug case in Amritsar.
04-Oct-2023
India has requested that Canada significantly reduce its diplomatic staff in response to a recent diplomatic dispute triggered by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations of Indian involvement in the killing of a pro-Khalistan leader. Canada's substantial diplomatic presence in India is currently undergoing a reduction, with 41 diplomats instructed to depart by October 10. This action could potentially impact visa processing, hinder educational and immigration-related affairs for Indians, and potentially impede efforts to strengthen trade and defense ties between the two nations.
04-Oct-2023
The Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on October 4 expressed dissatisfaction over the alleged denial of permission by Amritsar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Amit Talwar to lawyer Rajdev Singh Khalsa and the family members of Amritpal Singh and other detainees imprisoned in Dibrugarh jail, Assam. Reports indicate that Amritpal and nine other detainees initiated a hunger strike due to restrictions on their chosen lawyer's access in jail. DC Amit Talwar defended the administration, stating that they had followed jail manual norms and granted access to family members and lawyers on 42 occasions in the past five months.
04-Oct-2023
According to reports, pro-Khalistan sentiments are on the rise in various foreign countries, including the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US), and Australia, leading to protests and incidents targeting Indian officials and property. Recent incidents include the burning of the Indian Tricolour outside the Indian High Commission in London, UK, and attacks on Indian diplomats and students in these countries. The Khalistan movement remains active among some Sikh diaspora members abroad, fuelled by historical grievances and a disconnect from the evolving reality in Punjab, although it represents only a fraction of the Sikh community overseas. Security concerns and diplomatic tensions persist as these incidents continue to occur.
04-Oct-2023
Mohali police and Anti Gangster Task Force (AGTF) in a joint operation on October 4 arrested two associates of the Bambiha gang, identified as Avtar Singh alias Gora, and Ajay Kumar alias Preet Sharma, and seized four pistols along with six magazines and 16 live cartridges from their possession in Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district.
03-Oct-2023
According to reports, Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh, along with nine fellow detainees, has initiated an indefinite hunger strike at Dibrugarh jail in Assam. Their protest is in response to alleged restrictions on the access of their chosen lawyer, Rajdev Singh, to them within the jail premises. Kirandeep Kaur, Amritpal Singh's wife, has also joined the hunger strike in solidarity with her husband and the other detainees who are held under the National Security Act (NSA) due to the lawyer access dispute.
03-Oct-2023
Police on October 3 arrested two associates of designated Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala, identified as Mandeep Singh alias Deepa and Saurav Kumar alias Saabi, and seized a .32-bore pistol and four live cartridges from their possession in Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. The suspects were wanted by Ludhiana and Moga police in multiple criminal cases and had been declared proclaimed offenders.
03-Oct-2023
On October 3, the Dhar Kalan Police Station in Pathankot district of Punjab was declared a drug-free zone, along with 45 village panchayats in the Dhar Kalan region. This announcement reflects the Punjab government's efforts to combat the drug menace, including recent arrests of drug smugglers.
03-Oct-2023
Punjab Police and Border Security Force (BSF) on October 3 intercepted a Pakistani drone and recovered 2.518 grams of heroin from near Border Out-Post (BOP) Kalsia near Kalsian Khurd village in Tarn Taran district.
03-Oct-2023
According to reports, India has demanded that Canada recall its 41 ambassadors, giving them time until October 10 to leave the country. Failure to comply with this request will result in the removal of their diplomatic immunity. Currently, India hosts 62 Canadian ambassadors, but after the deadline, only 21 will remain in the country.
03-Oct-2023
Khalistani graffiti that read 'Khalistan Zindabad' was discovered on a wall of a government office in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh on October 3. This incident bears resemblance to a previous occurrence at the Vidhan Sabha complex in Dharamsala, where Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun had claimed responsibility, resulting in the arrest of two individuals from Punjab for creating similar graffiti.