KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
24-Jun-2020
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhik Committee (SGPC) marked the 305th martyrdom day of the great Sikh general Baba Banda Singh Bahadur.
24-Jun-2020
Counter Intelligence Department and Border Security Force (BSF) arrested a man, identified Kashmir Singh alias Sheera, having links with Pakistan-based smugglers and recovered 4.16-kg heroin from Gatti Rajo Ke village in Firozepur District.
24-Jun-2020
Police arrested two drug peddlers and seized 24,000 narcotic pills in Sri Muktsar Sahib district.
24-Jun-2020
According to reports, the recent investigations into the terror module that was busted with the arrest of two alleged Khalistani operatives on June 19 have revealed that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is eyeing ‘vulnerable’ youths of Punjab to create trouble in Punjab. Gurmeet Singh and his aide Vikram Singh of Amritsar were arrested when they were trying to clear a weapon consignment that was pushed in from Pakistan by their handlers. Police had seized a German-made MP5 sub-machine gun, a 9mm pistol with 4 magazines, and two mobile phones with a host of incriminatory conversations, messages, photographs etc. “Gurmeet, who is an opium addict, had gone to Pakistan as part of a Sikh jatha in 2017 on the occasion of Baisakhi. He was contacted by ISI sleuths in Pakistan through a Khalistani supporter and was brain-washed to take part in terror activities. He had been in contact with the ISI sleuths through social media platforms. His handlers were yet to give him the target,” said a police official. He said, “Some Khalistani supporters in Pakistan are helping the ISI in targeting Punjab’s youth, especially those with humble background. We are very close to identifying the Khalistani supporters. We have also identified some more members of the module in Punjab.”
23-Jun-2020
During the interrogation of arrested Khalistani operative Gurmeet Singh and his accomplice Vikram Singh, it came to light that Pakistan-based agencies and anti-national elements were spotting ‘talents’ on social media platforms for carrying out terror attacks and targeted killings in Punjab. They were targeting the youth who are economically weaker and have inclination towards ‘separatism’. They also target youth such as gangsters for the purpose, said official. Sources also said that Gurmeet Singh was a drug addict and was involved in the trafficking of opium from Rajasthan though there was no FIR against him.
23-Jun-2020
The leading Punjabi actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh said in a reply to Ludhiana Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu’s demand for an FIR against him and another singer Jazzy B, that he has always stood by the country and Punjab. “I am an Indian taxpayer who has always stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the country and Punjab in time of need,” said Dosanjh. Earlier, Bittu accused both singers of inciting youngsters to take up arms and fight for a separate Sikh state of Khalistan, prompting Dosanjh to upload a video on his Twitter handle and come out in defence of his song, Rangroot, from his 2014 film, Punjab 1984, a clip of which was shared on social media recently. However, Dosanjh said that the movie was screened in Punjab only after the censor board’s go-ahead. “The film was given a national award by the Indian government.
23-Jun-2020
The key conspirator behind recruiting youth for the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), Pargat Singh (23), who was arrested recently, was produced in a National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mohali which remanded him to NIA custody till June 29. According to NIA, the case was related to a series of acts of violence, including arson, in Punjab during 2017-18, carrying out of propaganda activities online and on ground, and organising campaigns in support of ‘Referendum-2020’.
22-Jun-2020
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Gobind Singh Longowal condemned the abduction of Afghan Sikh Nidhan Singh Sachdeva from the Paktia province in eastern Afghanistan and pointed out that Sikhs in Afghanistan were subjected to harassment. He urged the Centre to intervene to ensure the safety of the Sikh community in Afghanistan.
22-Jun-2020
According to Indian intelligence report, Pakistan is using its diplomatic missions, particularly in London to ‘fund and foment’ anti-India hate campaigns. The role of the Pakistan High Commission in London, primarily of a colonel rank officer of Pakistan Army posted as an advisor there, has come to light, the report reveals. The colonel is assigned the task of re-uniting splinter groups of pro-Khalistan Sikhs, operating from Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and some other countries of Europe. At the behest of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the colonel has been instrumental in funding Khalistan groups, including Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) which has an office in London. Report said that Gurmeet Singh Bagga, based in Germany's Hamburg, has links with Khalistani militants operating from Britain and the US including Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of SFJ. The colonel, who works under a senior official of Pakistan Navy posted at High Commission, has been a key person in organizing several anti-India protests at the Indian High Commission office in London. ISI-backed Khalistani groups have attacked several Indians outside the Indian High Commission office, near Bush House in London in March 2019. Later it was found that SFJ organized the attack with help of the Overseas Pakistani Welfare Council, backed by the ISI and the Pakistan High Commission. Pannun and his close aides have been frequent visitors to the Pakistan High Commission, located at Lowndes Square.
22-Jun-2020
Shiromani Khalsa Dal’s president Swarn Singh Khalsa said that Pakistani former railway minister Khwaja Saad Rafique was misleading Muslim community of Pakistani Punjab by leveling baseless allegations of desecrating and looting mosques on Maharaja Ranjit Singh. “The greatness of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s regime is evident in world’s history of that era,” he said. He also said that Khawaja Saad Rafique should immediately tender apology for making attempts to malign image of the world’s best ruler.
21-Jun-2020
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested a key member of a gang allegedly involved in recruiting radical Sikh youths for the outlawed Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) group on directions from foreign handlers in a bid to create unrest in the country. The accused, identified as Pargat Singh (23), a resident of Sri Muktsar Sahib, was produced before a special NIA court in Mohali on June 22 which remanded him to NIA custody until June 29. Singh is one of the key conspirators and recruiter of radical Sikh youths while working under the directions of handlers located abroad to further the activities of SFJ. The case was registered at the Sultanwind police station in Amritsar (City) in 2018 under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). During investigation, sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Arms Act were added, the official said. Punjab Police filed a charge sheet against 11 arrested accused in March 2019, he said.
21-Jun-2020
Police arrested 11 drug peddlers in 10 different cases registered in the Mansa district. Police has also seized large quantity of drugs and two bikes used in the crime.
20-Jun-2020
According to reports, with declining infiltration of terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir due to changed security apparatus after the revocation of Article 370 of Constitution, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) along with Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) and other terrorist groups has adopted a new modus operandi to fuel terror strikes in India. Reports revealed that the ISI is now using drones to deliver arms and ammunition from across the International Border (IB) into the Indian territory.
20-Jun-2020
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Amarinder Singh said that pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ)’s leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun was not only propagating but actively involved in promoting separatism and terrorism in India. The CM asserted that he would not allow Pannun to succeed in his divisive agenda and disturb the state's peace at any cost. He challenged the "pro-Khalistani propagandist to come to Punjab instead of hiding out in other countries to spread his vicious campaign".
20-Jun-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) and police in a joint operation recovered 6.92 kg of heroin from the fields along the Indo-Pakistan border in Ferozepur district.
20-Jun-2020
Punjab police and Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation arrested four persons, identified as Rajinder Singh, Gurmit Singh, Rukmandeep Singh and Arshdeep Singh and recovered 7.7-kg heroin along with Rs 2.60 lakh and an SUV in Ferozepur district. The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Bhupinder Singh said that during the investigation, the accused admitted to having links with Pakistan-based smugglers and informed about the consignment they had received from across the border.
19-Jun-2020
The police arrested three persons and recovered 445 kg of poppy husk and 4 lakh sedative tablets from a truck near Alamgarh bypass along the Abohar-Sriganganagar highway in Fazilka district.
19-Jun-2020
Punjab police busted a terror module and arrested two Khalistani terrorists, identified as Gurmeet Singh and Vikram Singh from near an eatery on GT Road at Jandiala in Amritsar district. Police also recovered a MP5 sub-machine gun, a 9-mm pistol with 4 magazines and two mobile phones containing a slew of conversations, messages and photographs from the duo who were preparing to carry out terror attacks at the behest of their Pakistan handlers. The Director General of Police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta said that “The mobile phones revealed suspicious transactions with Pakistan-based elements, including photographs, voice messages as well as the coordinates of a particular location. A large variety of posts and web-links, connected to the formation of Khalistan, was also found on the phone of Gurmeet Singh who had been in touch with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence and anti-Indian elements sponsored by the Pakistan establishment.”
19-Jun-2020
Punjab Cooperation and Jails Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said that Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) leader Pannun is a traitor and should be dealt with hard hands. Randhawa, on Pannun approaching China for getting its support for the separatist agenda, said that “Traitors have no religion. Pannun talks about Khalistan.” “Satnam who was killed by Chinese troops, was an ‘amritdhari’. His wife, son and father are also ‘amritdharis’,” he said. “Pannun should be ashamed of supporting China. The entire country should condemn this and Pannun’s family should be boycotted wherever they reside in country,” the minister said. “Pannun is propagating Khalistan just to gather money from Pakistan, ISI, China and other anti-national forces. He should be brought to India and punished,” added Randhawa.
19-Jun-2020
The Dal Khalsa challenged Ludhiana MP (Member of Parliament) Ravneet Singh Bittu to go ahead with his so-called wish and lodge FIR against Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh for his pro-Khalistan stance and see the consequences.
19-Jun-2020
The Border Security Force (BSF) thwarted an attempt of Pakistani smugglers to push drugs into the Indian territory and recovered four plastic bottles filled with 8 kg heroin in Abohar sector in Fazilka district. According to BSF, the vigilant BSF troops observed movement of mischievous persons ahead of Border Security Fence and challenged them following they fled towards the Pakistani territory.
19-Jun-2020
Six pro-Khalistani supporters who were lodged in Ludhiana Central Jail ended their two-day hunger strike started in an attempt to push jail authorities to give in to their multiple demands. The strike ended after the jail administration allowed some of their genuine demand. However, their other demands including a television set inside jail, special cooked food from outside or grocery and utensils/gas stove to cook their own food and accommodation in common barracks instead of ‘Cell Block’, were rejected.
18-Jun-2020
Punjab Police booked pro-Khalistani leader and legal adviser of the banned organization Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun for sedition and unlawful activities, instigating youth of Punjab in favour of ‘Referendum 2020’, provoking the secession of Punjab from India and attempt to spread dissatisfaction among the country’s armed forces or abetting mutiny. Pannun has been instigating people of Punjab through pre-recorded audio message (IVR) from different international numbers mainly from the US for last few months. He was booked under Sections 124-A (waging war against India), 131 (abetting mutiny) 153-A (promotion disunity and disharmony) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 10(a), 13(1) of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). According to reports, the trigger point for registration of the case took place after Pannun reportedly approached the Chinese government for helping him in his anti-India activities. Also, a number of pre-recorded calls emanating from Pakistan were also received by number of citizens, including advocates, journalists and police officials. Some callers claimed they were calling from China or were Chinese and supported Pannun. Police had earlier also lodged two FIRs against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun for his anti-India activities.
18-Jun-2020
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta said that the calls on behalf of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) from Pakistan proved that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of that country was planning the whole conspiracy. Also, the attempts to involve China, at a time when a bloody clash has taken place between armed forces of both countries, suggests there is a bigger conspiracy against the country through Pannun. “It is highly insensitive that when brave Punjab soldiers had achieved martyrdom fighting Chinese army, Pannun and others were carrying their nefarious designs in causing bloodshed and violence in Punjab. We will never let it happen as Punjabis are living in peace,” said the DGP. He added that it was also unfortunate that the trouble was being created when each resident of the state was fighting against the spread of deadly coronavirus.
18-Jun-2020
Supporters of the pro-Khalistan event - Referendum 2020 - who are lodged in the Ludhiana Central Jail, announced a hunger strike while putting in their demands of a television set, separate cooked food and certain things from outside the jail. The jail inmates who have initiated the strike are Malkit Singh, Sukhraj Singh, Jagdev Singh, Kuldeep Singh, Dharminder Singh and Ravinder Singh. According to authorities, for the time being, the accused are housed in a separate barrack, but they have been told that they will be treated according to the jail manual. The inmates were shifted to Ludhiana from Amritsar jail 15 days ago. They are facing trial under various charges including unlawful activities. The jail officials said the demands put up by the inmates are unrealistic as per the jail manual and cannot be fulfilled.