KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
02-Jun-2026
Police on June 2 took Shiv Sena Hind leader Ajay Gupta into preventive custody over alleged inflammatory and provocative social media posts ahead of the June 6 anniversary of Operation Blue Star, in Punjab. Gupta had been provided security cover by two Punjab Armed Police/India Reserve Battalion personnel about eight months ago, but the protection was recently withdrawn. According to police, he allegedly began posting provocative content on social media in an attempt to have his security cover restored. Authorities stated that the posts created tensions between two communities, prompting preventive action to maintain law and order.
02-Jun-2026
On June 2, authorities at the Bathinda District Court received an email threatening to blow up the court complex in Bathinda district. Following the threat, police launched a security alert, intensified checks, and tightened security across the court premises while investigations were initiated to trace the source of the email.
02-Jun-2026
According to reports, with the anniversary of Operation Blue Star falling on June 6, the Amritsar police intensified security measures and conducted a large-scale flag march across all three police zones of the city to maintain peace, communal harmony, and law and order, in Amritsar district. The march covered several sensitive areas of the city as part of heightened security arrangements ahead of the anniversary.
02-Jun-2026
Sriganganagar police on June 2 arrested two Punjab-based suspects, Harmanpreet and Rohit Sahota, allegedly linked to the Rohit Godara gang, further expanding an investigation into a network accused of supplying firearms to gang operatives across Rajasthan, from Punjab. Both the arrested were wanted in separate firing cases. Investigators suspect Harmanpreet of involvement in gang-related shooting operations, while Sahota allegedly played a key role in procuring and supplying weapons to criminal networks.
01-Jun-2026
A grocery store owner, identified as Gurcharan Singh alias Kala Gaba, was shot dead by two unidentified assailants in the busy Makhu market area of Ferozepur district on June 1. According to eyewitnesses, one attacker remained on a motorcycle outside the shop while the other entered and opened fire before fleeing the scene. Gaba was rushed to a hospital in Moga, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment. The incident triggered panic in the market, with residents and shopkeepers rushing to the spot after hearing gunshots.
01-Jun-2026
A social media post purportedly issued by members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang on June 1 claimed responsibility for the killing of Kala Gaba in Ferozepur district and issued fresh threats against doctors and producers associated with the Punjabi entertainment industry. The post, attributed to individuals identifying themselves as R.D. Dhaliwal, Harman Sandhu, and Tyson Bishnoi, alleged that the victim had committed “unforgivable” acts, including ruining the life of a person from a poor family and harassing a woman. The authors claimed they had attempted to contact Gaba but that their calls had been blocked. They further stated that they had waited two years before carrying out the attack and sought to justify the killing on religious grounds. However, these allegations and claims of responsibility remain unverified.
31-May-2026
According to official sources, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, during a video conference on May 31, directed senior officers to ensure that personnel adopt preventive and proactive measures to safeguard their lives. Police personnel were advised not to travel alone and to remain armed while on duty. The advisory followed an incident on May 30 in which unidentified assailants attacked Punjab Armed Police (PAP) constable Sukhwinder Singh, posted at Harike Pattan in Tarn Taran district, and snatched his Self-Loading Rifle (SLR). The injured constable was shifted to a hospital in Faridkot for treatment. The incident prompted heightened concerns over potential threats to the life and property of police personnel across the state.
31-May-2026
On May 31, the 131th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangstran Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahar— the police conducted 433 raids, arrested 139 persons and recovered five weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 86 individuals, while 12 persons were verified and released after questioning. Two proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
31-May-2026
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on May 31 announced that the Punjab Police's anti-drug campaign, Yudh Nashian Virudh (War Against Drugs), has completed 15 months. According to official data, police have registered 46,937 cases under the NDPS Act and arrested 65,884 accused persons during the campaign. Recoveries include 2,950 kg of heroin, 792 kg of opium, 666 quintals of poppy husk, 71 kg of charas, 986 kg of ganja, 56 kg of ICE, and more than 5.5 million intoxicant pills and tablets. Police have also seized INR 200 million in drug-related cash and frozen assets worth approximately INR 3000 million belonging to around 750 alleged drug smugglers. The DGP stated that Punjab Police has moved beyond routine drug seizures to target the financial networks sustaining organized drug trafficking and cross-border smuggling. Since the launch of the campaign on March 1, 2025, coordinated anti-drug operations have been conducted daily across all 28 police districts of the state.
30-May-2026
Radical Sikh organization Dal Khalsa on May 30 announced a two-day event to mark the 42nd anniversary of the “Operation Blue Star”. The group's Political Affairs Secretary, Kanwar Pal Singh, said the organization had called for an Amritsar bandh (general strike) on June 6. He clarified that the shutdown would be limited to business, commercial, and educational establishments, and would not affect transportation services. He also announced that a "holocaust remembrance parade" would be held in the city on the evening of June 5, beginning from Burj Akali Phoola Singh.
30-May-2026
Delhi Police on May 30 announced the busting of an alleged Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) -underworld terror module and the arrest of eight persons, including a Nepali national, who were reportedly planning attacks on critical infrastructure, security establishments, and police personnel in Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, and cities across Punjab. The arrests were made during a coordinated multi-state operation spanning Maharashtra, Punjab, and Delhi. According to police, the suspects were in contact with handlers based in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Investigators further alleged that some of the accused had links to fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and that the conspiracy was orchestrated by Pakistan's ISI, underworld operatives, and the network of gangster Shahzad Bhatti operating from Pakistan and Dubai.
30-May-2026
Gurugram Police on May 30 arrested two alleged sharpshooters of the notorious Himanshu Bhau gang, identified as Karan alias Romie and Pravesh, and recovered a foreign-made pistol, a revolver, and live cartridges from their possession, following a brief encounter on the Delhi–Jaipur Highway in Gurugram, Haryana.
30-May-2026
On May 30, the 130th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangstran Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahar— the police conducted 513 raids, arrested 235 persons and recovered one weapon from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 64 individuals, while 16 persons were verified and released after questioning. Two proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
30-May-2026
On May 30, Punjab Police, on day 455 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 38 drug smugglers, and seized 112 grams of heroin, 61 kg of poppy husk, 60 intoxicant pills and INR 3060 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
29-May-2026
Amritsar Rural Police on May 29 arrested a youth, identified as Punjab Singh, on charges of allegedly spying for Pakistan and seized a spy camera, two mobile phones, and several documents from his possession during a raid in the Attari sector of Amritsar district. Officials said the accused was being interrogated to ascertain his links and motives, while the seized mobile phones had been sent for forensic examination.
29-May-2026
On May 29, the 129th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangstran Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahar— the police conducted 438 raids, arrested 156 persons and recovered one weapon from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 96 individuals, while nine persons were verified and released after questioning. One proclaimed offender (PO) was also arrested during the operation.
29-May-2026
On May 29, Punjab Police, on day 454 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 58 drug smugglers, and seized 366 grams of heroin, 105 kg of poppy husk, 1855 intoxicant pills and INR 29,200 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
29-May-2026
The Jalandhar Commissionerate Police on May 29 arrested three alleged arms smugglers, identified as Manjot Singh, Sandeep Singh, and Amandeep Singh alias Aman and seized five .32-bore pistols, nine magazines, and 22 live cartridges, in Punjab. Manjot was arrested near the Jalandhar bus stand in Jalandhar district, while Sandeep and Amandeep were apprehended from Bhaini Paswal village in Gurdaspur district. Preliminary investigations indicate that the module was involved in illegal arms smuggling across Punjab.
29-May-2026
The Jalandhar Commissionerate Police on May 29 arrested three alleged arms smugglers, identified as Manjot Singh, Sandeep Singh, and Amandeep Singh alias Aman and seized five .32-bore pistols, nine magazines, and 22 live cartridges, in Punjab. Manjot was arrested near the Jalandhar bus stand in Jalandhar district, while Sandeep and Amandeep were apprehended from Bhaini Paswal village in Gurdaspur district. Preliminary investigations indicate that the module was involved in illegal arms smuggling across Punjab.
29-May-2026
Mohali Police on May 29 arrested two youths, identified as Jashanpreet Singh and Sukhwinder Singh, and recovered 188 grams of heroin from their possession, near the Mohali railway station in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district.
29-May-2026
On May 29, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Amritsar Zonal Unit, announced a reward of INR 100,000 for information leading to the whereabouts of Harmanjit Singh Sandhu, a key accused in an 18 kg drug seizure case. Sandhu, a resident of Naushra Dhalla village in Tarn Taran district, was named among the main accused after the NCB recovered 18 kg of narcotics on February 15.
29-May-2026
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on May 29 conducted coordinated searches at 12 locations across Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, and Rajasthan in connection with a Pakistan-linked terror conspiracy involving drone-delivered arms and planned attacks in multiple Indian cities. The investigation centres on Pakistan-based operative Jasvir Chaudhary, who, along with his Indian associates, allegedly procured a large consignment of arms, ammunition, and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) through drone drops across the India-Pakistan border. According to investigators, the weapons were intended for attacks in Punjab, Delhi, and other parts of the country. The case was initially registered by Punjab Police after the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) received intelligence inputs on February 10 regarding the alleged terror plot.
29-May-2026
On May 29, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) secured a decisive victory in Punjab’s urban local body elections, winning more than 48 per cent of the total wards across the 102 civic bodies that went to the polls on May 26.
28-May-2026
On May 28, the 128th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangstran Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahar— the police conducted 364 raids, arrested 92 persons and recovered one weapon from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 62 individuals, while 16 persons were verified and released after questioning. One proclaimed offender (PO) was also arrested during the operation.
28-May-2026
On May 28, Punjab Police, on day 453 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 50 drug smugglers, and seized 935 grams of heroin, 500 grams of opium, and INR 6000 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.