KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
20-Jan-2026
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) and Fazilka police on January 20 arrested a gangster, identified as Pritpal Singh after he was injured in an encounter at a naka near Arniwala village in Fazilka district. He was wanted in a murder case linked to a fatal shootout near the District Judicial Court Complex on April 22, 2025.
20-Jan-2026
Police on January 20 arrested a key shooter of the Jaipal Bhullar gang, identified as Harjinder Singh alias Laddi and seized one .32-bore Beretta pistol, three empty cartridges, and two live rounds, during an encounter on the southern bypass of Patiala city in Patiala district. The gangster was injured in the encounter.
20-Jan-2026
On January 20, Punjab Police, on day 325 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 49 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 76 drug smugglers and seized 1.3 kg of heroin, 1 kg of opium, 18 kg of poppy husk, 130 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 2250 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
20-Jan-2026
Amritsar police on January 20 killed a notorious criminal, Mani Prince alias Mani Soorma, in a brief encounter and recovered a sophisticated PX5 pistol, near the Defence drain in the Gharinda area of Amritsar district. A native of Tarn Taran, Mani Soorma had around 50 FIRs against him for offences including murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, extortion, and repeated firing incidents across Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts. He had earlier been arrested on January 12 after an encounter in the Kamboh police station area in Amritsar but escaped from Guru Nanak Dev Hospital two days later after dodging the police escort.
20-Jan-2026
Jalandhar Rural police on January 20 arrested two youths, identified as Angrej Singh and Karanvir, in connection with a firing incident and seized a .30-bore pistol, one live cartridge, a cartridge shell, and a motorcycle after a brief encounter in Sohal Jagir village, Jalandhar district. The firing had occurred outside a house in Sohal Jagir village of Shahkot nine days earlier.
20-Jan-2026
The Ludhiana Commissionerate Police on January 20 said they arrested 118 criminals and recovered 13 pistols, 144 grams of heroin, 96 bottles of illicit liquor, and 430 habit-forming tablets during a major crackdown by over 100 teams of police officials in the city and localities situated on its outskirts in Ludhiana district. Several proclaimed offenders were apprehended during the raids.
20-Jan-2026
In a joint operation, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) on January 20 arrested a woman arriving from Thailand and seized 1.5 kg of suspected narcotics from her at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar district.
20-Jan-2026
Punjab Police on January 20 launched a statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahar—targeting 60 gangsters based abroad and their network of 1,200 associates in Punjab, all of whom have been arrested. Announcing the operation, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said over 12,000 police personnel are conducting raids across the state, targeting around 600 houses of gangsters’ family members and numerous hideouts, with the operation extending beyond Punjab as well. He said the drive, launched under the directions of Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann, aims to dismantle gangster networks and make Punjab free of organized crime.
20-Jan-2026
Punjab Police on January 20 announced the formation of the Overseas Fugitive Tracking & Extradition Cell (OFTEC) to track foreign-based gangsters and terrorists involved in criminal activities in the state. The cell will focus on extradition and deportation of fugitives. Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said the initiative aims to strengthen international police cooperation and address gaps in handling terrorism, organised crime, cyber, economic, and trafficking cases. Police said around 60 Punjabi gangsters are hiding abroad, mainly in Canada and the US, with red-corner notices pending against 21 of them and the rest under process.
20-Jan-2026
A Faridkot court has framed charges against 12 of the 17 accused in the murder of Gurpreet Singh, a former associate of jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh, invoking stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Amritpal Singh is also an accused, but proceedings against him are pending as he is lodged in Dibrugarh Central Jail, Assam, under the National Security Act (NSA). Four other accused are reportedly abroad. According to the prosecution, Gurpreet Singh knew about Amritpal Singh’s alleged links with gangster Jaipal Bhullar and designated terrorist Arsh Dala, also an accused in the case. Police claim Amritpal Singh conspired to have Gurpreet Singh eliminated in October 2024 to prevent exposure of these links.
20-Jan-2026
The Punjab government has told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that there is no merit, either factually or legally, in Lok Sabha MP Amritpal Singh’s petition challenging his third detention order dated April 17, 2025. The submission came as a Bench headed by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu imposed costs of INR 10,000 on the state for filing its reply on the date of hearing, despite a January 17 deadline.
20-Jan-2026
According to a report, a jailed Rajasthan criminal linked to the 2022 murder of Punjabi rapper Shubhdeep Singh alias Sidhu Moose Wala has been identified as a key operative in an interstate extortion racket run from prison. Arshad Khan, a native of Churu district, was brought to Ludhiana on a production warrant from Ferozepur Jail this week. Police allege he acted as a middleman for the Goldy Brar gang, coordinating a hit squad to intimidate a local businessman who refused to pay a ₹50 lakh extortion demand. Investigators say the case is a major breakthrough in exposing links between incarcerated gang leaders and street-level shooters.
19-Jan-2026
The Border Security Force (BSF), along with the anti-drug smuggling team, on January 19 seized 1.118 kg of heroin in the Kahangarh border outpost area of Amritsar district. The contraband packet was dropped by a drone.
19-Jan-2026
Police on January 19 arrested two criminals, identified as Harsimran alias Mand and Avanjot Singh Bhandal and seized two .32-bore pistols after an encounter on Rampur Road, Doraha, in Ludhiana district. One accused was injured in the leg during the shootout and is undergoing treatment at a hospital, while the other was taken into custody.
19-Jan-2026
On January 19, Punjab Police, on day 324 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 57 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 80 drug smugglers and seized 7 kg of heroin, 828 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 5420 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
19-Jan-2026
The Crime Investigation Agency on January 19 arrested a drug smuggler, identified as Jasveer and seized 4.479 kg of heroin following an operation near Gillan village in Ferozepur district.
19-Jan-2026
The Crime Investigation Agency on January 19 arrested two drug smugglers, identified as Prabhsimran Singh and Sukhwinder Singh, and seized 1.5 kg of heroin at Makhu in Ferozepur district.
19-Jan-2026
Widespread protests erupted in Patiala and nearby areas after the arrest of farm leaders and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) activists in Amritsar and Sangrur in Punjab. Over 30 leaders and workers were detained, including Sarwan Singh Pandher, Dilbagh Singh Harigarh, and Jaswinder Singh Longowal. The arrests were made on January 17 in Amritsar and January 18 in Sangrur.
18-Jan-2026
Intelligence agencies have issued an alert ahead of Republic Day, warning that Khalistani and Bangladesh-based terror outfits may target New Delhi and other cities. Sources said Punjab-based gangsters are increasingly being used as foot soldiers by foreign-based Khalistani handlers, with criminal networks active across Haryana, Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
18-Jan-2026
On January 18, Punjab Police, on day 323 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 97 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 122 drug smugglers and seized 440 grams of heroin, 340 grams of opium, 3 kg of poppy husk, 1781 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 8106 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
18-Jan-2026
The Ludhiana Commissionerate Police on January 18 said they dismantled a major illegal arms and extortion syndicate linked to gangster Goldy Brar after a four-week operation, arresting 10 operatives and seizing 12 sophisticated firearms in Ludhiana district. In the first phase, eight accused were arrested and seven weapons recovered, including two Austria-made 9mm Glock pistols with magazines and live ammunition on December 12, 2025. In a follow-up operation, in January 2026, two more operatives, Jatin Mattu Makda and Mukul, were arrested and five additional firearms seized. Police said the arrests foiled an extortion plot against a prominent Gurgaon-based businessman, whose residence had already been surveyed and was about to be attacked.
18-Jan-2026
Police on January 18 arrested two men in connection with the January 16 murder of Kesar Dhami, identified as Chandra Shekhar and Jaspal Singh and seized two .32-bore pistols, three live cartridges, and three empty shells after an encounter at Adampur in Jalandhar district.
17-Jan-2026
Karan Pathak alias Karan Defaulter, the main shooter accused in the December 15, 2025 murder of kabaddi promoter and player Kanwar Digvijay Singh alias Rana Balachauria, was killed in a police encounter near Kharar in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district on January 17. Police said Pathak complained of chest pain while in custody and was taken to a hospital, from where he escaped. Six to seven hours later, he was traced and, during the ensuing encounter, allegedly opened fire at police, who retaliated, killing him. His handcuffs were missing, suggesting he may have procured a .30-bore weapon while on the run. Pathak was also linked to the killing of gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria’s mother.
17-Jan-2026
On January 17, Punjab Police, on day 322 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 200 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 227 drug smugglers and seized 745 grams of heroin, 1.2 kg of opium, 550 grams of ganja, 4,935 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 8,750 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
17-Jan-2026
Punjab Police on January 17 foiled a potential terror attack seizing a cache of weapons including three AK-47 rifles, five magazines, two pistols of Turkish and Chinese make, two additional magazines, and 98 bullets, in the Narot Jaimal Singh area of Pathankot district. Police said the arms were allegedly sent from Pakistan by Khalistani terrorist Harvinder Singh alias Rinda of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) under ISI instructions to destabilize Punjab, and were meant for a major attack through his associates.