KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
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.
24-Aug-2020
The Akal Takht acting Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh said, “Arresting Sikh youths for performing ardas in gurdwaras is not fair.” “Performing ardas is the religious duty of every Sikh. A Sikh always vows to the concept of Raj Karega Khalsa (Khalsa will rule) through ardas. However, performing it or getting it performed for money is not Sikhism. The Sikh youths should be conscious of the provocative statements,” said Giani Harpreet Singh. Earlier, police arrested a youth for performing ardas of Khalistan at Takht Damdama Sahib and Akal Takht on the call of a US-based secessionist group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ).
24-Aug-2020
Prisoner Bhai Lal Singh was permanently released after 28 years of prolonged imprisonment. He had languished in different Indian jails for the last three decades after being indicted under TADA and Arms Act charges in August 1992. In 1997, he was sentenced to life by the Court in a case pertaining to the recovery of arms at Dadar railway station in 1992.
24-Aug-2020
According to recent reports, Pakistan' Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and its terror outfits who are unable to execute any attacks in the country to disturb law and order situation due to the alertness of forces and intelligence agencies are now giving the task to local gangsters. Recently, Chandigarh intelligence unit alerted all intelligence agency units regarding such tie-up between terrorists and gangsters who have clout and local connections.
24-Aug-2020
Punjab Police arrested a wanted drug smuggler, identified as Rashpal Singh from Tarn Taran district. Rashpal Singh is wanted in several cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and is also suspected of having links with terrorists. A country-made semi-automatic pistol, two magazines and six live rounds were recovered from Singh. The motorcycle used by him and his associate has also been seized.
23-Aug-2020
Punjab Police arrested one Khalistani terror sympathiser, identified as Gurmeet Singh from the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar district after he allegedly organised prayers for the Referendum 2020. According to the reports, Gurmeet Singh also shot a video of the prayer he organised at the Golden Temple. He organised prayers after the pro-Khalistan group Sikh For Justice (SFJ) had claimed that it would offer $5000 to anyone performing prayers for Khalistan at Akal Takht on August 23. Later, Gurmeet Singh, a resident of Tarn Taran, works as a Sikh preacher (granthi), confessed to the police that he was promised $5000 by Pannun if prayer is held for Khalistan at the Golden Temple.
23-Aug-2020
Four Indian nationals were detained from the border belt in connection with the killing of five Pakistan intruders by the Border Security Force (BSF) in Tarn Taran on August 22. The killings has led the Punjab Police to a narcotics nexus thriving in connivance with local residents in the remote rural belt along the International Border (IB). According to police, the four had established connections with the five Pakistan nationals. Tarn Taran SSP Dhruman Nimbale said that details of weapons recovered from the intruders were being investigated, though no radical activity had surfaced so far. “Prima facie it appears to be an attempt to push narcotics from the Pakistan side in connivance with drug smugglers on this side of the border,” he said.
23-Aug-2020
A ‘Khalistan’ flag was put up on a flyover in Moga city in Moga district. According to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Harmanbir Singh Gill, it was done by some miscreants and the act had nothing to do with fundamentalist organisations. He said the miscreants’ intention was to disturb communal harmony in the area. Gill said hoisting any such flag was not a legal offence, but it was punishable, if done with a “malicious” intention. Many such incidents have been reported in Moga district over the past few days.
22-Aug-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) shot dead five Pakistani intruders in self-defence after the infiltrators opened fire on the Indian troopers along the International Border (IB) in Tarn Taran district of Punjab early in the morning. One AK-47 assault rifle with two magazines and 27 live rounds, four .9mm Berretta pistols with seven magazines and 109 live rounds, 9kg heroin, two mobile phones and Rs 610 in Pakistani currency were also recovered from the infiltrators. According to the BSF’s Inspector General (IG), Punjab Frontier, Mahipal Yadav, prima facie, it appears the five men were trying to infiltrate as they were carrying arms and drugs, but their exact motive will be ascertained by the Punjab Police during their investigation. The mobile phones recovered by the intruders could contain vital information, Yadav said.
22-Aug-2020
The pro-Khalistan separatist outfit, Sikh For Justice (SFJ) offered money to anyone performing ardas for Khalistan at Akal Takht on August 23. In a release issued on August 22, SFJ’s Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has tried to lure people into offering such arads at Akal Takht by offering $5,000, and $500 for offering ardas at other local Gurudwaras. Recently, Pannun had offered $200 for removing Indian tricolour and raise Khalistan flag instead at gram panchayat on August 15, the Independence Day.
22-Aug-2020
The Special Task Force (STF) seized 4.2 kg of heroin hidden in a water pipe across the barbed fence near Chanduwadala village border outpost in Gurdaspur in Gurdaspur district. A STF official said that the seizure was made following the questioning of Sukhwinder Singh alias Kaka, of Chanduwadala village, who had around 15 acres across the barbed fence. Kaka was arrested following a tip-off that he, along with Karandeep Singh of Dhilwan and Mandeep Singh of Chanduwadala village, had smuggled a drug consignment, procured from Pakistan-based smugglers, into the country.
22-Aug-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) and the state police in a joint operation seized 1 kg of heroin near the border outpost in Fazilka in Fazilka district.
22-Aug-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) arrested five drug smugglers, identified as Bikramjit Singh, Nirmal Singh, Nachhattar Singh, Panjab Singh and Raju and recovered 1.12 kg heroin from them in Wan Tara Singh village in Tarn Taran district. The contraband was concealed in their shoes.
22-Aug-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) found eight packets of heroin, weighing 2.41 kg, in the fields of Tarsem Singh of Naushehra Dhalla in Tarn Taran district.
21-Aug-2020
The Supreme Court dismissed the bail application of Malkit Singh alias Shera, one of the accused in connection with the blast that took place in Tarn Taran district of Punjab in September 2019. A bench headed by Justice NV Ramana dismissed the plea saying it cannot grant bail to the accused. Earlier, the prosecution had submitted before the NIA court that during the course of investigation, incriminating role of the accused had emerged and that he was highly radicalised towards the Khalistan movement and he was part of a gang that had planned terrorist activities.