KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
11-Aug-2025
According to sources, Khalistani separatist activities are regaining visibility in the United Kingdom (UK) and Canada, raising concern in New Delhi. The UK Charity Commission recently allowed a Slough gurdwara to retain “Khalistan” plaques, while in Canada, a sign declaring the “Embassy of the Republic of Khalistan” appeared inside a Surrey gurdwara. India condemned both, warning such acts—often justified as free speech—are linked to organised crime and terrorism. The United States (US) Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has also exposed Khalistani ties with drug cartels, transnational crime networks, and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
11-Aug-2025
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on August 11 chaired a security review meeting in Amritsar with senior officials, including Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar and DIG Border Range Nanak Singh, ahead of Independence Day celebrations. He reviewed counter-terror measures and directed enhanced inter-district coordination, round-the-clock surveillance, and high-visibility checkpoints, particularly in light of recent pro-Khalistan graffiti incidents linked to the banned terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ).
11-Aug-2025
According to Delhi Police records, former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) officer Vikash Yadav—named by United States (US) authorities in an alleged plot to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun—is linked to Jalaluddin alias Sameer, an accused in the Mahadev Online Book betting racket. Investigators allege Jalaluddin, operating from Dubai, hired Yadav to kidnap and threaten a businessman over unpaid dues, resulting in a INR 16 lakh hawala transfer. Yadav, Jalaluddin, and Yadav’s associate Abdullah Khan are currently out on bail, while police prepare a supplementary chargesheet in the case.
11-Aug-2025
On August 11, Punjab Police, on day 163 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 74 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 104 drug smugglers and seized 6.4 kg of heroin, 500 grams of opium, and 1092 intoxicant tablets/capsules from the possession of arrested drug smugglers, across Punjab.
10-Aug-2025
On August 10, Punjab Police, on day 162 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh" campaign, registered 50 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 68 drug smugglers and seized 1.4 kg of heroin and 1594 intoxicant tablets/capsules from the possession of arrested drug smugglers, across Punjab.
10-Aug-2025
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) of Rajasthan Police on August 10 detained three individuals, identified as Jitendra Chaudhary, Sanjay Nayak and Sonu alias Kali along with three minors, for their role in a grenade attack in Punjab in July 2025, in Jaipur in Rajasthan. Police said the group, allegedly acting under the instructions of Canada-based Bishnoi gang handler Zeeshan Akhtar, was also conspiring to carry out blasts in Delhi and Gwalior ahead of Independence Day.
10-Aug-2025
On August 10, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Greenwood, Indiana, United States (US), was vandalised with anti-India graffiti by pro-Khalistan extremists. Greenwood Police have launched a criminal mischief investigation, while temple leaders plan to hold a peace prayer service on August 12, with city officials expected to attend. The attack comes just days ahead of the Krishna Janmashtami celebrations on August 16.
09-Aug-2025
On August 9, two masked assailants fired two rounds at the residence of NRI social media influencer Simran Sikand alias Sam, before fleeing on a motorcycle, in Model Town area in Hoshiarpur district. CCTV footage captured the incident, which Sikand attributed to threats from Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti.
09-Aug-2025
Punjab Police on August 9 reported that Jashanpreet Singh, arrested earlier with a minor for painting pro-Khalistan graffiti in Amritsar, opened fire on police during a weapon recovery operation in Amritsar district. A Glock 9mm pistol was recovered based on his disclosures, and he sustained a leg injury when police returned fire.
09-Aug-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on August 9 recovered a packet of heroin weighing 655 grams from fields near Nihalewala village in Ferozepur district.
08-Aug-2025
Amritsar Police on August 8 announced the arrest of two individuals, including a minor, for putting up pro-Khalistan graffiti at three city locations on the night of August 6–7, in Amritsar district. Police said the suspects acted under the instructions of foreign-based Shamsher Singh, linked to Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of the banned terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), who had claimed responsibility for the graffiti via a video message. The accused allegedly received the designs via Snapchat and were promised about INR 5,000, but were never paid.
08-Aug-2025
On August 8, the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) rejected proposed amendments to the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Act, 2014, citing lack of consultation by the state government. The changes would transfer the power to remove members to the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission and route appeals directly to the Punjab and Haryana High Court. HSGMC president Jagdish Singh Jhinda said the committee would boycott the amendments and hold a Sikh Sammelan before August 22 to seek community feedback.
08-Aug-2025
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on August 8 raided 13 locations linked to gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Vishal Pachar, seizing illegal weapons, narcotics, electronics, documents, and cash across Sriganganagar, Hanumangarh, and Dausa districts in Rajasthan. Some suspects were reportedly detained for questioning.
08-Aug-2025
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of the Punjab Police on August 8 carried out a high-risk raid on drug trafficker Sunny Singh’s hideout, and arrested one of his accomplices Devinder Singh alias Babbu, in Gorsian Khan Mohammad village in Ludhiana district. Sunny Singh and others managed to escape, and a police manhunt is underway.
08-Aug-2025
Punjab Police on August 8 conducted a massive state-wide security and anti-drug crackdown, carrying out coordinated checks at 151 railway stations and detaining 72 suspicious persons across Punjab.
08-Aug-2025
On August 8, Punjab Police, on day 160 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign registered 59 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 96 drug smugglers and seized 1.2 kilograms of heroin, 1.1 kilograms of opium, 12,627 intoxicant pills, and INR 2.3 lakh in drug-related cash from the possession of the smugglers across Punjab.
08-Aug-2025
According to sources, the Mumbai Crime Branch plans to question comedian Kapil Sharma again following the second firing incident at his Kap’s Café in Surrey, Canada, and an “open threat” allegedly issued by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The questioning may take place in person or over the phone for security reasons, and officials are also considering extending protection to Sharma.
08-Aug-2025
Police on August 8 arrested seven individuals, Harmanpreet Singh, Taranvir Singh, Natish Bhatti, Gurnur Singh, Navjot Singh, Harman Singh, and Amarinder Singh — for firing at a house in Hassanpur village — and seized three country-made pistols, a magazine, a Bolero jeep, and a motorcycle possession in Hassanpur village in Sangrur district.
07-Aug-2025
Between August 7 and 11, Punjab Police arrested 15 unidentified smugglers and seized 305.80 grams of heroin and 15 intoxicating capsules in Jalandhar in Jalandhar district.
07-Aug-2025
Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of the banned terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), on August 7 issued a video message threatening to assassinate Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Independence Day in Faridkot in Faridkot district.
07-Aug-2025
The Amritsar Commissionerate Police on August 7 arrested four individuals, identified as Akashdeep Singh alias Akash, Ramanpreet Singh, Pratap Singh, and Sarbjit Singh alias Babbal and seized two 9 mm PX5 pistols, two 9 mm Glocks, and three .30-bore pistols from their possession in Chheharta Sahib, Amritsar district. Police stated that the accused were in direct contact with Pakistan-based smugglers and had been receiving arms consignments along the Indo-Pak border. The weapons were intended for supply to local gangsters, with operations coordinated from villages near the international border.
07-Aug-2025
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), in collaboration with Tarn Taran police on August 7 successfully foiled a major terror plot orchestrated by Pakistan-based Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorists Harwinder Singh alias Rinda and Lakhbir Singh alias Landa, and neutralised an improvised explosive device (IED), pushed from Pakistan near Naushera Pannuan village in Tarn Taran district.
07-Aug-2025
Jalandhar Police on August 7 conducted targeted operations at multiple locations across Jalandhar city, and arrested 16 individuals, seized 46 grams of heroin, 61 intoxicant tablets and 36,000 ml of illegal liquor along with one car and one motorcycle in Jalandhar in Jalandhar district.
06-Aug-2025
Jalandhar Police on August 6 arrested two Punjab police constables, identified as Navpreet Singh and Navdeep Singh and seized 15 grams of heroin from their possession, near Rama Mandi area in Jalandhar in Jalandhar district. Both were posted at the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) headquarters and were arrested following leads from the arrest of two drug peddlers.
06-Aug-2025
On August 6, five outsiders, including Lawrence Bishnoi gang associate Braham Dutt, along with Vishal, Vikash, Anand Yadav, and Kshitij, were found on the Panjab University (PU) campus in Chandigarh ahead of student body elections. The group was detained by police after being spotted near the law auditorium in a car with Punjab registration plates. Braham Dutt, who has seven First Information Reports (FIRs) against him, was previously arrested in a shooting case linked to gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.