KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
18-Jul-2025
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on July 18 welcomed the United States’ (US) decision to designate The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), as a global terrorist entity. The MEA called it a timely and important step, highlighting strong India-US cooperation on counter-terrorism.
18-Jul-2025
Majitha police on July 18 arrested four drug peddlers, identified as Manish Kumar alias Mannu, Vikrant, Harpreet Singh alias Happy, and Sajandeep Singh, and seized 100 grams of heroin from their possession in Majitha in Amritsar district.
18-Jul-2025
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on July 18 received another email threatening to blow up the Golden Temple—the eighth such threat since July 14. Security was intensified, with additional police personnel and plainclothes officers deployed across the shrine complex.
17-Jul-2025
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, while addressing the media in New Delhi on July 17, stated that India-Canada relations are “moving in a positive direction,” signalling a thaw after a year of tensions following the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023. Jaiswal noted ongoing efforts to appoint High Commissioners and highlighted recent talks between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit as part of efforts to reset bilateral ties.
17-Jul-2025
On July 17, Punjab Police, on day 138 of its ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign, registered 81 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 113 drug smugglers and seized 1.5 kg of heroin, 5 kg of opium, and 31,237 intoxicant pills from their possession across Punjab. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested in 138 days of the campaign has reached 22,377.
17-Jul-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) in a joint operation with Ferozepur Police on July 17 recovered 7.67 kg of heroin from near the Hussainiwala village in Ferozepur district.
17-Jul-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) in a joint operation with Ferozepur Police on July 17 arrested three individuals, identified as Jaswinder Singh, Krishan Singh alias Lala and Varinder Singh and seized 1.916 kg of heroin, a foreign-made drone fitted with dual remote controls, multiple mobile phones, a weighing scale, and a motorcycle from their possession, in Fateh Wala alias Jallo Ke village in Ferozepur district. Jaswinder Singh was arrested first, and based on information provided by him, Krishan and Varinder were arrested.
17-Jul-2025
Ferozepur Police on July 17 arrested one individual, identified as Karandeep Singh alias Karan and seized 2 kg of opium, an iPhone, and a Swift car from his possession, near Zira-Talwandi T point near Talwandi in Ferozepur district.
17-Jul-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on July 17 recovered three packets of heroin weighing 1.744 kg along with four DJI Mavic 3 Classic drones from fields near Pulmoran village in Amritsar district.
17-Jul-2025
Global Sikh Council (GSC) president Dr. Kanwaljit Kaur and Secretary Harjeet Singh Grewal on July 17 issued a joint statement urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reopen the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, which has remained closed since May 7. Emphasising that the corridor is a vital spiritual route for Sikhs worldwide, the GSC said its continued suspension, despite ongoing ceasefire with Pakistan, hurts religious sentiments and undermines the spirit of peace and harmony the corridor was meant to uphold.
17-Jul-2025
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami, on July 17 in Amritsar, stated that the SGPC would approach the Union government for permission to send a Sikh jatha to Pakistan for Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Parkash Gurpurb on November 5. Emphasizing the deep religious significance of the pilgrimage, Dhami asserted that such visits are a longstanding tradition and should continue despite ongoing tensions following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
17-Jul-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on July 17 recovered 15 packets of heroin weighing a total of 8.6 kg from fields near Bhanewala village in Ferozepur district.
17-Jul-2025
Counter Counter-Intelligence (CI) wing of Amritsar Police on July 17 busted a cross-border arms smuggling ring, by arresting a drug smuggler, identified as Harjinder Singh, and seizing ten sophisticated .30 bore pistols with magazines, smuggled from Pakistan, from his possession, near Bohru Pul near Bohru village in Amritsar district. Police revealed that Singh was working in collusion with a Pakistan-based smuggler using drones to drop arms consignments, which were meant to be supplied to gangsters across Punjab to fuel criminal activity.
16-Jul-2025
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) received three more threat emails on July 16, bringing the total to five in just three days, all targeting the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The emails warned of explosives being planted inside the shrine, triggering widespread alarm. SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami expressed frustration over the authorities’ inaction, pointing out that even Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Singh Mann and Member of Parliament (MP) Gurjit Singh, who also received one of the emails, have remained silent. He questioned the delay in tracing the emails, stating that even basic cyber tools should have been sufficient. Dhami warned that the threats appear to be part of a larger conspiracy to spread fear and discourage devotees, and urged the government to respond swiftly.
16-Jul-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) Deputy Inspector General AK Vidyarthi stated that cross-border drone intrusions by Pakistani smugglers—initially reduced after Operation Sindoor—have resumed with greater precision for the delivery of drugs, arms, and ammunition. He noted that upgraded drones are now capable of penetrating 2 to 2.5 kilometres or more into Indian territory, employing high-altitude flights and zigzag routes to evade detection. The enhanced accuracy of these incursions presents renewed challenges, particularly as India’s anti-drone capabilities remain limited compared to the advanced Chinese-manufactured drones being used by the smugglers.
16-Jul-2025
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gulneet Singh Khurana stated at a press conference in Rupnagar that between March 1 and June 30, the Ropar district police registered 225 cases against drug peddlers. He added that 104 addicts were admitted to de-addiction centres, while 115 individuals were enrolled in Opioid Assisted Treatment (OAT) programmes.
15-Jul-2025
On July 15, the official Instagram page of late singer-rapper Sidhu Moose Wala announced a puzzling “Signed to God World Tour” scheduled for 2026, sparking confusion and speculation among fans. Since his death in 2022, Sidhu’s posthumous music releases have continued to gain popularity, but the tour announcement has led many to wonder if it will feature a hologram performance. The organisers have yet to release any details regarding the format, venues, or participating performers.
15-Jul-2025
Amritsar rural police on July 15 arrested two drug smugglers, identified as Yograj Singh and Gurjit Singh, and seized 5 kg of heroin, which was smuggled from Pakistan from their possession, near Mode village in Amritsar district.
15-Jul-2025
On July 15, NRI Amritpal Singh Dhillon was arrested from his home in Dasupur village in Jalandhar district for causing the death of 114-year-old marathoner Fauja Singh in a hit-and-run accident near Jalandhar. According to the police, Dhillon fled the scene after the accident, hid his Fortuner SUV in a garage, and began using a bike to evade detection.
15-Jul-2025
On July 15, Punjab Police, on day 136 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 75 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 97 drug smugglers and seized 8.3 kg of heroin, 507 grams of opium, from their possession, across Punjab.
15-Jul-2025
Amritsar Rural Police on July 15 arrested two individuals, identified as Akashdeep Singh and Amandeep Singh, and seized two Glock pistols, a drone, and a car from their possession in Jagdev Khurd village in Ajnala, Amritsar district. The arrests are linked to a high-profile ICE (methamphetamine) drug case, with 1.227 kg of meth recovered so far. Further investigation into the accused's network and assets is currently underway.
15-Jul-2025
The Counter Intelligence (CI) wing of the Punjab Police, in a joint operation on July 15, arrested five operatives linked to the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang, identified as Lovepreet Singh, Sikandar Kumar alias Gola, Onkarpreet alias Jashan, Gagandeep alias Giani, and Mehakpreet Singh, and seized two pistols from their possession near Amritsar in Amritsar district. The accused, acting on the directions of United States (US)-based gangster Husandeep Singh, were allegedly plotting to kill a rival gangster to avenge the murder of Jaggu Bhagwanpuria’s mother.
15-Jul-2025
The management of the Golden Temple received a second consecutive bomb threat via email on July 15, claiming that RDX had been planted inside pipes within the shrine premises in Amritsar. In response, bomb squads, sniffer dogs, and police commandos were deployed, with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Amritsar Police maintaining high alert. A similar threat had been received earlier on July 14.
15-Jul-2025
According to sources, the latest bomb threat email received by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) at 3:37 AM on July 15 was addressed to SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami and titled “Khalistan-Udhayanidhi Nexus.” This marked the third consecutive day of such threats, with similar emails received on July 13 and 14. The email also warned of undetected RDX-based improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted on the premises. Although bomb squads have conducted multiple searches, the sender remains unidentified.
14-Jul-2025
On July 14, Border Security Force (BSF) troops recovered a packet of heroin weighing 3.556 kg from fields near Thetherke village in Gurdaspur district. The packet, wrapped in yellow tape with an iron hook, suggests it was drone-dropped.