20-Sep-2023
Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, a Member of Parliament (MP) from the United Kingdom (UK) Labour Party on September 19 mentioned that he had been contacted by many anxious, angry, and fearful Sikhs following the sharp escalation of the India-Canada diplomatic ties due to allegations levelled against India by Canadian Prime minister (PM) Justin Trudeau.
19-Sep-2023
Charanjeet Kaur, the mother of Avtar Singh Khanda, the slain Khalistani terrorist and chief of Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) in London, has refused to accept the explanation of his death from acute myeloid Leukemia and a blood clot, claiming he was poisoned. However, West Midlands Police stated that after conducting a comprehensive review in response to such speculations, they concluded that there were no suspicious circumstances related to Khanda’s death.
18-Sep-2023
A spokesperson from the United Kingdom (UK) government stated that they are maintaining close communication with their Canadian counterparts regarding the serious allegations. They mentioned that it would not be suitable to provide further comments while the Canadian authorities are still conducting their investigation. Additionally, a spokesperson for Rishi Sunak informed Reuters that Trudeau's remarks have not disrupted the India-UK trade talks.
15-Sep-2023
A Sikh man identified as Jaswant Singh Chail, who had informed guards at Windsor Castle on Christmas Day 2021 that he intended to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II, apologized to King Charles III and the royal family on September 15 at the Old Bailey court in London, United Kingdom (UK). Chail, who claimed revenge for the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar as his motive, cited embarrassment and shame for his actions.
15-Sep-2023
According to reports, approximately 15,000 Sikhs are expected to attend a three-day convention that commenced on September 15 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Sikh Federation United Kingdom (UK) in Smethwick, West Midlands, UK. The convention will cover topics including preparations for the next General Election, the arrest and detention of Khalistani terrorist Jagtar Singh Johal in India, and Sikh hate crimes in the UK. The Sikh Federation UK anticipates an increase in the number of Sikh Members of Parliament (MPs), especially within a potential Labour Government, and criticizes the Conservative party's handling of issues related to Sikhs and democratic rights.
12-Sep-2023
United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister (PM) Rishi Sunak confirmed that he had raised the case of Jagtar Singh Johal, a UK-based individual currently held in Delhi’s Tihar jail on terrorism charges, with Indian PM Narendra Modi during the G20 summit held in New Delhi. Gurpreet Johal, Jagtar's older brother, expressed scepticism toward the UK government's actions, believing they are all talk and no action. He insists that more decisive steps, such as calling for his release, are necessary. Gurpreet believes the UK government's hesitancy to take firmer action could be linked to its pursuit of a long-delayed Brexit promise: securing a free trade agreement (FTA) with India.
08-Sep-2023
Lord Ahmad, the United Kingdom’s (UK) Minister for Asia, on September 8, communicated the UK government's decision through a letter to not call for the release of British citizen Jagtar Singh Johal, who is being held on terrorism charges at Tihar jail in New Delhi. In the letter addressed to Johal's Member of Parliament (MP), Martin Docherty-Hughes, Lord Ahmad cited concerns that such a call might be perceived as interference in the Indian judicial process and could impede consular assistance. Earlier, over 70 MPs had urged British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to request Johal's release during his visit to Delhi for the G20 summit.
06-Sep-2023
United Kingdom Prime Minister (PM) Rishi Sunak on September 6 assured India that the UK condemns all forms of extremism and is committed to countering pro-Khalistan activities. In an email interview with PTI, he emphasized the importance of lawful protests without violence. This reassurance comes ahead of Sunak's visit to India for the G20 summit, with the aim of strengthening India-UK ties despite concerns over the Khalistan issue.
06-Sep-2023
Over 70 Members of Parliament (MPs) from various United Kingdom (UK) political parties, on September 6, penned a letter calling on Prime Minister (PM) Rishi Sunak to advocate for the immediate release of British Sikh detainee Jagtar Singh Johal during his visit to India for the G20 summit. Johal has been imprisoned in India for over five years on connections to the banned terrorist organization Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and is currently held in Tihar Jail in Delhi.
04-Sep-2023
According to reports, on September 4, Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the United Kingdom (UK) opposition Labour Party, demoted Indian-origin shadow minister Preet Kaur Gill among others, reportedly over concerns regarding her alleged links to pro-Khalistani extremists. Gill's association with the Khalistan movement, connections to the Smethwick Gurudwara, which is dedicated to Khalistani terrorists and the terror group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), as well as her support for banned groups like the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), stirred controversy. Furthermore, she faced criticism for a controversial tweet and photographs with pro-Khalistani activists, ultimately leading to her removal from her position.
04-Sep-2023
The United Kingdom (UK) Minister for Local Government and Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities, Lee Rowley, on September 4 responded to a question from UK Member of Parliament (MP) Navendu Mishra, stating that anti-Hindu hatred is abhorrent and has no place in UK communities.
25-Aug-2023
A man of Punjabi origin, Sundeep Singh Rai, and his accomplice, Billy Hayre, on August 25 were sentenced to 12 years in prison each for conspiring to smuggle banned drugs into the United Kingdom (UK) at Wolverhampton Crown Court in Wolverhampton, UK. They were part of an organized crime group that attempted to bring 30 kilograms of cocaine and 30 kilograms of amphetamine from Mexico to the UK via a cargo plane. The National Crime Agency (NCA) led the investigation, which resulted in their arrests and convictions. The NCA emphasized its commitment to disrupting the supply.
21-Aug-2023
According to reports, the death of Avtar Singh Khanda, the United Kingdom (UK)-based chief of the Khalistani militant outfit Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), has sparked conspiracy theories of foul play. However, UK authorities have confirmed that his death resulted from Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) with no suspicious elements involved. Khalistani separatists are propagating these conspiracy theories to fuel division and recruit followers. It is crucial to debunk misinformation and guard against the manipulation of facts for political agendas.
17-Aug-2023
The Metropolitan Police on August 17 confirmed that Gurpreet Singh, an Indian Sikh man, has been charged with stabbing two men and possessing a knife in connection to an altercation that took place on August 15 between pro-Khalistan activists and a group of Indian-origin men waving the Indian tricolour on Southall Broadway in West London, United Kingdom (UK). Singh has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear at Isleworth Crown Court on September 14. Another man, who was also arrested in connection with this case, was later released on police bail pending further inquiries.
15-Aug-2023
Two Indian men were injured in a violent clash that erupted between a group of Indian men commemorating India’s Independence Day and a small assembly of around five British Sikhs advocating for Khalistan in West London, United Kingdom (UK) on August 15.
15-Aug-2023
A violent clash erupted on August 15 between hundreds of Indians celebrating Independence Day and a group of around five pro-Khalistan British Sikhs outside Southall in West London, United Kingdom (UK). The Indian men were raising slogans in support of India, while the Khalistan supporters declined to participate and were carrying Khalistan flags.
14-Aug-2023
The chief of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, claimed in a video released on August 14 to have raised £250,000 (INR 2.6 crore) for a Khalistan Referendum vote in Scotland in 2024. This claim comes in response to the Indian government's crackdown on Sikh Khalistani activists in the United Kingdom (UK). This development follows UK Security Minister Tom Tugendhat's visit to India, during which he announced a recent allocation of £95,000 (INR 1 crore) to enhance the UK's capacity to combat pro-Khalistan extremism.
12-Aug-2023
The funeral of Avtar Singh Khanda, the United Kingdom (UK) based chief of the Khalistani militant outfit Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), took place in Smethwick, West Midlands, UK on August 12. The event was attended by approximately 1,000 people who were dressed in orange attire, carried Khalistan flags, and chanted pro-Khalistani slogans. The funeral procession featured a white carriage bearing Khanda's coffin. On top of the carriage, white wreaths were arranged to spell out "Khalistan" on one side and "Zindabaad" on the other, with two yellow "Khalistan flags" attached. His immediate family, including his mother Charanjit Kaur and sister Jaspreet Kaur from Punjab, were denied UK visas and thus watched the funeral via livestream.
10-Aug-2023
United Kingdom (UK) based chief of Khalistani militant outfit Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), Avtar Singh Khanda's funeral will be held at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Smethwick in West Midlands in the UK on August 12. Khanda passed away on June 15, 2023 in Birmingham, UK.
02-Aug-2023
The Sikh Federation in United Kingdom (UK) on August 2 accused the Indian investigation agency National Investigation Agency (NIA) of intimidating and targeting relatives of prominent pro-Khalistan leaders living abroad, including British Sikhs after the NIA raided homes of Khalistani leaders linked to Khalsa Aid, Federation of Sikh Organisations (FSO ) and Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) among others, in an attempt to uncover the conspiracy behind the attack on the Indian High Commission in London, UK.
31-Jul-2023
Sikh Press Association on July 31 announced that the funeral Avtar Singh Khanda, the United Kingdom (UK) based head of Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), will take place at Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick in Sandwell, UK on August 5. Khanda's family in India, including his mother Charanjit Kaur and sister Jaspreet Kaur from Moga, Punjab, were unable to repatriate his body to Punjab, and denied visas to travel to the UK for his last rites.
25-Jul-2023
West Midlands police on July 25 confirmed that they are not investigating the death of Avtar Singh Khanda, the United Kingdom (UK) based head of Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), as it was not deemed suspicious. Khanda passed away at Birmingham City Hospital, UK on June 15 due to terminal blood cancer. Pro-Khalistan groups had speculated that he was deliberately poisoned, but the hospital confirmed otherwise.
24-Jul-2023
An investigation by the British tabloid The Daily Mail on July 24 revealed that some United Kingdom (UK) lawyers are allegedly ‘coaching’ illegal Indian migrants to fake asylum claims by pretending to be persecuted Khalistanis. The undercover investigation exposed 40 law firms involved in this activity. Several lawyers suggested false narratives of farmers' protests held in India in 2021, Khalistan separatist protests led by Amritpal Singh, and threats from Indian security forces. Meanwhile, in response to the investigation, UK Prime Minister (PM) Rishi Sunak vowed on July 25 to tackle illegal immigration and secure deals with France and Albania for better border control.
23-Jul-2023
India has approved a 'limited diplomatic immunity waiver' for its diplomats in the United Kingdom (UK) concerning the investigation into the pro-Khalistan attack on the Indian mission on March 19. The waiver will apply during the trial stage. Earlier, the London Police requested the immunity waiver for witnesses and complainants at the Indian mission. Indian missions in the United States (US), Canada, and Australia have also faced attacks by pro-Khalistan supporters. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is probing the London attack and has released images of suspects involved in vandalizing the high commission. The Indian government is working with key countries to counter Sikh radicals' network in various Western capitals.
08-Jul-2023
The pro-Khalistan protest outside the Indian High Commission in London, United Kingdom (UK) on July 8 concluded with a low number of participants. A modest gathering of 30-40 individuals supporting Khalistan was witnessed between 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm local time on July 8. The security in the area was beefed up with the UK police calling in additional forces to the spot. The demonstration, organized in response to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, lasted for a shorter duration than planned. Protesters displayed banners blaming India's High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami and Consul General in Birmingham, Shashank Vikram for Nijjar's death, along with posters expressing support for Pakistan.