KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
03-Jul-2023
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on July 3 confiscated the house of two brothers, identified as Bikramjit Singh alias Vicky and Maninder Singh from Amritsar, Punjab, accused in a Pakistan-sponsored narco-terror case. The property was seized under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), as it was identified as "proceeds of terrorism." Earlier the NIA had arrested the brothers in connection with the case. The investigation has resulted in multiple charge sheets against 13 individuals, involving offenses under the UAPA, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The case revolves around a narco-terror module smuggling drugs from Pakistan disguised as rock salt, with the profits used to accumulate assets and finance Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir."
03-Jul-2023
The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) on July 3 requested a response from the union government and the state government regarding a petition filed by Jaspreet Kaur, the sister of pro-Khalistani extremist, Avtar Singh Khanda, to bring Khanda's body back from the United Kingdom (UK) for his last rites in their hometown of Moga, Punjab. Khanda was a primary suspect in the attack on the Indian High Commission in London, UK, and passed away in Birmingham, UK on June 15. The Bench of Justice Vinod S Bhardwaj has set a deadline of July 10 for a response on the matter.
03-Jul-2023
India's External Affairs Minister (EAM), S. Jaishankar, on July 3 expressed concern about an incident where two Indian diplomats were targeted in a Khalistan poster, accusing them of involvement in the killing of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Jaishankar emphasized that such incidents would have an impact on bilateral relations and called on partner countries like the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), Canada, and Australia to refrain from accommodating Khalistan extremists. The poster, circulating on social media, features the photos of Sanjay Kumar Verma, India's High Commissioner to Ottawa, and Apoorva Srivastava, Consul General in Toronto.
03-Jul-2023
The Punjab Police on July 3 arrested two members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, identified as Jaswinder Singh alias Ghoda and Budhram, and seized a .32 bore pistol, four cartridges and a .315 bore pistol from their possession, after a brief exchange of gunfire, near Malkana village in Talwandi Sabo Tehlsil in Bathinda district. During the exchange of fire, Jaswinder Singh was injured and taken to the hospital, while Budhram was taken into custody. The gangsters were wanted in connection with extortion cases and are also under investigation for their alleged involvement in drug peddling.
03-Jul-2023
Punjab Special Director General of Police (DGP) Arpit Shukla on July 3, held a meeting in Pathankot to assess security arrangements for Amarnath pilgrims. The meeting discussed police deployment, security measures, traffic management, disaster preparedness, and the importance of close coordination among officers, security agencies, and civil administration for a smooth pilgrimage.
02-Jul-2023
The Punjab Police on July 2 under the direction of Punjab's Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, carried out a cordon and search operation called Operation (OPS) Vigil-II at vulnerable places in all 28 police districts of the state. This operation followed the previous OPS Vigil-I conducted in May. The operation involved checking at railway stations, bus stands, and setting up nakas for searching vehicles and individuals. Over 7,500 police personnel were deployed, and a total of 116 FIRs were registered during the operation. Special Director General of Police (Special DGP), law and order, Arpit Shukla revealed that during the operation, the police have filed 116 First Information Reports (FIRs) and apprehended 141 individuals. They confiscated 1.15 kg of heroin, 37 kg of poppy husk, 243 litres of illicit liquor, and six pistols/revolvers. Additionally, they seized INR 7.02 lakh in drug money. Three proclaimed offenders (POs) were arrested, and 1,826 suspicious individuals were detained for questioning. The police emphasized that such operations will continue to combat the menace of drugs and gangsters in the state.
01-Jul-2023
The Fazilka Police, booked Naveen Kumar alias Arju Bishnoi, an aide of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi for allegedly supplying pistols to three contacts in Fazilka district of Punjab.
01-Jul-2023
Punjab Police on July 1 detained several Dal Khalsa activists who were heading to the office of India's external intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), to protest the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the chief of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), in Canada, from near the Golden Temple in Amritsar. According to Kanwar Pal Singh, the spokesperson of Dal Khalsa, around 86 activists were stopped near Town Hall on Heritage Street in Amritsar. Pro-Khalistan slogans were also raised during the demonstration. Earlier in the day, the bhog ceremony and antim ardas (final prayers) for Nijjar, who was one of India’s most wanted terrorists, were held at Shaheedi Asthan Baba Gurbax Singh in the Golden Temple complex. Nijjar was designated a 'terrorist' by India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
01-Jul-2023
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on July 1 strongly condemned the incident that took place on June 29, in which miscreants entered the Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Sukkur, Sindh province of Pakistan. They stopped the recitation of Gurbani Kirtan, abused the priests, and desecrated the Guru Granth Sahib. The jathedar called on the Indian government to engage diplomatically with Pakistan to protest the incident and safeguard Sikh religious practices. It is essential to prevent such incidents from recurring.
01-Jul-2023
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh on July 1 called for an investigation into the serving of food mixed with tobacco to Amritpal Singh and his associates, who are imprisoned in Dibrugarh jail in Assam under the National Security Act (NSA). The Jathedar stated that no devout Sikh can tolerate such an act and in protest, they have undertaken a hunger strike. He urged the governments of Punjab and Assam to take action against those responsible and initiate a probe into the matter.
01-Jul-2023
According to sources, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has approached the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) to transfer 10-12 gangsters from Delhi, Punjab, and Haryana jails to Andaman and Nicobar Islands due to suspicions of running criminal activities from inside. The NIA had previously requested the transfer of 25 gangsters, including Lawrence Bishnoi, to southern states, but the process is time-consuming. The agency is considering relocating the gangsters to either Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam or the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Legal opinions are being sought, and the NIA has filed First Information Reports (FIR) against multiple gangsters for their involvement in various criminal activities.
01-Jul-2023
The Border Security Force (BSF) on July 1 recovered two plastic bottles containing approximately 1.5 kg of heroin floating on the Sutlej River near Rao ke Uttar village in Ferozepur district of Punjab. The alert BSF troops observed suspicious articles flowing in the river and successfully brought them to the river bank. The BSF further mentioned that the drugs were most likely transported from Pakistan to India through the Sutlej River.
01-Jul-2023
The Khanna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amneet Kondal on July 1 revealed that the Khanna police in Punjab have arrested 211 smugglers and peddlers in 135 cases of drug smuggling and peddling in the past four months. She also revealed that between February 16 and June 30, the Khanna police in Punjab registered 135 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, leading to the arrest of 211 smugglers and peddlers. The recovered contraband includes 470.9 kg of poppy husk, 45.6 kg of ganja, 34.3 kg of opium, 1.5 kg of heroin, 157 gm of smack, 1.7 kg of charas, 341 gm of narcotics powder, 28 gm of ICE (party drug), 67,852 intoxicant pills and capsules, 294 syrups, and 81 poppy husk plants. In 73 cases, a significant quantity of drugs, such as 9.19 quintals of poppy husk, 22.2 kg of ganja, 152 gm of heroin, 10.05 kg of charas, 12 gm of smack, 42 gm of ICE, 17 gm of intoxicant powder, 56,319 intoxicant pills, 5,080 capsules, and 941 syrups were recovered and disposed of according to the procedures.
01-Jul-2023
Moga Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) J Elanchezhian revealed on July 1 that Lawrence Bishnoi, a gangster, was produced in a Moga court for charges related to an attempted murder case. He was brought from Bathinda Jail under tight security.
01-Jul-2023
Moga Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) J Elanchezhian revealed on July 1 that Lawrence Bishnoi, a gangster, was produced in a Moga court for charges related to an attempted murder case. He was brought from Bathinda Jail under tight security.
01-Jul-2023
During a meeting of the federation (Manjit) in Ludhiana, following the resignation of all office bearers, Manjit Singh established a 5-member coordination committee to foster unity and collaborate with other factions. Manjit Singh emphasized the necessity of unity in order to achieve the creation of Khalistan.
30-Jun-2023
Police arrested an unidentified young woman along with 17 grams of heroin from near the truck union office in Malout in Muktsar district on June 30.
30-Jun-2023
Deputy commissioner (DCP) Biswajit Pegu on June 30 said that radical preacher and Waris Punjab De (WPD) chief, Amritpal Singh, and his aides who are lodged in the high-security Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam can now make one phone call to their family members once a week. This comes following complaints of communication restrictions by Amritpal's wife Kirandeep Kaur.
30-Jun-2023
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami on June 30, criticized the treatment of Amritpal Singh, leader of Waris Punjab De (WPD), and his associates at Dibrugarh jail in Assam. The detainees have reportedly initiated a hunger strike due to alleged harassment and inadequate facilities.
29-Jun-2023
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Harjinder Singh Dhami, on June 29, opposed the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), expressing concerns about potential cultural erosion and loss of minority identity. This comes after the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) also criticized the code's impact on minority and tribal communities.