KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
12-Feb-2019
Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir states in Lok Sabha that NIA has registered seven cases in Punjab of which five cases were related to murder and two cases related to attempt to murder in Punjab during 2016-17. “The objective of which was to destabilise the law and order situation in Punjab and to revive Khalistan linked terrorism in the state”, he said.
11-Feb-2019
Dal Khalsa announces a sit-down demonstration at the doorsteps of Nawanshahr District Court on February 13 to protest life imprisonment of three youths arrested for processing pro-Khalistan literature. According to the spokesperson of Dal Khalsa, ‘The three youth never indulged in any violent activity neither did anyone else allegedly influenced by them. The court held the trio guilty on mere possession of pamphlets’
07-Feb-2019
A National Investigation Agency (NIA) report state that at least 33 alleged Pakistani terrorists have crossed into India from the Punjab and Samba-Kathua sectors in Jammu &Kashmir since October 2017. According to the report, terrorists may have infiltrated through the same sector that the attackers, who carried out the Pathankot Air Base attack and the Nagrota Army camp attack had used.
05-Feb-2019
Nawanshahr District Court announced life imprisonment to three Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) militants identified as Arvinder Singh, Surjit Singh and Ranjit Singh. They were charged under Section 121 (waging, or attempting to wage war), along with 10 years of imprisonment under Section 121 (a) (Conspiracy to commit offences punishable by section 121) of Indian Penal Code (IPC).
23-Jan-2019
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh protested against Pakistan’s proposal to allow only Sikh pilgrims to visit Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara. He also urged the Union Government to take up the issue with Pakistan when the latter sends its draft agreement for regulating entry into its territory through the Kartarpur Corridor.
14-Jan-2019
Pro-Khalistan slogans were raised in the political conference of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) organised at the Bhai Mastan Singh Road, Amritsar. A number of hoardings and flags with pro-Khalistan messages were also put up at the venue.
06-Jan-2019
An alleged Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) operative and fund raiser, Bhupinder Singh alias Dilawar, wanted in a May 2017 case in Punjab, has been deported to India by Saudi Arabia. He was produced in the court of a duty magistrate and was remanded to six days in police custody.
04-Jan-2019
The BSF arrested a Pakistan national, Riasat Ali resident of Sardakot, for intruding into the Indian territory at India-Pakistan International Border (IB)’s Mullekot Border Outpost.
02-Jan-2019
The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Ahir said in Rajya Sabha that in the recent grenade attack on a Nirankari mission in Amritsar, the involvement of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), and the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) has emerged; and in last two years, 18 Khalistan-inspired outfits were busted with arrests of 95 Khalistani operatives.
28-Dec-2018
The BSF and Punjab Police, jointly in an operation, arrested three persons—Sonu Singh, Gurnam Singh, and Gurjeet Singh, and recovered 1.8 kg of heroin from their possession, nearby the India-Pakistan International Border [IB] near Gatti Bisoke of Fazilka District in Punjab. The officials involved in the operations recovered two plastic bags containing 15 small packets of heroin worth INR 9 crore in the international market.
27-Dec-2018
Concerning the efforts of Pakistan-based Sikh extremist elements to revive ‘Khalistan militancy’ in Punjab the Central government, exercising their powers conferred by the Section 35 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UAPA], 1967, added the ‘Khalistan Liberation Force [KLF] and all its manifestations’ as the 40th entry in the First Schedule of UAPA that proscribes terrorist organisations. It is believed that KLF is involved in terrorism as it has committed and participated in various acts of terrorism in India. KLF has also been engaged in radicalisation and recruitment of youth for terrorist activities in India, read the notification released by the UMHA.
27-Dec-2018
The BSF recovered 13 packets weighing 5.6 kg of heroin from nearby the Bharopal Border Outpost in Amritsar Sector of Punjab. Reportedly, Pakistan based drug smugglers were trying to slip heroin into the Indian Territory.
23-Dec-2018
The officials of the BSF, has prevented an attempt of intrusion by a Pakistan-based drug smuggler [identity unknown], and recovered 17 kg of Heroin along with arms and ammunition nearby Karma Border outpost of India-Pakistan Border in Ferozepur Sector of Punjab. During a search operation along with the Border fence, the BSF personnel recovered 17 packets, each of a kilogram, of heroin worth INR 85 crore, a Pakistan-made pistol, a modified weapon with three magazines and 26 live rounds.
20-Dec-2018
The Punjab Police arrested Mohin Khan, who was allegedly involved in supporting the pro-Khalistan campaign “Referendum 2020” and was a supplier of arms and ammunition to the terror elements in Punjab. Mohin Khan was arrested with a pistol in his possession, from Fatehgarh Sahib District in Punjab. The preliminary interrogation revealed that Mohin visited Bangalore thrice on the instructions of Gurjit Singh Nijjer via Facebook, who is based in Cyprus and guide Mohin to work for the “Referendum 2020” propaganda
18-Dec-2018
The Chief Minister of Punjab Capt. Amarinder Singh said that the statement by the US based pro-Khalistan group—Sikhs For Justice [SFJ] has revealed the relation between the group and Pakistan’s Army and ISI to ‘liberate’ Punjab from India. Pakistan’s decision to open the Kartarpur Corridor was an ISI game-strategy to support anti-India elements which includes SFJ outfit.
15-Dec-2018
The officials of 136th Battalion of the BSF recovered three packets of heroin weigh 1.5 kg in total, worth INR 2.5 crore, from near the Barreke Border outpost of the India-Pakistan International Border in the Ferozepur Sector of Punjab.
10-Dec-2018
Punjab’s Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh has stated that the opening of Kartarpur Corridor is a conspiracy of Pakistan’s ISI and Pakistan’s Army against India. There are no doubts that Pakistan’s Prime Minister [PM] Imran Khan making efforts to bring peace and harmony with India, but at the same time, he shall overcome the ‘top brass’ of Pakistan’s Army to ensure that killings of India Soldiers at the borders must stopped immediately, said CM Amarinder Singh. "The opening of the Kartarpur Corridor is clearly a game plan of the ISI," he said, adding a bigger conspiracy seems to have been hatched by Pakistan Army against India.He admitted that Pakistan was attempting to revive militancy in Punjab and thus everyone should be wary of all of its overtures, no matter how grand they appear to be, an official release, quoting him, said here.The Sidhu affair was being unnecessarily hyped and those raising it had clearly failed to see the ISI game plan, said Captain Amarinder, lashing out at the Akalis for branding the Punjab minister as stooge of the Pakistan PM.The chief minister hit out at the Akalis and the BJP's central leadership for "indulging" in unwarranted controversy over his (chief minister's) relations with Sidhu.
26-Nov-2018
The NIA will be investigating the case of four alleged members—Karam Singh, Gurjant aka Jenta, and Amreet aka Amrit, of pro-Khalistan group [unidentified], involved in the conspiracy to kill former Punjab Chief Minister—Prakash Singh Badal, and his family member. Till now, Uttar Pradesh’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) was probing the case.
24-Nov-2018
A Sikh seminary—Damdami Taksal-Ajnala located in Ajnala town of Amritsar district has been put under surveillance of security agencies as almost every Khalistan terror module cracked in Punjab has shown links to the seminary. Avtar Singh, ‘president’ of Sikh Youth Federation-Bhinderanwale (SYF-B) who was arrested on November 24 in the Amritsar grenade attack case, is disciple of Amrik Singh Ajnala, who heads the Damdami Taksal Ajnala. Also, at least five other Khalistan terrorist who were arrested in the past two months were disciples of the same seminary.
24-Nov-2018
Acting upon the information provided by arrested Bikramjit Singh, the Punjab Police arrested Avtar Singh (32)—the prime accused of recent grenade attack in Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar, from Khiala village in Lopoke in Amritsar district of Punjab. Avtar Singh is a graduate and had no criminal history. Avtar Singh’s link with Harmeet Singh Happy aka PhD— self-styled ‘chief’ of Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) based in Pakistan has been traced where Harmeet Singh has been emerged as most active pro-Khalistan leader of an outfit supported by Pakistan’s ISI, said Punjab DGP Suresh Arora. Upon disclosure by Avtar Singh, the Punjab Police recovered two pistols of .32 bore (one of the pistols is US-made), four magazines, and 25 live rounds of ammunition, said DGP Arora.
22-Nov-2018
Bikramjit Singh—an accused arrested in Amritsar grenade explosion case was produced before the Court, and sent to five days of Police remand.
21-Nov-2018
Speeding up on the action in the Nirankari Bhawan grenade attack case, Punjab’s Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, has claimed that the Police has arrested—Bikramjit Singh, an alleged member of Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) from Loharka Village, Amritsar District, while search in on-going for Bikramjit’s associate. The grenades were dumped from across the fence by Pakistan's ISI. These were made by Pakistan Ordnance Factory. Bikramjit has provided information which indicates that the grenade was provided by “Happy” based in Pakistan. “Happy” is suspected to be the Pakistan-based KLF ‘chief’—Harmeet Singh Happy aka PhD.
20-Nov-2018
The NIA will be interrogating arrested ISI-supported Khalistani terrorist —Shabnam Deep Singh, for further leads in the Nirankari Bhawan blast case. Shabnam Deep Singh was arrested by the Patiala Police on November 1. The modus operandi of the grenade attack at the Nirankari Bhawan is similar to what Shabnam Deep Singh had planned to attack any crowded place in Patiala, said Patiala SSP M.S. Sindhu. Shabnam Deep Singh’s close aid—Jatinder Singh, who was arrested on November 19 in Sangrur, has confessed that Shabnam Deep Singh and others [unknown] were getting instructions from their handlers based in Pakistan and floated a new Khalistani outfit—Khalistan Gadar Force (KGF) to revive the militancy in Punjab.
20-Nov-2018
With the probability of role of local Sikh youths in the Nirankari Bhawan grenade attack, the Police raided and detained Sikh activists [unspecified counts with identities undisclosed], without any concrete evidences of their involvement. The Police must have investigated the matter and not jump to the conclusion based on the 1978 clash between Sikhs and Nirankaris, said Spokesperson of Dal Khalsa—Kanwar Pal Singh Bittu. Among the activists, Dal Khalsa member—Gurjant Singh, and senior ‘Vice-President’ of Sikh Youth Federation (Bhindranwale) [SYF-B]— Ranjit Singh Damdami were also detained but released in the evening of November 20 [same day].
19-Nov-2018
The Chief Minister of Punjab (Capt.) Amarinder Singh, said that the grenade explosion inside the prayer hall of Nirankari Bhawan in Adliwal village in Amritsar, has Pakistan’s ‘signature’ as the grenade used (HG-84) in the attack was similar to the grenades being manufactured by the Pakistan’s Army Ordinance Factory (AOF),. As per the initial investigations, the explosion at Nirankari Bhawan had no religious linking, says CM Singh.