KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
28-Jun-2023
The Amritsar police on June 28 filed challan (charge-sheets) against more than 20 supporters of pro-Khalistan activist Amritpal Singh in connection with the February 23 Ajnala incident. The incident occurred when Amritpal and his followers stormed the Ajnala police station to demand the release of Lovepreet Singh, a supporter of Amritpal who was arrested for detaining and assaulting a Sikh youth. The police have charged the arrested individuals with attempted murder and criminal trespass. Amritpal, who is currently in jail in Dibrugarh, Assam under the National Security Act (NSA), will face arrest in this case, and a supplementary challan will be filed.
28-Jun-2023
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has located five individuals wanted for their alleged involvement in Khalistan terrorism in India. The individuals have been identified as Kashmir Singh Galwaddi (located in Nepal), Gurjant Singh (located in Australia), Yadwinder Singh (located in the Philippines), Parminder Singh (located in Greece), and Tarsem (located in Dubai). Non-bailable warrants (NBWs) have been issued against them, and they have been declared as absconders. The case, which was filed in New Delhi in August 2022, relates to a conspiracy allegedly carried out by the Khalistan Liberation Front (KLF), Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), and the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF).
27-Jun-2023
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on June 27 rejected the bail plea of Dharminder Singh alias Dhana, a narco-terrorist involved in the narco-terror case investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The court observed that the allegations against Dhana being part of the narco-terror network cannot be disregarded, considering the recovery of his car and his evasive conduct. Dhana's bail was previously denied by the special NIA court, and he has been in custody since June 2020. The case involves the smuggling of heroin from Pakistan to fund the banned outfit Khalistan Liberation Front (KLF) and revive terrorism in Punjab.
26-Jun-2023
According to reports, jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi has allegedly confessed to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) that politicians and businessmen pay him a fee in exchange for threatening calls, enabling them to seek police security. Bishnoi, a primary suspect in the Sidhu Moosewala murder case, divulged this information during his interrogation by the NIA regarding funding for Khalistani groups. Sources stated that he claimed to extort INR 2.5 crore per month from various entities, including liquor dealers, call centre proprietors, drug suppliers, and real estate entrepreneurs. Bishnoi also alleged that politicians and businessmen pay him for making threatening extortion calls to secure state police protection. The NIA purportedly shared these specifics with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA).
26-Jun-2023
India on June 26 summoned a senior Pakistani diplomat to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi to lodge a formal protest against a string of attacks targeting the Sikh minority, which included the recent murder of a Sikh man in Peshawar, Pakistan. The Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the killing, as well as a prior attack on a Sikh shopkeeper. India called upon Pakistan to carry out a thorough investigation into these attacks and guarantee the safety of minority communities within the country.
26-Jun-2023
Police on June 26 arrested a truck driver, identified as Bukkan Singh and seized 5,000 intoxicating tablets from his vehicle in Mehmuana in Faridkot district.
26-Jun-2023
Police on June 26 arrested an individual, identified as Ravinder Singh and seized 25 grams of heroin from his possession in Fazilka district.
26-Jun-2023
Police on June 26 arrested a person, identified as Gurmeet Singh along with 10 kilograms of poppy husk from Shahpur Arniwala in Fazilka district.
26-Jun-2023
In an exclusive interview with India Today, fugitive gangster Goldy Brar revealed the motive behind the murder of popular Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala, almost a year after the incident. Brar, a key member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, stated that Moose Wala needed to be taught a lesson for his egoistic behaviour and revenge for the murder of Youth Akali Dal leader Vicky Middukhera along with misuse of political and financial power.
26-Jun-2023
In an exclusive interview with India Today, fugitive gangster Goldy Brar has denied supporting the idea of Khalistan or a separate Sikh nation. He emphasized that although there are individuals who advocate for the Khalistan ideology, he is not one of them. Brar is currently facing charges filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for alleged connections to banned pro-Khalistan terror groups like Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and others. Brar, a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, argued that since Lawrence Bishnoi comes from a Hindu background and resides in Punjab, Bishnoi should possess the same rights as Sikhs in the region. Brar questioned the notion of asking individuals like Bishnoi to leave Punjab and establish Khalistan.
26-Jun-2023
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) charge sheet, which was filed on June 23, revealed that gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's terror network expansion strategy bears similarities to the rise of notorious gangster and drug kingpin Dawood Ibrahim. Bishnoi's gang, which started with petty crimes, has grown to include over 700 shooters in North India, with 300 from Punjab alone. The gang has expanded its influence across multiple states with the help of Bishnoi's aide Goldy Brar. The NIA also revealed that the gang recruits young individuals through social media, promising a life in Canada, and Khalistani terrorist Harvinder Singh Rinda employed Bishnoi gang shooters for criminal activities in Punjab from Pakistan. The investigation traces the origins of this association to the Bargari Morcha in 2015, where radical extremists took advantage of the unrest following a sacrilege incident.
26-Jun-2023
According to reports, the use of drones by Pakistan to smuggle narcotics and weapons into India is a growing threat. The accessibility and affordability of drone technology make this threat even more concerning. Pakistan has rapidly acquired drones, both domestically produced and imported from China and Turkey. These drones provide real-time intelligence and carry various payloads, aiding Pakistan's proxy war with India. The increasing sightings of drones along the India-Pakistan border highlight their strategic importance
25-Jun-2023
The radical Sikh group Dal Khalsa on June 25 announced their plans to hold a memorial event for Hardeep Singh Nijjar at the Darbar Sahib complex on July 1 in Amritsar, Punjab. Nijjar was a Khalistani terrorist who was recently killed in Canada, was wanted by India, and had been sought for extradition since 2018.
25-Jun-2023
According to reports, speculation surrounds the recent deaths of three prominent pro-Khalistan leaders in different countries. The deaths have triggered debates about the possible causes. Some suggest that internal conflicts within the overseas leadership of the Khalistan movement may be responsible, while others speculate about a potential purge by Pakistan, which has been linked to supporting Khalistan. These individuals were wanted by India for various criminal cases, leading to social media discussions about the involvement of Indian intelligence agencies. However, there are also arguments that the deaths could be a result of internal disputes among pro-Khalistan leaders overseas. Another speculation revolves around Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) purging Khalistani leaders to replace them with younger figures.
25-Jun-2023
The State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) of Punjab police busted an extortion racket operating in the name of Lawrence Bishnoi gang and arrested one of its operatives, identified as Vishal Kumar along with a pistol along with two live cartridges in Mohali.
25-Jun-2023
In an operation directed by Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, on June 25, the police conducted simultaneous raids across several districts in Punjab, targeting suspected hideouts of gangsters-turned-terrorists Lakhbir Singh alias Landa and Harwinder Singh alias Rinda. Special Director General of Police (DGP) Arpit Shukla had instructed the police commissioner and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSPs) to deploy strong police teams for a successful operation targeting the nexus between terrorists, gangsters, and drug smugglers in India and abroad. Several people were detained for further verification, and incriminating materials were seized.
25-Jun-2023
The Tarn Taran police on June 25 arrested two associates of gangster turned terrorist Harwinder Singh alias Rinda, identified as Arshdeep Singh and his brother Wattandeep Singh, in Tarn Taran district. The police confiscated two pistols along with 285 cartridges of various sizes, 100 grams of opium, and 250 kilograms of 'lahan' (a raw material for liquor production) from their possession.
25-Jun-2023
Police on June 25 intercepted a truck containing 215 kilograms of poppy husk and arrested the driver Bhupinder and the cleaner Puna Ram Bishnoi, in Abohar in Fazilka district.
25-Jun-2023
Congress leader and the president of the International Anti-Khalistani Terrorist Front Gursimran Singh, Mand on June 25 received a death threat via email. The threatening message, allegedly sent by an unidentified individual with the email id ‘[email protected], claimed to be from the Lawrence Bishnoi group, warned of shooting Mand in the head. Mand had recently spoken out against extremist Balwant Singh Rajowana and his sister Kamaldeep Kaur.
25-Jun-2023
In a statement issued on June 25, Dal Khalsa spokesperson Paramjit Singh Mand expressed concern over the increasing interference of the Indian government in Sikh religious affairs and the mysterious killings of Khalistani activists abroad. Dal Khalsa also announced a demonstration in front of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) office in Amritsar on July 1, holding India's external intelligence responsible for operations on foreign soil. They believe the state is targeting pro-active Sikhs and seeking unity and a revived spirit of sacrifice among Sikhs to counter these actions. They expressed concerns about future targeted killings, pointing to Indian intelligence agencies as potential culprits. The organization has written a letter to the Prime Minister (PM) of Canada seeking a fair investigation into the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar and plans to hold a memorial event for him.
24-Jun-2023
GBS Sidhu, the retired Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officer, while speaking to ANI Editor Smita Prakash disclosed that Congress leaders, including Kamal Nath, orchestrated the rise of Khalistani extremist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in the late 1970s. He claims that a political conspiracy was hatched at 1 Akbar Road to create a Sikh extremist leader who would sow division between the Hindu and Sikh communities. Sidhu further reveals that a new wing was created in RAW to investigate Sikh extremism, while Congress leaders aimed to make Khalistani separatism a national issue. Sidhu's book, titled 'Khalistan Conspiracy,' delves into these allegations and their impact on the events leading to Operation Bluestar and Indira Gandhi's assassination.
24-Jun-2023
Cheema police on June 24 arrested an individual, identified as Raghuvir Singh, and confiscated a total of 360 habit-forming tablets from his possession in Sangur district. Assistant of Sub-Inspector (ASI) Rajinder Singh stated that they are currently engaged in additional inquiries regarding the matter.
24-Jun-2023
Punjab Police on June 24 arrested two individuals, Daljit Singh and Pritpal Singh, in connection with a case related to pro-Khalistan slogans being painted on a wall at Moga bus stand in Punjab on June 1, from Nanded, Maharashtra. The accused have alleged links to the banned separatist organization Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and were backed by SFJ chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, according to Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav. Moga Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) J Elanchezhian said that the accused were paid INR 80,000 by foreign Khalistani elements to put up pro-Khalistan flags and slogans in Moga and disrupt peace in Punjab. Further inquiries will be made into Pannu's role.
23-Jun-2023
Police on June 23 arrested a person, identified as Sachin Maurya and recovered 60 grams of heroin from him near Kishanpura terminal on the Hanumangarh mega highway near Abohar in Fazilka district.
23-Jun-2023
Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) chief, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, issued a new video message calling for retaliation following the assassination of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and made threats against Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and National Security Advisor (NSA). In the video, Pannun stated, “Remember Rajiv Gandhi and the 1991 elections. Pro-Khalistan Sikhs will come for you in 2024. We are moving freely, if you have guts in your government, get out. Today, we stand outside Washington DC. Listen, Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Security Advisor Ajit Doval, we will achieve a separate Punjab through a referendum.”