Page 10 - Khalistan Movement

Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh on run, will be arrested soon: Police

A manhunt was still on to nab radical Sikh preacher and Khalistan sympathizer Amritpal Singh, police has said. "He is now a fugitive and we are looking for him and we will soon arrest him," Jalandhar Police Commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal told reporters near Nakodar in Jalandhar late Saturday night. Chahal said six to seven gunmen of Amritpal Singh have been arrested. The Punjab government had on Saturday launched a major crackdown against Amritpal, with police arresting 78 members of an outfit headed by him, officials said. The elusive preacher himself, however, gave the police a slip and escaped their dragnet when his cavalcade was intercepted in Jalandhar district. As the operation went underway, authorities stepped up security at several places and suspended internet and SMS services in the state till Sunday noon. Police on Saturday launched a "massive state-wide cordon and search operations (CASO)" in the state against the members of the 'Waris Punjab De' group, headed by .

Two pro-Khalistani suspects belonging to SFJ held from Madhya Pradesh

Crime Branch's Cyber Cell unit of Gujarat Police arrested two persons suspected to be backed by Sikh For Justice (SFJ), a pro-Khalistan group from Madhya Pradesh

Khalistan referendum has no legal standing: Envoy Barry O'Farrell

Asserting that Australia's respect for India's sovereignty is unwavering, Australian ambassador Barry O'Farrell on Monday made it clear that the Khalistan referendum in his country has no legal standing. Interacting with reporters here, O'Farrell said Australians were horrified at the incidents of vandalism at places of religious worship, including in Brisbane. "The police are very active in trying to track down those who are responsible," the Australian High Commissioner said. "Australia's respect for India's sovereignty is unwavering", he said, adding that the Australian government has made it clear that the Khalistan poll has "no legal standing either in Australia or in India". His strong comments came days ahead of the state visit of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to India during which he will hold comprehensive talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. Amidst escalated activities by pro-Khalistan elements in Australia, actively aided and abetted by members

In Punjab, a political vacuum and remote control bring back the K-word

An armed mob overran a big police station near the border, a suspect was freed, and then the State said 'sorry'. You have to be nuts to think there will be no consequences

Khalistani terrorist Harwinder Rinda has died in Pak: Punjab Police sources

Khalistani terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda, who was involved in various terror cases, including the RPG attack on the Punjab Police Intelligence Headquarters in May, is learnt to have died in Pakistan, sources in the state police said on Saturday. Though the cause of his death was not immediately known, the sources said he was admitted to a hospital in Lahore. Rinda, a member of the banned Khalistani outfit Babbar Khalsa International, had been taking the help of local gangsters to carry out anti-national activities here and was believed to be in Pakistan. His name had figured in the rocket propelled grenade (RPG) attack on the Punjab Police Intelligence Headquarters in Mohali in May this year. He was also charge sheeted in a case related to seizure of arms and explosives from a vehicle in Haryana in the same month. The 35-year-old's involvement was also detected in a hand-grenade attack at the crime investigation agency office in Nawanshahr last November. Rinda was seen as the ma

Freedom misused by forces advocating violence and bigotry: EAM Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister on Monday said that India has flagged issues related to Khalistani separatist forces operating out of Canada to Ottawa, emphasising the need to ensure that freedoms in a democratic society are not misused by forces which actually advocate "violence" and "bigotry". In recent weeks, anti-India activities in Canada have been on the rise. Jaishankar made the comments during a press conference with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong here on Monday after the 13th Foreign Ministers' Framework Dialogue. "From time to time, we have engaged the Canadian government, I have myself engaged with my counterpart on this (Khalistani) issue. And we have flagged the need to ensure that freedoms in a democratic society are not misused by forces which actually advocate violence and, and bigotry," he responded to a question related to the Khalistani issue. "So it's important, I think, to understand really, how democracies should function not only at home but also the ...

Pannun booked under UAPA after Khalistani banners seen outside HP assembly

The state border has been 'sealed' to regulate movements of suspicious elements across it and keeping a strict vigil there, police said.

Khalistan flags hung at HP Assembly entrance gate, CM says 'cowardly act'

Khalistan flags were found tied on the main gate and slogans written on the walls of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, police said on Sunday. The flags were put up on the outer side of the main gate number one of the assembly complex, which have now been removed by the administration. It might have happened in the late night or early morning today. We have removed the Khalistani flags from Vidhan Sabha gate. we are investing and going to register a case, SP Kangra Khushal Sharma said. SDM, Dharamshala, Shilpi Beakta said, "It is an alert call for us." "We received an information this morning at around 7.30am. We have removed the flags and walls have been painted again. We are inquiring about the matter and are going to register a case under relevant sections of Himachal Pradesh Open Places Prevention of Disfigurement Act, 1985. Rest details can be shared after investigation". Local MLA Vishal Nehria said termed the incident disgusting and an act of cowardice carried out

PM should probe allegations against Kejriwal: Charanjit Singh Channi

In a tweet, Channi said, As CM of Punjab, I request Hon'ble PM @narendramodi Ji to order an impartial enquiry in the matter of @DrKumarVishwas Ji's video

Khalistan row: Complaint filed against Kejriwal on Kumar Vishwas' statement

Kumar Vishwas, one of the founding members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has allegedly talked about the collaboration between Kejriwal and the Khalistani separatists in an interview

Best of BS Opinion: Sedition vs dissent, make tribunals first court & more

Here's a selection of Business Standard opinion pieces for the day

Sedition vs dissent

The law is increasingly being misused against critics

Best of BS Opinion: The power of narrative, a lost battle, and more

Here's a selection of Business Standard opinion pieces for the day

BJP perfects its winning formula

Mr Modi has finally managed to weaponise Hinduism and reduce governance to electoral math

Farmer leaders as 'extremists': Govt prepares a fallback narrative

Government leaders are talking about the subversive intent of "Urban Naxalites" or of "Khalistanis" alleged to have infiltrated the movement

India's future may depend upon BJP reconciling its absolutist approach

Can the 2020 BJP leadership can, at this late stage, manage to reconcile its absolutist, majoritarian, Hindi-Hindu-Hindustan approach with the coalition dharma of its Vajpayee-era predecessors

Indian govt blocks 12 websites linked to pro-Khalistani outfits: Source

The government has ordered to block 12 websites linked to pro-Khalistani outfits, a source aware of the development said on Tuesday.

PIL in Delhi HC for action against Twitter over anti-India tweets

A PIL has been moved in the Delhi High Court seeking action against social media platform Twitter for being allegedly involved in conspiracy to promote anti-India propagandasuch as Khalistan movement. The matter was listed for hearing before a bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan which on Wednesday recused from hearing it and directed that the petition be listed before another division bench on September 30. The plea has contended that some "promoted handles" on Twitter's platform were being allegedly used for promoting an agenda for a separate Khalistan. According to the petition by Sangeeta Sharma, promoted handles are those from which Twitter generates revenue. In her plea, filed through advocates Desh Ratan Nigam and Awanish Sinha, she has sought lodginga case against Twitter and its representatives in India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the provisions of IPC dealing with sedition and waging war against the country and under the Informati

Pro-Khalistan slogans raised at Golden Temple on Op Blue Star anniversary

'Parallel Jathedar' of Akal Takht Dhian Singh Mand, who entered the premises with the Mann-led group, addressed the gathering

Panjab's Khalistan destiny

A near constant throughout the book is references to Punjab's militancy days, the Khalistan movement and its protagonist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale