KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
30-Sep-2020
The Delhi High Court declined to entertain a PIL seeking action against social media platform Twitter for being allegedly involved in a conspiracy to promote anti-India propaganda such as Khalistan movement, saying that the plea was based on claims and no representation about it was made to the Centre. The bench allowed the petitioner, Sangeeta Sharma, to withdraw the plea to move an appropriate representation before the central government.
29-Sep-2020
According to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report on “Crime in India”, which was released on September 29, as many as 11,536 cases under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act were registered in Punjab in 2019. Out of these 5,609 were registered for possession of drugs for personal use or consumption and 5,927 for possession of drugs for trafficking. A total of 7,2779 cases under NDPS Act were registered across the country. In terms of numbers, maximum such cases were registered in Maharashtra (14,158), followed by Punjab (11,536) and Uttar Pradesh (10,198).
28-Sep-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) personnel recovered 6.5 kg of heroin along the International Border (IB) in Ferozepur sector in Ferozepur district. According to BSF, a search operation was carried out near a Border Out Post (BOP) during which six packets of heroin weighing 6.5 kg were seized.
31-Aug-2020
Pro-Khalistan slogans were raised by radical Sikh outfits, including Dal Khalsa and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) at the Akal Takht in Amritsar on the death anniversary of terrorist Dilawar Singh, an assassin of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh. Prayers were also organized at the Akal Takht in the memory of Dilawar Singh. They also asked the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to install the portrait of Dilawar Singh in the Sikh central museum.
31-Aug-2020
According to reports, two people who were arrested in Punjab for putting up a Khalistani flag on a building, were planning to go to Pakistan with the help of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to receive terror training. According to police, the two arrested persons, Jaspal Singh and Inderjeet Singh Gill were planning to go to Nepal from Delhi. From there, the ISI sleuths would have taken them to Pakistan for terror training. The plot involved luring more youth from Punjab to join them in Pakistan. According to the police, both Singh and Gill used to watch YouTube channels supported by pro-Khalistani outfits and had become members of Sikh For Justice (SFJ) group through WhatsApp.
31-Aug-2020
A Moga court on August 31 evening sent Inderjit Singh and Jaspal Singh, arrested by Delhi police in Khalistan flag hoisting case, in five-day police remand. Both were produced in the court under tight security. Earlier, a police team from Moga had got the transit remand and had brought them from Delhi, where they were arrested on August 29 evening.
31-Aug-2020
Saffron flags with Khalistan written on them were put up at the market committee office at Bhucho in Bathinda district and at a flyover on the Bathinda-Chandigarh highway. The flags were removed when police noticed these on August 31 morning. According to reports, some slogans in favour of Khalistan too were raised by unidentified persons.
31-Aug-2020
The former Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh GK hailed Akal Takht’s initiative of honoring Sikh activist Bhai Gajinder Singh “Hijacker” while nailing those creating hue over this move. Manjit Singh GK questioned the credibility of those opposing Akal Takht Sahib’s move of honoring Bhai Gajinder Singh. He asked why such people remained tightlipped when the perpetrators of the 1984 Sikh genocide were honored with the ministries during Congress’ rule.
30-Aug-2020
The families of the two suspects arrested in Delhi blamed Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the legal advisor of the banned Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) for “spoiling the lives” of their children ‘in the name of Khalistan’. Father of one of the accused, Jaspal Singh (27), is a Punjab Police Inspector Chamkaur Singh. Chamkaur Singh said that his son has been arrested because he did took part in the act. “My son has not been implicated falsely. He should be punished. But we demand that Pannun should also be arrested and given the strictest possible punishment. He is the one who is misleading the youth in Punjab in the name of Khalistan and spoiling their lives. He has spoiled my son’s life too”. Chamkaur Singh said that Jaspal was an aspiring kabaddi player, but an injury to the spine during a match ended his dream.
30-Aug-2020
Ludhiana MP (Member of Parliament) Ravneet Singh Bittu on August 30 took yet another jibe at Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh over their plans to observe a religious function in the memory of the assassin of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh in the Golden temple complex in Amritsar. In a tweet on the eve of 25th death anniversary of his grandfather, Bittu, said, “August 31 will be a decisive day this year. This is the day when Beant Singh Ji sacrificed his life for Punjab and the nation. If Jathedar Sahib, under the direction of SJF (Sikhs for Justice) & Pannu (its convener) holds an ardaas for Dilawar Singh at Akal Takht Sahib, who was a prominent Khalistani and an assassin, it will provide evidential proof that the Jathedar stands for Khalistan & is working to fulfill SFJ’s paid agenda to disturb harmony and peace in Punjab (sic).”
30-Aug-2020
The Akal Takht has decided to confer the “Panth Sewak” award on radical outfit Dal Khalsa founder Gajinder Singh, one of the five men accused of hijacking an Indian Airlines plane to Lahore in 1981. India had put Gajinder’s name in the list of 20 most wanted terrorists in 2002. An Akal Takht official said it was decided during a meeting of five Sikh head priests recently to confer the award on Gajinder Singh. He said the Akal Takht will shortly issue an official notification in this regard and fix a date to honour him. Gajinder Singh is currently residing in Lahore, Pakistan.
29-Aug-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered 14 packets of heroin weighing approximately 14.7 kilograms in Abohar sector in Fazilka district.
29-Aug-2020
The Special Task Force (STF) officials arrested two persons, identified as Balwant Singh and Mukul and recovered 30-gram heroin from their possession from near the old bus stand in Phase VIII in Mohali in SAS Nagar district.
29-Aug-2020
The Akal Takht decided to confer the ‘Panth Sewak’ award upon Dal Khalsa founder Gajinder Singh, who led his aides in hijacking an Indian Airlines plane to Lahore in 1981 and is one of the “most wanted persons” on the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA)’s list. Gajinder’s name is on the list of 11 Sikhs the highest Sikh temporal seat has finalised for various awards. However, the list has not been announced officially.
29-Aug-2020
Two suspected members of the banned terror outfit, Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF), identified as Inderjeet Singh Gill and Jaspal Singh were arrested from GT Karnal Road in New Delhi on charges of hoisting a Khalistan flag at a Punjab government office in Moga district on the eve of the Independence Day on August 14. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) (special cell), Delhi Police, Sanjeev Yadav, said that “On the eve of the Independence Day, the two men had hoisted a Khalistan flag on the roof of the office of district collector of Moga.” They had also joined the Sikhs For Justice (SJF), a secessionist group based in the United States (US) that supports the secession of Punjab from India as Khalistan. During the interrogation, it is revealed that Inderjeet is a 10th class dropout who worked as a driver at Rauli, Punjab. Since his early years, he had a radical set of mind bent towards pro-Khalistan movement. Inderjeet subscribed to YouTube channel namely "Sikhs For Justice" recently on the insistance of his maternal uncle. He further disclosed that one person namely Rana from the US and one other person delivered lectures on the channel Sikhs For Justice delivering Anti-India preachings. It was also revealed that Rana had declared a reward of 2,500 dollars for waving the Khalistan flag and for tearing the Indian flag at Moga and a reward of 1,25,000 dollars for doing the same on the Red Fort and other historical buildings.
28-Aug-2020
Police arrested four drugs smugglers, identified as Ram Labhaya, Manu Chawla, Meena Saini and Anchal and recovered 850 gm opium,75 gm heroin, Rs 1.22 lakh cash and five mobiles phones from them at a High-Tech Naka near Sutlej River in Phillaur in Jalandhar district.
28-Aug-2020
Police arrested a drug peddler, Nishan Singh on the charge of selling intoxicant tablets and recovered 400 intoxicant tablets from him in Lohian Khas in Jalandhar district.
27-Aug-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered two packets of 2-kg heroin near the International Border (IB) in the Border Out Post Gatti Biosoke area in Fazilka district.
26-Aug-2020
Baljinder Singh, the father of 19-year-old Akashdeep Singh who was recently arrested for allegedly raising a Khalistan flag atop the Moga DC office and desecrating the Indian flag, said that the banned pro-Khalistan outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) has been misleading youths in Punjab. “These pro-Khalistan outfits such as SFJ and their leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. These people are misleading youths in Punjab in the name of Khalistan. Children of poor people are being misguided by these people in the name of Khalistan. Jehde eh Khalistan de bhaashan de rahe ne, oh ethe aap aake lain jhandey (these people who are giving pro-Khalistan speeches, why don’t they come here themselves and put Khalistan flags)? If you (Pannun) are a true Khalistani, then why don’t you come to Punjab and put Khalistan flags all around? My family and I have always saluted the tricolour for which Bhagat Singh laid down his life. We do not believe in any Khalistan ideology,” Baljinder said. Baljinder also claimed that Akashdeep only shot the video of the incident, that too after being “misled” by his cousin Jaspal Singh and his friend Inderjeet Singh, the other accused booked in the case.
26-Aug-2020
Baljinder Singh, the father of 19-year-old Akashdeep Singh who was recently arrested for allegedly raising a Khalistan flag atop the Moga DC office and desecrating the Indian flag, said that the banned pro-Khalistan outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) has been misleading youths in Punjab. “These pro-Khalistan outfits such as SFJ and their leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. These people are misleading youths in Punjab in the name of Khalistan. Children of poor people are being misguided by these people in the name of Khalistan. Jehde eh Khalistan de bhaashan de rahe ne, oh ethe aap aake lain jhandey (these people who are giving pro-Khalistan speeches, why don’t they come here themselves and put Khalistan flags)? If you (Pannun) are a true Khalistani, then why don’t you come to Punjab and put Khalistan flags all around? My family and I have always saluted the tricolour for which Bhagat Singh laid down his life. We do not believe in any Khalistan ideology,” Baljinder said. Baljinder also claimed that Akashdeep only shot the video of the incident, that too after being “misled” by his cousin Jaspal Singh and his friend Inderjeet Singh, the other accused booked in the case.
26-Aug-2020
Punjab Police busted an international narco-terror racket with links to proscribed militant group Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) with the arrest of a wanted drug smuggler, Rajinder Singh alias Ganja and a police constable Karamjit Singh. A .32 bore pistol, four live cartridges and 530 grams heroin were recovered from Rajinder’s possession. According to police, Rajinder faces several drugs and arms-related cases. He was also involved in hawala transactions to the tune of Rs 12 crore. The police constable was facilitating safe movement of drugs and money during the coronavirus-induced lockdown.
25-Aug-2020
A court in Barmer district of Rajasthan sentenced 10 men, including an operative of banned terrorist organisation Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), to life imprisonment in a case related to the seizure of large cache of explosives and weapons in 2009. According to the judgment, back in September 2009, the police had received information that consignments of explosives and weapons smuggled from Pakistan were to be delivered to a terrorist organisation based in Punjab by a smuggler, Sodha Khan alias Lunia. Following this, the weapons and explosives were seized by the police and the accused arrested. Jagmohan Singh, one of the 10 convicted, is a member of BKI and had come to Rajasthan to take delivery of the smuggled explosives and weapons, said the judgment. The court said in its judgment that after examining all evidence, it is proved that the accused, in connivance with Pakistan-based smugglers related to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and terrorists of BKI obtained the weapons for carrying out terrorist attacks in the country along with the objective of spreading enmity between people from different religions. In the judgment, Special Judge Singh said that based on call record details, it has been proved that the accused were in touch with England-based Chief of BKI Paramjit Singh alias Pamma. The judgment also said that the accused wanted to revive terrorism in Punjab.
25-Aug-2020
Intelligence agencies issued an alert after information was received that secessionist group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) has given a call for a 'Punjab Bandh' on August 31. SFJ, which was declared an ‘unlawful association’ by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in July 2019, in a recent message called for a "Punjab Bandh" on August 31 to commemorate the 25th death anniversary of Dilawar Singh, the assassin of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. In its bandh call, the SFJ has offered reimbursement of travel expenses for return trip to Amritsar to Sikhs who will attend Ardas at Akal Takht on August 31. SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in his call, mentioned that Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) appointed Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Gurbachan Singh in 2012 had declared Beant Singh's assassin Dilawar Singh as a "Qaumi Shaheed". "SFJ is humbled to offer this seva to Sikhs in Punjab who wish to attend Ardas at Akal Takht on August 31," said the call. Citing an Amnesty International report on the situation in Punjab during 1992-95, Pannun stated that "Bhai Shaheed Dilawar Singh indeed put a halt to the genocide of Sikhs under Beant's rule. We urge people of Punjab to shut down all businesses except essential services such as clinics and pharmacies on August 31 in respect of Quami Shaheed Dilawar Singh," added Pannun.
24-Aug-2020
Police arrested three drug peddlers along with 100-gm heroin, Rs 3.50 lakh cash and a car in Ferozepur district.
24-Aug-2020
An Assistant sub-inspector (ASI) was shot at by a notorious smuggler, Rachhpal Singh Daula in Tarn Taran district. The injured ASI, Malkiat Singh, and his associate Ranjit Singh managed to arrest Rachhpal and seized his country-made revolver. His motorcycle was also impounded. However, Rachhpal’s accomplice Bhalwan managed to flee.