KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
23-Jun-2025
Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff of Punjab Police on June 23 arrested two individuals, identified as Lovpreet Singh Lov and Sukhpret Singh Sukh and seized 516 grams of heroin from their possession, in Bhura Kona village in Patti in Tarn Taran district.
23-Jun-2025
Delhi Police on June 23 intercepted an arms consignment linked to Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dala, arrested a key gang member identified as Ekamjot Singh Sandhu, and seized four semi-automatic pistols along with three spare magazines in Okhla, South East Delhi. Police disclosed that Sandhu procured the weapons from suppliers in Madhya Pradesh (MP) for delivery to Paramjeet Singh alias Pamma Bhikhi, another gang operative in Punjab. The arms were reportedly intended for a targeted killing in the Delhi-NCR region under Dala’s orders.
23-Jun-2025
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on June 23 paid tribute to the 329 victims of the 1985 Air India ‘Kanishka’ bombing on its 40th anniversary, describing it as a grim reminder of the global threat posed by terrorism. He reiterated India’s call for zero tolerance towards violent extremism. Carried out by Khalistani extremists, the bombing remains one of the deadliest acts of aviation terrorism in history.
23-Jun-2025
An official source on June 23 revealed that an ongoing investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has uncovered a nexus between Khalistani terrorists affiliated with Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and gangsters involved in illegal arms supply networks operating in Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Uttar Pradesh (UP). The probe found that BKI operatives, including designated terrorist Lakhbir Singh alias Landa, were procuring weapons through a network run by gangster Pavittar Singh alias Batala.
23-Jun-2025
On June 23, Punjab Police, on day 114 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign registered 85 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 126 drug smugglers and seized 5.3 kg of heroin, 200 grams of opium and INR 8850 drug money from their possession, across Punjab.
23-Jun-2025
According to sources, Satinderjeet Singh alias Goldy Brar and jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi are actively scouting for new shooters to strengthen their respective criminal networks, following a reported fallout driven by ego clashes. Brar, currently operating from the United States (US), recently released an audio message confirming the split. The rift has triggered heightened gang activity across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi, with virtual networks being coordinated from Tihar Jail, Bathinda Jail, and overseas.
23-Jun-2025
Police on June 23 arrested one drug smuggler, identified as Nirmal Singh and seized 4.916 kg of heroin from his possession, near Ratta Khera village in Ferozepur district.
23-Jun-2025
Khuian Sarwar Police on June 23 arrested one smuggler, identified as Islaudin Illu and seized 800 grams of opium from his possession, in Gumjal village in Fazilka district.
22-Jun-2025
The Amritsar rural police on June 22 arrested two persons, including an Army jawan, for allegedly spying for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), identified as Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi Fauji and Sahil Masih and seized two mobile phones containing virtual numbers used for communicating with their operatives, in Dhariwal village in Ajnala in Amritsar district. Police revealed that Gurpreet, recruited into the Army in 2016, was sharing sensitive military information via pen drives with ISI handler Rana Javed. The espionage network was facilitated by Dubai-based drug trafficker Arjan, originally from Dhariwal village.
22-Jun-2025
Punjab state admitted before the Punjab and Haryana High Court that investigations in 4,591 first information reports (FIRs) have been pending for over three years, out of a total of 6,054 such cases across the state, in Chandigarh. This disclosure follows the High Court's earlier expression of shock over the backlog in Amritsar district alone, where 1,338 FIRs had remained unresolved for over three years. State counsel that senior officials had been appointed to monitor progress and expedite investigations. The Bench sought a fresh status report by July 18.
22-Jun-2025
On June 22, police demolished three illegally constructed houses belonging to drug smugglers—Manjit Kaur, Jaswinder Kaur, and Rani Kaur—in Dhobiana Basti and Bhagta Bhai Ka village in Bathinda district, Punjab. The action was taken after the accused failed to respond to notices regarding encroachment on public land. All three women have multiple cases registered against them under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
22-Jun-2025
According to officials, Turkiye has emerged as a key link in the growing trend of foreign weapon smuggling into Punjab, with Turkish-made PX5 pistols increasingly being air-dropped via drones from Pakistan. In multiple operations in June 2025, including one on June 22 in Amritsar, Punjab Police recovered several PX5 pistols along with Glock 9MMs, heroin, and narco-funds, exposing a strong arms-drugs nexus. Intelligence suggests the weapons are supplied by Pakistan-based handlers, with Turkish drones and military-grade firearms now featuring prominently in cross-border smuggling operations aimed at destabilising the region.
22-Jun-2025
Amritsar police on June 22 arrested one operative of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), identified as Vishal Singh, and seized two .32 bore pistols smuggled from Pakistan from his possession, in Dhanoe Kalan village in Amritsar district. Police revealed that Vishal was linked to United Kingdom (UK) based handler Dharam Singh alias Dharam Sandhu and Pakistan based terrorist Harwinder Singh alias Rinda, and was part of a terror module using drone-supplied weapons for targeted killings.
22-Jun-2025
On June 22, Punjab Police on day 113 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign registered 98 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 151 drug smugglers and seized 533 grams of heroin, 2.8 kg of opium and INR 5.32 lakh drug money from their possession, across Punjab.
21-Jun-2025
Amritsar rural police on June 21 busted a cross-border drug smuggling racket and arrested its two key operatives identified as Lovepreet Singh alias Love and Balwinder Singh alias Bobby, and seized 6.15 kg of heroin, one PX5 pistol (30 bore), four live cartridges (30 bore), INR 10,000 drug money and a mobile phone from their possession, in Brar village in Ajnala in Amritsar district. Police stated that preliminary investigation revealed their direct contact with a Pakistan-based smuggler via WhatsApp, and that the Police are probing both forward and backward linkages to trace the wider network and illicit assets.
21-Jun-2025
Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) Staff of Punjab Police on June 21 arrested three youths identified as Adil Luthra, Surjit Kumar and Pawan Kumar and seized 150 grams of heroin from their possession, in Ramsara village in Abohar in Fazilka district.
21-Jun-2025
According to top government sources, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Canada marked a turning point in India-Canada relations, effectively overshadowing Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s failed attempts to incite unrest. The visit, which focused on strengthening cooperation in trade, clean energy, and security, reflected both leaders’ resolve to move beyond past tensions. Canadian PM Mark Carney’s pragmatic approach, coupled with the low turnout at anti-Modi protests, indicated a broader shift away from legitimising Khalistani separatist narratives.
21-Jun-2025
Punjab Police on June 21 busted a Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror module and arrested one operative, identified as Onkar Singh and seized four Glock-make pistols and two PX5 pistols from his possession in Amritsar in Amritsar district. Police revealed that the pistols were smuggled via drones from Pakistan and intended for targeted killings. The module was being handled by United Kingdom (UK) based Dharam Singh alias Dharma Sandhu, a close associate of Pakistan-based terrorist Harvinder Singh alias Rinda.
21-Jun-2025
The Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann, on June 21, gave ex-post facto approval for a high-powered sub-committee to intensify the State’s “Yudh Nashian Virudh” (War on Drugs) initiative, in Chandigarh.
21-Jun-2025
On June 21, Punjab Police, on day 112 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign registered 84 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 117 drug smugglers and seized 7.5 kg of heroin, 500 grams of opium and INR 39,640 drug money from their possession, across Punjab.
20-Jun-2025
Patna Police on June 20 arrested an individual, identified as Rakesh Kumar for issuing death threats to Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) president Upendra Kushwaha in the name of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, and seized a mobile phone, SIM card, and a diary with political contacts , in Patna in Bihar. The accused, a former associate of Kushwaha’s party, confessed he acted out of political frustration and had no real links to the gang.
20-Jun-2025
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on June 20 filed a chargesheet against a key associate of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Lakhbir Singh alias Landa and gangster Pavittar Batala, identified as Jatinder Singh alias Joti, in Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district in Punjab. Jatinder was involved in procuring illegal weapons from Madhya Pradesh (MP) for use by Punjab-based operatives. Investigations also revealed links to foreign-based handlers like Pakistan-based terrorist Harwinder Singh alias Rinda, and the use of encrypted communications.
20-Jun-2025
According to senior police officials, Punjab’s border with Pakistan has witnessed a sharp surge in the trafficking of arms, explosives, and narcotics, with advanced firearms such as Austria-made Glock and Turkey-made Zigana pistols being seized in significant numbers. Since January, 220 weapons have been recovered from Amritsar district alone. The Border Security Force (BSF) has also confiscated 74 pistols and neutralised 129 China-made drones along the Punjab frontier. Officials attribute this spike to a strategic shift by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), which is reportedly using drone-based smuggling routes to destabilise India by aggressively pushing in weapons and contraband.
20-Jun-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on June 20 recovered a drone along with a packet containing pistol parts from fields near Roranwala Khurd village in Amritsar district. The drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
20-Jun-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on June 20 neutralised a drone and recovered a bag containing 7.4 kg of methamphetamine (ICE) along with the drone from fields near Mode village in Amritsar district.