KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
23-Sep-2025
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered a fresh case against Khalistani terrorist and Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun for declaring an INR 11 crore reward to stop Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi from hoisting the Tricolour on Independence Day. According to the First Information Report (FIR), Pannun also unveiled a so-called ‘map of Khalistan’ covering Punjab, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh (HP) and Uttar Pradesh (UP). The case was filed last month after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) alerted the NIA about his virtual address from Washington DC, United States (US) to a press conference at Lahore Press Club, Pakistan on August 10, where he allegedly announced the reward. Based on UMHA’s disclosure, the NIA booked Pannun and unknown others under Section 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). This is the seventh FIR by the NIA against Pannun and his outfit, SFJ. According to state police and NIA records, 96 cases have been registered against him and SFJ.
23-Sep-2025
On September 23, Punjab Police, on day 206 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 54 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 78 drug smugglers and seized 3.6 kg of heroin, 1.25 kg of ganja, 20 kg of poppy husk and 624 intoxicant tablets/capsules from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
23-Sep-2025
Punjab government officials said on September 23 that over 30,500 drug smugglers have been arrested in the last 205 days under the state’s ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ (War Against Drugs) campaign, which marked 205 days on September 22. CM Bhagwant Mann has directed top police and civil officials to intensify efforts to make Punjab drug-free. The government has also set up a five-member Cabinet sub-committee, headed by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, to monitor the campaign.
23-Sep-2025
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami on September 23 condemned the misuse of AI technology to create a false video related to Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple), calling it an affront to Sikh sentiments. He urged governments to act immediately to curb such practices, saying AI-generated videos not only distort Sikh principles but also hurt global religious sensitivities.
22-Sep-2025
Amritsar Police on September 22 busted a cross-border arms and hawala racket, arresting three persons, identified as Amarjeet Singh alias Bau, Manbir Singh, and Mohammad Tofiq Khan alias Babblu and recovering 10 pistols, including three .30 bore PX5 pistols, three 9mm Glocks, one 9mm Beretta, and three .30 bore pistols, along with INR 2.5 lakh in hawala money, in Amritsar district. Police said the accused were in touch with Pakistan-based handlers via social media to procure weapons and disrupt peace in the state.
22-Sep-2025
On September 22, Punjab Police, on day 205 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 59 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 81 drug smugglers and seized 922 grams of heroin, 4 kg of poppy husk, 336 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 980 drug money, across the state.
22-Sep-2025
Two gang members, identified as Samarbir Singh and Saurav Singh, were shot dead in a clash between rival armed gangs near Kairon village in Tarn Taran district on the night of September 22. Police cordoned off the area and arrested four accused shortly after the incident, though the exact number of assailants remains unclear. The Gopi Ghanshyampuria gang later claimed responsibility for the killings.
21-Sep-2025
According to reports, after launching the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign in March, the Punjab government is set to roll out another de-addiction initiative, ‘Soorma’. Under the programme, individuals who have successfully overcome substance dependence will serve as community ambassadors. An official communique said nodal psychiatrists in all districts have been asked to identify and orient eligible individuals ahead of the initiative’s launch by Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann.
21-Sep-2025
Punjab Police, with support from central agencies and Nagaland Police, on September 21, arrested two accused in a murder case, identified as Harmanpreet Singh alias Harman and his cousin Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi from New Market in Midland Colony, Kohima, Nagaland. They were wanted in the September 9 Batala murder of Jugraj Singh alias Jugga. Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said the killing was ordered by foreign-based gangsters Jaswinder Singh alias Manu Agwan, Mohammad Yasin Akhtar alias Jeeshan Akhtar, and Gopi Nawansheharia.
21-Sep-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police on September 21 arrested four drug smugglers and seized 10 kg of heroin from their possession, in Thetharke village in Gurdaspur district of Punjab.
21-Sep-2025
On September 21, Punjab Police, on day 204 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 78 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 89 drug smugglers and seized 4.5 kg of heroin, 2.3 kg of ganja, 1524 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 59,810 drug money, across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 30, 440 in 204 days.
20-Sep-2025
Bathinda Police on September 20 arrested a 47-year-old woman, identified as Paramjit Kaur and seized two weapons — a 9mm pistol and a country-made pistol — along with 130 grams of heroin, in Bhagwangarh village, Bathinda district.
20-Sep-2025
Amritsar Police on September 20 dismantled an interstate opium supply network with the arrest of two traffickers, identified as Harwinder Singh alias Harry and Ranjit Singh alias Rana, seizing 12 kg of opium, a Thar Roxx vehicle, and INR 6,000 in drug money, at a checkpoint near Golden Gate, Amritsar district. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said Harwinder has been active in narcotics trafficking since 2022, while his brother Gurpreet Singh is on trial in another case involving 7 kg of opium.
20-Sep-2025
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann said the state is grappling with its worst floods in decades and criticised the Centre for inadequate relief funds. He noted that Punjab has suffered infrastructure, agriculture, and livestock losses estimated at INR 13,800 crore, adding that the figure could rise once the water recedes.
20-Sep-2025
On September 20, Punjab Police, on day 203 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 56 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 93 drug smugglers and seized 11.4 kg of heroin, 644 grams of opium, 814 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 4.29 lakhs drug money, across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 30,298 in 203 days.
20-Sep-2025
The special cell of Amritsar rural police on September 20 arrested two drug smugglers, Shankar Singh and Sachin and recovered 6.286 kg of heroin and INR 4 lakh drug money from their possession in Beharwal village in Amritsar district.
20-Sep-2025
The counter-intelligence wing of Amritsar Police on September 20 busted a cross-border narcotics module, arresting one of its operatives, identified as Pawandeep Singh with 5.032 kg of heroin in Amritsar. Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said Pawandeep confessed to working under the directions of his United States (US)-based handler, Harpal Singh, a native of Kohala village in Amritsar.
20-Sep-2025
Police on September 20 arrested three persons, identified as Jaswant Rai, Paraminder Singh and Hardev Singh and seized 850 grams of opium from them at a naka (checkpoint) near Dhilwan in Kapurthala district.
20-Sep-2025
Jalandhar Police on September 20 confiscated movable and immovable property worth INR 52.8 lakh belonging to an alleged drug smuggler, Barinder Singh, who had been arrested with 1 kg of heroin on May 20.
20-Sep-2025
According to Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) data, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh (UP) ranked joint second in drug trafficking cases in 2024 with 193 each, while Delhi topped with 208. Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh followed with 113, 103 and 102 cases, respectively. Punjab, however, led in heroin seizures with 1,150 kg confiscated in 2024, compared to 114 kg in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and 63 kg in Haryana. Delhi topped the list of cocaine seizures with a record 1,396 kg, while Maharashtra was a distant second with 37 kg.
19-Sep-2025
On September 19, Punjab Police, on day 202 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 76 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 93 drug smugglers and seized 7.6 kg of heroin, 12 kg of opium, 1687 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 15860 drug money, across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 30,201 in 202 days.
19-Sep-2025
Delhi and Uttar Pradesh (UP) Police on September 19 announced the arrest of the remaining four accused in the firing incident outside actor Disha Patani’s Bareilly home, bringing all six suspects linked to the case into custody. Earlier, on September 17, two gangsters were killed in a police encounter in Ghaziabad, UP.
19-Sep-2025
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on September 19 met a Sikh delegation that submitted recommendations for the safekeeping and public display of the sacred ‘Jore Sahib’—the footwear of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Mata Sahib Kaur Ji. The delegation, led by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, included eminent Sikh leaders who presented their proposals to the PM.
19-Sep-2025
According to Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) data for 2024, sightings and recoveries of narcotics dropped from drones across the border saw a sharp increase, particularly in the border districts of Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, and Gurdaspur in Punjab. During 2024, Punjab reported 163 cases of drug trafficking via drones, involving the seizure of 187 kg of heroin. Rajasthan followed with 15 such cases, in which 39 kg of heroin was seized.
19-Sep-2025
On September 19, India and Canada took a concrete step towards restoring normalcy in their strained ties, with senior officials meeting in New Delhi and agreeing to revive dialogue mechanisms across trade, defence, energy, civil nuclear cooperation, security, law enforcement, critical minerals, space, science and technology, and agriculture. An Indian readout said both sides also decided to address capacity issues at missions and consulates to strengthen people-to-people links and economic opportunities.