KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
25-Jul-2025
Punjab Police on July 25 arrested one drug smuggler, identified as Ramesh Kumar and seized 15 kg of heroin from his possession, near Sodhi Nagar village in Ferozepur district.
25-Jul-2025
Punjab Police on July 25 arrested two gangster operatives of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, identified as Manav and Sachin, and seized nine pistols, one revolver and 22 cartridges from their possession, in Patiala in Patiala district.
25-Jul-2025
Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Khaalra police, on July 25 recovered a packet containing heroin weighing 467 grams along with a drone from fields near Dal village in Tarn Taran district.
25-Jul-2025
Jalandhar rural police on July 25 arrested four members of a gang of criminals involved in cases of murder, attempt to murder, robbery, dacoity, loot, snatching and drug peddling, identified as Joginder Pal alias Sunny, Mandeep Kumar alias Mani, Deepak Saroye and Gurmukh Singh, and seized two pistols, four cartridges, one cartridge shell, three sharp-edged weapons (datar) and two stolen bikes from their possession, in Jalandhar in Jalandhar district. Two other gang members, Ranveer Singh and Baljinder Kumar Talli, are still absconding.
25-Jul-2025
Ropar police on July 25 arrested three gangsters, after a brief exchange of fire, identified as Gurvinder Singh alias Bhola, Navtej Singh alias Teji, and Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi, and seized one 9 mm Glock pistol along with a magazine, one live cartridge and three shells from their possession, in Bhindran Nagar near Rupnagar in Rupnagar district. The accused were wanted for the July 4 murder of Jugraj Singh in Amritsar (Rural) and had been hiding in a dilapidated building near the Sutlej River.
24-Jul-2025
Punjab Police on July 24 arrested two unidentified drug smugglers and seized 15 kg of heroin and illegal firearms following an encounter near Kapurthala in Kapurthala district. Police indicated possible links to a Pakistan-backed international drug trafficking syndicate.
23-Jul-2025
The Special Cell of the Delhi Police on July 23 arrested a Khalistani terrorist linked to Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), identified as Akash Deep alias Akash Singh in New Delhi. Akashdeep had been evading arrest by frequently changing locations and was finally traced while working as a crane operator at a construction site. He is accused of facilitating a recent grenade attack near Qila Lal Singh police station, for which BKI claimed responsibility. Police say he was in direct contact with BKI handlers abroad and played a key role in the group's logistics.
23-Jul-2025
A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on July 23 sentenced former Beas Station House Officer (SHO) Paramjit Singh to ten year imprisonment for abduction in the 1993 fake encounter case of two Punjab Police constables, in Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. Constables Surmukh Singh and Sukhwinder Singh were abducted, illegally detained, and later killed in a staged encounter, with their bodies cremated as unclaimed. The court also imposed a fine of INR 50,000 on him.
23-Jul-2025
In a challan submitted in an Ajnala court, two associates of Khalistani radical preacher and jailed Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Amritpal Singh, identified as Varinder Singh Fauji and Bhagwant Singh Bajeke, alleged that Amritpal consumed drugs while lodged in Dibrugarh Jail in Assam. Amritpal Singh’s legal adviser and Shiromani Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) spokesperson, Imaan Singh Khara, dismissed the claim as an attempt to malign him ahead of the Tarn Taran Assembly bypoll. Khara alleged that police coerced the accused into signing pre-drafted statements and pointed to discrepancies in the documents. He also stated that the third extension of the National Security Act (NSA) against Amritpal would be challenged in the Supreme Court.
23-Jul-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on July 23 neutralised five drones and recovered four packets containing 1.07 kg of heroin, three pistols and three magazines, near Mode village in Amritsar district. The drones were China made DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
23-Jul-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) in a joint operation with Punjab Police on July 23 recovered parts of pistols including upper slide and a magazine from fields near Dal village in Tarn Taran district.
23-Jul-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on July 23 intercepted and neutralised a drone and recovered a packet containing a pistol and two magazines from fields near Attari village in Amritsar district.
22-Jul-2025
The officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj, during a meeting in Amritsar on July 22, directed all members of the Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD) to become Amritdhari (initiated Sikhs) by September 1 or face termination of their membership. Citing violations of Sikh maryada, he declared the requirement “non-negotiable” and warned that non-compliance would not be tolerated. Gargaj also announced that Panj Piaras would be sent to conduct Amrit Sanchar for those willing to undergo initiation. CKD members absent from the meeting have been summoned to appear at the Akal Takht secretariat on August 1.
22-Jul-2025
On July 22, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami accused the Punjab government of creating a confrontational atmosphere by announcing separate events to commemorate Guru Teg Bahadur’s martyrdom. Dhami asserted that only the SGPC is authorised to organise such Panthic commemorations, alleging political interference in Sikh religious affairs. Responding sharply, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann questioned the SGPC’s silence during the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) regime, while Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders accused the SGPC of functioning under SAD's influence. The row has reignited tensions over control of Sikh religious institutions.
22-Jul-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on July 22 recovered two packets of heroin weighing 1.130 kg along with two drones from fields near Dhanoe Kalan village in Amritsar district. The recovered drones were DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
22-Jul-2025
On July 22, Punjab Police, on day 143 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign registered 74 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 103 drug smugglers and seized 544 grams of heroin and INR 11,860 drug money from their possession, across Punjab.
22-Jul-2025
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on July 22 in Amritsar said that security agencies had secured the IP addresses linked to recent bomb threats targeting the Golden Temple and assured that the culprits would be arrested soon. He made the statement after meeting Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami. Mann assured that scientific verification was under way and urged pilgrims to remain calm, adding that Punjab Police were fully alert and capable of handling the situation.
22-Jul-2025
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, during a media briefing in New Delhi on July 22, stated that India had raised the issue of Khalistani extremists with its United Kingdom (UK) counterparts ahead of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s visit to London. Misri described the matter as a concern for both countries, noting that such extremist activities threaten social cohesion and public order. He also confirmed that India and the UK are actively discussing the extradition of fugitives wanted by Indian law enforcement agencies.
22-Jul-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) in a joint operation with Ferozepur police on July 22 recovered 391 grams of heroin hidden near a canal in Pojoke village in Ferozepur district.
22-Jul-2025
On July 22, a police operation to arrest drug peddler Sukhwinder Singh turned violent, leaving two police officers and three villagers injured, in Ghaaia village in Hoshiarpur district in Punjab. Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Sarabjit stated that village sarpanch Kuldeep Kaur, her husband and former sarpanch Bhupinder Singh, along with residents Niranjan Singh and Harwinder Singh, assaulted him, pulled off his turban, and attempted to snatch his service pistol. During the scuffle, four bullets were accidentally discharged, causing splinter injuries to three villagers.
22-Jul-2025
Police on July 22 arrested Charanjit Kaur, mother of inmate Harpreet Singh, and Veerpal Kaur, his wife, and seized 35 grams of heroin from their possession, in Faridkot in Faridkot district. The heroin was found concealed in clothes they brought for Harpreet during a visit to Faridkot Central Jail.
22-Jul-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) in a joint operation with Punjab Police on July 22 arrested two unidentified drug smugglers and seized digital weighing scale and two motorcycles from their possession, near Dona Mattar village in Ferozepur district.
22-Jul-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on July 22 recovered two packets of heroin weighing 525 grams and one drone from near Border Outpost (BOP) Kassoke in Ferozepur district. The recovered drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
22-Jul-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) in a joint operation with Fazilka police on July 22 recovered several packets of heroin weighing 571 grams and a drone from fields near Hazara Ram Singh Wala village in Fazilka district. The drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
22-Jul-2025
A man, identified as Yadvinder Singh, who worked as the driver for Jiwanjot Singh alias Jugnu—recently given a clean chit by police in the Sidhu Moose Wala murder case—was shot dead by three bike-borne assailants at Brahmanwala village in Faridkot on July 22. Police officials suspect it to be a case of mistaken identity. According to officials, the incident occurred after Jugnu attended a bhog ceremony in the village. After the event, Jugnu switched vehicles, leaving his SUV to be driven by Yadvinder. As the SUV left the gurdwara, three motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire on it.