08-Feb-2020
According to reports, Pakistan’s National Assembly was informed that a proposal for allowing passport-free entry for Sikh pilgrims to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur was under consideration, in order to attract more visitors. Interior Minister Ijaz Shah said that a proposal for entry without passport, in order to attract more visitors, was under consideration, for which detailed input might be sought from the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
07-Feb-2020
The management authority of Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara has lifted ban on Muslims for partaking langar at this historic Sikh shrine in Pakistan. The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) president Satwant Singh informed that now all the non-Sikh pilgrims can also pay obeisance and partake langar at Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib but they would have to cover their heads while entering into the Gurdwara premises.
06-Feb-2020
Pakistan media and government have kept their silence over the killing of KLF chief Harmeet Singh alias Happy PhD. Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) president Satwant Singh denied any knowledge about Harmeet’s killing or any Sikh outside Gurudwara Bebe Nanaki. “These are canards and there is not an iota of truth in them,” he said.
02-Feb-2020
According to some sources, the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) leader, Harmeet Singh alias Happy PhD was murdered over an alleged illicit affair with a married Muslim woman from Pakistan. The sources said, Harmeet Singh was having an affair with a Pakistani woman from some time and did not pay heed to warnings from the family members of his paramour after their relation became an 'open secret'. "Earlier it was believed that Happy was killed in a gang war over drug money. He might have been killed over an illicit affair. The woman was a close relative of a Pakistani drug lord. He used to visit the family regularly and later developed intimate relations with the woman. Woman's family knew about their affair and had asked him to maintain a distance from the woman", sources added.
29-Jan-2020
According to reports, though the parents of killed Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) ‘chief’ Harmeet Singh alias Happy PhD in Amritsar want Pakistan to return his body for cremation, Pakistan won’t agree with this as the Khalistani terrorist was living under fake identity at Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. According to the documents. His parents, father Avtar Singh and mother Khushbir Kaur, live in Chheharta area in Amritsar, Punjab. However, his Pakistan documents identify him as 37-year-old Bhupinder Singh. According to his identity card, given to him according to security officials by Pakistan’s deep state, Happy was Bhupinder Singh, son of Sant Singh, Mohalla Balila Nard, Gurudwara Pati Saheb, Nankana Saheb. His religious identity card, which shows his date of birth as December 12, 1983, was valid till May 31, 2024.
29-Jan-2020
According to Pakistani private news channels, Pakistan’s intelligence agencies had countered Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)’s (India’s intelligence agency) plan to launch a terror attack along the route of the Kartarpur Corridor, through which India had wanted to incite Sikhs to carry out anti-Pakistan activities. However, India did not react to Pakistan’s claim.
29-Jan-2020
According to local sources, the slain Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) ‘chief’ Harmeet Singh alias Happy PhD was cremated at Babu Sabu Chowk cremation ground in Lahore in the presence of fellow Khalistani extremist Lakhbir Singh Rode, the ‘chief’ of International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) on January 29. A superintendent-rank police officer and the Station House Officer of the Dera Chahal station were also present at the cremation ground where Happy PhD was discreetly cremated, sources said.
28-Jan-2020
The Pakistani media did not report a word on the killing of Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) ‘chief’ Harmeet Singh alias Happy PhD apparently because of the sensitivity attached to the matter, sources said. He was reportedly killed near Dera Chahal Gurudwara on the outskirts of Lahore in Pakistan on January 27. According to local sources, the body of slain militant was not shifted to any of the Lahore’s morgue for autopsy and there was no FIR registered over his murder. Sources said, "We have been asked not to pursue this case. Therefore, no FIR has been registered in the murder of Harmeet Singh."The law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the area near the Gurudwara in Burki since January 27 and no one including journalists were allowed to visit there. It was also reported that he was shot dead by a local gang over financial disputes related to drug smuggling.
27-Jan-2020
According to sources, the ‘chief’ of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), Harmeet Singh alias Happy PhD was reportedly killed by a local gang over financial disputes stemming from drug smuggling at the Dera Chahal Gurudwara near Lahore in Pakistan. Harmeet Singh was wanted in India in several cases, and involved in the smuggling of weapons and drugs from Pakistan. He was also allegedly involved in the targeted killing of Hindu leaders in Punjab in 2016-2017. The Interpol, acting on India’s request, in October 2018, issued red corner notice against Harmeet Singh along with seven other Khalistani terrorists based in different countries. He was a resident of Chheharta in Amritsar, Punjab in India and he was living in Pakistan for the last two decades.
22-Jan-2020
According to sources, prominent Sikh leader and a minority rights activist, Radesh Singh Tony, along with his family from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, left Pakistan due to threats to his life and is likely to take asylum in India. He has been targeted by Islamist extremists and has received threats several times. He has also been critical of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government and complaining about the deteriorating law and order situation in Pakistan.
21-Jan-2020
According to reports, a prominent Sikh political leader in Pakistan, Radesh Singh Tony was forced to leave the country after receiving threats to his life. Radesh Singh Tony, the president of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Pakistan Minorities Alliance, was allegedly tortured by some unidentified people last month when he was passing through the Kacha Jail Road along with his son. He was the first minority member in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to contest the national elections, who had contested the 2018 general elections from Peshawar as an independent candidate.
11-Jan-2020
The Pakistan government denied visa to a Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) delegation to visit Nankana Sahib, after Gurudwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib was vandalised by a mob. SGPC chief Gobind Singh Longowal said that “Denial of visa is not fair. The Pakistan government should review its decision. The SGPC will again move to the Pakistan embassy to request it to grant visa to the delegation.”
09-Jan-2020
According to Pakistan Police, the murder of Sikh youth Parvinder has been solved and his 18-year-old fiancée, Prem Kumari, has been arrested for her alleged involvement in plotting the murder. A senior security official said that it was a “contract killing” paid for by Prem Kumari, who didn’t want to marry Parvinder, who lived in the remote Shangla district of the province.
08-Jan-2020
According to Indian intelligence reports, nearly a dozen pilgrims who had gone on pilgrimage to Kartarpur Sahib through the Kartarpur corridor have reported the loss of their mobile phones on their return to India. Intelligence agencies suspects that ISI spies may be trying to steal the mobile phones of Indian pilgrims to get to know their contacts, e-mail accounts and other data. “The stolen data provides them direct access to a large number of people and it has always been the endeavour of ISI to win over soft targets through various allurements,” said sources.
08-Jan-2020
A video of Harmeet Singh, brother of the Sikh youth killed in Pakistan emerged on social media. In the video Harmeet Singh said: "My name is Harmeet Singh and I am the first Sikh news anchor in Pakistan and a journalist. It has been more than three days that my brother was murdered but nobody from Pakistan government or ministry of minority affairs has issued any statement on this incident nor did anyone tried contacting me. More than three days have passed but no action has been taken by the police here and nobody has been arrested yet."
06-Jan-2020
Pakistan’s National Council of Peoples’ Commission for Minorities Rights (PCMR), in a statement said that the threat to violence in Nankana Sahib by a mob, the killing of Sikh young man Parvinder Singh in Peshawar, and a gathering eulogizing the assassin Mumtaz Qadri on the death anniversary of Governor Salman Taseer in Karachi are extremely disturbing developments which should be taken seriously, and called upon the government to take urgent action to address the underlying causes of these manifestations.
05-Jan-2020
The controversial pro-Khalistan supporter Gopal Singh Chawla was given free access to meet Indian pilgrims at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartapur Sahib complex during the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) organized celebrations to mark the birth anniversary of Sikhs’ tenth master Guru Gobind Singh. According to sources, Pakistan’s Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) allowed Chawla to lead the functions, address the gathering and meet Indian pilgrims.
05-Jan-2020
A 25-year-old Sikh man, identified as Parvendar Singh, was allegedly murdered in Peshawar in Pakistan. His body was found in the Chamkani Police Station area in Peshawar. However, the alleged killer has not been identified yet. The victim was the brother of a journalist, Harmeet Singh, Pakistan’s first Sikh journalist in electronic media.
05-Jan-2020
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the recent incident of vandalism at the Nankana Sahib, saying it goes against his “vision” and the government will show “zero tolerance” against those involved in it.
05-Jan-2020
The man, identified as Imran Ali Chishti, who issued threats to Sikhs and led a mob on January 3 that pelted stones at Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, was arrested and charged with a non-bailable section of Pakistan’s anti-terrorism act.
04-Jan-2020
Pro-Khalistan leader Gopal Singh Chawla was spotted at the Nankana Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan, amid the tense situation at the site. Visuals show while a Sikh leader addressing the media declaring that there will be no unscheduled protests as it was their own land, Chawla who was seen standing behind him instructing the media to shut their cameras.
04-Jan-2020
Pakistan said that what happened at the birthplace of Guru Nanak, Nankana Sahib involved two Muslim groups and attempts to paint it as communal were “patently motivated”.
04-Jan-2020
Dal Khalsa, while condemning the ‘hooliganism’ at Nankana Sahib, urged Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to take an official stand on the unfortunate incident that has severely hurt millions of followers of Guru Nanak Dev ji. Dal Khalsa Spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh, said “I said that one insane person spewing venom against Sikh religion should not become a reason for hindrance in the cementing of Sikh-Muslim brotherhood.”
03-Jan-2020
An angry mob of Muslim residents of Nankana Sahib stormed Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, the birth place of Sikh’s first master Guru Nanak Dev in Pakistan. According to reports, local Muslim protesters were resentful of Sikhs’ opposition to the alleged ‘forced’ conversion of a Sikh girl Jagjit Kaur to Islam and her marriage to a Muslim boy.
10-Sep-2019
According to reports, Pakistan's ISI held a high-level meeting with many terror groups including Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), and Khalistani Zindabad Force (KZF) in Islamabad to plan its nefarious activities against India.The closed-door meeting in Islamabad was also attended by some other Pro-Khalistan terror groups.
23-Jul-2024
According to sources, the family of Khalistani terrorist Jagtar Singh Johal, who is accused of multiple crimes including targeted killings and funding the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), has urged United Kingdom (UK) Foreign Secretary David Lammy to address Johal's case during trade talks with India.
11-Jul-2024
The police on July 11 arrested a 17-year-old boy for stabbing two worshippers at the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara in Gravesend, United Kingdom (UK). The attack has sparked comments from various leaders, including Labour Members of Parliament (MPs) Dr. Lauren Sullivan and Tan Dhesi, who expressed distress over the violence and called for increased efforts to tackle anti-Sikh hate crimes.
05-Jul-2024
Following the landslide victory of the United Kingdom (UK) Labour Party under Keir Starmer, concerns about its historical pro-separatist stance, particularly towards Khalistan and Kashmir, persist within the Indian diaspora. The party has attempted to rectify its image under Starmer, shifting away from its earlier perceived anti-India rhetoric by distancing itself from pro-Khalistani elements within its ranks and emphasizing a new strategic partnership with India. This includes potential areas of cooperation such as security, education, and trade. However, the presence of party members with pro-Khalistani sympathies continues to pose challenges to this rebranding effort.
05-Jul-2024
A record 28 persons of Indian origin were elected to the United Kingdom (UK) Parliament on July 5, with notable victories including Preet Kaur Gill and Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi securing their seats for Labour in Birmingham Edgbaston and Slough, respectively, for the third time. Nadia Whittome won in Nottingham East, while new entrants such as Kirith Entwistle and Sonia Kumar marked their first wins in Bolton North East and Dudley. Additionally, Rishi Sunak, Suella Braverman, Priti Patel, and Claire Coutinho were among the prominent Tories who retained their seats, reflecting a significant representation of the Indian diaspora across major UK parties.
03-Jul-2024
General Election candidates in the United Kingdom (UK) have faced criticism for endorsing a “Sikh Manifesto” which calls for the self-determination of Sikhs, or Khalistan. The manifesto also criticizes the UK Government's stance on hate crimes against Sikhs. It has received support from senior Conservative and Labour representatives, including Angela Rayner and Theresa May. The Sikh Federation UK and The Sikh Network back the manifesto, while other Sikh groups and experts warn it could exacerbate geopolitical tensions. Critics argue it reflects problematic sectarian campaigning in UK politics.
28-Jun-2024
Labour Party chair Anneliese Dodds, speaking at an event in London, United Kingdom (UK) on June 28, expressed confidence that the party, under Keir Starmer, has eliminated anti-India sentiments within its ranks. Dodds emphasized Labour’s commitment to building a robust strategic partnership with India, encompassing areas such as trade, new technologies, the environment, and security.
17-Jun-2024
Thousands gathered in London, United Kingdom (UK), recently to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 1984 Sikh riots, with some participants displaying Khalistani flags. The event remembered the Indian Army's storming of the Golden Temple in 1984 during Operation Blue Star, which targeted militants but resulted in significant Sikh casualties. The Labour Party in the UK pledged to investigate Britain's role in the operation, with Deputy Leader Angela Rayner emphasizing support for the Sikh community and the need for an inquiry.
09-May-2024
India’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval expressed concern over the increasing Sikh radicalization in the United Kingdom (UK) on May 9 and urged the UK to address this issue during the India-UK Strategic Dialogue, which he co-chaired with his UK counterpart Tim Barrow in London. This concern builds on previous discussions between Doval and Barrow, particularly highlighting Sikh radicalization during their strategic dialogue in July 2023.
02-May-2024
Sikh Labour councillor Parbinder Kaur is under investigation for allegedly supporting Khalistani terrorist groups, including praising Khalistani terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and its founders involved in violent acts, in Sandwell, United Kingdom (UK). The Daily Mail reported her sharing posts on WhatsApp and Facebook glorifying militants who assassinated public figures. Sandwell council is aware of the situation but has directed inquiries to the Labour party, which, along with Kaur, has yet to respond. Rami Ranger of the British Sikh Association criticized such actions for damaging social cohesion and the interests of the wider Sikh community in the UK.
25-Apr-2024
According to a media report, British Sikh lawyers have established a new court as a dispute resolution forum for the Sikh community in the United Kingdom (UK), aimed at aiding families in resolving conflicts in line with Sikh principles. The court is not a religious tribunal but comprises around 30 magistrates and 15 judges, primarily women. They offer mediation services and direct parties to courses covering various issues such as domestic violence and substance misuse. These courses are available in Punjabi and English. In case mediation fails, cases can be brought before a Sikh court judge for legally binding judgments under the Arbitration Act. Participation in the court requires consent from both parties, and there is a focus on safeguarding and cooperation with English courts.
11-Apr-2024
According to sources, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has withdrawn Look Out Circulars (LOCs) for three individuals from Punjab in connection with the violence at the Indian High Commission in London. Initially, LOCs were issued against 15 suspects based on videos and photographs. However, after a thorough investigation, no evidence linking the three individuals to the incident was found, leading to the closure of their LOCs. The attack was orchestrated by Khalistani extremists, including Gurcharan Singh, Avtar Singh Khanda, and Jasvir Singh, resulting in criminal charges such as trespass, flag disrespect, and property destruction.
06-Apr-2024
Sikh Federation United Kingdom (UK) leader Dabinderjit Singh recently disclosed in an interview with Akaal TV that prominent Geo/The News London reporter Murtaza Ali Shah faces death threats from the Indian state due to his coverage of Khalistan issues and Sikh activists. Singh revealed that the Metropolitan Police are aware of these threats, linking them to Shah's reporting on the Khalistan Referendum and the Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ).
03-Apr-2024
Five British doctors and academics specializing in blood cancer, while speaking on a BBC Sounds podcast, refuted claims that Khalistani terrorist Avtar Singh Khanda's death from acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) at 35 could have been triggered by poisoning. Charles Craddock, the academic director of the Centre for Clinical Haematology at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, United Kingdom (UK), along with four other doctors and academics, emphasized the aggressiveness of AML and the impossibility of inducing it through poisoning. Khanda's death certificate lists AML and pulmonary embolism as causes, while his family and friends allege he was poisoned by the Indian government, with the UK covering it up.
28-Mar-2024
A spokesperson from the United Kingdom (UK) Home Office recently denied viral reports from the media claiming that Prime Minister (PM) Rishi Sunak seized INR 100 crore (GBP 9 million) from over 300 Khalistani bank accounts in the UK. Various online stories alleged Sunak's crackdown on Khalistani supporters, with 5,000 bank accounts under scrutiny and a special task force formed. The UK Home Office stated it does not recognize these claims, emphasizing the country's respect for diverse communities and rejection of extremism.
27-Mar-2024
Satyam Surana, an Indian student at the London School of Economics (LSE), in an interview with ANI, alleged that he was called a 'fascist' and faced a campaign against him during student union elections, linking him to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) due to his support for the Indian government and due to his stance against Khalistan extremists. He stated that he was accused of being Islamophobic and transphobic, with his posters defaced and false allegations spread across campus groups. He states that despite advocating for campus issues in his manifesto, his stance on Khalistan led to him being targeted, impacting his campus life and highlighting the lasting impact of false propaganda surrounding Khalistan-related issues.
21-Mar-2024
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) Member of Parliament (MP) Raghav Chadha on March 21 met with British Sikh MP and known Khalistani sympathizer Preet Kaur Gill in London, United Kingdom (UK). Gill, a Labour MP, has a history of advocating for Khalistani groups and mobilizing support for Khalistani terrorist Jagtar Singh Johal, accused of multiple crimes, including targeted killings and funding the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF). Chadha's meeting with Gill, without political clearance from the Indian government, is viewed as concerning by intelligence sources.
20-Mar-2024
A Khalistan supporter identified as Gurpreet Singh was sentenced to 28 months in jail on March 20 for stabbing two Indian-origin men and a female police officer with his kirpan during Indian Independence Day celebrations last year (2023) in Southall, United Kingdom (UK). The 26-year-old Indian citizen was ordered to forfeit all three kirpans. Judge Kwame Inyundo stated that while carrying a kirpan is lawful, using it as a weapon is not. Gurpreet, who arrived in the UK in 2020 as a student and applied for asylum in 2021, may face deportation to India after serving his sentence.
13-Mar-2024
According to sources, the United Kingdom (UK) government, led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, has executed a significant crackdown on Khalistan groups in the UK, seizing over 300 bank accounts linked to supporters. Valued at INR 100 crores, this operation has placed an additional 5,000 accounts under scrutiny, showcasing the UK's firm stance against Khalistan extremism and cooperation with India. Intelligence sharing between the UK and India has intensified, with efforts to extradite accused individuals for trial in India underway.
11-Mar-2024
According to sources, the United Kingdom (UK) government, led by Prime Minister (PM) Rishi Sunak, has established a special task force to dismantle the funding network of Khalistan supporters. The government has frozen over 300 bank accounts and seized approximately INR 100 crore linked to these supporters. Notable seizures include INR 20 crore from the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). The task force targeting pro-Khalistan extremism was announced in 2023, following a meeting between External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar and UK Security Minister Tom Tugendhat in New Delhi. This announcement highlights joint efforts to combat anti-India extremism. The task force, with over 5000 accounts on its watchlist, has reached out to United States (US) counterparts such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for international cooperation in cracking down on Khalistan support groups in the US.
09-Mar-2024
Jaspreet Kaur, a Sikh anchor in the United Kingdom (UK), has recently come under criticism from the Indian diaspora in the UK due to alleged pro-Khalistan separatist views after joining BBC's 'Asian Network Chill' show. Complaints have been filed against her with the BBC, citing concerns over her past social media posts and her supposed alignment with Khalistani ideology.
01-Mar-2024
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on March 1 faced protests by Khalistani supporters during his visit to the United Kingdom (UK) to deliver lectures at the Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, in Cambridge, UK. Protesters, led by Paramjit Singh Pamma, coordinator of the Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) in Europe, blamed Gandhi for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and Amritsar killings. Despite Cambridge University Police preventing entry to the protestors, Gandhi required a security escort by UK Police to leave safely.
26-Feb-2024
Member of Parliament (MP) Preet Gill accused 'agents with links to India' of engaging in transnational repression of British Sikhs while speaking at the House of Commons in London, United Kingdom (UK) on February 26. She cited concerns raised by Five Eyes nations about targeting Sikh activists. In response, Security Minister Tom Tugendhat stated that the government is continually assessing threats and using intelligence services to mitigate them. Measures are in place to tackle foreign interference.
23-Feb-2024
United Kingdom (UK) Member of Parliament (MP), Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, raised concerns about the safety of protesting farmers in Punjab and freedom of expression in the UK Parliament on February 23. Dhesi, known for advocating on Sikh and Indian issues, questioned the UK government's stance on protecting human rights. He had previously criticized India's actions in Kashmir and voiced opposition to police force against farmers during the 2020-21 protests. Additionally, in August 2023, Dhesi faced immigration issues in India.
14-Feb-2024
According to reports, in the United Kingdom (UK), several Sikh activists, including Kulwant Singh Mothada, fear for their lives after being named on a "hit list" by the Indian National Investigation Agency (NIA). While no concrete evidence links the list to actual assassinations, there have been deaths among those associated with the movement, such as Paramjit Singh Panjwar and Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Despite lacking definitive proof, the existence of the list exacerbates fears within the Sikh community regarding potential threats from Indian authorities. Mothada and others remain cautious, believing that the UK government is overlooking the threat from India.
07-Feb-2024
According to sources, United Kingdom (UK) Foreign Secretary David Cameron has intervened in the case of Scottish Sikh Jagtar Singh Johal, who has been imprisoned in India for six years. Cameron is calling for an investigation into the claims of torture by Punjab police. However, he stopped short of demanding Johal's release, citing potential interference in the ongoing judicial process. Johal is accused of involvement in targeted killings, a charge he denies. His brother is demanding his immediate return. Jagtar Singh Johal has connections to the banned terrorist organization Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and is currently held in Delhi’s Tihar jail on terrorism charges.