Extremism Updates

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.


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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.


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