KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
07-Jan-2026
The State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, in coordination with Counter Intelligence Ludhiana, on January 7 arrested two Ludhiana-based men, identified as Haibowal Kalan and Avtar Singh and seized a 9 mm pistol and five live cartridges, foiling a planned targeted killing, in Ludhiana district. Police said the accused were acting on instructions from handlers based in the United Kingdom (UK) and Germany. Preliminary investigations revealed links with Khalistan Commando Force (KCF)–associated handlers, with the duo allegedly conducting reconnaissance of government buildings and prominent offices in Ludhiana as part of the conspiracy.
07-Jan-2026
On January 7, Punjab Police, on day 312 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 82 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 107 drug smugglers and seized 6.2 kg of heroin, 7 kg of poppy husk, 496 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 34,820 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
07-Jan-2026
According to reports, Ludhiana (Rural) Police have detained nine persons, including six relatives of the accused, in connection with the January 5 murder of bouncer Gagandeep Singh in Ludhiana district. While identities of all those in custody were not disclosed, police said interrogation of Gurdeep Singh, currently in remand, yielded vital information on the illegal activities of at least four main accused. Investigators added that old enmity between the deceased and prime accused Gursewak Singh Mota was the motive behind the killing.
07-Jan-2026
Mahilpur police on January 7 arrested one person, identified as Balwinder Singh alias Sonu and recovered a large quantity of banned tablets from his possession in Mahilpur, Hoshiarpur district.
07-Jan-2026
Garhshankar police on January 7 arrested two persons, identified as Suraj of Denowal Khurd and Bobby Devi and recovered 130 grams of intoxicant powder during a naka checking operation in Hoshiarpur district.
07-Jan-2026
Police on January 7 arrested one person, identified as Mandeep Singh and recovered 12 grams of heroin from his possession in Tanda, Hoshiarpur district.
07-Jan-2026
Inspector General (IG) of Police, Faridkot Range, Nilambari Jagadale said the range police seized over 95 kg of heroin, 106 kg of opium, and more than 11,280 kg of poppy husk in 2025 as part of an intensified anti-drug crackdown in the state. Since March 1, 2025, police arrested 4,144 accused in 3,125 NDPS cases across Faridkot, Sri Muktsar Sahib, and Moga districts, besides seizing over 13.93 lakh intoxicant tablets and capsules and drug money worth INR 62.83 lakh, dealing major blows to organised drug syndicates operating in the region.
07-Jan-2026
Police on January 7 arrested a man, identified as Ajul Arora and recovered 4.863 kg of heroin, two 9 mm pistols, 10 cartridges, and the vehicle used for transportation, near the stadium in the Lopoke area of Ajnala, Amritsar district.
07-Jan-2026
The Border Security Force (BSF) on January 7 seized 1 kg of heroin smuggled from Pakistan, packed in a yellow-taped packet, in Ajnala, Amritsar district.
07-Jan-2026
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Chandigarh Zonal Unit, in coordination with the Punjab Police’s Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), has detained notorious drug trafficker Sandeep Singh alias Chatha under the PITNDPS Act, 1988. A resident of Rasulpur Rohi village in Amritsar district, he is a history-sheeter involved in seven criminal cases, including three under the NDPS Act, since 2013. Officials said his activities came under serious scrutiny in 2017–18 following two arrests by Tarn Taran and Amritsar police, but he continued to expand his drug trafficking and cross-border networks.
07-Jan-2026
Wanted fugitive and Lawrence Bishnoi gang member, Aman Kumar alias Aman Bhainswal was deported from the United States (US) and arrested by the Haryana Police Special Task Force (STF) at New Delhi airport on January 7. The STF said Aman, detained in the US two months ago, ran his own gang and had links with the Rohit Godara gang, and is involved in multiple cases of murder, attempted murder, firing, extortion, and Arms Act violations across Haryana and the Delhi-NCR. A total of 10 criminal cases are registered against him in Haryana and Delhi, six of them before he fled abroad. His deportation was coordinated by the CBI with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) following an Interpol Red Notice issued at Haryana Police’s request.
07-Jan-2026
The Punjab government on January 7 launched the second phase of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” (War against Drugs) campaign at Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, in Kapurthala district. Aam Aadmi Paty (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann said the initiative has shifted from a largely policing-led drive to a broader social movement based on public participation, institutional coordination, and transparent enforcement.
06-Jan-2026
A gangster, identified as Harnoor Singh, who was on the run for allegedly masterminding the January 4 murder of an AAP sarpanch in Amritsar, was killed in a police encounter near Bhikhiwind in Tarn Taran district on January 6. Preliminary investigations said he had conducted reconnaissance ahead of the killing of sarpanch Jarmal Singh.
06-Jan-2026
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) along with the Border Security Force (BSF) on January 6 arrested four accused including the key operative managing the supply chain and recovered nearly 20 kg of heroin in Amritsar district.
06-Jan-2026
Punjab Police on January 6 averted a targeted killing by arresting three persons linked to the Arsh Dala gang, identified as Kuldeep Singh, a Canada-based operative, Gurwinder Singh and Gagandeep Singh seized four pistols (a Glock, a Zigana, a .30 bore and a .32 bore), four magazines, and 26 live cartridges in Bathinda district. Preliminary investigations revealed the trio was planning a targeted attack, with Kuldeep Singh having recently arrived from Canada, and disclosed involvement in an ongoing gang rivalry.
06-Jan-2026
The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) denied bail to Gurmukh Singh, son of former Akal Takht Jathedar Jasbir Singh Rode, and Gurmej Singh in a narco-terrorism case involving the smuggling of arms, explosives—including tiffin bombs—and narcotics from Pakistan via drones. The court observed that sponsoring terrorism is an “expensive affair,” noting that heroin smuggling, along with arms and ammunition, was allegedly used to fund terrorist activities in Punjab and elsewhere in India.
05-Jan-2026
Ludhiana (Rural) Police on January 5 arrested a prime accused in the killing of bouncer Gagandeep Singh, identified as Gursewak Singh Mota in Ludhiana district. Police cited old enmity as the motive.
05-Jan-2026
Two gangsters, identified as Sukhpreet Singh and Lovepreet Singh, were injured in an encounter with a joint Police– Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) team near Khadoor Sahib in Tarn Taran district on January 5. The duo, part of a three-member gang involved in a firing at a fertilizer store in Fatehbad on December 29, 2025, were admitted to the local Civil Hospital.
05-Jan-2026
On January 5, Punjab Police, on day 310 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 54 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 65 drug smugglers and seized 657 grams of heroin, 440 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 2630 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
05-Jan-2026
Amritsar police on January 5 said they had identified the shooters and launched raids to arrest them in connection with the January 4 murder of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sarpanch Jarmal Singh in Amritsar district. Meanwhile, foreign-based gangsters Donny Bal and Prabh Dassuwal of the Bambiha gang claimed responsibility, alleging the killing was carried out by their shooter, Gangu Thackarpuria.
05-Jan-2026
Punjab Police on January 5 arrested a 15-year-old boy, Sanjeev Kumar, for allegedly sharing sensitive national security information with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), in Pathankot district. Police said he had been in contact with Pakistan-based terror-linked handlers for nearly a year, was lured via social media, and manipulated into sharing videos and details of sensitive locations. Investigators added that the minor was also communicating with ISI-linked operatives and Pakistan-based gangsters involved in terror modules.
05-Jan-2026
Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Kuldip Singh Gargaj on January 5 summoned Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann to appear before the Takht secretariat on January 15 over alleged statements denigrating Sikh institutions. Mann said he respected the summons and would comply, posting on X that he would appear “walking barefoot like a humble Sikh, not as the Chief Minister.”
05-Jan-2026
On January 5, a former kabaddi player working as a bouncer, identified as Gagandeep Singh, was shot dead by a group of armed assailants in agricultural fields near the grain market on the outskirts of Manuke village in Jagraon, Ludhiana district. According to reports, Singh, who was a close relative of Jagraon Aam Aadmi Party MLA Saravjit Kaur Manuke, was targeted for supporting a kabaddi player from Ekam village. Preliminary investigations indicated that two rival groups had been involved in a scuffle on the evening of January 4. Before fleeing the area, the assailants allegedly assembled outside the victim’s family residence and announced that he had been killed.
05-Jan-2026
On the intervening night of January 5–6, three motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire at a closed readymade garment showroom in Civil City, Haibowal, Ludhiana district, and subsequently issued extortion threats claiming affiliation with the Rohit Godara gang. The owner, Himanshu, reported receiving a call from an overseas number demanding a ransom of INR 5 million. In connection with the case, police produced gangster Shubham Grover from Ferozepur Jail on a production warrant for questioning.
04-Jan-2026
On January 4, Punjab Police, on day 309 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 79 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 94 drug smugglers and seized 593 grams of heroin, 1.2 kg of opium, 1198 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 11,620 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.