KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
India 01-Mar-2026
Mehatpur village Sarpanch (village head) and Jamhoori Kisan Sabha leader Mahinder Singh was critically injured after being attacked by alleged drug peddlers in Jalandhar district on March 1. According to family members and residents, four to five men, who had reportedly lain in wait, assaulted him with iron rods and sharp weapons before fleeing as villagers rushed to his aid. Locals allege the attack was in retaliation for his persistent complaints against “chitta” (synthetic drug) trafficking in the area, sparking protests outside the Mehatpur police station.
India 01-Mar-2026
On March 1, the 40th day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 499 raids, arrested 179 persons and recovered four weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 80 individuals, while 113 persons were verified and released after questioning. Seven proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
India 01-Mar-2026
On March 1, Punjab Police, on day 365 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 86 drug smugglers, and seized 878 grams of heroin, 105 kg of poppy husk, 523 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 3720 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
India 01-Mar-2026
Police on March 1 arrested two members of the Bambiha gang, identified as Amandeep Singh alias Captain and Pavandeep Singh alias Billa alias Sunny, both residents of Faridkot district, Punjab and recovered 11 pistols and 22 magazines from their possession, in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan. Preliminary investigations indicate that the weapons were intended for use in an impending gang war in Punjab.
India 01-Mar-2026
The family of Ranjit Singh—one of the three accused in the killing of an ASI and a Home Guard, who was allegedly killed in a police encounter on February 25—along with several organisations, including farm unions and religious groups, blocked the Pathankot–Amritsar National Highway (NH) on March 1.
India 01-Mar-2026
Rajasthan Police on March 1 launched a major crackdown on organised gangs and arrested 214 criminals linked to various networks, including the Lawrence Bishnoi and Rohit Godara gangs, across 19 districts of the state. The operation targeted gangs involved in illegal arms possession, extortion, and other criminal activities. Among those arrested were 11 reward-carrying criminals, 157 persons with pending warrants, and 46 other wanted individuals. Police also seized 32 vehicles and 19 mobile and electronic devices as evidence. A total of 1,276 criminals were identified for the special operation, including 383 linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi–Rohit Godara gang, 534 associated with local gangs, and 359 wanted criminals from other categories. Police teams conducted coordinated raids across the state to apprehend them. During the operation, Police also recovered illegal weapons and narcotics. In 30 cases registered under the Arms Act, 17 pistols, three country-made pistols, 14 cartridges, six knives, and six daggers were seized. In 34 cases under the NDPS Act, authorities recovered 1.166 kg of heroin, 8.544 grams of smack, 5.29 grams of MD, 300 grams of opium, 14.792 kg of cannabis, and 26.08 kg of poppy husk. Additionally, in Jhunjhunu district, Police recovered 8,153 opium plants during action against illegal opium cultivation.
Canada 02-Mar-2026
The Globe and Mail published a report alleging links between an Indian intelligence officer and the 2023 killing of Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. Citing national security and law enforcement sources, the report claims that consular staff in Vancouver provided information that facilitated Nijjar’s assassination in Surrey, British Columbia. One official, reportedly a visa officer, is alleged to have acted as an undercover operative for India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), using diplomatic cover to gather intelligence on Nijjar through contacts within the local Indian diaspora. The officer allegedly worked with a career diplomat, identified only as Manish, who was serving as Consul-General in Vancouver at the time.
India 02-Mar-2026
On March 2, the 41st day of Punjab Police’s statewide “war on gangsters” (Gangsters Te Vaar) campaign—Operation Prahaar—the police conducted 409 raids, arrested 132 persons and recovered five weapons from their possession. Preventive action was taken against 71 individuals, while 116 persons were verified and released after questioning. Four proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested during the operation.
India 02-Mar-2026
On March 2, Punjab Police, on day 366 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 92 drug smugglers, and seized 1.2 kg of heroin, 3 kg of opium, 11 kg of poppy husk, 635 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 4720 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.
India 02-Mar-2026
The Amritsar Rural Police on March 2 arrested three more suspects, Rehmat Ali, Sanjeev, and Gagan, in connection with the January 29 seizure of nearly 43 kg of heroin and a cache of arms, taking the total number of arrests in the case to nine, in Amritsar district. Deputy Superintendent of Police Dharminder Kalyan stated that the three were working as couriers in the illegal drug trade and were involved in transporting the contraband as part of a larger smuggling network. Meanwhile, the Police have issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against the prime accused, Karan Singh alias Karan Chheharta, a resident of Chheharta currently based in Dubai, who is believed to be the key handler behind the cross-border drug and arms consignment.
India 02-Mar-2026
In a joint operation on March 2, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Border Security Force (BSF) arrested a Pakistani drug smuggler, identified as Abu Bakar, and recovered 10 kg of heroin in the Khemkaran sector along the Indo–Pakistan border in Tarn Taran district. The accused allegedly crossed the barbed-wire fence and entered Indian territory. Authorities are investigating how he managed to breach border security. This is believed to be the first instance of a Pakistani smuggler being caught alive with contraband.
India 02-Mar-2026
Nakodar Police on March 2 arrested a man, identified as Inderjit Singh alias Indu and recovered 4 grams of heroin from his possession, near the Bilga bus stand in Jalandhar district.
India 02-Mar-2026
Police on March 2 arrested a man, identified as Abhishek alias Abhi, and seized 28 loose intoxicant tablets from his possession in Mohalla Guru Nanakpura, Nakodar, in Jalandhar district.
India 02-Mar-2026
Police on March 2 arrested an accused, identified as Gurdev Singh and seized 3 kg of opium from his possession, in Moga district. He had earlier been booked under the NDPS Act on August 9, 2025, when 265 grams of heroin were recovered from him, but was released on bail and allegedly resumed drug smuggling.
India 02-Mar-2026
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Singh Mann stated in Chandigarh on March 2 that the state’s ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ (War Against Drugs) campaign has completed one year, claiming intensified enforcement against drug trafficking networks and higher conviction rates under the NDPS Act. He said the drive, conducted between March 2025 and February 2026 under a “zero-tolerance” policy, focused on dismantling supply lines and organised networks while encouraging public participation. Citing official data, Mann said 36,178 FIRs were registered against alleged drug traffickers during the year and 51,648 people were arrested. Enforcement agencies also seized 2,277 kg of heroin and more than 4.9 million intoxicant tablets and capsules, while INR 16.70 crore in alleged “drug money” was recovered. He added that properties linked to accused traffickers were seized or demolished, though no details were provided on the number or value of assets. On prosecution outcomes, the CM said the overall conviction rate under the NDPS Act stood at around 84%, rising to about 88% in 2025, attributing the improvement to stronger case preparation and enhanced forensic support.
India 03-Mar-2026
Delhi Police on March 3 arrested Rohit Solanki, a member of the rival Rohit Godara gang, for firing at advocate Deepak Khatri, counsel for jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, at Kashmere Gate in New Delhi. According to investigators, Solanki was the key conspirator and one of the shooters in the February 24 attack, which occurred when Khatri was returning with friends after offering prayers at the Marghat Wale Temple.
India 03-Mar-2026
The Ahmedabad Crime Branch arrested a man, identified as Biswas, from West Bengal for allegedly sending a series of bomb threat emails in the name of Khalistan targeting schools and lower courts across Gujarat. He has been taken into remand and is currently being interrogated. Authorities said the accused sent multiple threatening emails to institutions across the state.
India 03-Mar-2026
The autopsy of Ranjit Singh, who was shot dead by Police in an alleged encounter near Puranashala township on February 25, was conducted at Gurdaspur Civil Hospital in the presence of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) on March 3. His death has triggered controversy, with family members disputing the Police claim that he was killed in an exchange of fire. Earlier, members of the “Ranjit Singh Jhoota Muqabala Action Committee,” including his relatives, gathered outside the hospital mortuary, while the radical outfit Dal Khalsa called for protests over the alleged encounter.
India 03-Mar-2026
Delhi Police is investigating fresh death threats received by defence entrepreneur Sahil Luthra from international numbers, with the callers claiming responsibility for a past firing incident at his Amritsar residence and demanding INR 10 crore. In a complaint filed at the Chanakyapuri Police Station on February 27, Luthra, Managing Director of Vijayen Trishul Defence Solutions (VTDS), said he received two threatening calls on February 26 from numbers with Portugal and Germany country codes. Police are examining possible cross-border linkages and the potential involvement of banned outfits.
India 03-Mar-2026
On March 3, Punjab Police, on day 367 of its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, arrested 87 drug smugglers, and seized 1.1 kg of heroin, 2 kg of poppy husk, 408 intoxicant tablets/capsules and INR 17,950 drug money from the possession of arrested persons, across the state.