India: Activities carried out by individuals that led to their arrest or identification as supporters of the Khalistan state, particularly in the states of Punjab and Haryana, including instances of arrest (2024−April 2026)
1. Activities Carried Out by Individuals Leading to Their Arrest as Alleged Pro-Khalistan Supporters
Sources report that in June 2025, an alleged "operative" of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) [1] was arrested by the Punjab Police for allegedly vandalizing public property and statues of prominent leaders, as well as for producing pro-Khalistan graffiti (ThePrint 2025-06-19; PTI 2025-06-18). Sources note that this individual is allegedly close with the founder of SFJ [who is listed as an "'individual terrorist'" by India's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) (ThePrint 2025-06-19)] and is accused of having committed other incidents of pro-Khalistan defacement to that point in 2025 (ThePrint 2025-06-19; PTI 2025-06-18). According to the Punjab Director General of Police, as cited in sources reporting the story, this man had previously been arrested elsewhere in Punjab, and in Haryana state, for his alleged role in similar cases, and in May 2025 had painted slogans such as "'Pakistan Zindabad' [long live Pakistan] and 'Khalistan Zindabad' to incite public unrest and promote anti-national sentiments" (ThePrint 2025-06-19; PTI 2025-06-18). Sources indicate that the man was taken into custody by the Special State Operations Cell (SSOC) (ThePrint 2025-06-19; PTI 2025-06-18) of the Punjab Police (ThePrint 2025-06-19). Regarding this case in June 2025, an article by ThePrint, an online news source based in India (ThePrint n.d.), adds that the man and another suspect were booked by the SSOC under sections 152 ("endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India"), 196 ("promoting enmity between different groups") and 61(2) ("criminal conspiracy") of [India's new penal code of 2023 (Al Jazeera 2024-07-01)] the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (2025-06-19). The article adds that the man had been released from Punjab's Sangrur jail in May 2024 following roughly 2 years in Sangrur and Karnal for involvement in similar offences (ThePrint 2025-06-19). The same source further states that the man's "name first appeared in cases related" to SFJ in 2022, when he was arrested by the Punjab Police for 2 cases of painting "secessionist graffiti" (ThePrint 2025-06-19).
The information in the following paragraph was provided in a June 2025 article by ThePrint:
The Punjab Police arrested a Punjab resident for allegedly having contact with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, as well as with "a Pakistan-based supporter of Sikh separatism." Punjab's Director General of Police stated that the individual was arrested "on the basis of information received by the Counter-Intelligence unit of the Punjab Police." The accused is alleged to have shared classified information, such as details concerning "troop deployments and strategic locations," which authorities deem to pose a national security threat. According to the Punjab Senior Superintendent of Police, the investigation into the accused showed 7 or 8 money transfers into his bank account from foreign sources (2025-06-03).
1.1. Instances of Arrest
A January 2025 MHA notification published in the Gazette of India, available online, provides information on arrests made across India in SFJ-related cases (India 2025-01-27).
The information in the following section is provided by the January 2025 MHA notification:
In July 2024, the Government of India "extended the declaration" of SFJ as "an unlawful association" for an additional 5-year period. As of January 2025, state and union territory police registered 96 SFJ-related cases, leading to the arrests of 105 individuals. Punjab police registered 55 cases and "[s]olved" or made arrests in 32 cases. Haryana police registered 13 cases and "[s]olved" or made arrests in 6 cases.
Since the start of 2023, Punjab authorities' arrest of individuals alleged to be associated with the SFJ includes the following cases:
- Moga, June 2023: arrest of 2 individuals "in connection with writing of pro-Khalistan graffiti" on a bus stand wall, as well as the planting of a Khalistan flag at the bus complex; case under trial as of 2025, with bail rejected in 2023;
- Amritsar, November 2023: arrest of 2 individuals for an incident "relating to inscribing of pro-Khalistan graffiti" on a bridge; case under trial as of 2025, with bail granted for both accused in 2024;
- Bathinda, December 2023: arrest of 2 alleged "foot soldiers of SFJ"—the same 2 individuals in the November 2023 Amritsar case; case under trial as of 2025;
- Mohali, January 2024: arrest of 3 alleged SFJ "foot soldiers" believed to be "involved in at least" 3 instances of graffiti in Haryana over the preceding year; case under investigation as of 2025;
- Batala, January 2024: arrest of 2 "youths" "in connection" with putting up "'Khalistan Zindabad'" posters on walls near 2 bazaars; the case remains under investigation.
- Since the start of 2023, Haryana authorities' arrests of individuals alleged to be associated with the SFJ includes the following cases:
- Ambala, March 2023: arrest of 2 individuals [also accused in the Mohali, January 2024 case] in a case "related to hanging of a Khalistani flag and inscribing of pro-Khalistan graffiti on a bridge"; case under investigation as of 2025;
- Kurukshetra, April 2023: arrest of 1 individual "related to [the] writing of pro-Khalistan graffiti on a roadside wall"; case under trial as of 2025 (India 2025-01-27, 3, 4, 13, 43−47, 51−52, emphasis omitted).
2. Cases Adjudicated by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana
Sources report that in February 2025, the Punjab Police arrested 6 individuals for allegedly erecting a flag and spray-painting slogans supportive of Khalistan in Punjab's Sangrur district (The New Indian Express 2025-02-27; The Tribune 2025-02-28). The same sources note that the accused included Amritpal Singh [the leader of the Waris Punjab De [2] organization] and his brother (The New Indian Express 2025-02-27; The Tribune 2025-02-28). Amritpal Singh, his brother, and a third suspect allegedly planned the activities while in jail together (The New Indian Express 2025-02-27; The Tribune 2025-02-28). The sources also report that one of the suspects is accused of sending a video of the incident in question to the leader of SFJ, who is based abroad (The New Indian Express 2025-02-27; The Tribune 2025-02-28).
According to the ensuing 17 March 2026 High Court of Punjab and Haryana decision regarding the brother of Amritpal Singh, in a case based on a First Information Report (FIR) filed in February 2025, authorities based their investigation on witness statements and CCTV footage, as well as physical evidence including video files and emails (India 2026-03-17a, Sec. 8, 10, 11). This decision is similar to the decision rendered regarding another of the men accused, also dated 17 March 2026 (India 2026-03-17a, Sec. 5, 6, 8, 9; India 2026-03-17b, Sec. 5, 6, 8, 9). The decisions regarding the brother and the other individual note that for the crimes alleged, those accused should not be further detained while awaiting trial, but are not permitted to leave the Delhi area, nor exit the country (India 2026-03-17a, Sec. 5−10; India 2026-03-17b, Sec. 5−10). The decision regarding the other individual notes that although the accused was not "direct[ly]" connected to "the wall writing," save for sending monetary payments to those accused of committing the wall writing activities, he and his "co-accused" are considered by authorities to have "committed the present offence in order to create the atmosphere of bitterness and disharmony amongst various sections of society and the atmosphere of fear and worry," and to have attempted to "breach the peace in the Country and Punjab on the direction of … the chief of SFJ, which has been declared unlawful association by the Govt. of India" (India 2026-03-17b, Sec. C, E).
A February 2026 Times of India (TOI) article reports that in January 2026, the Delhi Police Special Cell arrested 2 men for allegedly writing "pro-Khalistan" slogans at 2 locations in that city (2026-02-05). The same source adds that police allege that the 2 men were promised payment for committing the acts by "'a close associate'" of the founder of SFJ, with the plan "'hatched'" from Canada (TOI 2026-02-05). According to a February 2026 High Court of Punjab and Haryana judgment denying an anticipatory bail request made by one of the accused individuals, the slogans alleged to have been written included "Khalistan SFJ Zindabad," "Punjab is not a part of India," as well as "derogatory remarks" aimed at India's Home Minister, the Chief Minister of Punjab, and the Director General of Police for Punjab (India 2026-02-10, Sec. 2). The same document notes that the accused individual requesting anticipatory bail denied having any nexus with the criminal activities alleged by police, and he asserted that he is instead being "harassed by the police" (India 2026-02-10, Sec. 5). The judgment also indicates that the accused's legal counsel argued that "no legally admissible evidence" had been collected by investigating authorities, while State counsel contended the existence of CCTV footage implicating the accused (India 2026-02-10, Sec. 6, 7).
Sources report that in July 2022, Punjab police arrested 2 men for allegedly putting up a poster promoting the Khalistan movement and the SFJ organized referendums (India 2025-11-03, Sec. 1, 2; PTI 2022-07-20). According to an article by the Press Trust of India (PTI), a non-profit news agency "cooperatively owned" by a group of Indian newspapers (Encyclopædia Britannica 2025-03-20), police recovered 13 SFJ posters from the suspects, and police allege that the men had previously "written pro-Khalistan slogans using spray paint" on another occasion, and "were constantly in touch with anti-national elements" abroad (2022-07-20). A 2025 High Court of Punjab and Haryana decision granting bail to one of the accused notes that it is alleged that both men posted the banners, took a photograph of it, then sent that image to the leader of SFJ residing outside of India (India 2025-11-03, Sec. 3, 12). The decision further indicates that police allege the 2 men had regular contact with the SFJ leader abroad (India 2025-11-03, Sec. 4). According to the same source, legal counsel for one of the accused disputes the state's allegations, noting that there were no eye witnesses to the events, that the lone witness statement obtained was delivered by a non-eye witness 4 days after the events occurred, and that there exists no CCTV footage of the activities, according to the Punjab Police's own admission (India 2025-11-03, Sec. 6, 7). In its ruling granting bail to the accused, the High Court stated that the accused individual has remained incarcerated "for a substantial period of more than 3 years," while the other accused person was already released from jail in 2024 (India 2025-11-03, Sec. 11).
3. Amritpal Singh 2023 Manhunt
Sources report that on 23 April 2023, Amritpal Singh was arrested by the Punjab Police following a 37-day manhunt (TOI 2025-03-21; BBC 2023-04-23). For information on the pursuit and arrest of Amritpal Singh, as well as on the arrest or detention of other persons deemed to be associated with him, see Response to Information Request IND202593 of April 2026. A 2025 article by TOI provides the following information concerning the charges against Amritpal Singh, as well as allegations and information leading authorities to pursue him:
He faced several serious charges, including storming the Ajnala Police Station in February 2023, where he and his armed supporters forcibly entered the station near Amritsar, demanding the release of an aide. This incident resulted in injuries to several police personnel.
He was also charged with violations of the Arms Act after authorities seized weapons, including six 12-bore guns and 193 live cartridges, from his associates.
The National Security Act (NSA) was invoked against him, allowing for his detention without formal charges for up to 12 months. Following his arrest, Singh was transferred to Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam, where several of his associates were already detained under the NSA.
Intelligence reports suggested that Singh was involved in plotting against India with support from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and was working to radicalise Sikh youth. (2025-03-21)
3.1. Amritpal Singh's Detention Under the NSA
The 2025 TOI article states the following:
Amritpal Singh remains detained under the NSA at Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam. His detention was extended by one year until April 22, 2025, due to continued involvement in activities deemed prejudicial to state security and public order. (2025-03-21)
According to an article by ThePrint, an April 2026 petition filed by the Punjab government has asked the High Court of Punjab and Haryana for permission to keep Amritpal Singh in detention under the NSA beyond the original 22 April 2026 deadline for his third detention under the NSA (2026-04-17). The source, citing the same April 2026 petition, provides the following rationales for Amritpal Singh's continued detention:
Amritpal [Singh] was detained in Dibrugarh jail under the NSA through the first detention order on the grounds that he had threatened the security of the state and posed a serious threat to the maintenance of public order with his anti-national activities, especially his … siege at Ajnala police station.
The other grounds for detention included his preparing the youth for armed rebellion by creating Anandpur Khalsa Force [Anandpur Khalsa Fauj (AKF)] [3] in the garb of running de-addiction centres, the SSP [Senior Superintendent of Police] states.
… Amritpal was issued the second detention order in March 2024 on the grounds of his alleged involvement with "pro-Khalistani entities"; a hunger strike by his family members against his first detention which posed a threat to public order; and circulation of a letter on social media duly signed by Amritpal and his other co-detainees provoking the masses and youth to avenge the killing of "pro-Khalistani [individuals abroad] … " and also provoking youth and masses against the government.
The petition adds that a third detention order was passed against Amritpal in April last year on the ground of his alleged involvement in the murder of [a] friend-turned-critic … .
[According to the SSP,] "… [a]fter [the critic's] murder, a hit list of 14 individuals … to be killed for speaking against Amritpal came on record. These anti-state activities were a threat to the security of the state and maintenance of public order."
In the petition, the SSP lists that even while in detention, Amritpal was involved in various activities which caused prejudice to public order and security of the state, for which evidence could be produced in court when demanded, as these were confidential in nature. (ThePrint 2026-04-17)
The article further notes that the petition for Amritpal Singh to remain detained beyond 22 April indicates that he will be "formally arrested" on 23 April 2026 (ThePrint 2026-04-17). Sources report that on 23 April 2026, Amritpal Singh was arrested by the Punjab Police and taken to a police station for a 2-day "remand," during which time he can be interrogated regarding the 2023 Ajnala charges brought against him (The Tribune 2026-04-24; NDTV 2026-04-23; Hindustan Times 2026-04-23).
According to an April 2024 article by ThePrint which cites information from the office of the Amritsar Deputy Commissioner, the state's initial attempt to extend the detention of Amritpal Singh and 9 of his "associates" under the NSA was grounded in activities including:
the alleged misuse of a telephone facility in jail to spread anti-national sentiment and the alleged use of media to provoke anti-national sentiment among people in Punjab … , as well as the recovery from them of material allegedly used to communicate with Khalistani elements in Pakistan and other countries. (2024-04-07)
3.2. Detention and Arrests of Alleged Associates of Amritpal Singh
According to a 2023 PTI article, published amidst the March 2023 Amritpal Singh manhunt, on 24 March 2023 the Punjab Police released 44 individuals initially detained in "preventive custody" during the "crackdown" on Amritpal Singh (2023-03-24). The same source quotes the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) as stating that the "preventive" detention were deemed to have been pursued against "those persons who have a minimum role or were just following Amritpal Singh on religious sentiments only," and it was decided they should be released in light of "the larger interest of the public and keeping in view that youngsters should not suffer" (PTI 2023-03-24).
According to TOI, as of April 2023, 40 people remained in "judicial custody" from the "over 350" people arrested "under preventive sections of law" (2023-04-24). The same source adds that while "most" of those arrested were released after being issued a "warning," the 40 who remained arrested were "charged with substantive criminal offences" (TOI 2023-04-24). According to the 2023 article by ThePrint, Punjab's Inspector General of Police, Headquarters, indicated that "'207 people have been arrested … of which 177 have been taken in preventive detention to maintain public order'"; the Inspector General further noted that those "not involved in the criminal cases against Amritpal [Singh] and his men will be released shortly" (2023-03-23).
Also in March 2023, a woman in Haryana was arrested for having harboured Amritpal Singh and another associate in her home (NDTV 2023-03-23; TOI 2023-04-24), as they evaded the police manhunt pursuing them; the woman was subsequently "handed over" to the Punjab Police (NDTV 2023-03-23). The 2023 article by ThePrint, citing information from the Inspector General of Police, Headquarters, in Punjab, notes that the arrest was a joint operation between the police forces of Punjab and Haryana (2023-03-23). The same source adds that the woman's brother, who is an officer in the Haryana government, was also questioned as part of her arrest (ThePrint 2023-03-23).
Sources report that an associate of Amritpal Singh was arrested by the Punjab Police in March 2023 (Hindustan Times 2023-03-30; ThePrint 2023-03-23). According to sources, police allege that the man "'often lived'" with Amritpal Singh and was one of his "core team member[s]" (ANI 2023-03-27) or one of his "close associate[s]" (ThePrint 2023-03-23). Sources report that the man is a "gunman" of Amritpal Singh, and police officials for Khanna—a city in Punjab's Ludhiana district—noted that pictures of the individual posing with weapons were circulating on social media (ANI 2023-03-27; Hindustan Times 2023-03-24). Drawing on police statements, sources add that upon apprehending the man, police released "incriminating" videos (ANI 2023-03-27) or released videos where he was seen practicing shooting with weapons (Hindustan Times 2023-03-24) that were recovered on his mobile phone (ANI 2023-03-27; Hindustan Times 2023-03-24). The March 2023 article by ThePrint, drawing on information provided by Punjab's Inspector General of Police, Headquarters, indicates that videos and photographs of a firing range, as well as "Amritpal's men learning to dismantle and put together weapons" were found on the man's mobile phone (2023-03-23). The same source adds that "other incriminating evidence," including of "'anti-national activities'," was also found on the man's phone, as well as AKF "holograms and logos" (ThePrint 2023-03-23). Asian News International (ANI), a news agency in India, reports that in March 2023 an individual was arrested for having "harboured" this alleged associate of Amritpal Singh (2023-03-27). A 2023 article by the Hindustan Times, an English-language daily newspaper in India, notes that, according to the Senior Superintendent of Police for Khanna, 2 other "accomplices" of Amritpal Singh were arrested for "harbouring" Amritpal's alleged "gunman," after they were "seen in videos" found in the man's mobile phone (2023-03-30).
According to TOI, on 15 April 2023 a man was arrested in the Punjab city of Sirhind for being a "close aide" to Amritpal Singh (2023-04-24).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Notes
[1] SFJ is an organization advocating for a Sikh homeland independent from India (BBC 2023-12-21; Reuters 2025-09-22). SFJ is banned in India (BBC 2023-12-21; Australia 2023-09-29, para. 3.97) and is based in the US (BBC 2023-12-21). For information on SFJ, including the situation and treatment of its members by authorities, see Response to Information Request IND201492 of May 2023.[back]
[2] Waris Punjab De [which translates as "Punjab's Heirs" (AP 2023-04-23)] is a Sikh political group "supportive of the Khalistan movement" (US 2024-04-22, 33) or a "Khalistan separatist organisation" (Scroll.in 2025-02-19). The organization "mobilize[d] farmers" during the 2020 protests against new agricultural legislation from the Modi government (AP 2023-04-23; Time 2023-03-23).[back]
[3] AKF is, according to sources, a militia (Frontline 2023-03-25; News18.com 2023-03-24) or private army (Hindustan Times 2023-03-20) that Amritpal Singh is alleged to have been building at the time of his capture by authorities in March 2023 (Hindustan Times 2023-03-20; Frontline 2023-03-25; News18.com 2023-03-24). Authorities have alleged that AKF had been providing youths with "'weapons and martial'" training (Frontline 2023-03-25).[back]
References
Al Jazeera. 2024-07-01. "Concerns as India Replaces Colonial-Era Laws with New Criminal Codes." [Accessed 2026-04-24]
Asian News International (ANI). 2023-03-27. "Man Who Sheltered Amritpal Singh's Close Aide Arrested: Punjab Police." [Accessed 2026-04-09]
Associated Press (AP). 2023-04-23. "Indian Police Have Arrested a Sikh Separatist Leader Who Had Been on the Run." [Accessed 2026-04-28]
Australia. 2023-09-29. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). DFAT Country Information Report: India. [Accessed 2026-04-21]
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 2023-12-21. Geeta Pandey. "Gurpatwant Singh Pannun: The Sikh Separatist at the Centre of US Murder Plot Allegation." [Accessed 2026-04-21]
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 2023-04-23. "Amritpal Singh: Sikh Separatist Arrested After Weeks on the Run." [Accessed 2026-04-28]
Encyclopædia Britannica. 2025-03-20. "Press Trust of India." [Accessed 2026-04-27]
Frontline. 2023-03-25. Ashutosh Sharma. "Amritpal Singh: The Story So Far." [Accessed 2026-04-28]
Hindustan Times. 2026-04-23. Biswa Kalyan Purkayastha. "As His NSA Detention Ends, Punjab Cops Again Arrest Amritpal in Ajnala Case." [Accessed 2026-04-28]
Hindustan Times. 2023-03-30. "Khanna Police Bring Amritpal's Aides on Production Warrant in Punjab." [Accessed 2026-04-10]
Hindustan Times. 2023-03-24. Tarsem Singh Deogan. "Tejinder AKA Gorkha Baba Sent to Four-Day Police Remand." [Accessed 2026-04-20]
Hindustan Times. 2023-03-20. Aniruddha Dhar. "Amritpal Singh Was Raising Own Army, 'Human Bomb Squads': 10 Points." [Accessed 2026-04-28]
India. 2026-03-17a. High Court of Punjab and Haryana. Baljinder Singh vs State of Punjab on 17 March, 2026. [Accessed 2026-04-07]
India. 2026-03-17b. High Court of Punjab and Haryana. Atarveer Singh vs State of Punjab on 17 March, 2026. [Accessed 2026-04-07]
India. 2026-02-10. High Court of Punjab and Haryana. Rohit Singh Alias Rohit vs State of Punjab on 10 February, 2026. [Accessed 2026-04-07]
India. 2025-11-03. High Court of Punjab and Haryana. Harwinder Singh @ Prince vs State of Punjab on 3 November, 2025. [Accessed 2026-04-07]
India. 2025-01-27. Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). "Notification." The Gazette of India. No. 453. (CG-DL-E-29012025-260581) [Accessed 2026-04-27]
NDTV. 2026-04-23. Debanish Achom. "Radical Preacher Amritpal Singh in Punjab Police's 2-Day Custody in Assam." [Accessed 2026-04-28]
NDTV. 2023-03-23. "Amritpal Singh Escaped to Haryana, Woman Who Sheltered Him Arrested." [Accessed 2026-04-09]
The New Indian Express. 2025-02-27. Harpreet Bajwa. "Punjab Police Arrest Six for Pro-Khalistan Slogans, Flag Hoisting in CM Mann's Village." [Accessed 2026-04-21]
News18.com. 2023-03-24. Sanstuti Nath. "Built by Amritpal, this Punjab 'Firing Range' Trained People to Join His 'Anandpur Khalsa Fauj'." [Accessed 2026-04-28]
Press Trust of India (PTI). 2025-06-18. "Key SFJ Operative Held for Vandalising Ambedkar Statue, Painting Pro-Khalistan Graffiti in Punjab." [Accessed 2026-04-20]
Press Trust of India (PTI). 2023-03-24. "Amritpal Singh Case: Punjab Police Release 44 from Preventive Custody." [Accessed 2026-04-30]
Press Trust of India (PTI). 2022-07-20. "Two People Linked with SFJ Held for Pasting Pro-Khalistan Poster Outside Patiala Temple." [Accessed 2026-04-20]
Reuters. 2025-09-22. Anna Mehler Paperny. "Canadian Police Arrest Sikh Activist on Firearms Charges." [Accessed 2026-04-21]
Scroll.in. 2025-02-19. "Jailed MP Amritpal Singh Moves High Court Seeking to Attend Parliament." [Accessed 2026-04-01]
ThePrint. 2026-04-17. Chitleen K Sethi. "Why Punjab Govt Wants MP Amritpal in Dibrugarh Jail even After End of NSA Detention." [Accessed 2026-04-17]
ThePrint. 2025-06-19. Mayank Kumar. "Who Is Resham Singh, Pannun's Man Arrested for 'Defacing Public Properties, Ambedkar Statue'." [Accessed 2026-04-09]
ThePrint. 2025-06-03. Bismee Taskin. "Tarn Taran Man Held for 'Espionage', 'Shared' Sensitive Info with ISI on Army Movements During Op Sindoor." [Accessed 2026-04-02]
ThePrint. 2024-04-07. Chitleen K Sethi. "Year After Radical Preacher & Aides Were Lodged at Assam Jail, Amritpal Saga Is Far from Over." [Accessed 2026-04-02]
ThePrint. 2023-03-23. Chitleen K Sethi. "Amritpal Trained Men to Use Weapons at Makeshift Firing Range in His Village: Punjab Police." [Accessed 2026-04-09]
ThePrint. N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 2026-04-24]
Time Magazine (Time). 2023-03-23. Astha Rajvanshi. "India's Manhunt for a Hardline Sikh Leader Leads to Internet Shutdowns and Global Protests." [Accessed 2026-04-10]
The Times of India (TOI). 2026-02-05. "2 Arrested for Pro-Khalistan Graffiti in Delhi; Police Say Plan Hatched in Canada, Flags Gurpatwant Singh Pannun Link." [Accessed 2026-04-29]
The Times of India (TOI). 2025-03-21. "'Wannabe Bhindranwale Reciting Guru Granth Sahib in Assam Jail': Amit Shah On Amritpal." [Accessed 2026-04-08]
The Times of India (TOI). 2023-04-24. "40 Aides of Amritpal Singh Still in Custody." [Accessed 2026-04-15]
The Tribune. 2026-04-24. PK Jaiswar. "Punjab Police Arrest MP Amritpal Singh in Ajnala Violence Case Post-NSA Detention." [Accessed 2026-04-24]
The Tribune. 2025-02-28. Sushil Goyal. "Fortnight On, 6 Held for Khalistan Graffiti at CM Mann's Village." [Accessed 2026-04-21]
United States (US). 2024-04-22. Department of State. "India." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2023. [Accessed 2026-04-10]
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: India-based journalist covering the Khalistan movement; Institute for Conflict Management; professor of Indian politics at a university in the UK; professor of Indian politics at a university in the US; professor of Sikh nationalism at a university in Japan; professor of Sikh studies at a university in the UK; professor of Sikh studies at a university in the US; professor of Sikhism and the Sikh diaspora at a university in the US; professor of the Sikh diaspora at a university in Canada; professor of the Sikh diaspora at a university in India; professors of Sikh studies at a university in Canada (2).
Internet sites, including: Austrian Red Cross – ecoi.net; Belgium – Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons; Bertelsmann Stiftung; Bloomberg; Center for Strategic and International Studies; CNN; Common Cause; Council on Foreign Relations; Deccan Herald; EU – EU Agency for Asylum; Fédération internationale pour les droits humains; Financial Times; France – Office français de protection des réfugiés et apatrides; Freedom House; Germany – Federal Office for Migration and Refugees; Global News; The Guardian; The Hindu; International Crisis Group; Khalistan Centre; Lawfare Institute; Minority Rights Group; Mint; National Sikh Youth Federation; Netherlands – Ministry of Foreign Affairs; The New Humanitarian; Norway – Landinfo; Organisation suisse d'aide aux réfugiés; Outlook [India]; Poetic Justice Foundation; Reporters sans frontières; Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee; Sikh Research Institute; Sikh Siyasat News; South Asia Terrorism Portal; Sweden – Swedish Migration Agency; UK – Home Office; UN – Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Refworld, UNDP; US – CIA, Congressional Research Service, Law Library of Congress; Voice of America; The Washington Post; The Wire.