KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
07-Jan-2022
The Government of India has rubbished as 'fake' a viral video that shows anti-Sikh views being expressed during a 'Cabinet Committee on Security' (CCS) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) fact check Twitter handle said that the video is 'fake' and added that 'no discussion or meeting has taken place'. "A tweet referring to a viral video claim that in a #Cabinet Committee meeting on Security, there was a call for the removal of Sikhs from the Indian Army. The claim is #Fake No such discussion/meeting has taken place," the PIB said in a tweet.
07-Jan-2022
Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on January 7 denounced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security breach in Ferozepur, terming the incident as “unfortunate”.
07-Jan-2022
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered an abandoned Pakistan wooden boat in the Sutlej. According to the information, the boat was spotted by the personnel belonging to 136 Battalion during patrol duty near the DT Mall border outpost along the International Border (IB) in Ferozepur.
05-Jan-2022
According to the top sources in the intelligence establishment, days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Firozpur in Punjab, pro-Khalistan outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) had called upon the people to protest his visit. In a video released by the outfit's chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, he was seen aggressively calling upon the people of Punjab to hold, what it called "Show da Shoe" protest on January 5.
05-Jan-2022
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has taken a strong notice of the posts defaming the Sikh community on social media. A letter has been written by the SGPC to the Commissioner of Police, Amritsar in this regard.
05-Jan-2022
Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on January 5, termed the 'blocking PM Modi's cavalcade' in Ferozepur as a start for 'Khalistan freedom'. Issuing a video message, Pannun, claimed that Sikhs had chased Modi out of Punjab and that the upcoming polls will decide the Khalistan referendum. Pannun said, "Listen Modi govt, the campaign for Khalistan referendum has begun in Punjab on 5th January, as those bearing the tricolour had to go back to Delhi. People with orange flags chased Modi bare-footed out of Punjab, and Punjab has decided to be free today". Pannun added, "Indira Gandhi came to Punjab with weapons, she was answered with weapons. You are spreading panic in Punjab, but we answer the same with votes peacefully - by holding Khalistan referendum, by votes. Punjab has decided that along with the assembly elections, the Khalistan referendum will be held. May it be any party - Congress-Channi, Navjot Sidhu, BJP, AAP, whoever stands against saffron, will face the khanda (the Sikh weapon of war)". Earlier, PM Modi, who was scheduled to inaugurate projects worth Rs 42,750 crores and address a joint BJP-PLC-SAD (D) rally in Ferozepur, returned to Delhi after a brief security breach.
04-Jan-2022
According to intelligence sources, it is learnt that Pakistan has sought to infiltrate India through the Kartarpur Corridor route and Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) had given the responsibility for the same to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). It has also been learnt that the LeT is preparing to carry out the operation with five individuals who will be dressed in Sikh attire. As per sources, this infiltration attempt is likely to be made in the near future. The ISI is expected to provide all documents and facilities to enable the same. The group has been given two weeks of commando training under ISI supervision in a terror camp in Sakargarh and are associated with the LeT Tanzeem outfit. The source also named two people from the group as Mohd Gulzar Maghre and Mohd Sahjada Bande. They have been instructed to go to Gurdaspur and Pathankot in Punjab.
04-Jan-2022
Police arrested a warden of Bathinda Central Jail and recovered 15 grams of heroin from his possession. According to police, the warden was supplying heroin to the jail inmates.
03-Jan-2022
According to reports, Border Security Force (BSF), Punjab Frontier had killed 6 Pakistani smugglers and intruders in the year 2021. The force also captured one Pakistan drone and seized over 484 kg of heroin from the 553 km stretch of Indo Pak international border in Punjab during 2021. A spokesperson of the BSF, Punjab Frontier, informed that though the Indo Pak international border in Punjab was challenging and tough yet they had been able to thwart the cross-border smuggling, intrusion, etc. attempts. “During the year 2021, BSF troops of Punjab Frontier have maintained a high level of alertness and vigil which resulted in successfully detected and captured 1 Pak drone and seizing of 484.505 kgs heroin, 58 different calibre weapons, 3322 rounds,” said the spokesperson adding that the troops had also been successful in killing 6 Pak smugglers and intruder. He also informed that they had also apprehended 16 Pak nationals and 1 Bangladeshi national in different incidents across the 553 km stretch of Indo Pak international border.
02-Jan-2022
The Special Task Force (STF) arrested a smuggler, identified as Akashdeep Singh, and recovered 1.5 kg of heroin from him at Moti Nagar in Ludhiana district. During preliminary questioning, Akashdeep admitted that he had been into the notorious trade for two years and used to bring heroin from some big smuggler of Ferozepur.
02-Jan-2022
The Special Task Force (STF) arrested a smuggler, identified as Jugraj Singh (23), and recovered 600 grams of heroin from him in Sector 32, Chandigarh Road. A case under the NDPS Act was registered against him. He was nabbed from Sector 32, Chandigarh Road in Ludhiana district. Official sources said Jugraj Singh had links with many jailed smugglers in Punjab and he was running a drug network at their behest.
02-Jan-2022
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) confirmed on January 2 that the FIR against Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) activist Jaswinder Singh alias Multani has no connection with the Ludhiana bomb blast case. An NIA official said the NIA team has returned and Punjab Police is continuing its probe in the blast case. The NIA had lodged an FIR against Multani, a few days after the blast in Ludhiana's district courts complex. There was speculation that the main accused of the bomb blast, Gagandeep Singh (a dismissed cop), was in touch with Multani. The NIA official said, "The FIR has been lodged against SFJ activist Jaswinder Singh Multani under different sections of IPC and Unlawful Activity (Prevention) Act (UAPA). But, the FIR has no connection with the Ludhiana bomb blast. The Punjab police are probing the Ludhiana blast case and not the NIA."
01-Jan-2022
Police on January 1 produced two jail inmates, Ranjit Singh and Sukhwinder Singh, in a court in Ludhiana to seek extension in their remand for questioning in the ongoing probe into the court complex bomb blast case. The court extended their police remand for five days. A police officer said both were being questioned for their alleged links with Gagandeep Singh, who died in the blast.
01-Jan-2022
According to reports, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will probe the suspected involvement of Germany-based Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) operative Jaswinder Singh Multani in the use of drones for the smuggling of arms, ammunition, explosives and drugs into the Indian territory by Pakistan-based syndicates. Based on inputs related to his alleged role in attempts to revive terrorism in Punjab, NIA has registered a case against him and his associates. Following an alert from Indian agencies, the police in Germany detained him a few days ago. “Multani was released after he submitted an affidavit that he would cooperate with the authorities concerned,” said an official. The official said that, “We have evidence indicating that Multani has been in touch with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). He also has links with smuggling syndicates in Pakistan and on the Indian side in Punjab. Through social media platforms and encrypted chat messengers, he radicalizes gullible young men from Punjab and motivates them to indulge in such illegal activities.”
31-Dec-2021
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered 0.95 Kg of heroin, which was pushed from Pakistan through the river Satluj in Punjab. BSF Punjab spokesperson said, “On 31st Dec' 2021, vigilant Border Security Force troops, deployed along the River Sutlej bank in the area of responsibility of Ferozepur Sector observed some suspicious item floating in River Sutlej from Pakistan to India side. Thereafter, troops dragged the suspected item towards the bank and when it was searched, they recovered and seized 01 Pkt of contraband (weight appx 0.950 Kg) suspected to be Heroin”.
31-Dec-2021
Ludhiana Special Task Force arrested two accused and seized 1.7 kg heroin from them. Acting on a tip off, police stopped three accused. Two of them were nabbed while the third escaped from the spot.
31-Dec-2021
The Border Security Force (BSF) arrested an Indian national, identified as Jagdish Singh and recovered one 32 bore pistol and seven live cartridges from his possession near the Indo-Pakistan border in Ferozepur. BSF officials said, “We are also checking whether the weapon recovered from him was smuggled from across the border.”
30-Dec-2021
According to officials, in the wake of intelligence inputs that Khalistani elements may carry out a terror attack in Mumbai on the eve of New Year, the city police have beefed up security at prominent railway stations and other public places. Police also cancelled the weekly offs and holidays of its personnel so that its entire strength remains available for duty. "Police had received an input that Khalistani elements may carry out a terror attack in Mumbai on the eve of New Year," a police official said. Hence, in order to maintain the law-and-order situation, police are on alert and will be keeping a strict vigil across the city on December 31. Considering the possibility of people gathering at prominent places like the Gateway of India and Marine Drive to ring in the New Year, a large number of personnel, will be deployed in the city, he said.
30-Dec-2021
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered a case against banned Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) radical Jaswinder Singh Multani for his involvement in the December 23 Ludhiana court blast, and others for hatching a conspiracy to target Indian cities. Multani was picked up by Federal Police from Erfurt in central Germany after India government requested German authorities to arrest the pro-Khalistan radical who has links to Pakistan, and has been involved in smuggling of arms and ammunition from across the border into Punjab. According to NIA’s first information report (FIR) filed on December 30, the 45-year-old has been booked under sections related to criminal conspiracy and waging war against India, among others, of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Earlier on December 23, one person was killed and six others were injured after a bomb went off in the district court’s complex in Ludhiana, triggering a high alert in the state. Police said the deceased was the alleged bomber and dismissed head constable Gagandeep Singh. Preliminary probe revealed that 1.5 kg of explosives were assembled in a plastic container to carry out the blast in the court premises.
30-Dec-2021
A high alert has been sounded in Mumbai after intelligence agencies received inputs regarding terror activities planned by pro-Khalistan groups. A senior officer said that after Jaswinder Singh Multani, a member of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) who was allegedly linked to Ludhiana court blast, was detained and questioned in Germany, they have received inputs regarding planned terror activities in Mumbai and other big cities. The officer said, "We have received inputs that apart from SFJ, other banned pro-Khalistan groups are in contact with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to execute terror activity in Mumbai, Delhi and other cities."
23-Dec-2021
A man was killed and five others injured in a blast at the District Courts Complex in Ludhiana District. The man killed in the blast, identified as former policeman Gagandeep Singh, was carrying the explosion. Director General of Police (DGP), Siddharth Chattopadhyaya said that they suspect Pakistan’s role but cannot conclude anything as the investigation is underway. However, the accused was in “touch with other conspirators in jail and outside. The deceased person, former policeman Gagandeep Singh, was carrying the explosion. He was dismissed from service in 2019 and spent two years in jail following his arrest in a drug-trafficking case." The injured have been identified as: Sandeep Kaur (31), a photostat machine operator and resident of Raikot, Ludhiana, Manish Kumar (32), a Policeman and resident of Police Colony Jamalpur, Ludhiana, Kuldeep Singh Mand (50) an advocate of Bindra Ban Road, Ludhiana, while, Sharanjit Kaur (25), resident of Jamalpur, Ludhiana, Krishan Khanna (75) of Phase 1, Dugri, Ludhiana and Gurpreet Kaur (35), were visitors to the court complex. While terming it as an unfortunate incident, Punjab Chief Minister (CM), Charanjit Singh Channi said that prima facie, it seems that the deceased person was the perpetrator of this crime.
17-Dec-2021
The Border Security Force (BSF) on December 17 shot down a drone along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab.
25-Nov-2021
On November 25, the National Investigating Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet against Hardeep Singh Nijjar of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) in a case of conspiracy to commit terrorist acts against India. Nijjar, from Jalandhar in Punjab, is currently based in Surrey, Canada. The NIA said in a statement. “He used to send funds to India…for developing a network of sympathisers for targeted killings in Punjab and was trying to arrange ammunition from his Pakistan-based associates for his nefarious plans.”
21-Nov-2021
A grenade blast occurred outside Triveni Gate of the Army cantonment near Dheerapul in Pathankot District of Punjab on November 21. Police said that some unidentified motorcyclists lobbed the grenade in front of Triveni gate of the military cantonment. However, no casualty was reported in the blast.
20-Nov-2021
A hand grenade kept in a tiffin box was found at Sekhwan village in Zira sub-division in Firozpur District, on November 20.