KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
India 02-Jan-2019
The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Ahir said in Rajya Sabha that in the recent grenade attack on a Nirankari mission in Amritsar, the involvement of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), and the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) has emerged; and in last two years, 18 Khalistan-inspired outfits were busted with arrests of 95 Khalistani operatives.
India 04-Jan-2019
The BSF arrested a Pakistan national, Riasat Ali resident of Sardakot, for intruding into the Indian territory at India-Pakistan International Border (IB)’s Mullekot Border Outpost.
India 06-Jan-2019
An alleged Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) operative and fund raiser, Bhupinder Singh alias Dilawar, wanted in a May 2017 case in Punjab, has been deported to India by Saudi Arabia. He was produced in the court of a duty magistrate and was remanded to six days in police custody.
India 14-Jan-2019
Pro-Khalistan slogans were raised in the political conference of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) organised at the Bhai Mastan Singh Road, Amritsar. A number of hoardings and flags with pro-Khalistan messages were also put up at the venue.
India 23-Jan-2019
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh protested against Pakistan’s proposal to allow only Sikh pilgrims to visit Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara. He also urged the Union Government to take up the issue with Pakistan when the latter sends its draft agreement for regulating entry into its territory through the Kartarpur Corridor.
India 05-Feb-2019
Nawanshahr District Court announced life imprisonment to three Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) militants identified as Arvinder Singh, Surjit Singh and Ranjit Singh. They were charged under Section 121 (waging, or attempting to wage war), along with 10 years of imprisonment under Section 121 (a) (Conspiracy to commit offences punishable by section 121) of Indian Penal Code (IPC).
India 07-Feb-2019
A National Investigation Agency (NIA) report state that at least 33 alleged Pakistani terrorists have crossed into India from the Punjab and Samba-Kathua sectors in Jammu &Kashmir since October 2017. According to the report, terrorists may have infiltrated through the same sector that the attackers, who carried out the Pathankot Air Base attack and the Nagrota Army camp attack had used.
India 11-Feb-2019
Dal Khalsa announces a sit-down demonstration at the doorsteps of Nawanshahr District Court on February 13 to protest life imprisonment of three youths arrested for processing pro-Khalistan literature. According to the spokesperson of Dal Khalsa, ‘The three youth never indulged in any violent activity neither did anyone else allegedly influenced by them. The court held the trio guilty on mere possession of pamphlets’
India 12-Feb-2019
Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir states in Lok Sabha that Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) were involved in the November 2018 attack in Amritsar.He also informed that the two people were arrested in connection with the incident and three people residing abroad have been accused in the attack.
India 12-Feb-2019
Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir states in Lok Sabha that NIA has registered seven cases in Punjab of which five cases were related to murder and two cases related to attempt to murder in Punjab during 2016-17. “The objective of which was to destabilise the law and order situation in Punjab and to revive Khalistan linked terrorism in the state”, he said.
India 14-Feb-2019
A protest march was taken out at Jalandhar against life imprisonment awarded by the Nawanshahr District Court to three Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) activists for procession of pro-Khalistan literature.
India 14-Feb-2019
Security has been stepped up for the Additional Sessions Judge Randhir Verma who had sentenced the three BKI activists. Superintendent of Police (SP) Harish Dayama stated that ‘In view of protests in Nawanshahr and around, we have provided more security to the judge’.
India 22-Feb-2019
National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a charge-sheet against eight people allegedly owing allegiance to the banned Khalistan Liberation Front (KLF), in a case of attempt to murder Shiv Sena leader Amit Arora on February 3, 2016 in Ludhiana. Those charge sheeted include Hardeep Singh alias Shera, Ramandeep Singh alias Canadian, Dharminder Singh alias Guguni, Anil Kumar alias Kala, Jagtar Singh Johal alias Jaggi, Harmeet Singh alias Happy (suspected to be in Pakistan), Gurjinder Singh alias Shastri (suspected to be in Italy) and Gursharanbir Singh alias Pehalwan (suspected to be in UK)
India 27-Feb-2019
Police was notified after public noticed pro-Khalistan slogans like ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ and “Referendum 2020” which were painted on the walls of Ridhi Sidhi Colony and on a mile stone in Alamgarh in Ferozpur District.
India 05-Mar-2019
National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested an accused suspected, identified as Amir Nazir Mir, to be involved in 2018 Grenade attack on a Police station in Punjab from Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). On September 14, 2018, four grenades were hurled at the building of Maqsudan Police Station in Jalandhar, in which one police personnel was injured. Further, investigation has revealed that the attack was handiwork of Kashmir-based terror outfit Ansar Ghazawat-ul-Hind (AGH).
India 14-Mar-2019
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh stated, in connection with Kartarpur Corridor, that India’s agenda may be religious but Pakistan’s is totally disruptive. He further stated, "While Pakistan Prime Minister talks of peace, their Army Chief continues to promote his evil designs". The plan was to complete the project by November 23, 2019, the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.
India 14-Mar-2019
India did not raise the issue of Pakistan supporting the Khalistani movement during delegation-level talks to discuss the modalities of the Kartarpur Corridor. An official stated that ‘We did not want to give Pakistan an opportunity to deviate from discussing the modalities of the corridor, which is a priority for us. Indian security agencies had raised concerns about Pakistan using the corridor to push the Khalistani agenda of secessionist groups, including Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a U.S.-Canada based group who are planning to organise a convention on ‘Khalistan-Referendum 2020’ at the Kartarpur shrine.
India 15-Mar-2019
Punjab Police’s state special operation cell arrested an electrician, identified as Ram Kumar, who was working for Military Engineering Service (MES) under the charge of passing on sensitive military information to a Pakistan-based intelligence operative.
India 19-Mar-2019
Indian and Pakistani experts travelled to the border crossing in Punjab for the proposed Kartarpur Corridor to discuss the coordinates for the “zero point” where Sikh pilgrims will cross over. The two sides will meet next on April 2 2019, to take forward plans to complete the corridor in time for the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak.
India 28-Mar-2019
Jalandhar Police arrested a militant identified as Amrik Singh alias Manga reportedly belonging to Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) and Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) from Jalandhar District. He was wanted in twin blasts case at Jalandhar bus stand carried out by Satnam Singh alias Satta Lasuri on April 28, 2006 and May 24, 2006. Pakistan-based KZF leader Ranjeet Singh Neeta and USA-based Balwinder Singh Possi had masterminded the blasts along with Amrik Singh. Amrik had a close association with infamous terrorists Gurdeep Singh alias Deepa Heranwala of KCF.
India 29-Mar-2019
Fake Indian currency notes (FICN) of face value Rs 6,500 was seized from two Indian nationals coming from Pakistan via Samjhauta Express were intercepted by the Customs officials at the Land Customs Station (LCS), Attari in Punjab.
India 31-Mar-2019
Punjab Police stated that a militant cell (consisting Harvinder Singh, Sultan Singh, Karamjeet Singh, Lovepreet Singh, and Gurpreet Singh) was busted in an unspecified location in the state in which 32 bore pistol along with a magazine and four live rounds and 15 letter pads of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) were recovered from the arrestees. The accused were planning to kill Hindu leaders and members of Dera Sacha Sauda. They were planning to arrange weapons training in Jammu and Kashmir and were in touch with Khalistani militants including Jagtar Singh Hawara of BKI who is in jail, Ranjit Singh Pakhoke, active member of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), residing in Germany.
India 13-Apr-2019
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh criticized the Canadian Government’s decision to remove all references to Khalistani extremism in its 2018 report on terrorist threats to Canada. The CM stated that it was clearly aimed at protecting its political interests in a poll year on the pretext of pressure groups in the Sikh community.The Canadian government had removed eight references to Sikh extremism and six references to Khalistan from its terror report.
India 16-Apr-2019
India and Pakistan reported progress in the talks on construction of infrastructure facilities for Indian Sikh pilgrims looking to visit Kartarpur Pakistan. The meeting was held in Gurdaspur in Indian state of Punjab.The Pakistani committee included Khalistan supporter Gopal Singh Chawla, who is also associated with Hafiz Saeed, the chief of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). India has stated that it would continue the technical talks on infrastructure but not official level talks on the movement of pilgrims.
India 23-Apr-2019
A PhD student at the Central University Bathinda (Bathinda District) identified as Hilal Ahmed Mantoo was arrested for his involvement in Pulwama attack.
India 27-Apr-2019
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh states that the appointment of a wanted Khalistani terrorist to spearhead the ‘Khalistan Referendum 2020’ campaign by ‘Sikhs For Justice’ (SFJ) has exposed the true motive and intent behind the separatist movement. He also urges the Government of India (GoI) and global community to join India in cracking down on this grave threat to its peace and security.
India 04-May-2019
Police arrested two persons, Arvinder Singh and Jaspreet Singh, allegedly linked to the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and recovered 15 passports, a pistol, six live cartridges and Pakistani currency worth 15,000 from their possession in Nawanshahr District of Punjab.
India 08-May-2019
Amritsar (rural) police arrested a serving soldier of Indian Army named as Malkiat Singh alias Fauji for allegedly spying for Pakistan and recovered sensitive documents from his possession in the area of Khasa cantonment, Amritsar. Police had recovered suspicious photographs, 3 mobile phones, training manual of Indian army, army’s movement details and other sensitive documents having secret information of military areas, etc.
Pakistan 15-May-2019
A group of Sikh pilgrims visiting Nankana Sahib in Pakistan to celebrate Baisakhi festival demanded a separate homeland for them. ‘Khalistan Referendum 2020’ banners in this regard have been put on Gurudwara Janam Asthan also referred to as Gurudwara Nankana Sahib.
India 26-May-2019
Three of the Khalistan accused arrested earlier in separate incidents this year and in 2018 were charge sheeted by National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a special court in Mumbai. Although police had arrested them, identified as Harpal Singh, Mohiuddin Siddiqui and Gurjeet Singh Nijjar at different time in different locations, they were being instructed by a single operative who was working at the behest of his masters in Canada, United Kingdom and Pakistan.
India 30-May-2019
Pro-Khalistan groups like the Dal Khalsa and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) led by Simranjit Singh Mann will hold ‘genocide remembrance marches’ across the city on the eve of the anniversary. The Dal Khalsa has also given a call for ‘Amritsar bandh’ on June 6 to mark the anniversary.
India 31-May-2019
As several Sikh bodies, including separatist outfits, have started preparations for observing the 35th Anniversary of the Operation Bluestar on June 6, authorities are taking all security measures to turn the holy city into a fortress. Besides, 5,000 police personnel from Amritsar and the neighboring districts of Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur and Pathankot were already deployed, the Amritsar Commissionerate Police have called six companies of paramilitary forces to maintain law and order in the city.
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.
India 01-Jul-2019
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh strongly condemned the sharing of a morphed picture of Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on social media platforms. The Pakistan-based pro-Khalistan leader and member of Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Gopal Singh Chawla has shared the Sidhu's morphed image sporting green turban with a star and crescent on his Facebook page. The photo was shared by many on social media platforms including Twitter.
India 01-Jul-2019
A mega exercise to fortify the ‘anti-infiltration grid’ along the Pakistan border in Punjab and Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) has been launched by the Border Security Force (BSF). The operation, code named Sudarshan, was launched on July 1, 2019, and will cover the entire over 1,000-kms length of the India-Pakistan International Border (IB) in Punjab and Jammu. While Jammu shares about 485-kms of the IB with Pakistan, about 553-kms of the front is in Punjab.
India 02-Jul-2019
India and Pakistan will have a second round of meeting to finalise the Kartarpur corridor modalities at Wagah on the Pakistan side of the border, on July 14. India had last week proposed that the meeting be held between July 11 and 14. Confirming the date, Pakistan asked the Indian side to convey the composition of its delegation. Pakistan also said it remained committed to expediting progress on the matter to ensure that the corridor is operationalised in time for the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak in November 2019.
United Kingdom 03-Jul-2019
The UK counter-terrorism Police arrested two British Sikhs in connection with ongoing investigations into ‘allegations of extremist activity in India and fraud offences’ in Birmingham. The arrested individuals were identified as 38-year-old Deepa Singh, who runs the group Sikh Youth UK (SYUK), and a 49-year-old female relative of his.However, the two arrestees were released on bail and will either be charged within 28 days or released pending further investigations.
India 04-Jul-2019
Indian intelligence agencies apprehend that Pakistan is more concerned and interested in opening of the Kartarpur Corridor because it wants to exploit Sikh sentiments to support the Khalistani agenda in India. The security agencies also apprehend that after opening of the corridor, Sikh radicalization will be increased manifold in the State of Punjab.
India 07-Jul-2019
The interrogation details of Sukhwinder Singh Sidhu, revealed that Sidhu was recruited by Rawalpindi when he visited the neighbouring country as part of a Jatha from India to visit Sikh holy shrines in Pakistan in November 2015 as part of Guru Parab celebrations. It is seriously concerned over Sikh pilgrims being recruited by Rawalpindi and used for promoting pro-Khalistan campaign “Referendum 2020”, Indian sources said.
India 08-Jul-2019
The incidents of Sikh pilgrims being recruited by Pakistani intelligence agencies for pushing the pro-Khalistan movement have become a matter of concern for Indian security establishment. The issue of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) supporting the "Referendum 2020" campaign has come to the fore a week before India meets Pakistan to discuss Kartarpur Corridor operations.
India 08-Jul-2019
A senior Indian security official revealed that though Pakistan banned the pro-Khalistan activities, the ISI has been promoting the agenda under the guise of Sikh pilgrimage. He revealed that Indian Sikh ‘Jathas’ (pilgrimage groups), who visit Pakistan under the Bilateral Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, are targeted by the separatist organisation. "Sikhs coming directly to Pakistan from Canada, UK and Germany are tutored on the so-called referendum campaign, which is largely funded by Islamabad," he said.
United Kingdom 09-Jul-2019
A group of Sikh protesters sporting with "Punjab Referendum 2020" T-shirts and chanting pro-Khalistan slogans were evicted from the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester in United Kingdom (UK) during the World Cup Cricket semi-final match between India and New Zealand. Greater Manchester Police arrested the two of them who were causing disruption and later released.
Malaysia 09-Jul-2019
Malaysia detained four foreigners, including a 24-year-old Indian national who had allegedly acted as a facilitator to a senior member of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) - a Khalistani separatist group. The other arrestees were identified as two ethnic Rohingya from Myanmar (detained for providing support to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army [ARSA], the insurgent group) and a 54-year-old Philippine national with alleged ties to Abu Sayyaf, a militant organisation aligned with the Islamic State (IS).
India 10-Jul-2019
The Government of India banned the pro-Khalistan radical group, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) for five years and declared it as an “unlawful association” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The US-based secessionist outfit with the primary objective of establishing an independent and sovereign country has its top leadership based in US, UK and Canada, with just 8-10 active members and negligible support base in India. SFJ enjoys strong online presence through social media accounts run in its own name or by its leaders — main promoter Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a New York-based attorney, apart from Hardip Singh Nijjar and Paramjit Singh Pamma who are principal proponents of “Referendum 2020” in Canada and UK respectively. A senior Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) official said all the major Sikh bodies consulted ahead of the five-year ban had supported the action and that the Centre had largely relied on the “material” sent by Punjab Government to impose the ban.
India 10-Jul-2019
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) special court in Lucknow convicted five operatives of the ‘Babbar Khalsa’ outfit facing charges under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and also conspiring to assassinate former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in 2018, apart from supporting the Khalistan movement. The NIA had filed charge sheet against five accused, Gurjant Singh alias Jinta of Saharanpur, Amrit Singh of Haryana, Karam Singh, Karamveer Singh and Jarman Singh, who belong to Shamli. They were lodged in Lucknow District jail.
India 11-Jul-2019
Punjab Chief Minister Chief Minister Amarinder Singh described the ban on the pro-Khalistan outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) as the first step towards protecting the nation from the anti-India and secessionist plans and designs of the Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-backed organisation. He said the association should be declared a terror organisation. Punjab Police and National Investigation Agency (NIA) have busted several modules of SFJ found indulging in various subversive activities in Punjab. Investigations revealed that the activists were radicalized and funded by abroad based SFJ handlers - Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Harmeet Singh, Paramjit Singh Pamma, etc. Ten cases have been lodged with Punjab Police while one case is with NIA in which 39 accused have been arrested.
India 11-Jul-2019
The Government of India downplayed the threats by al Qaeda and Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) saying, they are not to be taken seriously. Terming the pro-Khalistan group “Sikhs For Justice” a fringe group, External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that the organisation has no traction within the mainstream Sikh community and India takes no cognisance of what such fringe elements say.
India 11-Jul-2019
The legal adviser of the pro-Khalistan group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun had approached the Chinese authorities and claimed that there was ‘suppression of indigenous people's democratic movements of self-determination’ not only in Punjab but also in Kashmir and north-eastern states. According to an intelligence report, SFJ had started new propaganda warfare against India through social media,especially by launching “Burn the tricolour” videos to instigate the Khalistan issue, disrupt peace, social harmony and to create unrest in India. The report says,"Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, attorney of law, New York, legal adviser, SFJ, wrote a letter to Yao Jing, ambassador of China to Pakistan informing them about the role of an Indian intelligence agency in attack on Chinese consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, on November 23, 2018”.
Pakistan 12-Jul-2019
Ahead of the India-Pakistan talks over Kartarpur corridor, Pakistan removed the name of pro-Khalistan leader Gopal Singh Chawla from the committee. The development was confirmed through an official statement, which said, “The Federal Government (Federal Cabinet) has been pleased to re-constitute the Pakistan Sikh Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC).” Gopal Singh Chawla is a close associate of Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed and resides in Pakistan. He is also suspected of planning terrorist attacks in India. And even said to hold meetings with global terrorist Masood Azhar.
India 14-Jul-2019
The intelligence sources revealed that Pakistan is using Khalistani terrorist and ‘chief’ of Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), Paramjit Singh Panjwar to smuggle drugs into India via carpet exports to the west and south-east Asia for fuelling militancy in Punjab. Paramjit Singh Panjwar is based in Lahore since 1994, whereas his wife and two sons live in Frankfurt in Germany. The nexus has been exposed after massive seizures of drugs shipped from Pakistan by the Coast Guards of the Maldives, Sri Lanka and India in recent months.
India 14-Jul-2019
India, in a dossier to Pakistan, has mentioned nearly 30 instances in the past four years when Sikh pilgrims visiting the neighbouring country were subjected to ‘anti-India propaganda’ such as espousing the Khalistani cause. The 23-page dossier was handed over to the Pakistani delegation during the Kartarpur corridor talks held at Wagah. Gopal Singh Chawla, a key “Khalistani element”, instigated the Sikh community to support Kashmiris for the formation of “Azad Kashmir”, says the dossier. The paper also contained a “pictorial catalogue of his anti-India activities on social media”. India accused that the recently banned Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) was given a free hand to promote secessionism during visits of pilgrims. The dossier also mentioned names of others like Tara Singh, Bishan Singh and Maninder Singh were named in the dossier for displaying Khalistani propaganda and leading a protest against India at Wagah border in July 2017.
India 15-Jul-2019
After being banned by the Government of India, the Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) said the group would now lobby with the United State (US), Canadian, United Kingdom (UK) and European Governments, ‘exposing how India brands mere expression through peaceful means of a peaceful political opinion as ‘terrorism’ and seeks to curb dissent’. Rejecting Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s charge that the Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was backing the SFJ, it’s legal adviser Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said, “We filed defamation charges against Capt when he said it during his visit to the USA and Canada.
India 16-Jul-2019
The Special Task Force (STF) of Punjab Police recovered about 10 lakh tramadol tablets from Bathinda in Bathinda District.The opioid-based tablets are a schedule H drug under the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act and used as a pain-killer. According to the reports, The kingpin, Pradeep Goyal, had supplied about 70 lakh tablets in the past few months.
Pakistan 19-Jul-2019
The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) elected its new president Sardar Satwant Singh and secretary-general Sardar Ameer Singh, days after the Imran Khan Government dissolved the body following India's objection to the presence of Khalistani separatists as part of the Pakistani delegation discussing the Kartarpur Corridor.
India 21-Jul-2019
Nainital Police launched an investigation after 52 Haldwani residents (Nainital District of Uttarakhand) were found to be the members of a pro-Khalistan Facebook group. Police said that the Facebook group named “Hindustan Vs Khalistan” is a private group and the posts of the members cannot be viewed by any non-group member. The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Nainital District, Sunil Kumar Meena said that "Nothing can be said conclusively as the matter is presently being looked into."
India 22-Jul-2019
The NIA court remanded four Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-backed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorists, Ravinder Pal Singh, Jagdev Singh, Nishan Singh and Harcharan Singh, till July 29, 2019. NIA took custody of the four, who were part of Amritsar module of BKI, from Punjab Police.
India 23-Jul-2019
Pakistan, which has sabotaged the previous peace initiatives between the two countries, must be hatching anti-Indian conspiracies around the Kartarpur Corridor too, warns the Indian security expert and senior professor at the Jammu University, Dipankar Sengupta. Pakistan has nothing to do with the welfare of any minority community and its diabolic gestures will be exposed in coming times, he said. He further said that Pakistan was taking advantage of the fact that there were more Sikh shrines inside its territory.
India 25-Jul-2019
The Government of India has empowered eight states, including Punjab and Delhi, with a “sizeable presence of Sikh population” to take action against Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) if they try “to brainwash Sikh community in favour of Khalistan movement”. In its order, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) noted, “..In exercise of the powers conferred by section 42 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), the central government hereby directs that all powers exercisable by it under section 7 and section 8 of the said act shall be exercised also by the state governments of Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, government of National Capital Territory of Delhi and Chandigarh administration”. “Centre doesn't have the wherewithal or jurisdiction to implement the notification in these states. This notification deals with only those states which have a sizeable Sikh population and where the organisations like SFJ can play foul and try to brainwash Sikh community in favor of the Khalistan movement, through various means,” a senior UMHA official said.
India 27-Jul-2019
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), in connection with the narcotics terror case in Amritsar in Punjab, visited the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari-Wagah border between India and Pakistan. A team formed of NIA officials, Customs officers and Punjab Police interrogated the importers at the ICP and asked for the list which contained the list of the goods which are being transported from across the border.
India 29-Jul-2019
According to sources, many Khalistan terrorists in Punjab prisons have been found to be inciting the other jailbirds against the country and brainwashing them. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) decided that soon all the states will be asked to separate the terrorists from the inmates and create a separate jail for the terrorists who are being punished in different jails across the country.
India 29-Jul-2019
The NIA special court in Mohali in Punjab sent all the four ISI-backed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) module members to judicial custody. The accused were initially arrested by Amritsar Police on charges of disturbing the state’s communal harmony, during the Ghalughara (massacre) week.
Pakistan 30-Jul-2019
Around 500 Indian Sikhs arrived in Pakistan to take part in celebrations in connection with the 550th birth anniversary of Sikh faith founder Guru Nanak Dev. According to sources, since the arrival of the Indian Sikhs was kept in a "low profile" neither the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), which looks after holy places of minorities in the country, nor the Pakistan Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (PSGPC) were taken on board by the Imran Khan Government regarding their arrival. The Pakistani media was also not invited to the venue to cover the arrival of the Sikh pilgrims from India. However, the Pakistan foreign office later in the day issued a statement confirming the arrival of 500 Indian Sikhs but did not tell whether they crossed over via under construction Kartarpur corridor or Wagah border.
India 31-Jul-2019
The former DGP, Punjab, Shashi Kant claimed that Pakistan-backed pro-Khalistani Sikhs are trying to set up their new bases in the UK, especially in Birmingham city. He said, "Now, they are trying to get a good foothold in Birmingham where they have been organising rallies.""There have been demands from India that the Khalistani activists abroad, should not be permitted to hold rallies but the British government has been taking up a different stand citing that as long as they do not indulge in violence, they are unable to take action," he added. He also underlined the key role of Pakistan's spy agency, ISI in fanning anti-India sentiments.
India 02-Aug-2019
Maheshinder Singh Grewal, a senior spokesperson of the Akali Dal, accused Pakistan of working at the instructions of the ISI of hatching conspiracies to create a rift between the Sikh communities in both countries by floating religion-based narratives. Grewal added that Pakistan’s peace gestures were merely an eyewash and Islamabad had no Sikh-welfare in mind.
India 02-Aug-2019
In a joint operation, Ludhiana Special Task Force (STF) and Ludhiana Rural Police recovered over 4.5-kilogram heroin, worth crores in the international market, at Mamdot in Ferozepur District of Punjab near the India-Pakistan border.
India 04-Aug-2019
Unprecedented security measures have been made at IB with Pakistan, especially in Pathankot District of Punjab. Punjab’s border zone IGP S P S Parmar said that high alert had been sounded in all border districts of the state following which they had upgraded the security. He added that special officers had been deputed in the border districts who would be monitoring the situation round the clock.
Pakistan 04-Aug-2019
After being removed from the PSGPC and ETPB, Pakistan’s pro-Khalistan leader Gopal Singh Chawla has now taken to social media to propagate misinformation campaign about Kashmir. In a two-minute video uploaded on social media, Chawla alleged “Kashmir tay jo zulm ho riha hai, usdi main apni tarfo te saari duniya day Khalisatania vallo muzammat karda han (I and the Khalisanis around the world condemn the atrocities committed in Kashmir).” Chawla circulated the video in the wake of New Delhi has called off Amarnath yatra and has issued advisory to tourists and pilgrims to leave the Kashmir valley. In his provocative video message, he also named former slain Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, stating that those who had committed atrocities had met their fate like her.
India 05-Aug-2019
The recent seizures of over 1,100 kg of heroin in the Indian subcontinent have left the investigating agencies worried about a spurt in the activities of Pakistan-based drug-trafficking syndicates in the region. A case in point is the seizure by the Customs at the Attari Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Amritsar District of Punjab in June of 532 kg of heroin and 52 kg of other drugs. They had been declared rock salt. The alleged kingpin, Tariq Ahmed Lone of Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir, was arrested, along with importer Gurpinder Singh. “The consignment was booked in the name of Global Vision Impex, a front for Pakistan’s ISI, in Lahore,” the official said.
India 06-Aug-2019
Punjab Jails Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa accepted in the State Legislative Assembly that drugs and mobile phones were being smuggled into prisons in the State. The Minister informed the assembly that his department was taking this "seriously" and seized 576 cellphones from various jails and suspended 20 jail staffers in six months. Six jail employees of the Patiala jail have been dismissed and Ferozpur jail superintendent has been demoted to the post of deputy jail superintendent, said the Minister.
India 08-Aug-2019
The Government of India has set up a tribunal to adjudicate whether or not there is sufficient reason to impose a ban on pro-Khalistan group SFJ, which was declared as an unlawful organisation last month. The UMHA, while imposing the ban, had said the group’s primary objective is to establish an “independent and sovereign country” in Punjab and it openly espouses the cause of Khalistan and in that process, challenges the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India.“Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 5 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), the central government hereby constitutes an Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal, consisting of Mr Justice D N Patel, Chief Justice, High Court of Delhi, for the purpose of adjudicating whether or not there is sufficient cause of declaring the SFJ as an unlawful association,” a notification issued by the UMHA said.
India 08-Aug-2019
An elderly man identified as Amar Singh was shot and wounded when drug peddlers selectively shot at some houses in Shamkhera in Muktsar District. Police has registered a case against eight people. However, no arrest has been made so far.
India 09-Aug-2019
According to a report, Punjab is struggling to wean its youth from substance abuse. An estimated 7.2 lakh people in Punjab, out of its around 3-crore population, need treatment for opioid addiction, according to a study by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Over 42 lakh people in Punjab are involved in substance abuse, including opioid, cannabis, alcohol and sedatives, it found. The figures on substance abuse in Punjab are stark. Punjab Police have arrested 34,443 persons in a total of 28,214 FIRs registered under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act since April 2017.‘At present, 51% of the total 23,033 prisoners in 24 jails of Punjab are undertrials or convicts in NDPS Act cases.As per official figures, there have been 134 drug overdose deaths since 2017 to date and around 4,000 viscera samples, including those of suspected drug overdose deaths, are pending with Punjab’s only functional chemical examining laboratory in Kharar.
India 10-Aug-2019
India sent a reminder to Pakistan to hold technical level meetings to finalise key decisions relating to the proposed Kartarpur corridor. India had proposed that technical level meetings should be held in the first week of August. However, the sources said Pakistan is yet to respond to it, prompting the Indian side to send a reminder.
India 11-Aug-2019
Government of India has put into motion the process to allow Sikhs, who figured on the now defunct “blacklist”, to visit India. The controversial list was done away in April 2019. GoI through embassies and high commissions abroad, written to the persons mentioned on the list that they can now travel to India. Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), a banned terrorist outfit, has welcomed the removal of the “blacklist” of Sikhs by the Indian Government. Some of its members have expressed the desire to visit India, but with a rider that they would be allowed to raise the demand for ‘Khalistan’.
India 11-Aug-2019
Punjab CM Amarinder Singh expressed concern over reports of slowdown in activities of discernible showdown by Pakistan to develop Kartarpur corridor. The CM urged Pakistan not to back out of their commitment. The CM also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce a special economic package for the development of the border states of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir to create better job opportunities.
India 11-Aug-2019
According to Government officials, Pakistan’s enthusiasm over Kartarpur corridor will depend on the unfolding situation in Kashmir once the restrictions are relaxed. While not commenting on reports that Pakistan had slowed down work on the corridor, they referred to influential voices in its establishment, such as those of former Foreign Secretary Abdul Basit, calling for work to be suspended in light of India’s Jammu and Kashmir moves. The Indian establishment has viewed the Kartarpur Corridor with a tinge of suspicion. There have been recurring concerns after the seizures of explosives and arms in Punjab and Haryana that Pakistan is attempting to destabilise Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.
India 11-Aug-2019
Special Task Force (STF) arrested head constable Gagandeep, alias Gaggi Khanna and his two accomplices for drug peddling and recovered 785 gram heroin from their possession from an unspecified location. His accomplices have been identified as Amandeep Singh, aliasMauli, and Vikas Kumar, alias Lara.
India 11-Aug-2019
Two drug peddlers were arrested from Sirsa District in separate incidents. A drug peddler identified as Laksham Singh was arrested from Bappa village in Sirsa District with 100 kilo grams of Chura Post. Separately, another drug peddler identified as Vinod Kumar was arrested with 12 kilo grams of Marijuana from an unspecified location in Sirsa District.
India 11-Aug-2019
Anti-Narcotic Cell team recovered 20 grams of heroin from two drug peddlers, identified as Mohit Kumar and Jitender Singh in Baba Hanuman Singh Chowk in Sirsa District.
India 11-Aug-2019
A member of anti-drug campaign committee was shot and wounded by drug peddlers at Kotli Ablu in Muktsar District.
India 11-Aug-2019
Mansa Police conducted extensive searches in houses of 51 people suspected of drug peddling or liquor smuggling in the District. The Police arrested 13 people and registered 11 cases.
India 12-Aug-2019
Radical Sikh organisation Dal Khalsa, United Akali Dal and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) have decided to observe August 15 as Black Day. Kanwar Pal Singh of Dal Khalsa said that they will stage protests on Independence Day against the atrocities, political subjugation and denial of rights to Sikhs in the last seven decades. He also alleged that due to increased hostilities between Indo-Pakistan in the wake of government's abrogating article 370, the Kartarpur corridor is likely to become causality.
India 12-Aug-2019
Former MLA, Virsa Singh Valtoha had to face ire from the locals during his address on the death anniversary of Sukhdev Singh Babbar of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) at Dasuwal in Tarn Taran District in Punjab. Valtoha talked about his association with BKI. When he spoke on opening an old murder case of Patti-based surgeon Dr Sudarshan Trehan, who was shot on November 15, 1984, the organisers switched off the public address system and Valtoha was made to sit.
India 12-Aug-2019
Two female drug peddlers, Manjit Kaur alias Bitto and Amarjeet Kaur alias Kalo were arrested from Rajgarh village in Ludhiana District and Police seized 850-gram heroin worth over INR 1.5 crore and INR 5,00,000 drug money from their possession.
India 12-Aug-2019
Son of a Sarpanch (village head), Harwinder Singh was arrested with one kilo gram of opium outside Baghapurana in Moga District.
India 12-Aug-2019
A teenager who was abducted for ransom was allegedly murdered by drug addicts in Verka in Amritsar District of Punjab. The victim was identified as Prabhkeerat Singh. The perpetrators have been arrested by the Police.
India 12-Aug-2019
An individual identified as Jagdish Sharma died of an overdose of a synthetic drug at Ahata Badan Singh locality in Moga District.