KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
06-Aug-2025
On August 6 in Amritsar, the five Sikh high priests pronounced tankhaah (religious punishment) on Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains for participating in a dance performance during a July 24 event in Srinagar marking the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur. The high priests directed Bains to undertake a series of religious tasks, including barefoot pilgrimages, sewa at gurdwaras, and offering karah parshad, as spiritual atonement for violating Sikh maryada. Bains accepted the punishment and stated that he would comply with the directives.
06-Aug-2025
On the intervening night of August 6 and 7, pro-Khalistan slogans were spray-painted on the boundary walls of Khalsa College, the district courts, and a temple in Amritsar in Amritsar district. Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of the banned terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), claimed responsibility via a video message.
05-Aug-2025
Delhi Police on August 5 arrested a key member of the Tillu Tajpuriya gang, identified as Manjeet alias Dada and seized a pistol with three live rounds, a stolen motorcycle and a mobile phone from his possession, near Sarojini Nagar in South West Delhi district in Delhi.
05-Aug-2025
Sidhu Moose Wala’s mother, Charan Kaur, on August 5 revealed that unidentified assailants had fired shots at her late son’s statue in Dabwali, Sirsa district, Haryana. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the attack, with gang members Goldy Dhillon and Arzoo Bishnoi stating that those portraying Moose Wala as a martyr were misleading the public and warning of dire consequences for such acts.
05-Aug-2025
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson and former Delhi Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) RP Singh, on August 5, issued a strong statement against Canada, accusing it of enabling extremism by allowing the establishment of a so-called “Khalistan Embassy” in Surrey. Describing it as a “serpentarium,” Singh said the move had turned Canadian soil into a breeding ground for separatist forces and warned that such actions threaten international diplomatic norms. Citing the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, he argued that recognising missions of imaginary separatist states constitutes a direct violation of international law, not an exercise in free speech. Singh urged External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to lodge a strong protest and demanded immediate clarification and action from the Canadian government.
05-Aug-2025
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami, on August 5 in Amritsar, strongly criticised the government for granting fresh parole to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, while several Sikh prisoners who have completed their sentences remain incarcerated. Calling the repeated release of Ram Rahim a reflection of discriminatory policies, Dhami questioned why special provisions were being extended to a convicted criminal, while justice continued to be denied to Sikh detainees.
05-Aug-2025
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on August 5 carried out searches at 19 locations in connection with the March 14, 2025 grenade attack on Thakur Dwara Sanatan Temple in Amritsar, and seized several incriminating materials, including mobiles/digital devices, in the border districts of Amritsar and Gurdaspur in Punjab. The NIA linked the March 14 grenade attack in Amritsar to a foreign-backed terror network that radicalised and armed Indian youth using drugs and money.
05-Aug-2025
Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, on August 5 chaired a high-level meeting with senior police officers in Chandigarh to review the ongoing anti-drug campaign, law and order, and security arrangements ahead of Independence Day. He also shared updates on the Yudh Nasheyan Virudh campaign, launched on March 1, under which the Punjab Police have registered 15,671 First Information Reports (FIRs), arrested 24,639 drug smugglers, and recovered 1,020 kg of heroin, 330 kg of opium, 21 tonnes of poppy husk, 14 kg of charas, 377 kg of ganja, 3.3 kg of cocaine, 31.74 lakh intoxicant pills, and INR 12.25 crore in cash.
05-Aug-2025
Punjab Police on August 5 arrested two operatives of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang after a brief encounter, identified as Sumit Bishnoi and Pankaj Malik, and seized a .32 pistol and four live cartridges from their possession, in Dera Bassi Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district.
05-Aug-2025
On August 5, Punjab Police, on day 157 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 89 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 109 drug smugglers, and seized 1.5 kg of heroin, 1.1 kg of opium, 35 quintals of poppy husk and INR 44,910 drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers, across Punjab.
04-Aug-2025
Police on August 4 arrested Nav Pandori, a close associate of gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, and seized a pistol from his possession in Amritsar, Amritsar district. His arrest follows the earlier detention of two individuals, Gora and Joban, who were caught with a major consignment of weapons smuggled from Pakistan. The seizure included one AK-308 Saiga assault rifle with two magazines, two Glock 9 mm pistols with four magazines, 90 live cartridges for the AK rifle, 10 live 9 mm cartridges, INR 7.5 lakh in drug money, an i20 car, and three mobile phones. According to police, Pandori was the intended recipient of the consignment and had gone into hiding following its recovery.
04-Aug-2025
On August 4, a large crowd of demonstrators led by the Quami Insaaf Morcha marched through Patiala, demanding the release of Sikh prisoners who have completed their sentences and calling for stricter laws against the desecration of religious scriptures. The protesters raised slogans against the Punjab and Union governments, burnt effigies of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann, and accused them of neglecting key religious and human rights issues.
04-Aug-2025
On August 4, the Akal Takht summoned Punjab Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains to appear before the five Singh Sahiban (high priests) on August 6 for allegedly hurting Sikh sentiments by organising “entertainment performances” at a government event in Srinagar commemorating the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur. The meeting, to be held at the Akal Takht Sahib Secretariat in Amritsar under the leadership of officiating Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj, will deliberate on various Panthic and religious matters. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) had earlier condemned the performances as an affront to Sikh values, prompting Bains to express regret and offer to accept full moral responsibility.
04-Aug-2025
Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on August 4 launched the second phase of the Punjab government’s anti-drug campaign, “Yudh Nasheyan Virudh 2.0”, in Ludhiana. The initiative aims to mobilise public participation in the fight against drug trafficking. As part of the campaign, Defence Committees comprising 10 to 20 members will be established in villages and urban wards to monitor and report drug-related activities in coordination with the police.
04-Aug-2025
Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on August 4 claimed that the drug problem in Punjab had substantially declined due to the ongoing crackdown under his government’s anti-drug campaign, “Yudh Nasheyan Virudh, while addressing the media in Ludhiana in Ludhiana district. Launched on March 1 with an initial three-month deadline, the campaign was later extended beyond May 31. CM Mann stated the problem had been “significantly reduced” through collective efforts, though not fully eliminated.
04-Aug-2025
On August 4, Punjab Police, on day 156 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 63 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 87 drug smugglers and seized 967 grams of heroin, 267 kg of poppy husk and 1869 intoxicant tablets/capsules from the possession of arrested drug smugglers, across Punjab. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 24,592 in 156 days.
03-Aug-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on August 3 arrested two unidentified drug smugglers and seized 610 grams of heroin near Kalsian village in Tarn Taran district.
03-Aug-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on August 3 recovered a drone from fields near Barreke village in Ferozepur district. The recovered drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
03-Aug-2025
Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police on August 3 recovered 755 grams of heroin from a plastic container near Noorwala village in Tarn Taran district.
03-Aug-2025
On August 3, Punjab Police, on day 155 of its ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign, registered 75 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 116 drug smugglers and seized 1.7 kg of heroin, 1 kg of opium, 298 kg of poppy husk, 37,085 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 11.88 lakh drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers, across Punjab.
02-Aug-2025
Police on August 2 arrested two gangsters, identified as Sahil Josan and Sukhpal Singh Palu, following a brief encounter near Arniwala village in Fazilka district. According to the police, the duo were involved in the July 7 murder of Abohar-based businessman Sanjay Verma, co-owner of New Wear Well Emporium. They are also named in multiple serious cases, including murder and offences under the Arms Act.
02-Aug-2025
According to sources, Punjab Police has launched a state-wide security drive ahead of Independence Day (August 15, 2025) to ensure peaceful celebrations and prevent potential threats. A two-week-long special operation is underway, with all Commissioners of Police (CPs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) directed to intensify night patrols, enforce strict naka checking, and conduct anti-gangster and anti-terror operations. Surveillance has been heightened at public places, sensitive locations, and jails, with a close watch on suspicious movements.
02-Aug-2025
On August 2, Punjab Police, on day 154 of its ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign, registered 80 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 107 drug smugglers and seized 13.9 kg of heroin, 500 grams of opium, and INR 34,820 in drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers, across Punjab.
02-Aug-2025
Police on August 2 arrested two drug smugglers, identified as Gurpreet Singh alias Gori, and Gurpreet Singh alias Kali, and seized 8.3 kg of heroin from their possession, in Madhre village in Ferozepur district.
02-Aug-2025
Police on August 2 arrested one drug smuggler, identified as Jograj Singh alias Samar and seized 4.7 kg of heroin along with disassembled parts of a pistol and eight cartridges from his possession, near Mohkam Khewala village in Ferozepur district.