KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
20-Jun-2025
According to officials, the seizure of 7.4 kg of high-purity methamphetamine (ICE) in Mode village, Amritsar district, on June 20 signals a concerning shift in the regional drug trade, with traffickers increasingly prioritising methamphetamine over heroin. The Taliban’s poppy ban has crippled Afghanistan’s opium economy, prompting smugglers to manufacture ICE using ephedra plants in makeshift labs across Afghanistan. This plant-based meth is then routed through Pakistan into Punjab, posing a growing threat to vulnerable youth in the region.
20-Jun-2025
Punjab Police on June 20 carried out a special operation ‘OPS Seal-XV’ as part of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign against drugs, in which 900 personnel were deployed at 93 checkpoints, checking 3,180 vehicles, issuing 367 challans, and impounding 7 vehicles, across 10 inter-state border districts namely Pathankot, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Fazilka, Rupanagar, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (SAS) Nagar, Patiala, Sangrur, Mansa, Hoshiarpur and Bathinda districts, across Punjab.
20-Jun-2025
On June 20, Punjab Police, on day 111 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign registered 98 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 127 drug smugglers and seized 4.2 kg of heroin, 3 kg of opium, 118 kg of poppy husk and INR 11,170 drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers, across Punjab.
20-Jun-2025
A recently released audio clip has revealed a growing rift between jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his former associate, Satinderjeet Singh alias Goldy Brar. Intelligence sources suggest the fallout stems from Brar and Azerbaijan-based gangster Rohit Godara’s alleged failure to support Bishnoi’s brother, Anmol, during his detention in the United States (US). In the clip, Brar distances himself from Anmol and claims responsibility for a June 17 shooting in Rajasthan, while denying any links to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Punjab Police are currently verifying the clip’s authenticity, though officials maintain it will not impact ongoing investigations.
19-Jun-2025
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami on June 19, in Amritsar, urged the Indian government to act swiftly to ensure the safety of Sikh religious scriptures in Iran and Israel amid escalating tensions. He appealed for the protection of gurdwaras and the sacred ‘saroops’ of Guru Granth Sahib in both countries.
19-Jun-2025
On June 19, Punjab Police, on day 110 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 100 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 132 drug smugglers and seized 1.08 kg of heroin and INR 87,540 drug money from their possession, across Punjab.
19-Jun-2025
Police on June 19 arrested five henchmen of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, identified as Tejinder Singh Fauji, Rahul, Vipal Kumar, Sukhchain Singh and Dev Karan, and seized three .30 bore pistols, three .32 bore pistols and one .315 bore country-made pistol, along with 10 magazines and 11 rounds from their possession, in Patiala in Patiala district. Police revealed that the weapons were sourced from Madhya Pradesh (MP) and efforts are underway to arrest the supplier.
18-Jun-2025
On June 18, an individual identified as Yograj was killed after being caught in the crossfire during a violent clash between two rival groups outside a gym in Nakodar, Jalandhar district, Punjab. The shootout, involving occupants of a Toyota Fortuner and a Maruti Dzire, also left another youth, Dilpreet Singh, seriously injured. Police confirmed that Yograj was an uninvolved bystander who was fatally shot when he stepped outside the gym. Authorities are treating the incident as gang-related, though no arrests have been made so far.
18-Jun-2025
The State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) Mohali on June 18 arrested Resham Singh, a key operative of the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and a close aide of its chief, Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in Kharar, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district, Punjab. Resham was wanted for vandalising a statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in Phillaur and defacing public property with pro-Khalistan graffiti across multiple districts. Acting on instructions from U.S.-based handlers, including Pannun and Surinder Singh Thikriwal, Resham reportedly received INR 8–10 lakh in foreign funding to carry out anti-national activities. Authorities stated he filmed these acts for use in SFJ’s propaganda campaigns abroad.
18-Jun-2025
A recent report by The Wire has revealed deepening divisions within Punjab’s Sikh community following the brutal murder of social media influencer Kamal Kaur, allegedly carried out by a self-styled Nihang group that accused her of 'spreading obscenity.' The killing, which took place on June 10, 2025, has sparked a contentious public debate after senior Sikh religious leaders—including figures from the Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC)—appeared to justify the act. The prime accused, Amritpal Singh Mehron, a convert to Sikhism and head of the fringe group Kaum De Rakhe, has reportedly fled to Dubai, even as Punjab Police continue efforts to secure his arrest.
18-Jun-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) in a joint operation with Punjab Police on June 18 arrested three unidentified smugglers and seized 500 grams of heroin, two drones, pistol parts and five mobile phones from their possession, in Raja Rai village in Ferozepur district.
18-Jun-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF) on June 18 recovered a drone from fields near Kalia village in Tarn Taran district. The recovered drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic Model.
18-Jun-2025
The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police, on June 18 recovered a drone from fields near Gendhu Kilcha village in Ferozepur district.
18-Jun-2025
On June 18, Punjab Police, on day 109 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 107 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 151 drug smugglers and seized 3.5 kg of heroin, 1.3 kg of opium and INR 9.59 lakh drug money from their possession, across Punjab.
18-Jun-2025
The Amritsar police Commissionerate on June 18 arrested an individual, identified as Jaspreet Singh, in connection with death threats issued to social media influencer Deepika Luthra, in Ludhiana district in Punjab. This follows the earlier arrest of Ramandeep Singh. Luthra was provided armed police protection after she reported the threats.
18-Jun-2025
On June 18, a local court remanded Nimratjeet Singh and Jaspreet Singh to 14-day judicial custody in connection with the murder of social media influencer Kanchan Kumari alias Kamal Kaur Bhabhi, in Bathinda in Bathinda district in Punjab. The police stated that the duo, along with absconding mastermind Amritpal Singh Mehron, strangled her in an act of moral policing.
17-Jun-2025
According to reports, despite being the prime accused in the murder of social media influencer Kanchan Kumari alias Kamal Kaur Bhabhi, Amritpal Singh Mehron is being openly glorified as a ‘Kaum Da Heera’ and ‘Izzat De Rakhe’ through unauthorised posters displayed across parts of Punjab. While Bathinda Police have issued a lookout notice for Mehron, the local administration - currently preoccupied with the Ludhiana West Assembly byelection - has yet to act against the illegal flex boards or the organisations promoting him.
17-Jun-2025
Speaking to ANI on June 17, author Kushal Mehra addressed what he termed Canada’s 'Khalistan obsession,' stating that it has become irritating even to local Canadians. He criticised leaders like Justin Trudeau and Jagmeet Singh for continuing to indulge separatist elements despite growing public frustration. Mehra warned against underestimating the political clout of these extremists and emphasized that stable Indo-Canadian relations are essential for shared trade interests and democratic values.
17-Jun-2025
On June 17, Punjab Police, on day 108 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, registered 81 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 128 drug smugglers and seized 10.8 kg of heroin, 2 kg of opium and INR 2.40 lakh drug money from their possession, across Punjab.
17-Jun-2025
Ferozepur police on June 17 arrested one individual, identified as Harmesh Singh and seized 9.4 kg of heroin and INR 2.10 lakh drug money from his possession, in Zira in Ferozepur district in Punjab. His accomplice, Ajay, managed to flee under the cover of darkness and is currently absconding.
17-Jun-2025
Ferozepur police on June 17 arrested five individuals, identified as Manpreet Singh, Raman Singh, Kulwant Singh, Mandeep Kumar and Gurvinder Singh and seized 45,000 intoxicating capsules from their possession in Ferozepur in Ferozepur district.
16-Jun-2025
On June 16, Sikh leaders including Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Rajya Sabha MPs Vikramjit Singh Sahney and Satnam Singh Sandhu strongly condemned a viral video showing young Sikh children kicking posters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In their statements, they called the act politically motivated and deeply inappropriate, criticising the exploitation of children to spread hate.
16-Jun-2025
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Secretary Pratap Singh, on June 16 in Amritsar, announced that no Sikh pilgrim jatha will be sent to Pakistan this year to observe the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh on June 29. He cited ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, along with directives from the Indian government, as the reasons for the decision. Although pilgrims had already submitted their passports, the SGPC has decided to cancel the pilgrimage in view of the current circumstances.
16-Jun-2025
On June 16, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global watchdog on terrorist financing, issued a statement strongly condemning the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, noting that such acts are not possible without financial backing. The FATF emphasized the need for stronger global counter-terror financing measures and announced new guidelines to assess terror funding risks. Indian officials welcomed the rare condemnation, viewing it as an acknowledgment of Pakistan’s role in state-sponsored terrorism and pushing for its re-listing on the FATF grey list.
16-Jun-2025
On June 16, Punjab Police, on day 107 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign registered 76 first information reports (FIRs), arrested 102 drug smugglers and seized 688 grams of heroin, 105 kg of poppy husk, 2,164 intoxicant pills, and INR 26,910 in drug money from their possession, across Punjab.