Punjab: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2023

On January 1, a Pakistani drone was spotted by the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel at the Kamalpur border outpost of Gurdaspur District in Punjab, reports amarujala. The BSF personnel fired at the drone following which the drone went back to Pakistan. The BSF troopers have launched a search operation in the area. Read less...

‘Khalistani Zindabad’ slogan was written outside the walls of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Upinderjit Singh Ghuman's office in Muktsar District of Punjab, Punjab Kesari reports on January 3. The Police have launched an inquiry into the matter. Furthermore, it was written that, much like former Prime Minister (PM) Indira Gandhi was assassinated in 1984 and Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra was threatened to be stopped on January 11, 2023. Shortly after, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) head Gurpatwant Singh Pannu released a video in which he discussed a number of incidents in Punjab, including a bomb found close to Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann's office, Khalistani slogans written, and the assassinations of Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi. Read less...

A Pakistani infiltrator was shot dead by the Border Security Force (BSF) troops at Channa Border Outpost in the Gurdaspur District along the India-Pakistan International Border (IB) in Punjab, Tribune India reports on January 3. A pump action shotgun has been recovered from the site. Read less...

On January 2, BSF had recovered an old broken Pakistani drone (hexacopter) along with a consignment of one kilogram of narcotics near the Border Observation Post (BOP) Kassowal in Gurdaspur District in Punjab, reports Tribune India. Read less...

The Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, at the Passenger Terminal Building in Kartarpur Corridor at Gurdaspur District of Punjab, have recovered live cartridges of 12 bore pistol from the bag of a woman devotee, identified as Bhupinder Kaur, who was going to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, in Narowal District, in Punjab Province of Pakistan, Punjab Kesari reports on January 3. Read less...

Canada-based gangster and Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) operative Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dalla was declared a designated terrorist by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) after it found his involvement in heinous crimes such as murder, extortion and targeted killings, disturbing communal harmony and creating terror among the people in Punjab, Indian Express reported on January 9. Punjab Police officials reported that Arshdeep Singh Gill funded his associates through hawala (illegal money transactions), which the latter utilise to commit various crimes, The Tribune reports on January 11. Read less...

On January 8, the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel fired 75 rounds on a Pakistani drone spotted near India-Pakistan border in Gurdaspur District in Punjab, reports Punjab Kesari. Search operation continues in the area. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on January 8 filed a chargesheet against five persons, identified as Gagi (dead), Surmukh Singh alias Sammu, Dilbagh Singh alias Baggo, Rajanpreet Singh, Zulfikar alias Pehalwan (Pakistani national) in a case related to a bomb explosion in Court Complex Ludhiana on December 23, 2021 reports Tribune India. In the chargesheet, NIA said that Lakhbir Singh Rode, a Pakistan-based International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) / Khalistan Liberation Front (KLF) terrorist handler, had planned to execute Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blasts at various locations in Punjab. NIA further adds that in order to execute the plans, Lakhbir Singh Rode in association with Pakistan-based smugglers, recruited India-based operatives to smuggle IEDs and to carry out blasts to cause maximum casualties and to strike terror among the general public. In furtherance of the conspiracy to carry out IED blasts in Punjab, Lakhbir Singh Rode, with the help of Zulfikar, a Pakistan based Cross-border Arms-Explosives-Narcotics smuggler, Harpreet Singh alias Happy Malaysia, Surmukh Singh, Dilbagh Singh and Rajanpreet Singh, formed a terror gang to carry out blasts and smuggle weapons into India. The accused are charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Explosive Substances Act (ESA), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. Read less...

Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) General Manoj Pande stated on January 15 that “though ceasefire violations saw a dip along the western border, still there is a terror infrastructure on the other side and several proxy outfits have resorted to targeted killings to gain visibility”, reports Hindustan Times. He stressed the people of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) have rejected violence and are welcoming positive changes. CoAs further stated that counter-drone jammers and spoofers are being used to defeat efforts to smuggle in arms and drugs through the International Border (IB) sectors in Jammu and Punjab. On the security situation in north-eastern region, General Pande said Indian Army has played an important role in bringing down level of violence and making insurgents leave the path of violence. Asked on readiness for future warfare, he said, "The utility of disruptive and dual-use technologies, information warfare in the form of cyber and space variants, and grey zone warfare have made wars more complex and lethal. Read less...

On January 17, Border Security Force (BSF) fired at a Pakistani drone and recovered a cache of weapons, including four China-made pistols, eight magazines and 47 bullet rounds, near the Ucha Dhakala frontier village area of the Gurdaspur District along the International Border (IB) in Punjab, reports The Tribune. Read less...

On January 18, a rusted bomb shell, which is many years old, was found at the military ground in Khanna in Ludhiana District of Punjab, reports amarujala. The area has been cordoned off and further investigations are underway. Read less...

On January 20, Special Cell of Delhi Police arrested two close associates of fugitive Khalistani terrorist Landa Harike, identified as Rajan Bhatti and Kanwaljeet Singh alias Chinna from unspecified location in Punjab, reports Tribune India. The Police further said that Bhatti is a Punjab based arms and drug smuggler accused of target killings and disturbing communal harmony in Punjab whereas Chinna is a drug supplier. Read less...

On January 20, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted raids in Gurdaspur and Muktsar Districts in Punjab in connection with the December 23, 2021 Ludhiana blast case, reports Tribune India. During the searches INR 1,016,000 cash, mobile phones, SIM cards and dairies with incriminating content were recovered. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) shot down a six-wing drone carrying five kilograms of heroin (narcotics) at Kakkar village in Amritsar District of Punjab in India, two kilometres away from International Border (IB) with Pakistan, The Tribune reports on January 23. Read less...

On January 27, the Punjab Police arrested a key associate of the gangster-turned terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dalla, identified as Jagtar Singh alias Jagga, after a brief exchange of fire with the Police near Kothe Khanjuran village in Jagraon tehsil (revenue unit) in Ludhiana District of Punjab, reports Tribune India. The accused had come to collect extortion money when a trap was set, according to Police. While Jagga was apprehended when a gunshot hit his leg, his aide managed to escape. Read less...

On January 27, the Punjab Police arrested two weapon smugglers, identified as Banna Ram alias Vinod Devasi and Mukesh alias Muksha Rabari, from Fazilka District in Punjab, and recovered seven .32 bore pistols along with two live cartridges, one .315 bore country-made pistol along with two live cartridges and Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) worth INR 9,650 from their possession, reports The Tribune. The Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav said that the arrested accused are Rajasthan-based weapon smugglers who are expected to deliver the weapons to members of the terrorist Arsh Dalla gang in Punjab. Read less...

On January 27, the Punjab Police’s Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) arrested an operative of the gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, identified as Rajveer alias Ravi Rajgarh, from Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar District in Punjab, and recovered a China-made pistol and six cartridges from him, reports The Tribune. The officials have stated that the accused was providing hideouts, logistic support, arms and vehicles to the members of Lawrence Bishnoi gang, and also facilitated his associates to procure passports on fake particulars to escape abroad. Read less...

On January 29, Punjab Police arrested a key associate of the gangster-turned terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dalla, identified as Harpreet Singh alias Harry, alleged to be involved in targeted killings in Punjab, from Moga District in Punjab, reports Tribune India. Four cartridges and .32 bore pistol was recovered from his possession. The initial probe suggested that Harry was the main supplier of weapons to gangster Lalli Malaysia and Dalla’s gang. A case has been registered under Sections 25 (6, 7, 8), 54 and 59 of the Arms Act (AA) against Harry, Dalla, and three other gang members, identified as, Jackpal Singh alias Lalli Malaysia, Amritpal Singh Manila and Manpreet Singh Manila. Read less...

On January 30, the Border Security Force (BSF) fired 14 rounds at a Pakistani drone along the India-Pakistan border in Gurdaspur District of Punjab, India, following which the drone returned to Pakistan, reports Punjab Kesari. Read less...

Police on January 30 recovered two rusted hand grenades and 37 cartridges during the excavation work held in Pandori Araian village of Moga tehsil (revenue unit) in Moga District of Punjab, reports amarujala. Further investigation is under way. Read less...

On January 31, Punjab court granted the Punjab Police State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) four days of custody for gangster Jagdip Singh, alias Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, in a terror funding case, reports Hindustan Times. Police claim that Bhagwanpuria and his associates are in communication with their accomplices in Pakistan and links with banned Pro-Khalistan groups, namely, Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). They are suspected of plotting to attack Hindu leaders across the country, particularly in Punjab, the Police said. The officials also stated that Jaggu is responsible for providing manpower, weapons, and ammunition to the terror module. Read less...