KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
India 10-Aug-2021
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops spotted a drone in the Mullankot border outpost area of Amritsar District in Punjab on August 10. The border outpost is a few kilometres from Bachwind village, where the explosives were dropped by a drone on the intervening night of August 7-8.
India 15-Aug-2021
Police on August 15 arrested two suspected Khalistani terrorists, identified as Amritpal and Sammy with two hand grenades and a pistol and later their interrogation led to seizure of four hand grenades and three pistols in Amritsar District. A tiffin bomb was also recovered from Gurnam Singh Brar alias GB, a resident of Hardyal Nagar (Kapurthala), and Gagandeep Singh. The explosives and weapons were allegedly part of larger consignment dropped by drones from across Pakistan-based notorious elements. The Police have been trying to find a link between all the recent seizures.
India 20-Aug-2021
Punjab Police busted a terror module by arresting two persons, including former Akal Takht Jathedar Jasbir Singh Rode’s son Gurmukh Singh from his house in New Hardial Nagar in Jalandhar District on August 20. The other person arrested was identified as Gagandeep Singh of Phagwara in Kapurthala District. According to a Punjab Police spokesperson, the Kapurthala Police recovered two hand-grenades, a box of detonators, two tubes suspected to containing RDX, a roll of wire used in explosives, INR 375,000 Indian currency, a licensed pistol, 14 Indian passports, a .30-calibre pistol and two magazines from Gurmukh’s house. Also, Police seized a tiffin bomb, three hand-grenades, four Glock pistol magazines and packaging material from the Gurmukh’s office near Jalandhar bus stand.
India 22-Aug-2021
Amritpal Singh, an alleged operative of the banned militant outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), met the UK-based Gurpreet Singh Khalsa, when he went to New Zealand in 2015, this revelation came to light during the interrogation of Amritpal and Sammy on August 22, who are currently in the Police custody. The duo was arrested by the Amritsar (rural) Police on August 15 with two hand grenades and a pistol.
India 27-Aug-2021
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) special court in Mohali District in Punjab on August 27 framed charges against nine members of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) in a September 2019 arms drop case from across the Pakistan border using drone. Special NIA judge Karunesh Kumar framed charges against KLF activists. According to the NIA, KLF ‘chief’ Ranjit Singh and Gurmeet Singh alias Baga, are the main accused in the case. The arms and ammunition dropped by drone was received on the Indian side by the nine accused against whom the charges have been framed. Before the NIA took over the case, the case was being handled by Punjab Police special operations cell.
India 31-Aug-2021
The Punjab police on August 31 registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-backed Khalistan ideologue Sikh for Justice (SFJ) ‘chief’ Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and other members for their continued attempts to promote violence in the State and the recent assassination threat against Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Captain Amarinder Singh. The Director general of Police (DGP), Dinkar Gupta, said that Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and his associates had been found promoting violent extremist action and threatening assassination of the Chief Minister, an elected constitutional Head of government of the State of Punjab.
India 31-Aug-2021
A special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Mohali District in Punjab on August 31, framed charges against eight militants of Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) in the killing of Balwinder Singh Sandhu, a Shaurya Chakra awardee, by two unidentified persons at his residence-cum-school on October 16, 2020, in Bhikhiwind in Tarn Taran District of Punjab. "(The) Investigation has revealed that the charge-sheeted accused were part of the conspiracy hatched by Pakistan based leadership of proscribed terrorist organization Khalistan Liberation Force for assassinating comrade Balwinder Singh who was awarded Shaurya Chakra for his brave fight against terrorists at the peak of militancy in Punjab," a statement by the NIA read. The court framed charges against Sukhraj Singh, Ravinder Singh, Akashdeep Arora, Jagroop Singh, Sukhdeep Singh, Gurjit Singh, Inderjit Singh and Sukhmeet Pal Singh for various offences under different sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and Arms Act, 1959.
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.
India 01-Oct-2021
The Police claimed to have foiled a plan to kill Dera Sacha Sauda follower Shakti Singh, who is an accused in three Bargari sacrilege cases of 2015, with the arrest of a person, identified as Bhola Singh alias Khalsa, allegedly carrying two weapons in Faridkot District. Shakti Singh is believed to be on the target list of banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). Bhola, of Jeon Wala village in Faridkot District, is facing as many as five criminal cases, including murder and extortion.
India 01-Oct-2021
Four aides of Canada-based Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) operative Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala, were arrested with three sophisticated weapons, 14 live cartridges, and 300 grams of heroin, from Mehna Police Station area in Moga District on October 1. The arrestees have been identified as Amandeep Singh alias Machher, Jaswinder Singh alias Jassu, Balraj Singh, and Arun Sarwan. Moga District Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Dhruman H Nimbale said they arrested Amandeep with a Beretta M9 pistol, four live cartridges and 300gm of heroin.
India 05-Oct-2021
Three drones purportedly from Pakistani retreated on October 5 night after the Border Security Force (BSF) troopers opened fire to prevent their entry into the Indian territory in Gurdaspur and Pathankot Districts.
India 06-Oct-2021
A team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) reached a village in Meerut District of Uttar Pradesh in search of two suspects of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), who it suspected supplied illegal arms to an extortion racket which was busted in Moga District of Punjab in May 2021. The gang was allegedly being run by Khalistan separatists settled abroad. The anti-terror federal probe agency returned after handing over notice to their families which asked the two suspects to appear at their office in Chandigarh on October 8 for questioning.
India 17-Oct-2021
According to reports, the Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police have started involving the Panchayats (village-level local self-Government institutions) in border villages of Punjab to tackle the issue of drones.
India 20-Oct-2021
In a joint operation, the Border Security Force (BSF) and the counter intelligence wing of Punjab Police recovered a cache of arms and ammunition along the barbed wire fence on the Indo-Pak border near Khemkaran village in Tarn Taran District on October 20. Counter intelligence wing inspector Inderdeep Singh said the seizure included 22 foreign-made pistols, 100 rounds of ammunition, 44 magazines, and one kilogram of heroin and 72 grams of opium. Officials suspect that the consignment may have been smuggled with drones.
United Kingdom 31-Oct-2021
According to reports, the Khalistan referendum, which was held in London on October 31, turned out to be a damp squib. According to UK watchers, the claims of high turnout in the voting to decide whether Khalistan should be carved out of Punjab is being projected by Pakistani media. A majority of the voters were backed by Pakistan, the sources said, adding that the total number was less than 2,000. The Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), which organised the referendum, failed to get even 100-150 voters in the first half and various outfits associated with the Khalistan movement - like Federation of Sikh organization (FSO) and World Sikh Parliament (WSP) - pressed their workers to come and vote, said UK watchers. The organisers had pressed into service buses to ferry people from different parts of the UK, but even they could not bring a large number of people, said the source.
India 06-Nov-2021
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has formally requested the Canadian Government to declare Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) as a "terrorist entity" in the country. The SFJ was banned by the Government of India in July 2019 under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for its involvement in promoting secession and violent extremism in Punjab. Top officials of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) have confirmed the visit of NIA officers to Canada, and a senior officer said," A formal request to this effect has been made. A two-member NIA team led by an IG rank officer had begun their visit beginning November 4." Sources said the purpose of the visit was to press Canadian authorities for faster execution of requests made under the mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT). “The visit is for better coordination of investigation against entities and individuals suspected of terrorism and to discuss other criminal matters," a release issued by the Indian High Commission in Ottawa had said.
India 20-Nov-2021
A hand grenade kept in a tiffin box was found at Sekhwan village in Zira sub-division in Firozpur District, on November 20.
India 21-Nov-2021
A grenade blast occurred outside Triveni Gate of the Army cantonment near Dheerapul in Pathankot District of Punjab on November 21. Police said that some unidentified motorcyclists lobbed the grenade in front of Triveni gate of the military cantonment. However, no casualty was reported in the blast.
India 25-Nov-2021
On November 25, the National Investigating Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet against Hardeep Singh Nijjar of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) in a case of conspiracy to commit terrorist acts against India. Nijjar, from Jalandhar in Punjab, is currently based in Surrey, Canada. The NIA said in a statement. “He used to send funds to India…for developing a network of sympathisers for targeted killings in Punjab and was trying to arrange ammunition from his Pakistan-based associates for his nefarious plans.”
United Kingdom 09-Dec-2021
The high court in England on December 9 rejected an appeal by Indian authorities seeking permission to appeal against a magistrates’ court order turning down the extradition on human rights grounds of Kuldeep Singh alias Keepa Sidhu (44), wanted in India as an alleged senior member of the banned terrorist organisation Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF). Singh, is charged with conspiring with others to commit terror activities in Punjab dating back to 2015-16, including a plot to assassinate then chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. Singh is also accused of recruiting youths in Punjab to the banned KZF organisation by offering them money and organising a meeting of separatists in a gurdwara.
India 17-Dec-2021
The Border Security Force (BSF) on December 17 shot down a drone along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab.
India 23-Dec-2021
A man was killed and five others injured in a blast at the District Courts Complex in Ludhiana District. The man killed in the blast, identified as former policeman Gagandeep Singh, was carrying the explosion. Director General of Police (DGP), Siddharth Chattopadhyaya said that they suspect Pakistan’s role but cannot conclude anything as the investigation is underway. However, the accused was in “touch with other conspirators in jail and outside. The deceased person, former policeman Gagandeep Singh, was carrying the explosion. He was dismissed from service in 2019 and spent two years in jail following his arrest in a drug-trafficking case." The injured have been identified as: Sandeep Kaur (31), a photostat machine operator and resident of Raikot, Ludhiana, Manish Kumar (32), a Policeman and resident of Police Colony Jamalpur, Ludhiana, Kuldeep Singh Mand (50) an advocate of Bindra Ban Road, Ludhiana, while, Sharanjit Kaur (25), resident of Jamalpur, Ludhiana, Krishan Khanna (75) of Phase 1, Dugri, Ludhiana and Gurpreet Kaur (35), were visitors to the court complex. While terming it as an unfortunate incident, Punjab Chief Minister (CM), Charanjit Singh Channi said that prima facie, it seems that the deceased person was the perpetrator of this crime.
Germany 27-Dec-2021
The German Police detained Sikh for Justice (SFJ) militant Jaswinder Singh Multani (45) in Germany, for his alleged involvement in the blast at a Ludhiana court on December 23 and planning to target Delhi and Mumbai. Jaswinder is a close associate of SFJ founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and is reportedly involved in separatist activities. According to media reports, Multani was picked up by the Federal Police from Erfurt after the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government requested the German authorities to arrest the pro-Khalistan radical who has links to Pakistani, and has been involved in smuggling of arms and ammunition from across the border into Punjab.
India 30-Dec-2021
A high alert has been sounded in Mumbai after intelligence agencies received inputs regarding terror activities planned by pro-Khalistan groups. A senior officer said that after Jaswinder Singh Multani, a member of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) who was allegedly linked to Ludhiana court blast, was detained and questioned in Germany, they have received inputs regarding planned terror activities in Mumbai and other big cities. The officer said, "We have received inputs that apart from SFJ, other banned pro-Khalistan groups are in contact with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to execute terror activity in Mumbai, Delhi and other cities."
India 30-Dec-2021
According to officials, in the wake of intelligence inputs that Khalistani elements may carry out a terror attack in Mumbai on the eve of New Year, the city police have beefed up security at prominent railway stations and other public places. Police also cancelled the weekly offs and holidays of its personnel so that its entire strength remains available for duty. "Police had received an input that Khalistani elements may carry out a terror attack in Mumbai on the eve of New Year," a police official said. Hence, in order to maintain the law-and-order situation, police are on alert and will be keeping a strict vigil across the city on December 31. Considering the possibility of people gathering at prominent places like the Gateway of India and Marine Drive to ring in the New Year, a large number of personnel, will be deployed in the city, he said.
India 30-Dec-2021
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered a case against banned Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) radical Jaswinder Singh Multani for his involvement in the December 23 Ludhiana court blast, and others for hatching a conspiracy to target Indian cities. Multani was picked up by Federal Police from Erfurt in central Germany after India government requested German authorities to arrest the pro-Khalistan radical who has links to Pakistan, and has been involved in smuggling of arms and ammunition from across the border into Punjab. According to NIA’s first information report (FIR) filed on December 30, the 45-year-old has been booked under sections related to criminal conspiracy and waging war against India, among others, of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Earlier on December 23, one person was killed and six others were injured after a bomb went off in the district court’s complex in Ludhiana, triggering a high alert in the state. Police said the deceased was the alleged bomber and dismissed head constable Gagandeep Singh. Preliminary probe revealed that 1.5 kg of explosives were assembled in a plastic container to carry out the blast in the court premises.
India 31-Dec-2021
The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered 0.95 Kg of heroin, which was pushed from Pakistan through the river Satluj in Punjab. BSF Punjab spokesperson said, “On 31st Dec' 2021, vigilant Border Security Force troops, deployed along the River Sutlej bank in the area of responsibility of Ferozepur Sector observed some suspicious item floating in River Sutlej from Pakistan to India side. Thereafter, troops dragged the suspected item towards the bank and when it was searched, they recovered and seized 01 Pkt of contraband (weight appx 0.950 Kg) suspected to be Heroin”.
India 31-Dec-2021
Ludhiana Special Task Force arrested two accused and seized 1.7 kg heroin from them. Acting on a tip off, police stopped three accused. Two of them were nabbed while the third escaped from the spot.
India 31-Dec-2021
The Border Security Force (BSF) arrested an Indian national, identified as Jagdish Singh and recovered one 32 bore pistol and seven live cartridges from his possession near the Indo-Pakistan border in Ferozepur. BSF officials said, “We are also checking whether the weapon recovered from him was smuggled from across the border.”
United Kingdom 31-Dec-2021
According to Pakistani newspapers, the British Sikh community held voting on the Khalistan Referendum at four locations, with thousands of people, including a 95-year-old Sikh woman, turning out to vote in the non-binding referendum on December 31. Gurdwaras Singh Sabha in Hounslow, Gurdwaras Singh Sabha in Slough, Guru Nanak Gurdwaras in Wednesfield, and Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Smethwick held Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) sponsored voting on December 31, 2021.