Page 11 - Khalistan Issue

Pro-Khalistani leader Hardeep Nijjar shot dead in Canada's Surrey

Canada-based pro-Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in the Punjabi-dominated Surrey city of British Columbia province

NIA to probe attacks by Khalistanis on Indian missions in US, Canada

The attackers used the wooden butts of Khalistan flags, which they had been waving earlier, to smash the glass doors and windows of the Consulate

Indian High Commission attack mastermind Avtar Khanda dies in UK hospital

Avtar Singh Khanda, a Punjab-origin Khalistani separatist and mastermind of the attack on the Indian High Commission in London, died in a hospital in the UK on Thursday due to blood cancer.

Khalistani supporters heckle Congress' Rahul Gandhi at an event in US

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was heckled by a group of Khalistani supporters who raised slogans against him and briefly interrupted his speech during an event here in the US state of California. Gandhi was speaking at the 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan' event organised by Indian Overseas Congress USA in Santa Clara on Tuesday when some people from the audience started raising slogans against him and the Gandhi family in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. An unperturbed Gandhi smiled in response to sloganeering and said: "Welcome, welcome ... nafrat ke bazaar mein mohabbat ki dukan". The 52-year-old former Congress president then joined his supporters in the audience and responded with 'Bharat Jodo' slogans. "The interesting thing about us, about the Congress party is that we have affection towards everybody. If someone wants to come and say something regardless of what they are saying, we are happy to listen to them. "We are not going to get angry, we are not going to get aggressive.

NCERT drops Khalistan's topic from class 12 political science textbook

The NCERT has dropped references to the demand for a separate Sikh nation Khalistan from the class 12 political science textbook following objections from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), according to education ministry officials. The SGPC had last month alleged that the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) misrepresented historical details about Sikhs in its Class 12 political science textbook. The Sikh body's objection pertained to the mention of the Anandpur Sahib resolution in the book "Politics In India Since Independence". The dropped sentences are -- "the resolution was a plea for strengthening federalism but it could also be interpreted as a plea for a separate Sikh nation" and "the more extreme elements started advocating secession from India and the creation of 'Khalistan'". The statements have been rewritten as "the resolution was a plea for strengthening federalism". "Representation from SGPC was received regarding withdrawin

Khalistani terrorist Paramjit Singh Panjwar shot dead in Lahore: Report

Wanted Khalistani terrorist Paramjit Singh Panjwar was on Saturday morning shot dead by two unidentified gunmen in Lahore, the provincial capital of Pakistan's Punjab province, police said. Panjwar, 63, was heading the banned Khalistan Commando Force-Panjwar group and was involved in drug and weapons smuggling and other terror activities when he was designated as a terrorist by India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in July 2020. He was walking along with his guard at the park of SunFlower Housing Society, Nawab Town near Tokhar Niaz Baig in Lahore, where he was residing when two assailants opened fire on him and managed to flee on a motorcycle, a senior officer of Pakistan's Punjab Police told PTI. The victims were shifted to hospital where Panjwar was pronounced dead on arrival by doctors while the condition of his guard is stated to be critical. "The gunmen shot (Panjwar) Singh in his head," the officer said on condition of anonymity. Pakistan's intelligence agenc

Ahead of PM Modi's visit, yet another Hindu temple vandalised in Australia

Temple authorities also found a Khalistani flag hanging on the gate, and reported the matter to New South Wales police

I am in high spirits in jail, says Amritpal Singh in letter to lawyer

Radical preacher and Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh, who is lodged at the Dibrugarh Central Jail along with his associates following their arrest in Punjab, has said he is in 'chardi kala' (high spirits) in prison, according to his lawyer Bhagwant Singh Siyalka. Siyalka accompanied family members of arrested Waris Punjab De' activists, including Amritpal Singh, who arrived here earlier in the day and met them at the jail. The radical preacher handed over a letter written in Gurmukhi to Siyalka inside the prison, in which he said: With the blessing of the Almighty, I am in 'chardi kala' here. Referring to the cases registered against members of his outfit, Amritpal Singh accused the Punjab government of unleashing excesses and registering several fake cases against Sikhs. This whole matter is of Khalsa Panth' and I appeal to the Panth' that a panel of capable advocates be set up, which will pursue all these cases, he said in the letter. Siyalka, who is also an executive memb

Family members meet arrested Waris de Punjab activists in Assam's Dibrugarh

Ten family members of arrested Waris de Punjab' activists, including its chief Amritpal Singh, arrived here on Thursday and visited the Dibrugarh Central Jail to meet them, an official said. They made their way to the northeastern state after the Punjab and Haryana High Court allowed one family member of the arrested to meet them. An executive member of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) and legal counsel Bhagwant Singh Siyalka, and another lawyer Simranjeet Singh also accompanied the family members. Singh later told reporters that the arrested persons have been booked under the National Security Act (NSA), with the same allegations against all of them. He said even the annexures attached to their cases are the same and this seems to be ''improbable''. "There is no criminal background of those arrested. It is definitely a conspiracy as there is no reason for them to be booked under the NSA. Amritpal was campaigning against drug abuse and was also engaged in preach

Khalistan a dangerous ideology, threat to national security: Report

In one of his statements, Amritpal Singh said that the Indian constitution was just a mode of perpetuating the slavery of the Sikhs

Amritpal Singh arrested, sent to Assam's Dibrugarh jail amid tight security

A special flight carrying radical preacher Amritpal Singh landed at Dibrugarh airport on Sunday from where he will taken to the Central Jail located in the Upper Assam town, officials said. Singh was flown in the special flight from Bathinda after his arrest by Punjab Police earlier in the day, they said. "His flight landed at 2:20 pm. After necessary formalities, he will be taken to Dibrugarh Central Jail in a security convoy," a senior official told PTI. Dibrugarh Traffic Police has been alerted for road clearance from the airport to the prison, a 15-km stretch. Singh was arrested by the Punjab Police around 6.45 am from Rode village in the northern state, after remaining absconding for more than a month. Altogether, nine of his associates are presently lodged at Dibrugarh Central Jail. Security in and around the jail premises has been beefed up since March 19, when four members of the Waris Punjab De' (WPD) were brought here in the first batch.

Family feels relieved on seeing Amritpal, says will fight legal battle

Family members of radical preacher Amritpal Singh, who was arrested from Punjab's Moga district on Sunday morning, said they felt relieved on seeing him after more than a month and would fight their legal battle. We came to know through the media at 7:15 am that he has been arrested, Amritpal's uncle Sukhchain Singh said in Amritsar. Today, the family is feeling worry-free. We have seen him (Amritpal), he said. Replying to a question, Amritpal's uncle said the family will go to Assam's Dibrugarh and meet him. We will fight our legal battle, he further said. "Police said that Amritpal was arrested while Jasbir Singh Rode, former Jathedar of the Akal Takht, said he surrendered. It will be clear in a day or two," Sukhchain Singh said. The Punjab Police arrested Amritpal Singh in Moga's Rode village early Sunday, ending an over a month-long manhunt against the radical preacher who styled himself after slain Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. The preacher was taken into .

AAP govt committed to peace in Punjab: Kejriwal after Amritpal's arrest

The AAP government is committed to ensure peace and security in Punjab for which it will even take "tough decisions", party's national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday. His remarks came after Punjab Police arrested Amritpal Singh in Moga's Rode village early Sunday, ending an over a month-long manhunt against the radical preacher who styled himself after slain Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. The 29-year-old preacher was taken into custody at 6.45 am as he came out -- in the traditional attire that included a sheathed sword -- of the gurdwara in Rode, Bhindranwale's native village and also the place where he himself took over last year as the chief of Waris Punjab De'. We are committed to the peace and security in Punjab. We are also ready to take tough decisions for this, Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi after the radical preacher was apprehended. He appreciated Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for accomplishing the mission with .

Was in regular touch with officials: Punjab CM Mann on Amritpal arrest

Hours after radical preacher and Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh was arrested by Punjab police, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said he was in touch with senior officials throughout Saturday night about the operation and asserted that those who try to disturb peace will face action as per law. In a video message on Sunday, Mann also thanked the people of Punjab for their cooperation and said he does not want the youth to be misled by people with vested interests who run their shops by driving a campaign against the country. Punjab's land is fertile and anything can grow here, but "seeds of hatred will never grow nor will these be allowed to grow", the chief minister emphasised. Mann said that he wants the youth of Punjab to hold degrees in their hands, appointment letters for occupying high posts and medals in top sporting events. He said people had given the responsibility to the Aam Aadmi Party, which entrusted him with the duty, as the chief minister, to protect the life and .

Security beefed up in Dibrugarh as Amritpal Singh to be shifted to prison

Security has been beefed up in Dibrugarh as pro-Khalistan radical preacher Amritpal Singh will be shifted to a prison in the Upper Assam town from Punjab on Sunday, police said. Punjab Police Inspector General Sukhchain Singh Gill said Amritpal Singh will be taken to Dibrugarh under the National Security Act (NSA). A multi-tier security arrangement has been made at the Central Jail in Dibrugarh where Singh will be lodged, a senior official told PTI. "The jail compound has been surrounded by Assam Police's elite Black Cat Commandos, CRPF and jail security personnel. The security inside the prison has also been tightened," he said. Dibrugarh Traffic Police has also been alerted for road clearance from the airport to the prison, a 15-km stretch. A special team is in place along with policemen in plain clothes. According to sources, Singh is being brought aboard a special flight, which took off from Bathinda at 8.25 am. Singh was arrested by the Punjab Police around 6.45 am from Rode

Amritpal's arrest result of month-long effort of Punjab Police, govt: AAP

Amritpal was arrested from Moga's Gurudwara today from where he will be shifted to Assam's Dibrugarh

Rodewal Gurudwara cleric unfolds Amritpal Singh's whereabouts before arrest

Hours before his arrest, 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh addressed the devotees this morning in Rodewal Gurudwara in Punjab's Moga

After Amritpal Singh's arrest, Punjab Police urges people to maintain peace

Punjab Police on Sunday urged people to maintain peace and harmony and refrain from sharing any fake news after the arrest of 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh in Moga

No Khalistani wave in Punjab, Centre keeping close watch: Amit Shah

"There is no wave (of Khalistan). Many times, some people try, but the governments have done their job. The Punjab government has done a good job, the Centre has supported"

One month on, no sight of radical preacher Amritpal except in CCTV footage

Radical preacher Amritpal Singh has managed to remain elusive even a month after the Punjab police launched a crackdown following the storming of the Ajnala police station by his supporters to secure the release of an arrested associate. His wife Kirandeep Kaur was stopped at the Amritsar airport by immigration officials on Thursday while she was trying to board a flight to London. Amritpal tied the knot with UK-based Kaur in February this year. The crackdown against Amritpal began on March 18 and members of his outfit 'Waris Punjab De.' He however, escaped the police dragnet twice -- first on March 18 in Jalandhar district by switching vehicles and then again on March 28 in Hoshiarpur when he returned to Punjab along with his key associate Papalpreet Singh. Papalpreet, who is considered to be Amritpal's mentor and who has allegedly been in contact with Pakistan's ISI, has been arrested. Several cases have been lodged against the Khalistan sympathizer and his associates for allege