KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
13-Jan-2023
Police brought gangster Dilpreet Singh Dhahe on production warrant in Anandpur Sahib in Rupnagar district. Dhahe, facing murder, attempt to murder and extortion cases, was lodged at Tihar Jail in New Delhi. He was produced in court which remanded him to four-day police custody.
13-Jan-2023
Police on January 13 arrested a Khalistani suspect Jagjit Singh and his aide Naushad from Jahangir Puri in North West Delhi. Later, weapons, two hand grenades and bloodstains were found in the raid of the Special Cell from the hideout of the suspects in Delhi's Bhalswa area. According to the police, the Khalistan connection of the arrested suspects is being investigated.
13-Jan-2023
A National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court in Panchkula has declared Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Harvinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, as a proclaimed offender in the May 2022 Bastara toll plaza (Karnal District, Haryana) case where three IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and arms and ammunition were seized. Recently, the Punjab Police had stated in a press conference that the report on Rinda’s death in Pakistan due to drug overdose wasn’t confirmed. The court on January 11 directed the NIA to furnish the list of properties, movable or immovable, owned by Rinda for attachment. As per the NIA, during the investigation it was revealed that the explosives were sent by Rinda from Pakistan.
12-Jan-2023
Two months after a news report came about the death of gangster-turned-terrorist Harvinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda due to drug overdose in Pakistan, the intelligence agencies have found some fresh “substantial evidences” to show that he may be “alive”. The issue was discussed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) recently during a meeting with officials of intelligence agencies and National Investigation Agency (NIA). As per media reports, Rinda, a wanted terrorist carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakh announced by the NIA, died at a hospital in Pakistan’s Lahore in November. A few days ago, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla held a meeting with officials of intelligence agencies and the NIA to discuss resurgence of terror activities in Punjab.
12-Jan-2023
Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) opposed an Army’s proposal to introduce ballistic helmets for Sikh soldiers, demanding that the move must be withdrawn. Akal Takht’s officiating Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh termed it an “attack on the Sikh identity” and asked the Ministry of Defence, the Centre and the Army to reconsider the proposal as it was against the Sikh “rehat maryada” (tenets). He claimed the British had also tried to introduce a similar proposal during the World War II, but then Sikh soldiers had rejected it.
10-Jan-2023
With the arrest of 16 persons, including two Afghan nationals, over a period of two months, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has exposed an international syndicate of drug smugglers involving white-collared criminals, who used to mint quick money and invest it in liquor business, rice mills, ghee trading and agencies of reputed brands, to mislead the NCB. During investigation, the Narcotics Control Bureau found that the group was operating night clubs and restaurants in the Tricity and region. Officials said drug smugglers procured the contraband from their links in Afghanistan and Pakistan, a set of couriers took care of transportation from Mundra Port, the ICT Atari and Jammu border, two Afghan chemists processed opium and morphine into heroin and other variants in Ludhiana and criminals and gangsters distributed it. A special investigation team has now been formed and supported by investigating officers from other NCB zones. Specialised financial and technical investigation teams are already probing deeper into the syndicate. More than 60 bank accounts of this group and 30 properties purchased with the drug money have been frozen.
09-Jan-2023
In a major success, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested one major logistics provider for the gangsters, identified as Chhotu Ram Bhaat in Sirsa in Haryana. According to the officials, Bhaat was acting as a weapons supplier and was also providing hideouts to the gangsters of the Bambiha group.
09-Jan-2023
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) declared Canada-based gangster Arshdeep Singh Gill, alias Arsh Dalla, a designated terrorist after discovering his involvement in crimes such as murder, extortion, targeted killings, and terrorism. According to MHA notification, Gill is associated with the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and is accused of various offences, including targeted killing, extortion for terrorism funding, attempted murder, inciting communal strife, and spreading terror in Punjab. The UMHA in a statement said that Arsh Dalla has been designated as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 due to his involvement in cross-border smuggling of drugs and weapons and association with the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Arshdeep Singh Gill, who is originally from Ludhiana but currently resides in Canada, has been accused in various cases by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), including targeted killing, extortion for terror funding, attempted murder, inciting communal unrest, and inciting fear among the people of Punjab. This marks the fifth individual to be designated as a terrorist in the past week, all of whom are based in countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and Canada. According to UMHA, Gill is closely connected to Hardeep Singh Nijjar and is involved in running terror modules on behalf of Nijjar. Gill has been involved in crimes such as murder, extortion, and targeted killings, as well as terror financing and the large-scale smuggling of drugs and weapons across borders. As a result, the Central Government has added Gill as a terrorist under section 35 of the UAPA. This will make Gill the 53rd individual to be designated as a terrorist under the Act.
09-Jan-2023
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on January 9 asked officers to adopt zero tolerance against drug peddlers, terrorists and gangsters, asking them to use effective law against anti-social elements and also invoke the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in terror activities. The DGP held a virtual meeting with officers and asked them to identify the drug hotspots at every police station and lay special focus on pharmaceutical drugs to root out the menace from the state. He warned that the concerned SHOs (Station House Officers) will be held responsible in case of leniency in drugs related cases.
09-Jan-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) fired 74 rounds at a Pakistani drone that twice intruded into Indian territory near the Adhian border outpost in Gurdaspur on January 9 night. The drone was sighted in the Dorangla block. Incidentally, this area became a favored destination for Pakistan to push in drones. The drone retreated after the BSF fired at it but returned 20 minutes later.
09-Jan-2023
Inspector General of Police (IGP) headquarters Sukhchain Singh Gill on January 9 said that Punjab Police have arrested as many as 9917 drug smugglers, including 1447 hardened criminals, since July 5, 2022. Police have registered a total number of 7,533 first information reports (FIRs) of which 852 are related to commercial quantity. He said, “Police teams have recovered 418.44 kg heroin from across the state after carrying out cordon and search operations in drug-affected areas besides laying checkpoints at vulnerable routes across the state. Additionally, 147.5 kg heroin was recovered from seaports of Gujarat and Maharashtra, taking the total effective recovery of heroin to 565.94 kg in just six months.” Gill said that police have also recovered 407 kg each of opium and ganja, 233 quintals of poppy husk, and 33.88 lakh tablets/capsules/injections/vials of pharma opioids from across the state.
09-Jan-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on the intervening night of January 9 and 10 busted a narco-terror attempt from across the border and seized 5 bottles possibly filled with heroin weighing of 2.5 kg and also a 500-grams heroin packet near Wan Village of Tarn Taran district.
08-Jan-2023
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said on January 8 that Lakhbir Singh Rode, nephew of deceased Khalistani militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and head of banned Khalistani outfit International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), had planned the December 2021 Ludhiana court complex blast, in which suspected bomber Gagandeep Singh was killed and six people injured. Rode had conspired to carry out bomb blasts in various places in Punjab and used Pakistan-based smugglers to execute his plans, the NIA said. The NIA filed a charge sheet before a Mohali court, naming Gagandeep Singh, Surmukh Singh alias Sammu, Dilbagh Singh alias Baggo, Rajanpreet Singh and a Pakistani national Zulfikar alias Pahalwan, who it said were part of the conspiracy. NIA has already filed a charge sheet against Rode in March 2022. “During investigations, it has been revealed that Lakhbir Singh Rode, Pakistan based ISYF terrorist handler, had planned to execute IED blasts at various locations in Punjab. In order to execute his plans, he, in association with Pakistan based smugglers, recruited India based operatives to smuggle IEDs and to carry out blasts to cause maximum casualties and to strike terror among the general public,” the NIA said in a statement.
08-Jan-2023
According to report, Army has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for emergency purchase of nearly 13,000 helmets for Sikh troops through fast-track procedure. The RFP, which is in public domain, was issued by the Army on January 5, 2023 for 12,730 ballistic helmets. Of these, 8,911 are needed of large size while 3,819 are required to be in extra-large size. The helmets need to be of central bulge design and as per advanced combat design to suit the head size of Sikh troops who sport unshorn hair on their heads as per religious requirement.
08-Jan-2023
The police on January 8 arrested two persons, identified as Pankaj (29) and Stanley Joseph (23) along with 1.2 kg of charas from their possession from near Lamini Government College in Pathankot district.
07-Jan-2023
Punjab Police, in a joint operation with Central Agencies arrested an Army personnel, posted as Sepoy in Pathankot and his aide, Paramjeet Singh alias Pamma after recovering 29 packets of heroin, weighing 31.02 kilogram, from their possession in Fazilka in Fazilka district on January 7.
07-Jan-2023
The Punjab Police in the morning launched massive raids on suspected hideouts of persons linked with Gangster turned Terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dalla. According to Police, searches were planned after the questioning of several persons in the recently busted modules backed by Arsh Dalla. During the search operation, as many as 192 Police parties searched the premises of at least 232 persons linked with Dalla. Dalla is a notorious gangster turned terrorist involved in various criminal activities in Punjab and abroad and is a most wanted criminal by the Punjab Police. He is a Category-A gangster turned terrorist and is a Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) operative, which is a banned terrorist organisation. In 2020, after committing the murder of one of his associate, Sukkha Lamme, he escaped to Canada.
07-Jan-2023
Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Ashwani Sharma on January 7 raised concerns over the 'deteriorating' law and order situation in the state and claimed that leaders of the saffron party were receiving threat calls. Sharma alleged that police officials were not acting on their complaints as if they were not allowed to act. He questioned Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann why he was silent about the claims of Khalistan supporter Gurpatwant Singh Pannun that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government was formed in Punjab with their support. “Perhaps this is the reason that crime has increased because the government had given Khalistan supporters free hand,” he added.
07-Jan-2023
According to reports, Indian Army troops belonging to the Sikh community will now soon be receiving ballistic helmets, designed especially for them to wear on their turbans. Army officials are describing this procurement as the first such order for the Sikh soldiers. The Indian Army is planning to purchase as many as 12,730 ballistic helmets under emergency procurement using the fast-track mode. The Ministry Of Defence will buy two types of helmets including 8,911 large helmets and 3,819 extra-large helmets which will be procured with the condition that their content must include majorly indigenous design as mentioned in the official document of the ministry. For Sikh soldiers in the Indian army, who are banned from cutting their hair due to religious beliefs, choosing to wear a helmet has always been a personal choice. But often for safety reasons especially in active areas like the Northeast or in Kashmir, wearing a helmet may have been preferable. However, the fact that hair was covered by a turban in many cases could have posed a problem, calling for the need for specialised helmets.
07-Jan-2023
Ghanshyam Singh Lodhi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha MP (Member of Parliament) from Rampur district of Uttar Pradesh said that he received threatening messages on WhatsApp in the name of ‘Lashkar-e-Khalsa Sandeep Singh Khalistani’. He complained that the terror organization threatened to kill him after registering an FIR at the Civil Lines police station. The text message found on WhatsApp said that if the case is not withdrawn, he will be killed. Earlier, he received threats through WhatsApp, after which an FIR was lodged.
06-Jan-2023
The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) urged Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh to act against the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for not complying with the directions of starting its own channel while letting a private channel to hold exclusive rights to telecast Gurbani from the Golden Temple.
05-Jan-2023
The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) expressed deep concern over the rising number of youths in India getting addicted to drugs and peddling. “This country has one of the largest number of youths, a factor to power economic growth, but an overwhelming majority of addicts are amongst these youths, which has resulted in increase of crime and violence,” observed the court. The HC added that the lives of the citizens are being destroyed due to the selling of these banned substances.
05-Jan-2023
According to the Border Security Force (BSF), a 62-year-old Bangladeshi national, identified as Mohammed Mahmud Alam Tulu was arrested by the BSF from near the International Border (IB) in the forward area of Roranwala Khurd village in Amritsar district on January 5 night. The man was approaching the border fence from the Indian side and going towards Pakistan, the spokesperson said.
04-Jan-2023
The Counter Intelligence Wing of the police has recovered 5 kg heroin and detained one person in this connection in Amritsar.
04-Jan-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) suspects that the Pakistani intruder whom it shot down early on January 3 in the Gurdaspur sector was a terrorist intrusion mission’s scout. According to Punjab frontier’s former BSF inspector general M S Malhi, he had all the signs of a guide sent ahead to test the infiltration route. This intruder had a pump action gun, which is not so lethal as a conventional assault rifle. He was alone and not even smuggling arms or drugs into the country, which supports the theory that he was a scout. Malhi said, “Even drones can deliver weapons and drugs these days, so a man wouldn’t be risked unless required to lead armed intrusion.” On why the Pakistani side will choose the Channan outpost area for infiltration, he said it had a cross-border tunnel found recently, and the intruder’s accomplices might have retreated through a similar underground passage after he was shot dead.