KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
India 01-Jun-2019
Police arrested Nishan Singh, belonging to a Sikh radical organisation, in Amritsar District and recovered .32 bore revolver from his possession.
India 02-Jun-2019
Police recovered two hand grenades from a bag that was hurriedly dropped by two unidentified motorcycle borne youth at a naka (temporary check post) laid on Ajnala- Amritsar road in Amritsar District.
India 04-Jun-2019
Dal Khalsa and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)’s annual ‘Sikh Genocide Remembrance’ march got support from Students for Society (SFS), a left leaning student body. This is the first time SFS has lent support to the march. Punjab University Student council president Kanupriya took part in the march and extended her support to the cause of Dal Khalsa, that raised demand of Khalistan during the march. “It is a time when fascism is in control of power and there is need to stand with minorities. SFS supports demand of self-determination of Dal Khalsa,” said Kanupriya. Activists led by Dal Khalsa youth leader Paramjit Singh Mand were carrying photographs of damaged Golden Temple and Akal Takht and those killed in the army action. Addressing the protest march, Dal Khalsa chief H S Dhami said: “The sentiments of sovereignty that were strengthened by the Army attack have not been buried with the passage of time and change in the political scenario.”
India 05-Jun-2019
An intelligence report submitted in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) claims that Canada-based Khalistani activists, backed by the Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence(ISI), is planning to target retired Police and Army Personnel to spread terror in Punjab. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh reviewed the state’s internal security and took stock of the law and order. He ordered the police to take all possible steps to verify such reports and check the spread of rumours, which could lead panic among people.
India 06-Jun-2019
A delegation of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) met Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking the return of rare manuscripts and documents taken from the Sikh Reference Library at the Golden Temple complex by the Army during Operation Blue Star. SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal sought return of antiques, artefacts and books allegedly taken away by the Army during the operation, pension to those from the Sikh community who quit the Army in protest, and permission for a religious procession to Pakistan on the occasion of Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary.
India 06-Jun-2019
Around 5,000 security personnel have been deployed across Amritsar ahead of the 35th anniversary of Operation Blue Star. Also, 500 Policemen would be present inside the Golden Temple during an event to observe the anniversary. Apart from coordinating security arrangements with the Police, the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) will also be keeping a tab on the situation with the help of CCTV cameras. Parallel Sarbat Khalsa JathedarDhian Singh Mand is also expected to reach Akal Takht and read message to the community.
Pakistan 06-Jun-2019
Gopal Singh Chawla, the General Sectary of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) raised anti-India slogans and said that he will support groups like Babbar Khalsa, Commando Force, Sikh Youth Federation, Khalistan Force and added that they are on the same platform.
India 11-Jun-2019
An intelligence report has revealed that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is helping pro-Khalistan militant group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) to strengthen its network across Britain. The BKI has expanded its presence in cities like Birmingham, Derby and Coventry.
India 18-Jun-2019
Micro-blogging site Twitter has suspended pro-Khalistan propagandist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun's account following a complaint by the Indian Government. The legal adviser of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) -Pannun's account was suspended after a complaint by Sikh community claiming that Pannun is radicalizing Sikh youth with the help of illegal immigrants in the US and Canada. UK police arrested him in 2000, when he was entering England via Germany while returning from Pakistan after receiving terror training. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison as he was associated with proscribed organization Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).
India 24-Jun-2019
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh lambasted Canada for its “overt and covert” support to the Khalistan movement, warning that its failure to check anti-India activities being carried out from its soil would be detrimental to its own security. Citing findings of the John Major Commission into the 1985 Kanishka Bombing as a clear endorsement of Canada’s failure to act against Khalistanis operating from its soil, the Chief Minister said that by allowing the conspirators of the “mass murder”, the Canadian government had exposed its true intent.” “It is more than apparent that Canada has been extending its support to Khalistanis despite New Delhi’s protestations,” said Singh. He also cited the Canadian Security Intelligence Service’s 2018 Public Report to express concern over the fact that anti-India activities were on the rise in Canada
India 28-Jun-2019
India informed Canada that there is little hope for improving frosty bilateral relations if Ottawa doesn’t address New Delhi’s concerns about the burgeoning activities of Khalistani operatives and organizations. The message was conveyed by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar when he held a bilateral meeting with his Canadian counterpart, Chrystia Freeland, on the margins of the G20 Summit in Japan. However, there was no official comment on the matter from Indian and Canadian officials.
India 29-Jun-2019
The Customs Department had seized 532 kg of suspected heroin, worth around 2,700 crores, being smuggled from Pakistan in a truck through the trade route at the Attari border. The consignment was hidden under bags of salt in the truck which had come from Pakistan and one person was also arrested while another was detained.
India 30-Jun-2019
After weeks of an impasse on the Kartarpur corridor, the Government of India has written to Pakistan, proposing the next round of talks to be held from July 11 to 14 on the Pakistani side of the Attari-Wagah border. The meeting would discuss the draft agreement on the modalities for movement of pilgrims along the Kartarpur corridor and resolve outstanding technical issues related to alignment and infrastructure along the corridor.The target was to complete the road by end September 2019 and the passenger/ pilgrim terminal by end October 2019, in time to operationalize the Kartarpur corridor on the occasion of the 550th birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev falling in November 2019. Meanwhile, India has also urged Islamabad to not promote secessionist activities while carrying out work on the corridor meant to facilitate pilgrimage to the Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan.
India 30-Jun-2019
The Punjab Police arrested a 28-year old person, identified as Sukhwinder Singh Sidhu alias Sukha who was working as a spy for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and allegedly passing on sensitive military information to his Pakistan based intelligence operatives from Dharamkot area in Moga District of Punjab.