KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
India 01-Apr-2026
On April 1, a low-intensity explosion was reported outside the Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in Sector 37, Chandigarh. No casualties were reported, but the incident raised security concerns, prompting an investigation by agencies including the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kanwardeep Kaur said that, prima facie, a small crude device appeared to have been thrown towards the building. BJP leader Vineet Joshi, who was inside at the time, said a blast was heard around 5 pm in the parking area. Eyewitnesses indicated that the device was likely meant to be hurled inside the premises but missed its target and landed on a nearby sand stack. Meanwhile, the banned terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) has claimed responsibility for the attack. In a message released in Punjabi, Sukhjinder Singh Babbar warned that violence against Punjab’s youth would be met with retaliation, stating that the blast was carried out in response to the encounter of Ranjit Singh in Gurdaspur. According to Chandigarh Police, a viral video by the same group showing a person pulling the lever of a grenade appears to be authentic, though further clarity will emerge after a detailed investigation.
India 01-Apr-2026
On April 1, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the vandalism of Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s statue at Noorpur Jattan village in Hoshiarpur district on March 31. Police have launched an investigation and are examining mobile phone location data to trace the suspects, with multiple teams deployed to apprehend the accused.
India 01-Apr-2026
A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on April 1 visited the Bhindi Saida police station in Amritsar district, where a blast had occurred on March 30. The team inspected the site and interacted with senior police officials, who stated that the exact nature and cause of the explosion would be determined only after the forensic examination reports are received.
India 01-Apr-2026
The Delhi Mayor’s office on April 1 received a bomb threat email containing alarming phrases such as “Delhi Banayga Khalistan,” “Bomb Dhamaka yan,” and “Gaddi Aatmaghati Hamla.” The message threatened an explosion at 2:11 pm and named Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar as adversaries of the Khalistan movement, while also referencing the “Khalistan National Army.”
Canada 01-Apr-2026
According to reports, two major Hindu temples in Canada are coordinating with authorities over security arrangements after pro-Khalistan groups called for rallies outside their premises on April 5. The call for “Khalistan Zindabad” rallies was issued by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), with locations including Triveni Mandir in Brampton (Greater Toronto Area) and Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey, British Columbia. Yudhishthir Dhanrajh, spiritual leader of Triveni Mandir, said Peel Regional Police have met temple authorities and assured continuous police presence. He added that police will enforce Brampton’s 100-metre bylaw, which prohibits demonstrations within 100 metres of places of worship.
India 01-Apr-2026
Several individuals were detained for questioning after a low-intensity blast outside the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Sector 37 in Chandigarh on April 1.
India 01-Apr-2026
On the night of April 1, two unidentified assailants fired five rounds at the office of property dealer Sukhdarshan Singh in Hoshiarpur village near Mullanpur Garibdas, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district. He had reportedly received an extortion call of INR 1 crore from a member of the Lucky Patial gang.
India 02-Apr-2026
On April 2, the 72nd day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 483 raids, arrested 184 persons and recovered five weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 87 individuals, while 125 persons were verified and released after questioning. Five proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
India 02-Apr-2026
On April 2, Punjab Police, on day 397 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 89 drug smugglers, and seized 1.3 kg of heroin, 2.6 kg of opium, 34 kg of poppy husk, 853 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 3050 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
India 02-Apr-2026
Patiala Police on April 2 busted an inter-state illegal arms supply module, arresting four alleged gangsters and recovering 10 pistols, including sophisticated self-loading firearms, in Patiala district. Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused sourced country-made weapons from Bihar for supply in Punjab. The probe also indicated gang rivalry, with plans to target a rival linked to the Goldy Dhillon network to assert dominance in the area.
India 02-Apr-2026
On April 2, unidentified assailants opened fire on a car carrying Timowal village sarpanch Ravinder Kaur, her husband Sukhdev Singh, and three associates in the Jandiala Guru area of Amritsar district. One occupant sustained serious bullet injuries. Around seven motorcycle-borne attackers intercepted the vehicle and fired multiple rounds before fleeing the spot.
India 02-Apr-2026
An alleged member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, Rajpal Singh Chandrawat, surrendered before Madhya Pradesh Police on April 2 in an extortion case carried out in the name of key operative Harry Boxer, in Madhya Pradesh. A resident of Nagda, he surrendered a month after the case was registered at Kasrawad police station in Khargone district on a complaint by cotton trader Dilip Rathore.
Canada 02-Apr-2026
According to reports, Canada’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) revised its position on foreign interference within days. On March 19, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme stated there was no evidence linking harassment and intimidation incidents to any foreign government. However, in a clarification issued on April 1, the agency acknowledged that foreign states are engaged in such activities in Canada. The RCMP noted it is aware of complaints of intimidation and harassment targeting certain communities, but added that establishing a direct, legally admissible link to a foreign entity remains a complex process. Previously, Canada had accused Indian agencies of using networks linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to carry out killings in the country.
India 03-Apr-2026
On April 3, the 73rd day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 483 raids, arrested 198 persons and recovered 13 weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 72 individuals, while 106 persons were verified and released after questioning. Five proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
India 03-Apr-2026
On April 3, Punjab Police, on day 398 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 98 drug smugglers, and seized 6.3 kg of heroin, 700 grams of opium, 3.5 kg of poppy husk, 421 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 8400 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
India 03-Apr-2026
Amritsar Rural Police on April 3 foiled a terror plot by arresting a suspect, identified as Harman Singh and recovering a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) from his possession in the Ramdas area of Amritsar district. The device is suspected to have been dropped on the Indian side by Pakistan-based handlers using a drone. Police said the accused is being interrogated to identify his network and handlers, with central intelligence agencies also likely to question him. Preliminary investigations revealed multiple Pakistani mobile numbers on his phone, indicating contact with Pakistan-based operatives through internet-based calling platforms.
India 03-Apr-2026
The Border Security Force (BSF) on April 3 recovered a drone carrying a suspected heroin packet from fields near the Ravi River in Gurdaspur district. The recovery was made near the BSF Chowki at Bharyal following a specific tip-off, indicating an attempt to smuggle narcotics across the border.
India 03-Apr-2026
The Counter Intelligence wing of Punjab Police on April 3 raided the houses of two suspects in Rattangarh village in the Morinda area of Ropar district in connection with the April 1 blast outside the BJP office in Chandigarh. While police did not officially confirm any arrests, family members claimed that Amanpreet Singh was detained. The main accused, Gurtej Singh, was not found during the raid.
India 03-Apr-2026
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charge sheeted two accused, including Pakistani gangster Shehzad Bhatti, in connection with the of March 16, 2025 grenade attack at YouTuber Roger Sandhu’s house in Jalandhar district. Having taken over the case from Punjab Police in December 2025, the NIA named Bhatti as an absconder in a supplementary chargesheet filed before a special court. The second accused, Dipander Pratap Singh alias Deepan Rana, has been arrested.
India 03-Apr-2026
Punjab Police on April 3 busted an illegal arms smuggling network, arresting Suraj Kumar and recovering five pistols and four cartridges from his possession, in Patara, Jalandhar district. Preliminary investigations revealed that he, along with associate Davinderpal Singh alias Deepu and other gang members, procured illegal arms from Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura region and supplied them across Jalandhar and nearby areas.