Time Line-2021

India 03-Sep-2021

The Sadar Police had lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against unidentified persons for issuing death threats to Gursimran Singh Mand, joint co-coordinator, Kisan Congress, a wing of the All-India Congress Committee, in Ludhiana District of Punjab on September 3. Mand alleged that he had been receiving threats from pro-Khalistan supporters on social media and WhatsApp. On September 1, he received threatening voice messages and videos on his WhatsApp number, claiming that 88 men were following him and will kill him. They sent him the video of a severed head, threatening to kill him in the same manner, Mand said. He also said he had been raising voice against terrorism and Khalistan, following which he started receiving threats from extremists, and sought security cover for him and his family.

India 04-Sep-2021

The Border Security Force (BSF) fired upon a drone flying into Indian Territory along the border with Pakistan near Rajoke village under Bhikhiwind sub-division in Tarn Taran District. BSF said that alert personnel of the 103 Battalion heard a humming and buzzing sound in the air near Rajoke Border out Post (BoP) at 2am. They fired towards the flying object though a search of the area did not yield anything suspicious.

India 07-Sep-2021

The court of National Investigation Agency (NIA) on September 7 framed charges against seven Khalistani operatives in the hand grenades seizure case in Mohali District. The charges have been framed against seven Khalistani operatives Jajbir Singh Samra alias Judge alias Jass resident of Tarn Taran, Varinder Singh Chahal resident of Amritsar, Kulbir Singh resident of Nawan Shahar, Manjit Kaur resident of Ludhiana, Taranbir Singh alias Khanpuria resident of Amritsar, under various sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC), Explosive Substances Act and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), Kulwinderjit Singh alias Khanpuria an operative of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), and Harmeet Singh alias PhD, Pakistan based self-styled ‘chief’ of Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), Act- UAPA, for their alleged involvement in a case pertaining to recovery of two Hand Grenades and one Samsung mobile phone from a bag in Amritsar on June 2, 2019.

India 11-Sep-2021

The US-based Pro-Khalistan organisation Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) issued a statement targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Government over violence against farmers who are protesting against the three controversial farm laws. The group said that it is “gearing up to chase PM Modi from White House to UN to raise a ruckus over India’s use of brutal force against protesting farmers of Punjab in which several hundred have already died”. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, General Counsel to SFJ, in a statement said, “SFJ is planning to lobby with the White House and US Congress to “Hold Modi Accountable” for: (a) using violence against farmers; (b) suppressing the freedom of speech of the US Citizens by filing criminal charges in India for holding pro-farmer rallies at Indian Consulates; (c) and for filing sedition charges against Khalistan Referendum campaigners based in India and abroad.” Also, in a video message, Pannun said, “Modi will face legal consequences for ordering violence against protesting farmers and Khalistan Referendum activists”.

India 15-Sep-2021

Punjab Police arrested one International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) militant, identified as Rubal from Ambala District of Haryana on September 15. He was reportedly working under the directions of ISYF ‘chief’ Lakhbir Singh Rode. Rubal was staying in a Gurudwara run by Kar Sewaks at Shahbad Markanda and used to go with the Kar Sewaks at Gurudwara Mardonpur Bhanokhheri daily. During his stay at Mardonpur, Rubal had reportedly visited the IOC station Ambala Cantonment to observe the feasibility of installing a tiffin bomb in an oil tanker parked in front of the station. It is also learnt that ISYF Chief Rode had promised to pay Rs two lakh to the terrorist module.

India 15-Sep-2021

Punjab Chief Minister (CM), Captain Amarinder Singh ordered a high alert in the State following the arrest of four militants of an Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-backed terrorist module involved in a bid to blow up an oil tanker with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) tiffin bomb in August, being busted. Two Pakistan-based terrorists, including a Pakistani Intelligence Officer, have also been identified and nominated in the case in which one person was arrested earlier, the Director General of Police (DGP), Dinkar Gupta disclosed on September 15.

India 17-Sep-2021

Punjab Police busted a secessionist module of the banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and arrested three SFJ members during a raid at Rampur village in Khanna in Ludhiana District on September 17. Those arrested are identified as Gurwinder Singh, Jagwinder Singh, and Sukhdev Singh. Police have recovered over 2.8 lakh pamphlets carrying propaganda material related to ‘Referendum 2020’ from their possession during the raid conducted at Rampur village in Khanna. A printer, spray pump and spray bottles for writing secessionist graffiti on walls, one laptop, three mobile phones and one Honda City car were also recovered. During investigation, it has been found that the accused Gurwinder Singh was radicalised and motivated over a YouTube channel, US Media International, being operated by JS Dhaliwal, who introduced him to Pannun. A Police spokesperson added that on Pannun’s instructions, Gurwinder hoisted Khalistani flags on the premises of the Government school in Rampur village. Police claimed that Gurwinder had enrolled 20-25 persons to promote ‘Referendum 2020’ by distributing pamphlets for different groups in the vicinity of Doraha in Ludhiana. All these persons were paid for their service at the behest of Pannun.

India 19-Sep-2021

The Ludhiana Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal advisor for US-based pro-Khalistan organisation Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), and two local youths after some pro-Khalistan slogans were painted on the walls at Gill village in Dehlon area in Ludhiana District.

India 23-Sep-2021

Punjab Police busted a militant module backed by Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) with the arrest of its three militants from Bhagwanpur village in the Bhikhiwind area in Tarn Taran District of Punjab on September 23. The Police also recovered two boxes packed in foam (which appeared to be Tiffin Bombs), two hand grenades (86P) and three 9mm pistols from their possession. This is the 6th Tiffin bomb recovered from the border State of Punjab in one and a half months. Those arrested have been identified as Kanwarpal Singh, Kulwinder Singh and Kamalpreet Singh - all residents of Moga. Kanwarpal disclosed that he had returned from Canada two weeks back.