KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
19-Jan-2012
One group of BKI may have sneaked into the country from across the border to target political and religious leaders in the poll-bound state of Punjab as per top intelligence sources. The prime targets in the hit list of these terrorists are said to be Punjab CM Prakash Singh Badal, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal and religious Dera leaders like Ashutosh, according to sources. The MHA is will issue a fresh advisory to the Punjab Government to beef up the security of the top political and religious leaders during campaigning. The elections are due in the State on 30th January.
05-Jan-2012
A local court acquitted five persons, including four former activists of Babbar Khalsa, in a case related to unlawful activities, illegal possession of explosives and firearms. The acquitted Babbar Khalsa activists were identified as Baljit Singh Bhau, Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi, Buta Singh, Balwinder Singh Dekwala. Daljit Singh Bittu, president of Akali Dal (Panch Pardhani), was also acquitted. However, the court found one person, Harminder Singh Cherian, guilty and sentenced him to three years imprisonment and also imposed a fine of INR 5000 on him. A case was registered on November 15, 2009, against seven persons under the Unlawful Activities Act, Arms Act, Explosives Act and various sections of the IPC and they were arrested. Apart from the four Babbar Khalsa activists, Daljit and Harminder, Khalistan Liberation Force terrorist Daya Singh Lahoria had also been arrested in the connection. However, Lahoria was acquitted by a court a few months back.
30-Dec-2011
Government asked states bordering Pakistan to step up vigil following inputs that militants from across the border may strike in India, specifically in poll-bound Punjab. Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said, "What we gathered, we review every day... We alert the states who are targets... Apart from the jehadi groups, there is BKI (Babar Khalsa International) and some other Khalistani groups. We did bust a BKI module a few days ago. So, we have to remain on high alert in Punjab. We are working with the Government of Punjab and we will continue to remain high alert," he added. Asked whether there was a revival of the Khalistan movement in Punjab, he said, "There is no revival. These are remnant elements from old groups. Many of them have fled the country; many of them have taken refuge in foreign countries. These are remnant groups. There is no revival of the Khalistan movement".
25-Dec-2011
The security of VVIPs in Punjab is being reviewed in the wake of the revelations made by BKI militants arrested by Delhi Police on December 22. Delhi Police claimed that that the module had been tasked by BKI chief Wadhwa Singh and an operative Kulbir Singh to assassinate three religious leaders in Punjab and Haryana and some political leaders in Punjab during the upcoming Assembly elections. According to the Police, the BKI is on an overdrive to recruit cadre.
23-Dec-2011
During interrogation, Sarabpreet allegedly disclosed the name of his accomplice as Jaswinder Singh. Subsequently, the Police mounted raids and arrested him at Ropar in Punjab. Two pistols and 30 live cartridges were allegedly seized from him. Ashok Chand, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) said Sarabpreet was told to eliminate Baba Ram Rahim of Ambala in Haryana, Baba Pyara Singh of Banihara at Ropar and Baba Ashutosh of Ludhiana, besides political leaders in Punjab.
22-Dec-2011
Two suspected BKI militants were sent to 10 days in Police custody. They were arrested by the Delhi police based on leads that they planned to assassinate some religious and political leaders. Sarabjeet Singh was arrested in the Shalimar Bagh area of Delhi on December 22 by Delhi Police. Police reportedly seized a firearm, two magazines containing 15 live cartridges, five mobile phones, a cordless phone, three driving licenses purportedly issued in Punjab, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, two PAN cards and a laptop, besides two pen drives, from the accused.
01-Dec-2011
BSF recovered five kilograms of heroin and FICNs of various denominations amounting to INR 980,000 from Naushehra Dhallan village near India-Pakistan international border in Punjab.
31-Oct-2011
Banned terror outfit KTF claimed responsibility for the huge haul of explosives recovered from an abandoned car in Ambala in Haryana on October 12 and stated that their motive was to eliminate senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar to avenge the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
24-Oct-2011
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) recovered a cache of arms and ammunition and arrested one person in Firozpur District in Punjab. Besides the arms, 54 kg heroin - originating from Pakistan – was also been seized. The haul is seen as outfits across the border using drug syndicates to fund terror networks and reviving Khalistani militancy in Punjab.
16-Oct-2011
Recent intelligence reports cautioned the Punjab Government about renewed efforts by the Pakistani spy agency, ISI and Pakistan-based militant outfits, including BKI, to send a consignment of arms, explosives, fake currency, and drugs for spreading terror-incidents and drug menace in the state and disrupting its economy.
08-Sep-2011
Investigators were also taking a closer look at a few intelligence inputs over recent months that hinted at efforts by Khalistani extremist groups to target the national capital. Sources said inputs spoke about militant Sikh outfits BKI and KZF trying to revive in India and carry out attacks.
06-Jul-2011
A huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered by the Police from a village in the Tarn Taran District of near India-Pakistan border in Punjab. The recoveries included five kilograms of PETN explosive, 1.75 kilograms of RDX, four landmines, two AK 47 assault rifles and 250 AK 47-like cartridges from a jungle near-border village.Preliminary investigations revealed that the cache was hidden underground by slain KCF, Paramjit Singh Panjwar group, militant Harbhajan Chatu during the heydays of militancy in Punjab. Investigations also revealed that the explosives and weaponry were sent from Pakistan by the then Pakistani sympathizers of armed Khalistan movement.
12-Jun-2011
Punjab Police arrested a person in Jalandhar for facilitating the family of the militant Paramjit Singh Panjwar (who is on India's most-wanted list) procures passports on fake credentials. The arrestee, identified as Paramjit Singh (a namesake of the militant whom he was aiding), was a State Government employee.
12-Apr-2011
Avtar Singh Tari, an aide of the Chief of the Namdhari sect, SatguruJagjit Singh, was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne unidentified assailants at Katani Kalan village of Ludhiana District in Punjab.
13-Mar-2011
Khalistani militant Jagtar Singh Tara, who was involved in the assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, is reportedly planning to launch his outfit, Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) breaking away from the parent outfit BKI.
07-Mar-2011
The Amritsar Police arrested Sohan Singh alias Sohanjit Singh, a close associate of a Pakistan-based terrorist Paramjit Singh Panjwar, ‘chief’ of KCF. A .32 bore revolver, a magazine and five live cartridges were recovered from the possession of the arrested militant. On May 8, 2010, Sohan Singh had allegedly planted a bomb in a car near Circuit House in Amritsar with the help of Sukhdev Singh alias Chira, Ratandeep Singh, Narain Singh alias Chaura and Gurinder Singh alias Heera and Gurjit Singh. Police had announced a reward of INR one lakh for giving information on Sohanjit. Preliminary interrogation of Sohanjit Singh revealed that he was a close associate of Paramjit Singh Panjwar. He had visited Pakistan along with Sikh jatha's and was trying to revive terrorism in the State with the active support of Panjwar.
29-Jan-2011
Former Deputy Speaker of Punjab, Bir Devinder Singh, reportedly received a threatening email from militant outfit BKI. The email dispatched by BKI area commander Nishan Singh claimed that a meeting of BKI ‘area commanders’ was held some days ago, where they decided to recruit 1,000 unemployed youngsters from Punjab for the establishment of Khalistan in Punjab. BKI threatened to chastise the former Deputy Speaker for creating obstacles for them.
08-Dec-2010
The Central Government said that militant groups, especially those based abroad, were trying to revive militancy in Punjab. “Available reports suggest that militant groups, especially those based abroad, continue to persist with their efforts to revive militancy in Punjab," Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Maken said in a written reply. The Minister, however, added that no specific inputs were indicating the development of any nexus between Khalistani outfits like BKI or KZF and militant Islamist organizations like LeT.
11-Nov-2010
BKI terrorist, Makhan Singh, who was jointly arrested by the Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Khanna (Punjab) Police on October 23, 2010, from UP was handed over to the Hoshiarpur Police in connection with the killing of Sant Pardhan Singh. During interrogation, Makhan Singh had confessed to the killing of Sant Pardhan Singh with one of his accomplices Karanvir Singh alias Bablu, resident of Daroli, Adampur, who was arrested on October 18 from Qila Barun (ChhotaBajwara) and later fled from the CIA staff custody.
04-Nov-2010
The Punjab Police recovered a bomb, two detonators; a.30 bore Chinese pistol and six live cartridges following the interrogation of the recently arrested terrorists. SSP R S Khatra informed that after the interrogation of terrorist Jasmail Singh alias Sahib Singh, resident of Rupalheri village of the District, the Police recovered a bomb and two detonators from a hideout near Satluj Yamuna Link canal near Mehdoda village.
31-Oct-2010
Three terrorists, identified as Jasmail Singh alias Sahib Singh, Kulvinder Singh alias Kala and Arshpal Singh alias Rashpal Singh were arrested by a Police party near Buga Kanchian in Punjab when they were traveling in a car.
23-Oct-2010
The Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh (UP) arrested a BKI terrorist, identified as Makkhan Singh, from Barhni area of Sidharthnagar District on the Indo-Nepal border. ATS personnel also recovered one mobile phone along with Indian and foreign currencies from the accused. Makkhan was arrested when he was going to Punjab to acquire a fresh passport to leave India.
18-Oct-2010
An alleged BKI operative Karanbir Singh escaped from Police custody under the pretext of going to the toilet. The incident occurred in Hoshiarpur District when Police personnel and officers were interrogating Karanbir, who was booked for the murder of the head of a religious sect in June 2010. He escaped through a window. A reward of INR 5 lakh has been announced.
17-Oct-2010
A BKI operative,Karanbir was arrested along with an AK-47, an AK-56 assault rifle, two hand grenades, 5.4 kilograms of RDX, six magazines, 276 rounds of ammunition, two detonators, a timer device, and one remote control from Punjab.
10-Oct-2010
A cadre of the KZF, who is also associated with the BKI, was arrested by Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh Police from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh. The arrestee, identified as Gurjant Singh, was a native of Kurukshetra District in Haryana. An Italian pistol and some documents were seized from him. Gurjant reportedly acted as a link between KZF and BKI.