KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
03-Jan-2021
The Punjab Police have decided to recruit specialised de-radicalisation counsellors in the backdrop of radicalisation of youth for pro-Khalistan activities via social media. 30 de-radicalisation counsellors and 82 assistants will be recruited soon with the job to bring back youth into the mainstream after they were allegedly brainwashed by terror agencies, including Pakistan-based Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), said Director General of Police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta. According to the Police records, nearly 70 terror modules had been busted in the past few years in which more than 300 youth were arrested. Most of them were radicalised for pro-Khalistan activities through social media.
01-Jan-2021
According to Border Security Force (BSF) data, the BSF personnel have recovered 517 kilograms heroin and 43 weapons from along the Indo-Pak International Borders (IB) in Punjab in 2020. The BSF also shot dead eight drug smugglers and intruders in separate encounters in 2020. Additionally, a total of 13 Pakistanis and one Bangladeshi national were also arrested during the year. In a humanitarian gesture, the BSF handed over six Pakistanis to the Pakistan Rangers after they had inadvertently crossed the IB.
31-Dec-2020
An employee of the Halwara Air Force station, identified as Ram Singh, was arrested by Punjab Police for allegedly working for Pakistan’s intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), from Sudhar area in Ludhiana District. “Ram Singh, an employee of Halwara Air Force station, has been booked and arrested for allegedly working for Pakistan’s ISI, in the Sudhar area of Ludhiana, Punjab. Two of his associates are on the run,” said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Charanjit Singh Sohal.
31-Dec-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) foiled an infiltration attempt by a group of Pakistani smugglers to infiltrate and push narcotics into the Indian territory by recovering an iron ladder and a contraption with a pole in the Khanpur area of Abohar Sector along the International Border (IB) in Fazilka District.
30-Dec-2020
A joint team of Police and the Border Security Force (BSF) recovered 7.31 kilograms of heroin and three China-made .30 bore pistols from the Metla Border out Post (BoP)in the Dera Baba Nanak sector of Gurdaspur District. The consignment was pushed into the Indian territory by Belgium-based terrorist Jagdish Singh alias Bhura, who has links in Pakistan. During investigation, it was found that drug peddler Ranjit Singh, who is lodged in the Ludhiana jail, played a key role in the smuggling of the consignment.
30-Dec-2020
Security Forces recovered 5 kilograms heroin, worth INR 250 million in the international market, a pistol, two magazines and two live cartridges from across the barbed wire fencing in the area of BoP, Santokh Singh Wala, in Jalalabad subdivision of Fazilka District.
27-Dec-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) personnel recovered around three kilograms of heroin from the Indo-Pak border at Attari sector in Amritsar District. The alert BSF troopers also recovered around 12-feet long plastic pipe near Burj border outpost under Bhindi Saida Police Station limits in the district. The pipe bearing a marking of made in Pakistan was found on the Indian side of the International Border (IB).
24-Dec-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) spotted a Pakistani drone twice within an hour in Chandu Wadala and Rosse Border Outposts (BoPs) in Kalanaur subdivision of Gurdaspur District. BSF Deputy Inspector General (DIG, Gurdaspur sector) Rajesh Sharma said at around 1 am, personnel of the 58th Battalion sighted and subsequently fired upon the drone, forcing it to fly back into Pakistan. An hour later, the security agencies again spotted the drone and opened fire. Sharma informed Gurdaspur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rajinder Singh Sohal, following which a joint search operation was launched in 15 villages located near the International Border (IB).
23-Dec-2020
Two Khalistani terrorists, identified as Tejprakashalias Kaka and Akashdeep Singh alias Sonu, working for the US based banned secessionist group - Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), were arrested along with weapons and live cartridges near Karnal in Haryana. According Haryana Police, during interrogation, revealed that they were in touch with a US-based terrorist Gurmeet Singh, who transferred lakhs of rupees in their accounts via MoneyGram. The duo was arrested when they were returning after purchasing the arms. They also revealed that they had planned to attack two Shiv Sena leaders in Punjab named Sudhir Suri and Gursharanmand, under the direction of Gurmeet Singh.
22-Dec-2020
Officials of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested an absconding Khalistani terrorist, identified as Gurjeet Singh Nijjar, who was hiding in Cyprus (Europe), upon his arrival at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in New Delhi. According to NIA officials, Nijjar of Pandori Sukha Singh village in Ajnala Tehsil (revenue unit) of Amritsar District in Punjab, was wanted in a case registered on January 10, 2019, against Harpal Singh, another Khalistani terrorist, under various sections of the Arms Act, Maharashtra Police Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The investigation later revealed that Nijjar was the main conspirator in the case. “Accused Nijjar, Harpal Singh and Moin Khan were active on social media platforms and had hatched a criminal conspiracy to revive Sikh militancy for the formation of a separate state of Khalistan,” a senior NIA official said adding that the trio used to post videos and images praising militant Jagtar Singh Hawara (a convict in Beant Singh assassination case). They also posted images and videos of Operation Bluestar and pro-Khalistani posts related to the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) with the intention of motivating Sikh youths and others to join the ‘Khalistan movement’.
22-Dec-2020
The Punjab Police recovered an AK-47 rifle and a magazine with 30 live cartridges evidently dropped by the Pakistani drone in Border Outpost (BOP) Chakri under Dorangala Police Station limits in Gurdaspur District. The Police maintained that the arms were evidently a part of the same consignment (11 hand grenades) that was dropped by a Pakistani drone previously in the area on December 20. Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta said that the package, containing the assault rifle, appeared to have been dropped in the wheat fields in the area of Wazir Chak village, 1.5 kilometers from Salach village, Dorangla Police Station (Gurdaspur).
20-Dec-2020
11 hand grenades reportedly dropped by a drone from Pakistan were recovered by Border Security Force (BSF) troopers from a sugarcane field near the International Border (IB) at Silach village in Gurdaspur District. Rajesh Sharma, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), BSF, said the troopers on hearing the buzzing sound of a drone in the late night of December 19 near Chakri outpost, fired multiple shots towards the source. The Police authorities were alerted and a joint search operation was initiated leading to the recovery of the grenades on the following day. The 11 grenades of Arges-type HG-84 were placed in a neatly packed wooden box. The drone, however, was not recovered and it is suspected that it managed to fly back to Pakistan after dropping the payload.
19-Dec-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered 2.232 kilograms of heroin worth INR 120 million in the international market, from the International Border (IB) in Ferozepur District.
18-Dec-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered 6 kilograms of heroin worth INR 300 million in the international market, from across the barbed wire fencing along the International Border (IB) in Fazilka District. BSF also arrested a smuggler in connection with the recovery of heroin.
18-Dec-2020
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet against 10 accused persons including designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of the banned secessionist organization - Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) before the NIA Special Court at Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar District. Originally registered by Punjab Police at Sultanwind Police Station, Amritsar (City) on October 19, 2018, the case was subsequently re-registered by NIA on April 5, 2020. The case relates to series of acts of violence including acts of arson in Punjab during the year 2017-18, carrying out of propaganda activities both online and on ground campaigns in support of SFJ and ‘Referendum 2020’. These acts were committed by a gang of radicalised Sikh youth under direction and financial assistance from SFJ handlers located abroad as part of an organized conspiracy by the accused for launching a concerted secessionist campaign for the creation of ‘Khalistan’. The charge sheeted accused are – Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, r/o New York USA, Pargat Singh, Sukhraj Singh aka Raju, Bikramjit Singh aka Vicky, Manjeet Singh aka Manjit Singh aka Manga, Jatinder Singh aka Goldi, Gurwinder Singh aka Gurpreet Singh aka Gopi, Harmeet Singh aka Happy, Kuldeep Singh aka Kuldip Singh aka Keepaand and Harmeet Singh aka Raju.
17-Dec-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) shot dead two militants near the Attari area along the India-Pakistan International Border (IB) in Amritsar District. The armed Pakistani militants were attempting to infiltrate into the Indian side of the border when they were gunned down. Their identities are yet to be ascertained
15-Dec-2020
Two cross border smugglers, identified as – Lakhbir Singh and Bachittar Singh, were arrested in Amritsar District. The duo were members of a module that used drones to smuggle narcotics and weapons into India through Pakistan-based smugglers with links to pro-Khalistan operatives, the Punjab Police said in a statement. A quadcopter drone with a mini receiver and camera support, a .32 bore revolver, a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), cartridges and drugs have been recovered from their possession. Police said that the interrogation of the accused has revealed their alleged association with four other smugglers, who were lodged in the Amritsar jail.
12-Dec-2020
With the arrest of two persons identified as – Jaswinder Singh akaJass and Ramesh Kumar aka Kesa along with a recovery of 4 kilograms heroin in Lohian village of Jalandhar District, the Punjab Police claimed to have busted a major drug cartel linked to international gangsters and terrorists. Besides the heroin, two desi .32 bore pistols and a car bearing registration number JK-012-E-2277 have also been recovered from the accused, who used to bring drugs from Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) on instructions from imprisoned gangsters in Punjab.
09-Dec-2020
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet against 16 foreign-based Khalistanis, who are members of the banned US based secessionist organization - Sikh for Justice (SFJ), before a NIA special court in New Delhi. The chargesheet relates to a case pertaining to an alleged organised conspiracy by the 16 accused to launch a concerted secessionist campaign under the banner of 'Referendum 2020' for the creation of ‘Khalistan’. The charge-sheeted accused are – Gurpatwant Singh Pannun (resident of New York, USA), Avtar Singh Pannun (New York, USA), Gurpreet Singh Baagi (UK) Harpreet Singh alias Rana Singh (New York, USA), Paramjit Singh alias Pamma (UK), Sarabjit Singh Bannur (UK), Amardeep Singh Purewal (California, USA), J S Dhaliwal (Canada), Kulwant Singh Mothada (UK) Dupinderjit Singh (UK), Hardeep Singh Nijjar (Canada), Kulwant Singh alias Kanta (UK), Harjaap Singh alias Japhi Singh (California, USA), Sarabjit Singh aliasSabi Singh (California, USA), Jatinder Singh Grewal, (Canada) and S Himmat Singh (New York, USA). In a statement, the NIA said, “Investigation in the case has revealed that Sikhs for Justice, a secessionist outfit floated in the garb of ‘Human Rights advocacy group’ with its offices in various foreign countries like the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia etc, is a frontal organization of Khalistan terrorist outfits operating from foreign soils including Pakistan. Under this campaign, numerous social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, YouTube Channels and a number of websites have been launched, which are being used to propagate sedition as well as enmity on the grounds of region and religion, to radicalise impressionable youth, to cause disturbance to peace and harmony and to raise funds for terrorist activities.”
08-Dec-2020
Investigative agencies have revealed that Pakistan's Inter-Services International (ISI) is conspiring with Lakhbir Singh Rode, nephew of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and chief of the banned International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) to keep the ‘Khalistan’ movement alive in Punjab. According to the investigating agencies, ISI officials had planned target killing in Punjab through Lakhbir Singh Rode. For this, Lakhbir Singh named the gangster Sukh Bhikhariwal, sitting in Dubai and got him in touch with ISI officials. The Dubai Police, however, had detained Bhikhariwal.
05-Dec-2020
In a letter, addressed to the External Affairs Minister (EAM) Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs Vellamvelly Muraleedharan, the banned Sikh secessionist organization - Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) has conveyed to block Indian Missions in US, Canada, UK and Europe to 'stand in solidarity' with the protesting farmers of Punjab. Further, declaring their support for the Bharat Bandh called on December 8, SFJ alleged that the Indian government was 'unabashedly suppressing and gagging the protesting, criticizing and dissenting voices, with impunity'. SFJ also said that they would protest on December 10 - Human Rights Day - to bring global awareness of the alleged human rights violations made by the NDA government on Punjab's farmers.
05-Dec-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered five packets of heroin weighing 5.360 kilograms along the Indo-Pakistan border at Ferozepur sector of Ferozepur District.
04-Dec-2020
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a supplementary charge-sheet in Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) narco-terror case in the NIA Special Court at Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar District. The agency filed the charge-sheet against “narco-terrorist” Dharminder Singh aka Dhana (32) under various sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. “The accused used to receive Heroin smuggled from Pakistan from accused Jajbir Singh Samra and further distribute/sell it to local traffickers. The proceeds so generated used to be deposited with Jajbir Singh for further strengthening the activities of KLF,” NIA said in a release.
02-Dec-2020
At least five drone sorties carrying arms or contraband were made in the past three days from across the border by Pakistan-based anti-national forces in Kot Razada border village in the Ajnala sector of International Border (IB) in Amritsar District. The first attempt was made on the intervening night of November 30 and December 1, while Border Security Force (BSF) troopers heard buzzing sounds of drones in the area during the next intervening night (December 1-2). They also fired indiscriminately to shoot it down, but they returned to Pakistan. According to sources, the sorties were made between 11.15 pm to 12.30 am on the intervening night of December 1 and 2 and between midnight to 12.40 am on November 30 - December 1.
01-Dec-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) conducted a massive search operation in the Ajnala sector near the Kot Rajada border outpost (BoP) in Amritsar District after an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) was reportedly sighted in the area. The alert troops patrolling near the International Border (IB) fired indiscriminately in the air after they heard the sound of movement of drones at 1 am. However, it managed to return taking the advantage of foggy conditions.