KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
10-Apr-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on April 10 recovered around 1.6 kg of narcotics wrapped in three packets near Gandhu Kilcha village along the International Border (IB) in the Ferozepur District.
10-Apr-2023
According to a study by Network Contagion Research Institute, some Khalistan supporters are using automated Twitter accounts to encourage violence and promote acts of vandalism around the world amid rising hostilities between the Indian government and followers of the Sikh religion. The report reveals that these individuals are employing elusive strategies such as deleting tweets afterward and sidestepping suspensions by praising the placement of a "device" rather than a bomb and urging for the "political assassination" of Indian officials. Furthermore, a number of Khalistani supporters are using interconnected networks of accounts to simultaneously disseminate videos and calls to action, outrunning Twitter's limited safety personnel.
10-Apr-2023
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on April 10 announced that the Khanna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) had been served a legal notice for supposedly associating the flags and map of the Sikh kingdom led by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Sikh princely states with the separatist cause of Khalistan. According to the SGPC, the Khanna SSP has been accused of presenting these flags and map, which were found on the phone of aides of fugitive Waris Punjab De (WPD) chief Amritpal Singh, as evidence of separatist activities.
10-Apr-2023
Punjab Police on April 10 arrested a key member of Waris Punjab De (WPD), Papalpreet Singh from Kathunangal village in Amritsar district. Inspector General (IG) Sukhchain Singh Gill stated that Papalpreet Singh was arrested after multiple police teams carried out a special operation with assistance from the counter-intelligence wing. IG Gill further added that the search operation to locate Papalpreet Singh had been ongoing for three days, initiated by the critical information received regarding his whereabouts.
10-Apr-2023
The Indian government denied the reports in the media claiming that India has suspended trade talks with the United Kingdom (UK) following an attack on the Indian high commission by pro-Khalistani extremists. In a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), it said, "We have seen the report claiming India has halted its trade deal with the UK. It is completely baseless."
09-Apr-2023
The Punjab Government on April 9 transferred Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) (Jails) B Chandra Shekhar just days after ordering an investigation into gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's jailhouse interviews.
09-Apr-2023
Police arrested two smugglers, identified as Daljit Singh alias Gudu and Binder Singh and recovered 350 kg of poppy husk kept in 21 bags from their possession at Madhopur Chowk, Fatehgarh Sahib district on April 9.
09-Apr-2023
Following the release of a video where fugitive pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh called for a "Sarbat Khalsa" (a congregation of the Sikh faithful) on Baisakhi, security measures in Bathinda have been strengthened. Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Surinder Pal Singh Parmar stated, “We have made elaborate security arrangements. We are here for the convenience of people. We want more and more people to visit the state on Baisakhi. It will send out a positive message that the situation is normal in Punjab. No restrictions have been imposed.”
09-Apr-2023
A delegation of lawyers, sent by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), has reached Dibrugarh in Assam to take up the cases of the young people jailed there after being arrested in Punjab. The SGPC has assigned the task of providing legal assistance to the group of lawyers, which comprises SGPC member and advocate Bhagwant Singh Sialka, advocate Mandeep Singh Sidhu, who is the brother of Sandeep (Deep) Singh Sidhu, and lawyer Rohit Sharma.
09-Apr-2023
Punjab Police on April 9 arrested an NRI (Non-Resident Indian) identified as Jaswinder Singh Pangli in connection with an investigation into the escape of fugitive Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh from the Hoshiarpur district. The police also confiscated significant pieces of evidence against him.
08-Apr-2023
The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) on April 8 emphasized that the drug problem in Punjab has reached a “dangerous height” and cannot be taken lightly. Justice Vivek Puri reiterated that drug-related offenses must be diligently investigated.
08-Apr-2023
A Nihang Sikh, part of the ongoing Quami Insaaf Morcha near YPS Chowk in Mohali, was severely injured after he was attacked by fellow Nihangs with swords following an altercation, near a park in Sector 52, near Mohali in SAS Nagar district on April 8 night. Police have arrested a Nihang Sikh identified as Nihang Mela Singh and booked eight others for attempt-to-murder, rioting, unlawful assembly and criminal conspiracy.
08-Apr-2023
On the anniversary of Jugraj Singh Toofan's death, Sikh radicals paid their respects to the Sikh militant.
07-Apr-2023
In a video message, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun claimed that Pro-Khalistani Sikhs wrote 'Khalistan Zindabad, Hindustan Murdabad' slogans at Air Force Station, Sirsa, Haryana to tell the G20 countries to highlight "Khalistan movement".
07-Apr-2023
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on April 7 stated that the Sikh community does not desire any conflict with the government but would prefer to engage in discussions to address specific concerns. He mentioned that the community aims for a peaceful resolution to all issues. He questioned why the government could engage in dialogues with the Nagas and Kashmiris but not with the Sikhs. He also pointed out that the Sikhs have been promised several commitments over the past 75 years, none of which have been fulfilled. He emphasized that if their voice is stifled, they will speak out from various places, including Haryana, Bengal, and the United States (US), and that no one can suppress their voice.
07-Apr-2023
Punjab Police on April 7 announced the cancellation of all leaves of police personnel until April 14. According to an official letter issued by the Office of the Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, all previously approved leaves are now null and void.
07-Apr-2023
According to a report published on April 7, Amritpal Singh, the leader of Waris Punjab De (WPD) underwent eye surgery in Georgia to resemble the slain Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, before returning to India in 2022. Sources from the intelligence agency were cited in the report, which also mentioned that Amritpal Singh's associates, who are presently incarcerated in Dibrugarh jail in Assam, disclosed this information. According to Amritpal Singh's associates, he had stayed in Georgia for two months (from June 20, 2022, to August 19, 2022) to undergo eye surgery.
07-Apr-2023
Police arrested a man along with his son and daughter, identified as Reemal Das, Rocky and Chhaya allegedly for drug peddling and recovered 75 grams of intoxicant powder from their possession in Nangal in Rupnagar district on April 7.
07-Apr-2023
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on April 7 criticized the Punjab Government for exaggerating their event at Takht Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda district. During a speech to a gathering at Takht Damdama Sahib, Akal Takth Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh pointed out that the national media was incorrectly reporting on the event, claiming that Amritpal would be detained at the event.
07-Apr-2023
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on April 7 expressed strong disapproval of the inaccurate portrayal of historical facts pertaining to the Sikh community in National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) books. Harjinder Singh Dhami, the SGPC chief, alleged that the NCERT had presented ‘deceptive’ information about the Anandpur Sahib Resolution in Chapter 8 (‘Regional Aspirations’) of the Class XII political science book named 'Politics in India Since Independence'.
06-Apr-2023
According to police, 19 individuals have been arrested by the Amritsar Rural Police in connection with the Ajnala clash that occurred on February 23. Satinder Singh, the chief of Amritsar Rural Police, stated that the suspects were identified by analyzing videos showing the incident, which involved storming the Ajnala police station and a confrontation with the police that resulted in injuries to several officers. The authorities are still investigating to identify the remaining individuals involved. The majority of those arrested were aggressive and used swords and blunt weapons to break barricades and attack the police. However, as per police sources, more than 30 individuals have been identified by the authorities, and efforts to apprehend them are underway through raids.
06-Apr-2023
Reports indicate that the Sikh community, including the highest Sikh temporal authority, Shri Akal Takht Sahib, did not support fugitive Waris Punjab De (WPD) leader Amritpal Singh's call for Sarbat Khalsa (Sikh assembly). Religious authorities of the Sikh community are displeased with the way Amritpal Singh attempted to impose his demands on the Jathedar (chief) of Shri Akal Takht Sahib. Despite Amritpal's demand to hold a Sarbat Khalsa, the Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh did not respond. However, the decision to schedule a Gurmati Sangam from April 12 to 15 implies that there were no intentions to hold the Sarbat Khalsa.
06-Apr-2023
Reports suggest that the special investigation team (SIT), established under the guidance of the Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) to investigate potential links between Punjab police officials and the drug mafia, has not accused any police officer in their three reports.
06-Apr-2023
The spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Arindam Bagchi, on April 6 urged for the most severe measures to be taken against Khalistani radicals in the United Kingdom (UK). This statement comes after a group of Khalistan supporters seized India's national flag from atop the mission in London and replaced it with separatist flags while shouting pro-Khalistani slogans. The MEA also criticized the UK government's lack of concern for the safety of Indian diplomatic facilities and personnel, and raised serious questions regarding the UK police's response, as the Khalistani extremists involved in the incident remain at large.
06-Apr-2023
Patiala police arrested Sahil alias Kala, a gangster linked with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and wanted in connection with the murder of Kabaddi player Dharminder Singh Bhinda, from Bhadson Road in Patiala district. Police also recovered two pistols and 10 live cartridges from his possession. Bhinda who was murdered near Punjabi University in Patiala on April 6, 2022.