KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
22-Jan-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) and the Punjab Police, in a joint operation, shot down a drone carrying five kg of heroin near the India-Pakistan international border in Amritsar on the intervening night of January 21 and 22. According to sources, this is the sixth drone recovered in less than two months. Two suspects were also arrested in this connection. Amritsar Rural Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Swapan Sharma said the police teams fired at least 12 shots from AK-47 and shoot down the drone.
21-Jan-2023
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) busted an international terror racket and recovered 34.466 kgs of Heroin, 5.470 kgs of morphine, 557 grams of opium and 23.645 kgs suspected narcotics powder and arrested 16 persons in connection with this in Ludhiana. During the investigation the NCB learnt that the drug lord Akshay Chhabra had invested his black money which he had earned by illegal drug trade.
21-Jan-2023
A report titled, ‘Inside Punjab Prisons’, an in-depth report by the Punjab State Legal Services Authority (PULSA) prepared in collaboration with the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative on the conditions of prisons in Punjab revealed that around 42.1% of the prison population in the Punjab jails comprised prisoners accused or convicted under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
21-Jan-2023
Police busted a gang of smugglers, arresting nine of its members and recovered 2kg of heroin and a pistol along with a magazine in the border village Sethan under Mamdot police station in Ferozepur on January 21.
21-Jan-2023
The Amritsar police arrested an alleged accomplice of notorious gangster Harry Chatha, identified as Gurwinder Singh alias Ginda from Amritsar. According to police, he along with his accomplice Laada Johal of Australia, at the behest of Chatha, allegedly demanded extortion from a private school’s principal, two years ago.
21-Jan-2023
The Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) head Gurupatwant Singh Pannun posted a video on social media asserting to execute a terrorist attack in the wake of India prepares to celebrate its 73rd Republic Day on January 26. Pannun, in the video, claimed to “liberate Punjab from Indian occupation in 2023”. He said, “Stay indoors on January 26, or you’ll be thwarted by the SFJ. Delhi will be our target, and we will unfurl the flag of Khalistan.” He also offered 5,00,000 dollars to anyone who unfurls Khalistan’s flag on the Red Fort. Following the threats, lawyer Vineet Jindal filed a complaint against the SFJ and Pannun in the Supreme Court.
21-Jan-2023
Three days after Khanna police claimed to have busted the target killing and extortion module operated by a United States (US)-based gangster with links to the international terrorist organisation Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) with the arrest of 13 accused, including a woman, National Investigation Agency (NIA) reached Khanna and initiated investigation. Inspector General (IG, Ludhiana zone) Kaustubh Sharma said that the Khanna police have shared details with the NIA about arrested accused, recovered weapons and ammunition. The NIA concentrated on gangster Amrit Bal’s loyalist Daljit Kaur alias Maano of Jadu Nangal in Amritsar. The NIA team enquired about money transactions made by the gangsters hiding in foreign countries. The IG added that one of the accused, Harsimranjit Singh, who is a truck driver, had smuggled weapons for the module. The accused had used to hide the weapons in his truck while transporting the materials here and there. Further, he added that all 13 accused were assigned tasks by Amrit Bal. Daljit Kaur Maano used to convey the orders of Amrit Bal to the rest of the members of the module.
21-Jan-2023
Punjab Police, ahead of Republic Day celebrations 2023, on January 21 conducted a special operation “OPs Eagle-II” aimed at searching for criminal and anti-social elements and apprehending suspicious people for verification from across the state. The operation was conducted on directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav in all the 28 police districts with an aim to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per the Vision of Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann.
20-Jan-2023
According to sources, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted raids simultaneously in Gurdaspur and Muktsar districts in connection with the December 2021 Ludhiana blast case. NIA claimed that during the searches, Rs 10.16 lakh, mobile phones, SIM cards and dairies with incriminating content were seized. Notably, one person had died and six injured in the blast in the district court complex in the blast.
20-Jan-2023
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on January 20 vowed to intensify their signature campaign for release of ‘Bandi Singhs’ (Sikh prisoners), which it claims are lodged in different prisons despite having completed their jail sentences. The SGPC said the nationwide campaign launched last month will now be taken to the villages and educational institutions.
20-Jan-2023
The anti-drug Special Task Force (STF) of Punjab Police arrested a drug smuggler, identified as Sonu Masih after hot chase at Dubar Basti village falling under the Ajnala sub-division in Amritsar district on January 20. Police have also recovered 1kg and 100 gm of heroin and a .32 bore pistol from his possession. Sonu’s father Roopa Masih is the village sarpanch of Khanwal village.
20-Jan-2023
The Delhi Police special cell in association with the Punjab Police arrested two close associates of fugitive Khalistani terrorist Landa Harike, identified as Rajan Bhatti and Kanwaljeet Singh alias Chinna from Amritsar Rural in Amritsar district. According to police, Rajan Bhatti, a resident of Gurdaspur, has been named in over 15 cases and was absconding. He is accused of target killings and disturbing communal harmony in Punjab on the directions of Landa Harike and Harvinder Singh Rinda. On the basis of disclosures made by Rajan Bhatti and a technical analysis, police arrested Kanwaljeet Singh. According to Police, accused Rajan Bhatti was handling Chinna for receiving and pushing drone-dropped drugs and firearms in Punjab. Landa Harike had tasked Rajan and Chinna with killing two targets in Punjab. The Delhi Police team in association with the Punjab Police conducted a raid when the suspects opened fire at the police and tried to escape. In the exchange of fire, police personnel received bullet injuries. In the operation, Chinna was apprehended while his accomplice managed to flee.
20-Jan-2023
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on January 20 conducted searches at two different locations in Punjab in the Ludhiana court bomb blast case that occurred on December 23, 2021, in which one person died and six were injured. The places raided by the anti-terror agency included Mukhtiar Sahib and Gurdaspur districts of Punjab, said the NIA. During these searches, the NIA claimed to have seized Rs 10,16,000 cash, mobile phones, SIM cards and dairies with incriminating content.
20-Jan-2023
According to reports, the nationwide signature campaign launched by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for the release of Bandi Singhs (Sikh political prisoners) is receiving good response. SGPC sources claimed that around 10 lakh people have signed during the campaign. These signatures will be submitted to the President of India.
19-Jan-2023
According to the police, pro-Khalistan slogans were found written on the walls of Peeragarhi flyover, Peeragarhi Chowk, Paschim Vihar, Vikaspuri, Janakpuri Metro Station, Vosco Public School wall, Rohtak Road, Vikaspuri bus stand and Tilak Nagar among other places in New Delhi on January 19 morning. At some places slogans were written in Punjabi.
19-Jan-2023
Delhi Police on January 19 removed graffitis painted on a wall with slogans like “Khalistan Zindabad” and “Referendum 2020” in the Paschim Vihar area in West Delhi. Text such as “SFJ” (Sikhs For Justice), “Referendum 2020”, “Vote for Khalistan” were also seen painted on a wall. According to Delhi Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) Suman Nalwa, "Some people had painted anti-national, Khalistan-related graffiti at some locations in Delhi. This is not a security-related issue. Legal action will be taken in this matter. Delhi Police is ensuring that no wrong activities take place ahead of Republic Day.”
19-Jan-2023
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that India has taken a serious note of recent incidents of vandalism of temples in Australia by alleged Khalistani supporters and urged the law enforcement agencies there to thoroughly probe and take measures to prevent such incidents in future. Arindam Bagchi said New Delhi condemned such acts. “Our Consulate General in Melbourne has taken up the matter with local Police. We’ve requested expeditious investigation against the perpetrators and measures to prevent such incidents in future. The matter has also been taken up with the Australian Government and we are looking forward to it,” he added. He also said the Indian government is aware that a couple of temples have recently been vandalised in Australia. “We strongly condemn these actions. These actions have also been publicly condemned by Australian leaders, community leaders and religious associations there,” Bagchi said.
19-Jan-2023
The Special Cell of Delhi Police arrested two more terror suspects, identified as Jagpreet alias Jagga and Gurupreet, who were tasked with carrying out terror activities in Delhi and Punjab, in Delhi. According to police, both, residents of Gurdaspur, Punjab, were also planning to kill a politician in Punjab.
18-Jan-2023
A category ‘A’ gangster, Tirath Singh Dhilwan died of an ailment on January 18. He was admitted to Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) in Ludhiana following an infection in the brain on January 9. A resident of Dhilwan Village in Faridkot, Tirath was involved in the killing of gangster Sukha Kahlwan in Phagwara as well as in the killing of gangster-turned-politician Jaswinder Singh ‘Rocky’.
18-Jan-2023
The Khanna police busted an international extortion and targeted killing module operated by Amrit Bal-Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang which has links with foreign-based terrorist organization, Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). According to police, they have arrested a total of 13 persons till now, including target suppliers, shooters and shelter providers and seized five illegal weapons and 53 live cartridges from them. The arrested accused have been identified as Mahinder Verma, alias DK, of Madhya Pradesh; Ramesh of Rajasthan; Sandeep Singh Shelly of Fatehgarh Sahib; Gurjant Singh, alias Janti, and Sukhvir Singh, both of Ludhiana; Rafi and Waris Ali, both of Malerkotla; Charlas and Parveen Singh, both of Gurdaspur, and Harsimranjit Singh Simma, Sarabjot Singh, Daljit Kaur, alias Mano, and Shamsher Singh, all four of Amritsar. Ludhiana Range Inspector General (IG) Kaustubh Sharma, said Amrit Bal and Jaggu Bhagwanpuria had given the job of 14 targeted killings to the suspects. “It all started on December 5, 2022 when the Khanna police arrested two persons — Mahinder Verma and Ramesh Chauhan — from whom a .32 bore pistol, a .315 country made, 10 live cartridges were seized. During their questioning, their links with gangster Bal came to the fore. In November 2022, these two were also sent to Yamunanagar in Haryana by Bal but they could not commit killing due to some reasons,” he added. On the further disclosures of these two, three more gang members Gurjant, Sandeep and Sukhvir were arrested with a US-made .45 bore and 20 live cartridges and on further questioning, these three admitted that on the directions of Bal, Mahinder and Ramesh were to commit a killing in Batala and Harsimranjit, Shamsher and Charlas were to arrange shelter and arms for them there, said the IG, adding that on December 18, these three were nabbed with illegal weapons. The arrested woman, Daljit Kaur, is a close confidant of Bal; Sarabjot Singh and Parmod, alias Bahman (yet to be arrested), are her aides and three used to get instructions for targeted killings from Bal and Bhagwanpuria and they would then arrange resources for shooters, said the IG, adding that on December 24-25, Sarabjot and Kaur were arrested.
18-Jan-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on January 18 seized Chinese-made weapons dropped by a Pakistani Drone in the frontier village Uncha Takala in the Gurdaspur district. BSF Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Prabhakar Joshi said four Chinese-manufactured pistols, 47 rounds and eight magazines were found in the agriculture fields during a search. He added that the consignment bore the name of ‘Norinco.’ “Later, we got to know that the arms and ammunition were manufactured by China North Industries Group Corporation going by the acronym ‘Norinco’,” he said.
18-Jan-2023
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami was attacked during the ongoing Quami Insaaf Morcha when he was leaving the protest site in Mohali on January 18. Dhami along with members of SGPC executive committee had reached the site to address the protesters. The SGPC chief was attacked after he finished speaking and was leaving the protest site in his car.
18-Jan-2023
Police submitted a supplementary report against two accused in the Mohali rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attack case in a local court on January 18. The RPG was fired at Punjab Police’s intelligence headquarters in Mohali on May 9, 2022. The supplementary report was submitted in the court of additional district and sessions judge Avtar Singh against key accused Charat Singh and the sole juvenile in the case whom the juvenile justice board has recently directed to treat as an adult. Police claimed that the May 9 attack was conspired by the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) backing.
17-Jan-2023
A Mohali court allowed the National Investigating Agency (NIA) to question an accused in a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) attack as well as other terror related cases. The accused was earlier deemed to be tried as an adult by a district court.
17-Jan-2023
A week after two suspects were arrested for killing a man, Delhi Police have uncovered a complex terror web stretching from Pakistan to Canada with “handlers” directing hit jobs on political leaders in India, in return for hefty cash rewards. The revelations come ahead of the Republic Day celebrations in India. Delhi Police has now launched a search for at least four people suspected to be part of the terror conspiracy in which gangsters planned “targeted killings” of certain political leaders through two criminals – Naushad and Jagga.