KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
15-Mar-2023
The Punjab Prisons Department claimed that the gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s interview that was broadcasted on a television channel on March 14 was not shot inside any prison in the state. Bishnoi, who was arrested in connection with the murder of Punjabi singer-politician Sidhu Moose Wala, is currently lodged in Bathinda jail in Punjab. Punjab Police said, "It has come to notice that a private TV news channel has aired an interview with prisoner Lawrence Bishnoi allegedly from within a jail. There are rumors circulating that the interview was recorded from Bathinda Jail. To be very clear, neither Bathinda jail, where the prisoner is currently kept nor any other jail in Punjab is where this video is from, confirming that all the rumors are baseless.”
14-Mar-2023
The Amritsar Commissionerate Police on March 14 prohibited the use of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles throughout the region from March 14–21 due to the presence of VIPs and international delegates associated with the G20 Summit and their mobility. The places where the delegates would be staying and the relevant routes have been declared as red zones, and the flying of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles has been prohibited to increase security and prevent any untoward incident from airborne entities. This prohibition also encompasses the sites where the G20 Education Working Group gatherings will take place.
14-Mar-2023
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Headquarters Sukhchain Singh Gill on March 14 stated that the Punjab Police had arrested 11,360 drug traffickers, including 1,628 ‘big fish’ since July 5, 2022. Additionally, the Police have registered 8458 first information reports (FIR) of which 962 are connected to commercial quantity. The police teams have recovered 612.78 Kg of heroin from across the state after carrying out cordon and search operations in drug-affected areas across the state. Furthermore, 147.5 kg of heroin were seized at Gujarat and Maharashtra seaports, bringing the total amount of heroin recovered in just eight months to 760.28 kgs. Along with a large quantity of heroin, the IGP stated that, police also seized a massive haul of opium, 586 kg of ganja, 270 quintals of poppy husk, and 53.73 lakh tablets, capsules, injections, vials of pharmaceutical opioids and INR 10.36 lakh drug money from different parts of the state. The IGP further said that in the last week, the police had arrested 234 drug smugglers and suppliers after registering 189 FIRs, including 22 commercials, and recovered 7.60-Kg heroin, 10.30-Kg opium, 13.87-Kg Ganja, 2.80 quintals of poppy husk, and 59271 tablets, capsules, injections and vials of Pharma opioids besides recovering INR 1.47 lakh drug money from their possession. He added that with 25 more proclaimed offenders (POs) and absconders in the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) cases arrested in the last one week, the total number of arrests reached 749 since the special drive was started on July 5, 2022.
14-Mar-2023
The Dal Khalsa decided to hold a Punjab Summit in Amritsar on March 19 parallel to the G20 summit in order to present Punjab's perspective on social, economic, educational, agricultural, human rights, and political matters to the G20 nations. Paramjit Singh Mand, the spokesperson for Dal Khalsa, announced that speakers from diverse Sikh organizations, institutions, farmers' groups, as well as experts on the subject, will be invited to participate in the summit.
14-Mar-2023
The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) alleged that the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) used the Guru Granth Sahib as a "shield" to aid the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in taking over a section of the Gurdwara Rakab Ganj in Delhi.
14-Mar-2023
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) has enquired with the Punjab Government regarding the absence of a qualified panel to facilitate the appointment of a permanent Director General of Police (DGP) as the head of the state police. Official sources state that the state government did not provide a response to the MHA's correspondence on the matter.
14-Mar-2023
In the wake of a video clip released by the Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) of damaging the railway track leading towards Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant at Lehra Mohabbat ahead of the G20 Summit, Punjab police on March 14 carried out a special cordon and search operation in all 28 police districts of the state and conducted searches at various locations and hideouts connected to foreign-based gangsters and their allies. According to the police, more than 300 houses and other shelters were checked during these raids, which included nearly 100 police parties and more than 1,000 police officers.
13-Mar-2023
The Valmiki Sevak Sangh (VSS) on March 13 organized a protest march from Bharat Nagar Chowk to the Police Commissioner's office in Ludhiana, demonstrating against the drug epidemic and gang violence prevalent in Punjab.
13-Mar-2023
Dal Khalsa sent letters to heads of missions of all 19 countries in Delhi prior to their delegates' visit to Amritsar as part of the G20 summit.
13-Mar-2023
Punjab police on March 13 conducted an operation called "OPS Seal-II" as part of the new security arrangements in the state in the wake of the G20 Summit. The operation was executed on the orders of the Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, and targeted ten inter-state borders in the state, where all vehicles entering were thoroughly inspected. The primary objective of the operation was to curb the influx of illegal substances, such as drugs, alcohol, weapons, and ammunition, while also monitoring for gang-related and other disruptive activities.
13-Mar-2023
The Crime Investigating Agency (CIA) arrested two alleged drug peddlers along with 6 kg of opium in two separate cases in Jagraon in Ludhiana district on March 13. The accused were identified as Gurjit Singh alias Geeti, who was found to be carrying 5 kg of opium, and Mann Singh, who had 1 kg of opium in his possession.
13-Mar-2023
Police on March 13 arrested an alleged aide of pro-Khalistan activist Amritpal Singh, identified as Sukhmander Singh in connection with an attempt to murder and robbery case from Amritsar. Karanjit Singh alias Vicky was assaulted and robbed by armed persons on March 5. Police also booked Gurinder Singh Ghali of Moga along with his unknown accomplices in this case.
12-Mar-2023
Gujarat Police on March 12 arrested two accused, identified as Rahul Kumar Dwivedi and Narendra Kushwaha for allegedly making threats to disrupt a cricket match at the behest of the pro-Khalistan organization Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) from Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh. During the search, police also seized 11 sim boxes, each of which could hold 300 sim cards, and four routers. Prior to the India-Australia cricket match, which was attended by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese, a mass message which warned that a pro-Khalistan group planned to storm the cricket stadium and raise its flag was sent out widely.
12-Mar-2023
A panel formed by the Akal Takht to decide whether the "saroop" (copy) of the Guru Granth Sahib can be brought to protest sites submitted its report on March 12. A spokesperson from the Akal Takht secretariat stated that a decision on the matter will be made public after the meeting of the "Panj Singh Sahiban," or five Sikh high priests, on March 14 at the Gurdwara Manji Sahib Diwan Hall in the Golden Temple complex.
11-Mar-2023
Panthic bodies and activists, led by former militant leader and All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) president Daljit Singh Bittu, on March 11 announced to call a World Sikh Convention on June 28, to liberate the Akal Takht, the highest Sikh temporal seat, from the influence of electoral bodies and revive old Sikh traditions. Bittu said, “The international gathering will be hosted at Anandpur Sahib on Miri-Piri Divas (June 28) this year. The intention is to address the current challenges facing Sikhs around the world today, with a primary focus on coming to a collective resolution on re-establishing panch pardhani (collective) leadership and gurmatta-based decision-making at Akal Takht Sahib”. “Sikh organisations, institutions and representatives will be invited from all over the world to participate in the effort to liberate Akal Takht Sahib from the influence of electoral parties and shift its governance processes in line with panthic tradition and collective decision-making,” he said.
11-Mar-2023
Australia's Prime Minister (PM) Anthony Albanese during his visit to New Delhi on March 11 stated that Australia will not tolerate any extremist activities or attacks on places of worship, particularly Hindu temples in Australia. He further assured that "we will take every measure through our security agencies and police to make sure that whoever is guilty of this faces the full force of the law. Australia is a tolerant, multicultural country, thus this activity has no place there”.
11-Mar-2023
Inspector General of Police (IG, Ludhiana Zone) Kaustubh Sharma on March 11 disclosed that Lovejeet Kang, a gangster based in the United States (US), along with his accomplices, recruited Punjab youths into their gang using social media platforms. According to him, the gang members would identify financially vulnerable youth and notify Kang, who would offer them financial assistance before recruiting them into his gang.
11-Mar-2023
Border Security Force (BSF) recovered approximately 3.05 kg of heroin dropped by drone near Dhanoe Kalan village in Amritsar district on March 11. According to reports, the drone was fired by the BSF troops, but it managed to escape back to the Pakistani border.
10-Mar-2023
Nakodar Sadar police arrested a drug peddler, identified as Yadwindar Singh, and recovered 70 grams of opium from his possession in Sidhupur village in Nakodar in Jalandhar district.
10-Mar-2023
The Nurmahal police arrested a drug peddler, identified as Indarjit Singh along with 65 intoxicating capsules and 120 tablets in Sanghe Khalsa village in Nurmahal in Jalandhar district.
10-Mar-2023
Australian Prime Minister (PM) Anthony Albanese and Indian PM Narendra Modi discussed the latest attacks by Khalistan supporters on Hindu temples in Australia during the bilateral meeting on March 10 in New Delhi. The discussion was held in response to pro-Khalistan extremists vandalizing a number of notable temples in Australian cities like Melbourne and Brisbane. “It is a matter of regret that reports of attacks on temples have come regularly from Australia over the past few weeks. It is natural that such news worries everyone in India, disturbs our mind," said PM Narendra Modi in a joint press conference with Albanese. According to Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, Albanese assured Modi that the Australian authorities will deal with the matter to assure social stability. “The Prime Minister mentioned to the Prime Minister of Australia that this is something that disrupts the peace and harmony of both our societies and there is a need to take cognizance of the challenge that this represents," said Kwatra.
10-Mar-2023
The secretary for information and broadcasting, Apurva Chandra on March 10 stated that at least six foreign-operated YouTube channels that were allegedly promoting pro-Khalistan sentiments were blocked at the instance of the central government during the past ten days. He also said that these channels with Punjabi-language content were trying to stir up trouble in the border state of Punjab.
10-Mar-2023
The Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) vice-chancellor Jaspal Singh Sandhu and police on March 10 denied Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s claim that he had raised Khalistan flag at GNDU. A police official investigating the issue said that, “We didn’t find anything with regards to the claims of Pannun; there is much likely possibility of fake videos sent by SFJ to gain popularity in media.” Earlier, ahead of the visit of President Droupadi Murmu, on March 9, Pannun, in a video message, claimed to have put banners eulogizing Khalistan on the walls of GNDU.
10-Mar-2023
According to reports, Punjab police have begun acting against people promoting a pro-Khalistan hysteria and campaign on social media and are gradually tightening the noose around Waris Punjab De (WPD) activists. After the Ajnala incident, the Punjab police reportedly designed a plan to weaken Amritpal Singh's roots in Punjab. The first step was to start the process of canceling the arms licenses of WPD activists, followed by the arrest of Gurinderpal Singh who is a close ally of Amritpal Singh. Further action against WPD activists is expected to follow the G-20 summits in Amritsar.
09-Mar-2023
The pro-Khalistani outfit, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), put up Khalistani posters at Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar on March 9. The posters were hung on the Guru Nanak Dev University's walls with the slogan, "Welcome G-20 leaders to Khalistan; Punjab is not India; Khalistan Zindabad." Notably, SFJ, earlier, called for ‘Rail Roko' (impeding trains) all across the state on March 15 and 16 in an attempt to disrupt the sessions of the G20 summit 2023, which is scheduled to take place in Amritsar.