KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
20-Mar-2023
A group of individuals from the Sikh community assembled on March 20 outside the British High Commission in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, to voice their opposition to pro-Khalistan separatists who had removed the Indian national flag from the Indian High Commission building in London, United Kingdom (UK). During the protest, the demonstrators chanted the slogan "Bharat humara swabhiman hai" (India is our pride), held up placards, and waved the Tricolour.
20-Mar-2023
Punjab Police on March 20 revealed that Amritpal Singh, fugitive pro-Khalistan leader, was attempting to establish a militia known as the Anandpur Khalsa Fauj (AKF) and noted that it had a very strong suspicion that he is being financially backed by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Sukhchain Singh Gill disclosed that, “The bulletproof jackets and rifles that have been recovered and the gate (of the house) of the chief (Amritpal Singh) had AKF written on them. There was an attempt to form a Jathebandi called ‘Anandpur Khalsa Fauj.” “We have a very strong suspicion of an ISI angle, based on the facts and circumstances that have come to light so far. We also have a very strong suspicion of foreign funding. Going by the circumstances, it seems that ISI is involved and there is foreign funding as well,” he added.
20-Mar-2023
According to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab, Sukhchain Singh Gill, 114 individuals have attempted to disturb peace and harmony, of whom 78 were arrested on the first day, 34 on the second day, and two more were apprehended the previous night. Ten weapons were recovered in the operation. Four of the detainees, identified as Daljit Singh Kalsi, Bhagwant Singh, Gurmeet Singh, and Pradhanmantri' Bajeke, have been transferred to the Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam, where the National Security Act (NSA) has been invoked against them. "Harjeet Singh - the uncle of Amritpal Singh - is also en route to Dibrugarh. He is being taken there," the IGP said.
20-Mar-2023
According to official sources, Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has encouraged supporters of Khalistan living overseas to stage demonstrations and protests in cities such as London, San Francisco, and Canberra. These actions are part of a larger plan orchestrated by the ISI, which includes recent protests by Khalistan supporters outside the Australian parliament in Canberra, pro-Khalistan activists vandalizing the Indian High Commission in London, and the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. According to official sources, ISI agents are operating in various countries and are responsible for coordinating these acts by pro-Khalistan elements. Recent incidents suggest that ISI agents have been actively working to organize protests and acts of vandalism against places of Indian interest by exploiting the religious sentiments of Khalistani elements.
20-Mar-2023
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a statement said that during a meeting with the United States (US) Charge d' Affaires in New Delhi on March 20, India strongly objected to the damage caused to the property of the Consulate General of India in San Francisco and conveyed its protest. The MEA reminded the US government of its fundamental responsibility to safeguard and secure diplomatic representation and urged it to take suitable actions to prevent any future such occurrences. Furthermore, the Indian Embassy in Washington DC also communicated similar concerns to the US State Department.
19-Mar-2023
The Haryana Police on March 19 arrested a woman, identified Baljit Kaur for reportedly providing shelter to Amritpal Singh, the leader of Waris Punjab De (WPD), and his associate Papalpreet Singh at her residence in Shahabad in Kurukshetra district of Haryana. The police believe that this arrest implies that Amritpal may have left Punjab.
19-Mar-2023
Punjab police arrested the gunman of Amritpal Singh, identified as Tejinder Singh alias Gorkha Baba, from Mangewal village in Ludhiana district.
19-Mar-2023
According to reports, Pakistan's external spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has been the driving force behind Amritpal Singh's back to India with the aim of reviving Khalistani terrorism in Punjab. According to the officials, Amritpal Singh was a truck driver in Dubai before the ISI, with the help of Khalistan supporters based outside India, radicalized him so that he could plunge Punjab again into the dark days of terrorism. Amritpal had been openly making statements about declaring secession from India and forming Khalistan. He tried to incite the Sikh youths to resort to armed revolt against the democratically elected government in order to oppose the supposedly discriminatory treatment being mete to achieve the 'ultimate goal' of the formation of 'Khalistan', the officials said.
19-Mar-2023
Indian counterterrorism officials on March 19 claimed that Amritpal Singh, the leader of Waris Punjab De (WPD), was trained by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in Georgia before returning to India from Dubai, UAE. They further alleged that Amritpal maintained close connections with the pro-Khalistani outfit, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and received funding as part of a broader plan to revive militancy in Punjab. According to an official, “Amritpal Singh was given money as part of a well-orchestrated scheme to resurrect militancy in Punjab while he was living in Dubai, which is a hub for ISI agents. Before his flight to India, ISI sent him to Georgia for training’’. "Amritpal Singh also has ties to SFJ and has even campaigned for its social media activities. Besides, he has links with drug smugglers across the border identified by their pseudo names – Billa, Bilal and Rana,” the official added.
19-Mar-2023
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in a statement on March 19, said that India summoned the most senior United Kingdom (UK) diplomat in Delhi after vandalism happened at the Indian High Commission in London and expressed India's strong protest at the activities committed by separatist and extremist forces. The MEA statement said, 'An explanation was demanded for the complete absence of British security that allowed these elements to enter the High Commission premises. In this context, she was reminded of the fundamental responsibilities the UK Government has under the Vienna Convention.’
19-Mar-2023
Security agencies raised a red flag on March 19 after they found that Amritpal Singh was stockpiling weapons and training young people to carry out suicide attacks using drug rehabilitation centres and a gurdwara. According to an intelligence dossier, Amritpal Singh was indoctrinating youths to become "khadkoos," or human bombs. Police sources indicated that numerous drug rehabilitation centers run by Waris Punjab De (WPD) and a gurudwara in Amritsar were involved in illegal firearms storage. According to the police sources, several drug rehabilitation centres operated by the WPD and a gurudwara in Amritsar which are involved in the illegal stockpiling of firearms. Young people admitted to the drug rehabilitation centers were reportedly subjected to brainwashing and pressured into the "gun culture." They were being directed to follow the example of slain terrorist Dilawar Singh and act as a human bomb.
19-Mar-2023
At least 21 supporters of Waris Punjab De (WPD) leader Amritpal Singh were arrested for trying to hold a "dharna" (protest) against the police crackdown on Amritpal near Boparai Klan town in Ludhiana on March 19. According to the police, flag marches were also held in Nawanshahr, Dakha, and Sidhwan in Ludhiana.
19-Mar-2023
On March 19, the police arrested 17 persons as part of a crackdown against the members of Waris Punjab De (WPD) in the Malwa region of Patiala district. Meanwhile, police dispersed a group of Amritpal's supporters gathered near the Shambhu barrier to block the national highway.
19-Mar-2023
Police, during the massive search operation on March 19, recovered weapons, uniforms and bulletproof jackets marked with the abbreviation ‘AKF’ from pro-Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh’s native village, Jallupur Khera near Rayya in Amritsar district. According to sources, "AKF" supposedly stands for ‘Anandpur Khalsa Force’. The weapons seized from his supporters also bore the same abbreviation. According to Amritsar (Rural) Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Satinder Singh, this was part of the investigation about the motive behind creating the ‘AKF’. Additionally, it was observed that the entrance gate of Amritpal's residence also had "AKF" written on it.
19-Mar-2023
Akal Takht acting Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on March 19, said that the governments should desist from instilling fear in Punjab for political interests, taking a strong note of the state-wide crackdown by the Punjab Police and central agencies against Waris Punjab De (WPD) head Amritpal Singh and his supporters.
19-Mar-2023
Punjab police on March 19 recovered a black SUV (ISUZU) from Salema village in Mehatpur in Jalandhar district, which was being used by Waris Punjab De (WPD) leader Amritpal Singh and his aides. Police recovered a 15-bore rifle, 57 rounds, a sword, and two number plates from inside the impounded car. Police claimed that this was the same car from which a video had gone viral on March 18. Police have seized three vehicles so far during the search operation and registered two additional First Information Reports (FIRs) in this connection.
19-Mar-2023
Intelligence agencies claimed that while Waris Punjab De (WDP) leader Amritpal Singh was in Dubai, he was in regular contact with Khalistani militant Paramjit Singh Pamma and Lakhbir Singh Rode's brother Jaswant Singh Rode, who is a banned Khalistani operator stationed in Pakistan. The agencies have also obtained information about funds that the treasurer of Amritpal, identified as Basant Singh Daulatpura, received from Pakistan. An intelligence officer said, “The financial analysis revealed that his associate, John Singh, is a prominent member of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and actively participated in the activities of Referendum 2020 in the US. Another suspected financier, who is Canada-based, recently sent Rs 1 lakh for Waris Punjab De.” Before returning to India on August 20, 2022, Amritpal spent one-and-a-half months in Georgia, a senior officer said.
18-Mar-2023
On March 18, several members of the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha (Community Justice Front) staged a sit-in at the Sohana chowk in Mohali on the Airport Road in response to police action taken against pro-Khalistan activist Amritpal Singh and his supporters. Some of the youths taking part in the protest had covered their faces and were armed with traditional weapons, swords, and sticks.
18-Mar-2023
The hearing in the 2005 sedition case filed against Jagtar Singh Hawara, the chief of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) who is currently serving a life sentence for the assassination of former Chief Minister (CM) Beant Singh, has been postponed until April 1. The court in Chandigarh was set to hear arguments regarding the charges on March 18, with Hawara scheduled to appear through a video link. However, it was discovered that he had been relocated to Delhi's Mandoli jail, while the video link created connected with Tihar Jail. The court attempted unsuccessfully to connect with the new facility, leading to the adjournment of the hearing to April 1.
18-Mar-2023
Punjab police on March 18 launched a “massive state-wide cordon and search operation” against Amritpal Singh, and arrested a total of 78 members of Waris Punjab De (WPD) from different locations in Punjab. Police also suspended Internet and SMS services across the state till March 19. However, Amritpal Singh managed to escape the police dragnet when his cavalcade was intercepted in the Jalandhar district. According to media reports, police officers from seven different districts chased Amritpal and his accomplices, and surrounded them in the Mehatpur village of the Jalandhar district. Punjab police have also blocked off the route, placed barriers, and are checking all vehicles for Amritpal Singh near the Dharamkot area in Moga district. Later, Punjab police in a statement, said that small arms and ammunition, including a revolver, seven 12-bore rifles, a. 315-bore rifle, and 373 live rounds, were recovered during the crackdown. It also said that WPD members faced four cases for “spreading disharmony among classes, attempt to murder, attack on police persons and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duties of public servants”.