KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
10-Nov-2017
According to reports, Shera had met KLF ‘commander’ Harminder Singh Mintoo in Italy three years ago. “Hardeep was adopted by his paternal uncle. He was just 18 when he met Mintoo in Italy. Mintoo had stayed at Hardeep’s place in Italy for 21 days and then he also tried to influence him with Khalistani ideology. He tried to radicalise him and asked him to join KLF but he refused them.
09-Nov-2017
After bursting the ISI terror module, the Punjab Police claimed to have solved seven out of the eight cases of targeted killings in the State. The other three were Jimmy Singh of Jammu, Jagtar Singh Johal alias Jaggi, a UK national, and Dharmender alias Gugni, an infamous gangster from Meharban village of Ludhiana.
09-Nov-2017
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Kirpal Singh Badungar said that “as per a Supreme Court [SC] ruling, there is nothing wrong in raising the demand for Khalistan”, a separate Sikh nation, and that “it is neither unconstitutional nor an offence”. He was talking to mediapersons in Amritsar in Punjab at Guru Ramdas Medical College where he attended a function along with Punjab’s Health Minister Brahm Mohindra. Badungar was replying to a question related to election of a Sikh as Mayor of Hoboken city in the US and reacting to alleged ‘labels such as terrorists and Khalistani attached with Sikhs. He was apparently referring to the SC verdict in a case about two men having shouted some slogans in Chandigarh after assassination of Indira Gandhi in Delhi in 1984. The court had held that mere shouting of slogans did not amount to sedition unless there was incitement to violence.
08-Nov-2017
The terror module busted by the Punjab Police on November 5 was allegedly operated by Pakistan-based KZF terrorist Harmeet alias Happy alias PHD, while the network of all operatives was spread in the UK, France and Italy. Happy's name had figured in the questioning of the members of the previous terror modules also. The accused whose arrest was announced on November 7, Jimmy Singh of Jammu, Jagtar Singh Johal alias Jaggi and gangster Dharmendra alias Guggni, were being questioned for further leads.
08-Nov-2017
The Punjab Police identified the fourth accused of the terror module as Ramandeep Singh, the sharp-shooter seen in CCTV footages with covered face on a motorcycle. Sources said Ramandeep had revealed the name of Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) chief Harminder Singh Mintoo during his interrogation, following which the Moga Police brought him from the Nabha jail on a production warrant.
08-Nov-2017
Punjab DGP Suresh Arora interrogated four suspects for the murders of religious figures that took place in the State in the past months. Arora arrived at Moga (Moga District) a day after Chief Minister Amarinder Singh declared that the high-profile cases of the killings of religious figures had been solved with the arrest of four persons. Amarinder had also claimed that the gang members were being funded by Pakistan-based ISI. Harminder Singh Mintoo of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and one of the main accused in Nabha jailbreak case is also learnt to have been brought to Moga on November 8 for questioning. Moga SSP Rajjit Singh confirmed that five suspects, including Mintoo, were in custody of the Moga Police and DGP Suresh Arora had questioned them personally.
07-Nov-2017
The Moga Police produced Mintoo and the four accused before the district magistrate in Baghapurana and procured their custody for five days.
07-Nov-2017
Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh claimed that his Police force had cracked the string of targeted killings of religious leaders in the State by busting a terror module managed by Pakistan-based ISI. Amarinder said ISI was working in tandem with gangsters and 'cells' abroad to destabilise Punjab. The victims include RSS leader Brig Jagdish Gagneja (Retd), RSS activist Ravinder Gosain, Pastor Sultan Masih and two Dera Sacha Sauda supporters. Most of the killings took place in Ludhiana, Khanna and Jalandhar. Amarinder said that four persons have been arrested in this connection. This included UK national Jagtar Singh Johal alias Jaggi, who had landed in India on October 2. Others are Jimmy Singh, who had stayed in the UK for several years, and alleged gangster Dharmendra alias Guggni, who was lodged in Nabha jail and had supplied weapons to the killers. The fourth accused, who is believed to be the main shooter in various cases, was caught on November 7th afternoon. Police officials said his identity cannot be revealed at this juncture as he is still being interrogated. Amarinder said, "Forensic and ballistic evidence in these cases matched, which confirms the hand of this module. The module was using encrypted mobile software and their main handler was the ISI, besides cells in other countries. The objective was to further ISI's agenda of carrying out anti-India activities to fan communal tension." Interrogation of the four conspirators showed that they had met and were trained in various places abroad and had been using encrypted mobile software and apps for communication with handlers based in Pakistan and some western countries
07-Nov-2017
The shooter who has confessed to his involvement in the seven targeted killings in Punjab, including RSS leaders Brigadier Jagdish Gagneja (retd.) and Ravinder Gosain, since last year has been identified as Ramadeep Singh alias Raman Canadian (28), a resident of Chuharwal in Ludhiana District. After his arrest on November 7, Ramandeep was produced in Baghapurana court on November 8 and has been remanded to seven days of Police custody. During his interrogation, Ramandeep revealed that he had selected his targets to carry out killings at the behest of his ISI handlers and some of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) leaders, who have taken refuge in Pakistan, so as to create communal disturbances to destabilise the State.
05-Nov-2017
The terror module busted by the Punjab Police was allegedly operated by Pakistan-based Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) terrorist Harmeet alias Happy alias PHD, while the network of all operatives was spread in the UK, France and Italy. Happy’s name had figured in the questioning of the members of the previous terror modules also. The accused whose arrest was announced on November 7, Jimmy Singh of Jammu, Jagtar Singh Johal alias Jaggi and gangster Dharmendra alias Guggni, were being questioned for further leads. Police sources claimed that the questioning had revealed they operated with a new modus operandi in which sub-groups of the module worked on different aspects of the killings.
30-Oct-2017
The Punjab Police claimed that the militancy is returning to the State as it has busted many groups and arrested many people who were planning to carry out terror activities in the State. It said that several of the arrested men were planning to kill those who wrote or spoke against Sikhism. The latest such case involves seven youth who were arrested from Ludhiana on September 29 for allegedly being a part of the banned terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). However, human rights activists and the accused’s kin have called these arrests the Police’s way to divert public attention from real developmental issues. The Police said that although the youth have no criminal past, it found incriminating evidence against them. It said that the seven accused were arrested for trying to disturb law and order by getting overactive on social media platform. The Police also recovered a 32-bore pistol, two 315 bore pistols and cartridges from the accused. The arrested accused were Kuldeep Singh alias Rimpi (29), who worked as a granthi (one who reads religious books in a Gurudwara) in Basti Jodhewal of Ludhiana, Jasvir Singh alias Jassa (32), of village Balipur of Tarn Taran; Amanpreet Singh alias Amna (21), of Shakti Nagar of Jalandhar; Onkar Singh (30), and Jugraj Singh of village Jhadu; and Amritpal Singh (30), of Amritsar. Ludhiana Police Commissioner RN Dhoke said, "The youth have no criminal background but their operations were funded by Surender Singh Babbar of BKI who operates from England." A case had been registered against the seven under the UAPA, 1967 and the Arms Act. The Police said that it has proof of the arrested accused were talking to terrorists and working for them as sleeper cells.
30-Oct-2017
The Punjab Police claimed that the militancy is returning to the State as it has busted many groups and arrested many people who were planning to carry out terror activities in the State. It said that several of the arrested men were planning to kill those who wrote or spoke against Sikhism. The latest such case involves seven youth who were arrested from Ludhiana on September 29 for allegedly being a part of the banned terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).
06-Oct-2017
A court in Jaipur (Rajasthan) awarded life sentence to Khalistan Liberation Front (KLF) militant, Harnek Singh for the abduction of Congress leader Ram Niwas Mirdha’s son Rajendra more than 22 years ago. Additional District Judge Pramod Malik also slapped a penalty of INR 20,000 on the convict. Harnek Singh, who belonged to terrorist outfit KLF, has been in jail since he was arrested by the Punjab Police in 2004. He was brought to Jaipur and arrested in this case on February 28, 2007. The Additional District Judge had held Singh guilty in the abduction case on October 5 and reserved the order on quantum of punishment for today (October 6).
30-Sep-2017
The counter intelligence wing of Punjab Police arrested seven militants of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) from Moga District. Sources said four of the accused are aged between 18 and 23 years. One is a minor. Commissioner of Police R N Dhoke said, "BKI was planning to carry out subversive activities in Punjab, especially against anti-Khalistan and anti-Sikh groups. These seven were handpicked by England-based Surinder Singh Babbar, who approached them through social networking sites. The arrested have no criminal background. They joined BKI a few months ago and were preparing for a big strike in Punjab." Police have also recovered one .32 bore pistol with 20 cartridges and two .315 bore country-made pistols with 13 cartridges from their possession.
17-Sep-2017
In joint operations that last all of last week, Punjab Police and UP ATS have arrested six suspects who had non-bailable warrants issued against them for their role in high-security Nabha jailbreak in Patiala (Punjab) in November 2016. Police said those arrested also have links with outlawed group BKI. One BKI suspect, identified as Harpreet Singh alias Jitendra Singh Tony was arrested from Mailani area in Lakhimpur Kheri District. Another BKI suspect, Satnam Singh was arrested by the joint team of the ATS, Punjab and local Police from Sikanderpur area of the Lakhimpur Kheri District. Sources said Police are close to busting a network of Sikh militants in the region, including from Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur and Lakhimpur Kheri. UP ATS IG Asim Arun said, "One of the terror suspects, Balwant Singh, who was arrested in Lucknow led us to Jitendra Singh Toni who is wanted for supplying arms during the armed jailbreak in November last year."
17-Sep-2017
The Special Task Force (STF) arrested three members of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) group along with 2.5 kilograms of Heroin from Ludhiana city in Ludhiana District of Punjab. The STF arrested Gurlal, who, along with two other men, was going to Firozepur to supply the Heroin, sources said.
02-Sep-2017
Fresh Inputs from intelligence agencies suggeststhat Sikh militants are getting more support from across the border to foment trouble in Kashmir and other parts of the county. The fresh inputs show support for Manjit Singh, 'leader' of Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF). The intelligence inputs say this outfit is getting more active in South Kashmir and Kathua region of the state and in Punjab. Sikh radical elements sheltered in Pakistan are engaged in anti-India activities such as providing financial support to terror activities.
17-Aug-2017
The Uttar Pradesh (UP) Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested another alleged terrorist of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), identified as Jaswant Singh Kala from an Unnao farm house in Unnao District. He is wanted in multiple cases in Delhi, Rajasthan and Punjab and was hiding in the farm house for the past few weeks after allegedly killing a supporter of anti-Babbar Khalsa group in Punjab around two months ago. Kala was arrested on the revelations made by his accomplice Balwant Singh, who was staying with changed identity in Lucknow for the past five years. Balwant Singh was arrested from a Gurudwara on Nadan Mahal road in Lucknow on August 16 evening. He was Granthi at the Gurudwara. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) of ATS, Rajesh Sahani said Jaswant Singh Kala has been one of the most active members of BKI. He said Kala is among Sikh hardliners who support pro-Khalistan groups. Sahani said Kala was involved in three sensational killings of the supporters of the anti-Babbar Khalsa groups in Hanumangarh in Rajasthan, and Faridkot and Nawa Shahar in Punjab in 2016 and 2017. He said Jaswant was earlier arrested under sedition charges and arms act from Delhi’s Modi Colony in 2008 and on similar charges in 2005.
11-Aug-2017
The three men arrested on August 9 night by Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Punjab Police had supplied pistols to pro-Khalistan militants for targeted political killings in Punjab. The arrested trio includes cousin of a Canada-based Khalistan separatist leader. The three were identified as Balkar Singh (45), Balwindar Singh (28) and Satyendra Rawat (26) from Dabra, Thatipur and Chinor areas of Gwalior District. According to key sources connected with the joint operation, Balkar was originally a native of Gurdaspur District of Punjab, who had migrated to Gwalior District over three decades back and was primarily engaged in agriculture.Gurmeet Cheema, Balkar’s cousin, operates an outfit Khalsa Sewa Dal (KSD) in Canada, and also has links with the terror outfits Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) which primarily operate from Pakistan.
10-Aug-2017
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh approved a proposal of the State Police to set up an elite specially trained Special Protection Group (SPG) to deal with any terror attack and other threats in the State which shares border with Pakistan.
03-Jul-2017
The pro-Khalistani group, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) has put out a statement as a direct threat to Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) if they try to remove its hoardings of referendum 2020 or pose any hindrance in their movement. SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said in a statement that "BJP will face serious consequences if they remove the Referendum 2020 hoardings."
21-Jun-2017
Punjab Police on June 21 arrested two persons with links to a suspected terror module neutralised in the month of May. Gurpreet Singh and Simranjit Singh were arrested from their native villages of Jiwanwal in Faridkot and Kamalpur in Moga District of Punjab. Police have not shared any evidence on the terror activity by any of the modules neutralised last month. The operation was done by the Punjab intelligence wing. However, ADGP (intelligence) Dinkar Gupta did not confirm who the targets of these men were and whether there was any specific alert from the ministry of home affairs or Interpol. The Police claimed two .32 bore pistols, four magazines and cartridges have been seized from them. The cops said Canada-based Gurjeet Cheema during his visit to India earlier this year, gave two pistols, along with ammunition to Gurpreet, who passed on one of the pistols to Simranjit.
10-Jun-2017
Police arrested two drug smugglers from Tarn Taran District and recovered contacts of about 130 Pakistan-based smugglers from their mobile phones. An official spokesperson said Sukhbir Singh alias Titu of Naushera Dhalla village in Tarn Taran District and Tasveer Singh alias Tassu of Dhanoya Kalan in Amritsar District both in their sixties were arrested. About 6 kg heroin, a Pakistani SIM card, two rifles and a motorcycle were recovered from them.
05-Jun-2017
The UMHA has alerted Punjab government of a possible infiltration by Pakistan-based pro-Khalistanis in the wake of surcharged atmosphere on 33rd anniversary of Operation Bluestar. The alert said, "According to an input, the Lakhbir Rode group has planned to strike on the event of Ghallughara (Op Bluestar anniversary) week...He (Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwale's nephew Lakhbir Rode) has convened a meeting at Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan. A bag full of hand grenades has been provided to two terrorists, possibly of Indian origin, to create terror in Punjab. These terrorists are planning to cross over to India before June 6," it added. Sources said that ISI is funding Rode to exhorting his foreign contacts to support them in launching terror operations in Punjab. A huge rush of cops and paramilitary forces have secured the area of the Golden Temple in Amritsar and key border locations in rural hinterlands of Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Pathankot and Gurdaspur. This is the third alert in last two weeks. The first one was on a new radical group "being extremely agitated" over the continuing sacrilege incidents in Punjab, and wanting to teach a lesson to perpeterators of 2015 Faridkot sacrilege incident that had led to killing of two Sikhs in Police firing.
04-Jun-2017
The Punjab Police arrested three terrorists having direct links with Pakistan's ISI-backed banned terror outfit, International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). The arrested terrorists — Gurdial Singh, Jagroop Singh, and Satwinder Singh — had been trained and tasked by the ISI to carry out terror attacks and target various 'anti-Panth and anti-Sikh forces/individuals' by Pakistan-based ISYF 'chief' Lakhbir Rode and Harmeet Singh alias Happy alias PHD.