KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
15-Sep-2023
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on September 15 ruled that cases against drug kingpins should be registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in addition to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Opium Act.
14-Sep-2023
The Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Border Range, Narinder Bhargav, stated on September 14 that the Drone Emergency Response System (DERS), implemented by the Amritsar Border Range police in collaboration with Village Defence Committees (VDCs) in the border area, has been effective in apprehending drug peddlers using drones for cross-border smuggling. The border belt has multiple VDCs that work in coordination with the police and Border Security Force (BSF) authorities. When a drone sighting is reported, VDC members inform the village police officer, who then alerts police and BSF officials. This streamlined approach has led to the more efficient recovery of drones and contraband, thwarting smuggling attempts.
14-Sep-2023
On September 14, following a tip-off from a Village Defence Committee (VDC), Punjab Police arrested a 14-year-old Pakistani boy in Dhanoe Khurd village in Amritsar district. The boy was taken into custody, and investigations are ongoing to determine whether his entry into the country was accidental or deliberate.
14-Sep-2023
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced, through a press release on September 14, that it had secured a landmark court order from a special NIA court in Haryana to forfeit the properties of terrorists, including cash and an SUV, belonging to four associates of Pakistan-based Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda. The four associates have been identified as Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi, Mandeep Singh alias Deepa, Parminder Singh alias Pinder, and Bhupinder Singh. This action, taken under Section 26 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), marks a significant step in the NIA's strategy to disrupt the financial resources of terrorist organizations.
14-Sep-2023
According to reports, the Kartarpur corridor, established in 2019 to facilitate visa-free entry for up to 5,000 Indian Sikh pilgrims daily, has faced challenges due to stringent entry requirements imposed by both Pakistan and India. India requires pilgrims to possess passports, while Pakistan charges a USD 20 entry fee, which limits visits for low-income families. As a result, the number of Indian pilgrims remains low, with only 152,577 out of a total of 680,381 visitors from November 2021 to August 2023 being Indian nationals. Experts suggest relaxing these conditions and allowing family visits to enhance the corridor's popularity among Sikhs.
14-Sep-2023
The internal security wing of the Punjab Police has conducted intelligence-based operations leading to the record seizure of around 200 kg of heroin in the past 40 days. Most of these seizures were carried out by the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) wing of Internal Security in the Fazilka district. While SSOC typically focuses on matters of internal security and counterterrorism, it has recently been enlisted to address various intelligence reports and combat extensive drug smuggling activities along the Pakistan international border. The biggest hauls occurred on the following dates: 20 kg of heroin was seized on July 23 in Ferozepur, 77.8 kg of heroin and three pistols were seized on August 6, 3 kg of heroin was seized on August 16, 29.2 kg of heroin was seized on August 21, and 43.5 kg of heroin was seized on September 7. This change in strategy targets major players in drug smuggling operations, with a list of identified smugglers from both India and Pakistan. The crackdown on the prominent figures involved in drug trafficking has resulted in significant heroin hauls, and authorities aim to seize the assets of these smugglers as part of their approach.
13-Sep-2023
All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) on September 13 organized an anti-drug march to raise awareness about the harmful impact of drugs on society from Bhai Gurdas Hall to Sri Akal Takht Sahib in Amritsar. Hundreds of youths participated in the march, holding placards with anti-drug slogans.
13-Sep-2023
Patiala police are investigating the role of certain army officials after the arrest of army man Manpreet Sharma on September 11, who allegedly passed on sensitive military information to a notorious drug peddler, Amrik Singh. Police suspect that Manpreet couldn't have obtained such information without help from a superior. Amrik Singh had connections with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and forensic analysis of his seized phone revealed the passing of a 140-page report about an Army camp in Himachal Pradesh (HP) to the ISI. The investigation also uncovered the ISI's involvement in smuggling two AK-47 weapons and around 250 bullets.
13-Sep-2023
Police on September 13 registered a case against 11 identified individuals and some unknown persons following a clash between two groups near the New Grain Market in Abohar in Fazilka district. The clash involved occupants of an Innova and riders on three motorcycles, and it escalated to include weapons such as lathis, kirpans, axes, and even gunfire. The suspects fled the scene, leaving behind some of the motorcycles.
12-Sep-2023
Gurpreet Singh Randhawe Walian, an executive member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and a Panthic Akali Lehar activist, on September 12, wrote a letter to SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami, inquiring about the whereabouts of rare manuscripts and holy scriptures allegedly seized by the Army after Operation Blue Star in 1984.
12-Sep-2023
The Police Department in the Malerkotla district of Punjab on September 12 initiated an integrated program to combat the drug problem in the district. This program includes identifying drug addicts, offering counselling, and facilitating their rehabilitation. It involves approximately 150 police personnel in the Ahmedgarh and Amargarh subdivisions. Special police teams, led by Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), are conducting seminars and workshops to raise awareness about the causes and consequences of drug abuse.
12-Sep-2023
On September 12, Vijay Singh, a member of the anti-drug committee, was attacked by nearly a dozen unidentified assailants in Bir Talab village in Bathinda district. The anti-drug committees, established in various villages, have played a role in reducing drug sales, but their members are increasingly targeted by criminals.
12-Sep-2023
According to sources, due to increased vigilance along the Punjab border, drug traffickers from Pakistan have resorted to air-dropping heroin along the borders of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The Border Security Force (BSF) and central agencies have reported a significant rise in drug seizures in these regions. Punjab-based drug dealers have been identified and arrested while attempting to retrieve the dropped consignments via drones, leading to several significant drug busts These shipments were destined for Punjab by way of the road. This shift in drug smuggling tactics highlights the evolving challenges faced by border authorities.
12-Sep-2023
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) of Punjab Police on September 12 arrested a gang member of notorious gangster Sonu Khatri, identified as Sajan Gill alias Gabbar from Jalandhar in Jalandhar district. According to Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav, Gabbar was involved in a recent shooting incident in Zirakpur and provided support to the shooters on the instructions of gangster Sonu Khatri, who is closely associated with Khalistani terrorist Harvinder Rinda.
12-Sep-2023
Punjab Police’s State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) on September 12 busted an extortion racket backed by gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, with the arrest of its two key operatives, identified as Tarlochan Singh alias Rahul Cheema and Harish alias Harry alias Baba. Tarlochan Singh alias Rahul Cheema was arrested on September 11 with one pistol along with two live cartridges in his possession, and Harish was arrested on September 12 with the one pistol, in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar, in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district in Punjab.
12-Sep-2023
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has reportedly identified 15 individuals allegedly involved in the violence at the Indian High Commission in London, United Kingdom (UK), during a protest on March 19, 2023. The NIA plans to request the UK immigration department to issue Look Out Circulars (LOC) against them, but the challenge lies in persuading the UK government to take action, as there is no equivalent law to India's Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in the UK for such cases.
12-Sep-2023
Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau left India on September 12 after being stranded for over 36 hours, primarily due to a plane issue. This incident occurred amidst criticism and backlash regarding his diplomatic failure in Canada. Canadian opposition leader Pierre Poilievre and the media highlighted his diplomatic failures at the G20 Summit and strained ties with India due to his perceived patronage of Khalistani elements in Canada. Trudeau's popularity has declined, with the Conservative Party gaining support, as negative perceptions of his government and the overall mood in Canada have impacted his political standing.
12-Sep-2023
The Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Raghbir Singh, criticized Pakistan for neglecting Sikh religious sites and urged the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) to address issues such as the illegal occupation of gurdwaras and the restoration of religious practices ('maryada') with the Pakistani government. Giani Raghbir stressed the historical and emotional significance of these sites to the Sikh community and called for their liberation from illegal occupants. He also requested that Sikhs be allowed to pray at these shrines.
12-Sep-2023
According to Indian intelligence sources, the Canadian government has received multiple extradition requests related to individuals involved in pro-Khalistan activities in Canada. These sources alleged that Canada's inaction is driven by domestic political considerations, despite these individuals being associated with terrorism and other serious offenses. Furthermore, the sources emphasized that these pro-Khalistani groups receive support from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and are involved in radicalizing younger generations.
11-Sep-2023
An army jawan identified as Sepoy Manpreet Sharma on September 11 was remanded to three-day police custody in Patiala, Punjab. Sepoy Manpreet Sharma was working as a computer operator at Western Command headquarters, and was arrested on September 10, by Punjab Police at Bhopal railway station for allegedly sharing sensitive information with Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) through a drug peddler identified as Amrik Singh, in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh (MP). Manpreet had shared a 140-page dossier, maps, pictures of army assets with Amrik, and had a foreign SIM card, suspected to be the source of information in his possession. The arrest followed a joint operation between Punjab Police and Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) Madhya Pradesh, revealing connections between Amrik Singh and ISI.
11-Sep-2023
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of the Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), recently released a video in which he claims to have hoisted the Khalistan flag on the HUDA City Metro Station flyover in Sector 29 in Gurugram, Haryana. In the same video, Pannun also threatened Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah, and External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar.
11-Sep-2023
The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) has granted bail to Chandeep Singh alias Gabbar Singh, an accused in the 2019 Tarn Taran blast case, citing the lack of substantial progress in the trial. He has spent nearly 4 years in detention in Chandigarh. The prosecution had labelled Chandeep Singh as a 'radicalized pro-Khalistani' youth and a member of a 'terrorist group.' However, the HC found no credible evidence connecting him to the most serious charge under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and noted that the trial had been slow.
11-Sep-2023
A Delhi court on September 11 transferred the case related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Pul Bangash, in which Senior Congress leader Jagdish Tytler is accused, to a district judge for a sessions trial. The court had previously granted anticipatory bail to Tytler on a personal bond of INR 1 lakh and one surety of the same amount, along with certain other conditions.
11-Sep-2023
Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau encountered a travel setback when his plane developed a snag, leaving him and his son stranded in New Delhi after the conclusion of the G20 Summit. The situation was further complicated by India's expressed concerns about anti-India activities in Canada and the simultaneous Khalistan referendum organized by the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) in Surrey, Canada. Trudeau also faces pressure to address these concerns and extradition requests for gangsters and individuals involved in criminal activities in India who are residing in Canada add to the complexity of the situation.
11-Sep-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on September 11 recovered a bottle containing about 1.3 kilograms of heroin, near Mehdipur village in Tarn Taran district. The bottle was concealed in the flood debris collected alongside the international border (IB) fence.