KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
13-Oct-2025
The Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on October 13 approved the deployment of six specially trained sniffer dogs across six major central jails in the state as part of the ‘War Against Drugs’ campaign to curb drug trafficking and other criminal activities within prisons.
13-Oct-2025
Former Union Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, speaking at the Khushwant Singh Literature Festival in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, on October 13, blamed senior Army officers for the failure of Operation Bluestar, citing inept planning and poor execution. He praised former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi for signing key accords that helped restore peace in insurgency-affected states but noted that the Punjab Accord failed due to Harchand Singh Longowal’s insistence on a problematic deadline.
13-Oct-2025
Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on October 13 declared, “We want Hindustan, not Khalistan,” reaffirming the Congress Party’s commitment to a united India. He added that it is for the people to decide the kind of leadership they want — those working among them or those operating from abroad.
13-Oct-2025
India and Canada have agreed on a series of measures during Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand’s visit, where she met Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A joint statement on October 13 from Anand and Jaishankar outlined several specific steps the two countries plan to take “to restore stability in the relationship.” The statement also emphasized “mutual respect for shared democratic values, the rule of law, and a commitment to upholding the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
13-Oct-2025
On October 13, Punjab Police, on day 226 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 63 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 79 drug smugglers and seized 2.9 kg of heroin, 2.6 kg of opium, 674 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 7850 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
13-Oct-2025
Amritsar city remains on high alert amid repeated recoveries of weapons and narcotics smuggled from Pakistan during the festive season. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said all officials have been directed to stay on the ground and personally oversee security. Authorities are monitoring history-sheeters and recently released criminals to prevent any disruption. Over 4,000 police personnel, supported by a Border Security Force (BSF) company, have been deployed across the city.
13-Oct-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) on October 13 seized a packet containing approximately 566 grams of heroin from the rooftop of a house in Daoke village, Amritsar district.
13-Oct-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) on October 13 seized a DJI Mavic 4 Pro drone along with a packet containing 560 grams of heroin from Naushera Dhalla village in Amritsar district.
13-Oct-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) on October 13 seized two AK-47 rifles with two magazines, one pistol with a magazine, and 10 live rounds from Mehdipur village in Tarn Taran district. The arms and ammunition were found concealed in a field near the India-Pakistan border, likely intended to be retrieved later by Indian handlers associated with Pakistan-based terror outfits.
12-Oct-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) on October 12 seized 1 kg of heroin and a drone from the fields of Cheema Kalan village in Tarn Taran district.
12-Oct-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) on October 12 neutralized and seized a DJI Mavic 4 PRO drone carrying 1.144 kg of heroin from a farming field near Havelian village in Tarn Taran district.
12-Oct-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) on October 12 seized one DJI Air 3 drone with 566 grams of heroin in Rajatal area of Amritsar district.
12-Oct-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) on October 12 seized a DJI Mavic 3 Classic drone carrying 586 grams of heroin from the fields in Rajatal area of Amritsar district.
12-Oct-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) on October 12 seized a DJI Mavic 3 Classic drone equipped with a pistol and magazine from a field near Dal village in Tarn Taran district.
12-Oct-2025
On October 12, Punjab Police, on day 225 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 40 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 56 drug smugglers and seized 156 grams of heroin, 200 grams of opium, 357 intoxicant tablets/ capsules and INR 1600 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
12-Oct-2025
According to reports, the Border Security Force (BSF) has arrested about 350 smugglers since January 2024 - averaging one every other day - and foiled several attempts to smuggle narcotics and weapons across the 553-kilometer India-Pakistan border in Punjab. Most arrests occurred in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Ferozepur districts, identified as high-risk zones due to frequent drone intrusions. Although the Centre extended the BSF’s operational jurisdiction from 15 kilometer to 50 kilometer inside Punjab in October 2021, officials clarified that most arrests took place within the original 15- kilometer belt.
12-Oct-2025
In a joint operation with Barnala Police, the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) on October 12 arrested two Davinder Bambiha gang operatives, identified as Sandeep Singh and Shekhar and recovered one PX5 pistol, one .30 bore pistol, four .32 bore pistols, and 19 live cartridges from their possession on the Barnala-Bathinda main road near Dhaula village in Barnala district. Preliminary investigation revealed that the arrested accused were acting on the directions of their foreign-based handlers and were planning to supply the weapons to Bambiha gang foot soldiers for carrying out criminal activities.
12-Oct-2025
Jalandhar Police on October 12 arrested three persons, identified as Neeraj, Manav and Kunal and seized 16.8 grams of heroin from them in Jalandhar district.
12-Oct-2025
A gangster linked to the Satta Naushehra gang, identified as Gursewak Singh alias Bomb, was injured and arrested following a police encounter near Fatehabad town in Tarn Taran district on October 12. However, his accomplice managed to escape. Gursewak Singh has a long criminal record, with at least six first information reports (FIRs) registered against him.
12-Oct-2025
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) breakaway faction led by former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on October 12 extended support to the Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) candidate, Mandeep Singh Khalsa, for the Tarn Taran Assembly bypoll scheduled on November 11. Mandeep Singh is the brother of Sandeep Singh Sunny, the main accused in the 2022 murder of Shiv Sena leader Sudhir Suri. The Simranjit Singh Mann-led SAD (Amritsar) has also endorsed Mandeep Singh’s candidature.
12-Oct-2025
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand arrived in New Delhi on October 12 for her first official visit to India, aiming to reset bilateral ties and strengthen strategic cooperation between India and Canada. She is scheduled to meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.
12-Oct-2025
Veteran Congress leader P. Chidambaram on October 12 said that Operation Blue Star in June 1984, aimed at flushing out Khalistani separatists from the Golden Temple, was “the wrong way” to secure the temple. He noted that former Prime Minister (PM) Indira Gandhi, who approved the operation, paid with her life, but stressed that responsibility was collective, involving the Army, police, intelligence, and civil service.
12-Oct-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) on October 12 seized a damaged, assembled hexacopter drone from a field near Havelian village in Amritsar district.
11-Oct-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) on October 11 seized a DJI Mavic 3 Classic drone near Naushera Dhalla village in Tarn Taran district.
11-Oct-2025
Counter Intelligence (CI) Amritsar on October 11 arrested three individuals, identified as Mahesh alias Ashu Masih, Angrej Singh, and Arshdeep Singh and seized three 9mm pistols and five .30 bore pistols, along with magazines, in Bhoose village, Amritsar district. According to police, the accused were acting on the instructions of a Pakistan-based arms smuggler who has been using drones to drop consignments of weapons across the border.